Most schools in the UAE finish for the academic year in early July and reopen at the end of August - that means we parents have two whole months to keep the little ones entertained! If you are here for any part of the summer season, Privilee is an amazing option for school break – be it for yourself, or the entire family.
Cindy, from LilOneOfTheAshes, has rounded up why Privilee is the perfect solution for the school break. With three kids to occupy - she’s an expert at this!
Enjoy indoor kids’ clubs
There are so many complimentary kids’ clubs available to Privilee Members, it’s a fab way for parents to enjoy some kid-free time when visiting pool and beach venues, whilst the kids get to have fun in a friendly, air-conditioned space. Think endless activities, the chance for them to socialise and make friends, super friendly staff, and lots more.
Pirates and Mermaids Kids Club at JA Beach Resort is excellent for kids aged 4 and above, as they have lots of sports activities to keep them active, like yoga and Zumba. Plus there are arts and crafts such as bookmark and bracelet making, as well as ‘little scientists’ activities. My two girls LOVE it here.
Another favourite kids’ club of ours is Gazelle Kids’ Club at Al Raha Beach Hotel in Abu Dhabi. As soon as you step in, you’re immersed in a bright and vibrant space, there are lots of miniature tables and chairs for colouring, arts and crafts. There is sometimes face painting available (so cute!) and also a room for movies if they just want to chill. We are big fans of this one - and in the cooler months, there is a nice outdoor playground too.
This is a much cheaper option than soft play where you typically pay per child, per hour. Your Privilee membership includes up to three kids and there are so many options for you and them to try. You get to enjoy stunning pool days, enjoy the benefits of a cool pool, and have the option to go inside if they want a break from the outdoors. Some kids’ clubs also let parents stay with their kids, if they are younger than a certain age - just check the app.
Tip: Drop-off is typically four years old for most kid’s clubs that are on Privilee, except for Fairmont The Palm which is three years old. Don’t forget, parents must stay at the resort or hotel whilst their kids are in the kids’ club.
Looking for more information on Privilee Kids’ Club? Check out the Top four Dubai Privilee kids’ clubs for kids under age eight and Fun-filled Privilee kids’ activities to keep little ones entertained.
Swim away in shaded pools
As the school break is through the middle of summer, we definitely need shaded pools to keep the kids and ourselves cool! The great thing about Privilee is that there are a lot of shaded areas in family pools where we can spend time with the kids, as well as separate shaded kids’ pools.
Our favourite family pools where we can spend time with the kids in the shade are:
- Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah – the area surrounding the swim-up bar and kid’s pool is completely shaded.
- Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah – the kid’s pool here is adjacent to the main pool and is completely covered in shade. A big plus is the shaded playground and indoor kids’ club located right next to it.
- Sofitel Dubai The Palm – this is such a fab pool, you can enjoy shade beneath the trees surrounding the main pool and a ‘cave-like’ design at the family pool - with a waterfall - meaning lots of shade and splashing!
- Yas Beach Abu Dhabi - we discovered this spot fairly recently and loved it. The kids’ pool is close to the main infinity pool and is completely shaded with its own mini waterfall for the little ones to play under.
- Shangri-La Abu Dhabi - this magnificent resort is well worth a visit during summer! The shallow and shaded kids’ pool is great for younger ones, and there are several other pools to explore too whilst you’re here. We also enjoyed an abra boat ride when we came here.
- Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk - I love this pool as it's got a small splash pad area close by and is conveniently located right by the changing areas!
Here’s Privilee’s round-up of all Privilee spots with shaded kids’ pools.
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Slide and splash away!
Did you know that there is an amazing selection of slides and splash pads at a variety of Privilee venues? Instead of splurging for a day at a waterpark, join Privilee and the little ones can slide and splash away as much as they want through school break!
Here are a few that we like to go to:
Dubai:
- Sofitel Dubai The Palm - there are two large slides at the kids’ pool.
- Habtoor Grand Resort Autograph Collection - the main pool offers a small slide for toddlers and a bigger slide for older kids.
- JA Beach Resort - ‘Just Splash’ Splash Park is epic! There are sprinklers, water buckets, slides, splash pads and all sorts. Sidenote - there are height restrictions for some activities here, so check the app before you go.
Ras Al Khaimah
- Doubletree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island - this family-friendly resort has a huge Pirate Boat Aqua Zone which provides hours of fun.
Abu Dhabi
- Marriott Hotel Al Forsan - my little ones love the splash area and poolside games here, including giant chess!
- Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas - the kids’ pool here has a lazy river and slides, amongst the resorts’ other pools. The main pool is surrounded by giant turtle features which mine seemed to love!
Have a read through ‘Privilee Pools that the kids will love’ for more details and suggestions on venues to visit.
Family-friendly dining spots
Another great reason why Privilee is perfect for the school break is the discounts you get at a lot of family-friendly restaurants across their venues. School is out, so relax a little and have a few lovely meals with the kids, without breaking your bank!
Crescendo in Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is one of our long-time family favourites, especially in the summer months as it also has an indoor kids’ playroom with toys in the corner of the restaurant. It’s just so convenient to be able to dine and have the option for the little ones to pop in and out of the playroom. Privilee Members get 25% off the total bill for themselves plus up to five guests – so you can bring along friends to join the family for food as well. This is also a fab spot to start your day if you are daycaying here - the options at the buffet breakfast are incredible.
Explore Privilee resorts in the other Emirates
What better time to do a road trip than during the summer break and when school is out? You can do a daycation at so many resorts in Dubai, Ras al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah - and the best bit is, you can go home to your own bed at the end of the day!
Another option, if you want a change of scenery, is to book a hotel in another Emirate for a night or two and pop over to a Privilee resort for a daycation, to avoid driving back and forth. There is a variety of hotels across the UAE that you get discounted rates on with Privilee - take a look here.
Just in Ras Al Khaimah itself which is an hour's drive from Dubai, there are two family-friendly resorts on Privilee within a few minute's drive from one another:
You can visit both resorts if you wanted to!
Have a read through Daycay outside of the city at Doubletree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island for inspiration on what to do there.
Did I mention that most resorts have complimentary valet when you are using the facilities? You don’t even need to worry about finding parking in this heat, just pass the car keys on and off you go to the pool, kids’ club, gym and more. Enjoy!
Cindy x
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