Most people have never heard about Jekyll Island, even though it was once a very important financial and cultural center. Jekyll Club Hotel is the landmark hotel and spot on the island. It has beautiful oaks hanging over the waterfront bike trails,
more +Southern charm to be found in the food and rooms, and lots of activities for the kids. There is a turtle conservation center, waterpark (nearby), bike rentals, swimming pool, dolphin cruises, and many more things to do. The beaches are beautiful, and Driftwood Beach is a must see. It's a stop along the bike path and has some amazing trees dotting the coastline. Make sure you check out the brunch, which has the best of Southern food offerings and the on-site restaurants have some amazing seafood!
Date of Stay: 07/30/2009
Children in Party: 1
Tots (0-2) Kids (3-6) Kids (7-9) Tweens (10-12) Tweens (13+) Accommodations Dining Kids Play Area Money Value Pool & Water Fun Staff
While on a holiday to visit friends and family in Italy this past month, we had the good fortune to stay at Hotel Ca' Bianca. A group of my husband's long time friends and their wives and kids booked 3 nights in Riccione, Italy at this wonderful
more +hotel. The service was always warm, friendly and gracious from the front desk to the servers in the dining room.
The large, modern hotel rooms were designed with a white theme in mind which highlighted their top notch cleanliness. Our room (slightly larger than a standard Best Western type room) hosted a king sized bed, desk, TV, two portable playpens/cribs (the hotel had these ready and set up for us on our arrival at the room) and a spotless, modern bathroom with a shower, toilet, bidet and pedestal sink. Views from the balcony were spectacular as you could see up and down the coast which seemed to go on forever.
The lounge area also was very modern in its design with comfortable lounge seating outside the bar area. The dining area was large with a casual feel about it which was welcome for us with children all between the ages of 18 months and 7 years old.
Our friends booked this hotel as they were told it was a hotel that catered to children and families. This was apparent before even walking into the hotel as a small play area with a Step2 play house, slides, small tables and chairs, and a rocking horse right outside the main entrance greeted our kids and kept them happy while we checked in.
The hotel, like all others along the coast, had its own beach which you rented your chairs on for the time you were staying. It also had a large play area in the sand which had more Step2 and Little Tykes play structures, swings, and slides. Tricycles, pedal cars and push cars were available so that kids could freely take them and wheel around while on the property. Sand toys were also provided by the hotel for the children including buckets, shovels, bocce balls - all the equipment required to keep busy hands and bodies busy. They hosted dance lessons for older kids, pasta making lessons for kids, belly dance lessons for adults and other activities we didn't look too far in to. A beach volleyball court was also available for challenging other hotel guests and organized tournaments were also put on - winners came away with a kilogram of pancetta!!
The beach chairs were new with adjustable settings and you could choose shaded or non-shaded areas. The beach was fabulous with fine white/grey sand and water as warm as a cool bath. The slope of the beach and waves were gentle enough that even our 3 year old could venture out 100 metres and still be at chest height.
Breakfast was served until 10 am, lunch served between 12:45 and 1:30pm and supper between 7:30 pm and 8:15 pm. This posed something of a problem for us until we figured out a new nap and snack schedule as we are used to North American lunches at noon and dinners at 6 pm. Especially after spending the days outside in the heat and water, our kids were monsters for the first two days at meal times as they were both tired and hungry (both our kids - 20 months and 3 years old - usually nap at 1 pm and are in bed by 8 pm at home!) The area's specialty - the piadina (a cousin of the quesadilla) - saved the weekend as that became the snack of choice between meals.
For lunch and dinner you had three choices of each of the primi, secondi and desserts in addition to the buffet which was primarily various salads and veggies. We were very happy with the meals and the kitchen made an effort to appease even the most discerning of palates (the 3 and 5 year olds). Breakfast was not my favourite meal there but was standard for Italians - a large selection of sweets with a few fruits and cold cuts on the side at the buffet.
Just steps away from the hotel was a long street of shops suited for the every day tourist. Further down the concourse, however, the more upscale shops, clubs and restaurants catered to those without kids in town until the early hours of the morning. Versace, Armani, Dolce and Gabbana among all other spectacular Italian designers have all set up shop there so you know there is no lack of places to lay down your Euros!!
I would highly recommend this hotel to families as it really was a welcome place to stay. We will be back!
Date of Stay: 08/01/2008
Children in Party: 5
Tots (0-2) Kids (3-6) Kids (7-9) Accommodations Dining Kids Play Area Money Value Pool & Water Fun Staff
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Hotel Ca' Bianca
