Outside the Westin Nusa Dua’s spacious family suites await activities to relax, play and connect that both kids and adults will long remember.
(Photos courtesy of the Westin Nusa Dua Bali)
Bipan Kapur laughs when I tell him how old my son is.
“The 5-year-old segment is exactly the target market we’re going after,” he says.
Kapur is the managing director of the Westin Nusa Dua resort in Bali, and also oversees the Sheraton that opened in 2012 in the Kuta area of the island.
Like other resorts in the upscale and secluded Nusa Dua enclave of southern Bali, the Westin has its very own stretch of pristine, white-sand beach, leading down to a tranquil blue sea that turns a deep crimson as the sun dips below the horizon at the end of the day, and no end of pools and other recreation options that make for the perfect island getaway.
But where it stands out, especially since the completion in January of a multi-million-dollar resort transformation, is in how it caters to the growing market for families traveling with young children, starting from the moment guests check in.
Each child gets a goody bag at the reception desk, complete with the usual coloring pencils and sketches to keep them occupied for a while. But there’s a lot more thought that goes into it, Kapur says.
“In your kids’ bags, did you notice the hat? That’s to protect them from the sun when they go outdoors,” he says. There are also plastic safety socket covers that parents can use in their room to stop toddlers from sticking their itty-bitty fingers into electrical outlets.
Kapur also mentions the plastic flask — for filling up on the fresh fruit juice available for free for kids throughout the resort’s premises.
“We want the kids to stay hydrated, so we offer this healthy option of juice, rather than having the parents get their kids soft drinks,” he says.
Well-being
That’s part of the Westin chain’s six-pillar concept of well-being for its guests: Sleep well, eat well, move well, feel well, work well, and play well.
The latter bit, for the young ones at least, is manifested in the Westin’s Kids Club, which the hotel describes as “bigger and better than ever before, with age-appropriate areas for toddlers, children and teens.” Toddlers get their own shaded area, fully supervised, with slides, swings and other things to keep them happily engaged for hours.
Kids aged between 4 and 12, meanwhile, have their own area with a separate playground featuring a climbing wall, trampoline and sandpit. The hotel describes it as being designed “for safe play, where kids can run around and burn off excess energy.” There’s also an activity room for arts and crafts, as well as educational toys, game consoles and Internet-connected computers.
(Photos courtesy of the Westin Nusa Dua Bali)
New to the Kids Club is the Teens Zone, for youngsters aged 12 and above, which features beanbag seats and personal window seat pods equipped with game consoles. There are also Internet-enabled computers, a well-stocked library, a pool table, and a home theater showing movies throughout the day.
“As a family-friendly property it is important that our younger travelers have their very own place to play and interact,” Kapur says. “We have created a concept that truly encompasses the needs of children from 4 up to 16 years of age with clearly defined spaces and appealing activities.”
The Kids Club may be aimed at children, but parents also benefit hugely. It’s free, and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (after that, trained nannies are available for a fee), which leaves parents with oodles of time for a leisurely swim, a workout in the gym, an indulgent massage in the award-winning Heavenly Spa, or any number of activities to suit their fancy.
Mealtimes are also designed to be as child- and parent-friendly as can be. At breakfast, the hotel sets up a separate area for kids, with their own little tables and chairs, and good, wholesome food ranging from cereal to fresh fruit to pastries.
And if you’re a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program, you can sign up your under-12 for the SPG Kids Pass, which, for a flat daily fee, grants them all-inclusive access to a variety of dining options, including children’s menus, buffets and beverages at the restaurants throughout the resort.
And then there are the rooms. Part of the resort revitalization included the creation of 34 spacious family suites, which comprise of two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and a living room with a TV, couch, beanbag chairs and board games.
Kapur says the living room is a key part of the family experience, giving parents and children a common space to relax, play games and have fun together.
Down time
For all the attention lavished on kids, the Westin retains plenty of love for its adult guests, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Heavenly Spa, which opened in December 2013 and promptly went on to scoop the award for best spa at the Best of Bali 2014 awards in March this year and the best luxury wellness spa in Indonesia at the 2014 World Luxury Spa Awards.
Of the latter award, Kapur says, “It is indeed a great honor to win this prestigious award alongside some of the world’s most iconic wellness brands.”
“Given that Heavenly Spa by Westin is relatively new to the island of Bali, it just goes to show that guests and industry consultants have been quick to embrace our interpretation of wellness. I am sure that this award will inspire our entire team to strive for nothing less than perfection over the coming years of operation,” he adds.
The spa takes a holistic approach to personal indulgence and was designed to embody Westin’s philosophy of well-being, by focusing on body, mind and spirit rejuvenation with a uniquely Balinese touch. This includes the design and ambience of the spa, and the couples treatment rooms named after the mythical lovers Jayaprana and Layonsari, with a signature treatment that the spa describes as “dedicated to the spirit of their eternal love.”
Time spent at the Heavenly Spa is as indulgent as it gets, and you’re bound to come away feeling incredibly relaxed.
And that’s essentially the whole idea of the Westin Nusa Dua experience. Traveling with kids often leaves parents frazzled and needing another vacation after the vacation, but not here. With all the little details taken care of, the resort does its best to ensure that you and your loved ones have a relaxing, fun and memorable time. Like my 5-year-old and his 2-year-old sister; they can’t wait to go back.
The post Family Trips Now Fun Again appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.