This article
originally appeared in the May issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe
here to receive your free copy each month.
We’ve all seen
social media posts from travelers who are more than a little salty that an
airline would "allow" kids in first class. And, most of the time,
they get pushback.
But the question
is not whether airlines — or luxury hotels or high-end cruise ships — should
"allow" children; it’s whether parents and grandparents are expected
to forgo luxury to travel with their kids and grandkids.
I say no.
My grandparents
were "fancy lunch" people who regularly took me and my sister to
upscale restaurants in Los Angeles.
"There’s no
reason children can’t enjoy luxury travel experiences as much as adults — as
long as they understand that a restaurant or hotel lobby isn’t a play
zone."
And while there
are very few young kids who behave perfectly throughout an entire meal — and
this was before personal electronic devices, mind you — we still learned good
table manners and tried new foods.
When my children
were born, we brought them, too. More than 20 years later, my sons still talk
about the chocolate teacup filled with a mini-scoop of ice cream at the Beverly
Wilshire hotel.
There’s no reason
children can’t enjoy luxury travel experiences as much as adults — as long as
they understand that a restaurant or hotel lobby isn’t a play zone. My parents
and grandparents explained to us that others were also enjoying their vacations
or fancy lunches, and I passed that along to my children. But too often, I see
kids running, screaming or blaring a loud video game in an otherwise elegant
dining room or normally quiet hotel lobby. And that’s why there’s saltiness
online.
I agree that
children — and adults, for that matter — need to respect people around them;
however, I don’t agree that children should be banned from luxury travel (with
the obvious exception of specifically adultonly experiences). So, how can
travel advisors help?
When clients
express interest in booking luxury travel, agents can help parents determine if
the trip they are considering is a good fit for their family. If the kids love
to interact with others their age, a hotel without children’s programming
probably isn’t the right choice. If young ones need to run and play outside, a
resort might be better than a city hotel. And, if kids don’t do well with
planes, trains or cars, an extended multi-leg itinerary may frustrate them.
Children
absolutely belong in first class, but advisors and parents must be willing to
work together to ensure a positive travel experience for everyone.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
