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Some popular family hotels and resorts in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia boast large family suites whose decor and amenities have been designed with kids in mind.

Between June and September 2009, Family Travel Forum's consulting division, FTFc, interviewed all the properties noted in its original report, "Kids Dig Hotels Designed With Their Needs In Mind" to find out about the state of resorts for family vacations. Happily, changes in these international hotels and resorts' approach to family travel have been positive ones. 

Most of the sales and marketing managers we interviewed reported an increase in children's amenities and family vacation packages. When the many family projects destined for the leading Middle Eastern destinations of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are finished, we anticipate being able to add many more interesting kid-themed hotels to this roundup.

Canada & Mexico Kid-Design Hotels

Ritz-Carlton Cancun
Retorno del Rey #36 Zona Hotelera
Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico 77500
52/998-881-0808
One of the most well-known luxury hotel chains in the world, Ritz-Carlton doesn’t disappoint. Along with the Cancun property's 365 guest rooms, the hotel boasts a spa, culinary center, and a beach club, in addition to their popular Ritz Kids program, which invites kids to go on a Mayan adventure. Kids 4- to 12-years-old can attend full-day and half-day camps that incorporate fun-filled, supervised activities with an educational flair. The hotel also has three Itsy Bitsy Kids’ rooms to accommodate parents traveling with babies. The rooms provide amenities including a crib, changing table, a television armoire, miniature hangars for baby clothes, and a phone programmed to light up so the ring doesn’t disturb a sleeping baby. The hotel also provides families a “shh, baby is sleeping sign” to inform other guests and staff to respect their need for quiet. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel staff is there to assist parents (for a fee) with anything they might need, even prior to arrival, by inquiring about additional services such as extra diapers or formula.

Canad Inns
888/33-CANAD
At the numerous Canad Inns properties throughout Canada and at one location in North Dakota, kids can take part in the Hotel Fun 4 Kids programs. The options offered include kid-themed rooms with themes such as Under the Sea, Space, and Jungle Fun. Guests can also try the Adventure Kids Club for 2- to 12-year-olds, and receive a kit upon arrival that will aid them in their stay with an I.D. button, information folder, water-based tattoos, and more. Included in the kit is a decoder ring to use at restaurants to uncover hidden messages on the kid’s menu, giving kids the privilege of discovering "insider" information. A highlight of the Grand Forks, North Dakota location is their indoor water park (admission to the park is an additional charge), one of the largest of its kind. The layout of the themed rooms include a separate area for the kids, featuring a bunk bed, TV, and Play Station, while the parents' room includes a queen bed. At the AALTOS Garden Café, kids get a decidedly old-fashioned treat -- while waiting for food, they are given a coloring book and crayons. The café includes a slushie bar and make-your-own sundae dessert selections, a revenue-producing treat for all.

Fantasyland Hotel
17700-87 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5T 4V4
800/RESERVE
Talk about innovative revenue-producing schemes, this Canadian hotel is located inside the Edmonton Mall, an enormous venue with its own senior citizen living facility. The Fantasyland Hotel opened in 1986, and has since grown to include 120 themed-rooms (many adult and honeymooner-focused) with 11 different themes including Hollywood, Roman, Polynesian, African and more. The unique location allows family guests access to many great attractions such as Galaxyland Amusement Park, the world's largest indoor amusement park, Professor Wem's Miniature Golf, the Sea Life Caverns, and many shopping areas. In-room amenities include movies, high-speed internet and non-stop ornamentation; the hotel also has fitness facilities and a dining room. Specifically for families, the Fantasyland has a Kid's Corner, which includes a kid's menu, babysitting services, playpens, and bunk beds (including one within prison bars) in select rooms. However, kid guests won't be spending much time in the rooms as adventures abound to keep them entertained.