As most any dad or mum will let you know, touring with younger youngsters and packing gentle are two issues that hardly ever go hand in hand.
However throughout a two-night household keep this summer season on the 4 Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, the property equipped quite a lot of child necessities that I may have simply left at residence in addition to loads of extras that helped make our go to nearly stress-free.
That the 4 Seasons Resort Maui charges excessive as a family-friendly sizzling spot did not come as a complete shock. I had beforehand accomplished some reporting on the posh property’s intensive youngsters’s programming, anchored by its complimentary Children for All Seasons day camp and seasonal 4 Seasons Maui Academy instructional platform.
The author’s toddler daughter with a lei. Picture Credit score: TW photograph by Christina Jelski
However with my two little ones nonetheless beneath these packages’ 5-and-up age restrict, I wasn’t certain what facilities to anticipate when it got here to catering to the youngest demographic.
In true 4 Seasons vogue, nevertheless, no member of the family, regardless of how younger, was ignored of the five-star expertise.
Upon arrival, adults have been greeted with leis, whereas the kids have been gifted carved wood necklaces: one a turtle, the opposite a standard Maui fishhook.
In our room, the place a crib stood on the prepared, the youngsters had loads of surprises to find, from two stuffed stingrays to a pair of youngsters’s flip-flops and a bucket hat. Within the closet hung an lovable toddler-size gown, and matching complimentary slippers — accessible in numerous children’ sizes — could possibly be requested by way of in-room pill.
The author’s son wearing a kid-size gown and matching slippers on the resort. Picture Credit score: TW photograph by Christina Jelski
Close to the tub, travel-size units of child and child tub facilities have been accompanied by colourful, letter-shaped sponges that spelled out every of their names.
As for myself and my husband, sensible touches like a stack of diapers and wipes in addition to a Diaper Genie disposal pail within the toilet have been particularly appreciated.
Poolside slumber
We additionally quickly found that the 4 Seasons Resort Maui has solved the conundrum that’s the noon trip nap. In any case, who needs to skip out on prime pool time in an effort to sit in a darkened bed room whereas their child sleeps the afternoon away?
Throughout our two-night keep, my husband and I have been saved from having to attract straws over afternoon nap obligation, due to transportable playpens which can be accessible poolside upon request. Judging by the variety of sleeping infants I noticed every day napping poolside beneath the shade of one of many resort’s quite a few complimentary cabanas, it was a preferred ask.
Together with nap time, meal occasions may also be fraught for vacationing households.
Grilled fish, peas and rice accessible as a part of the resort’s “keiki menu” choices. Picture Credit score: TW photograph by Christina Jelski
On the 4 Seasons Resort Maui, nevertheless, we have been impressed with the “keiki menu” choices accessible throughout the property’s eating venues.
Whereas there have been the standard children’ menu requirements accessible, corresponding to rooster nuggets, macaroni and cheese and fries, there have been additionally smaller parts of extra elevated fare, like grilled fish and roasted rooster breast. The fish, accompanied by peas and rice, acquired two enthusiastic thumbs up from my 4-year-old.
And whereas sunscreen is a must have for all ages, it seems I did not have to lug my very own big bottle to the resort.
Solar (and reef) security
As a part of the 4 Seasons Resort Maui’s efforts to make sure company use reef-safe, mineral sunscreen, the property has taken guesswork out of the equation, rolling out complimentary sunscreen stations throughout the property earlier this yr.
The initiative, created in partnership with skincare model Undertaking Reef, was launched in response to the recent passage of Bill 135, which went into impact this October and prohibits the sale, distribution and use of nonmineral sunscreens in Maui County. (Analysis has proven that nonmineral sunscreens can have a adverse influence on marine ecosystems.)
The stations, which can be found beachside and poolside, function pump dispensers stocked with Undertaking Reef’s mineral SPF 30 and SPF 50 sunscreens. For folks of notably squirmy youngsters with little persistence for sunscreen software, the comfort is unparalleled.
A complimentary Undertaking Reef sunscreen station on the 4 Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Picture Credit score: TW photograph by Christina Jelski
Whereas we definitely felt we had availed ourselves of the majority of the 4 Seasons Resort Maui’s family-friendly choices throughout our keep, in actuality we had barely scratched the floor.
The listing of kid-oriented complimentary facilities on the resort extends even additional, with objects like strollers, child screens, pop-up tents, bottle heaters, child bathtubs, child swings and even rocking chairs accessible upon request.
The one factor one has left to pack, it appears, is the infant.