Don’t let the immaculate grounds, Asian-inspired minimalist pavilions on open-plan ponds and lagoons distract you; this is one of the most heavenly, family-friendly places to go.
A man hotels may be most known for their sleek resorts that evoke luxury, tranquility and peace. The hotels are tailored to urbanites and those looking for a break and a moment of calm in an incredibly beautiful environment. The Amanyara is located on the main island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, a tropical paradise in the Northern Caribbean only four hours from New York and eight hours from London. The luscious surroundings, gourmet cuisine served in three restaurants and oriental pagoda-styled accommodations are a delight. These have between one and four bedrooms, and are incredibly private open-plan havens that spill out onto your own pond, pool or private beach. The island-centric spa treatments are some of the most soothing experiences imaginable.
How can this be a place for children you ask?
Amanyara have revolutionized the ‘kids club’. They have created a program called SEEK (Science Explorers and Environmental Keepers): a thoughtful and engaging program to entertain and educate their younger guests whilst on holiday at this exclusive paradise. The hotel sets the perfect scene on their 18,000 acre natural reserve that is populated with indigenous wildlife, jungle and of course, the pristine white sandy beaches that the islands of Turks and Caicos are so famous for.
These innovative programs have been created in partnership with professors and scientists at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami. The experiences are hands-on, science focused and all based outside in the natural environment. Programs are designed around three themes and aimed at 5-10 and 11-14 year-olds.
One theme is coastal conservation, where young explorers kayak deep into the mangroves to study the fragile ecosystem and visit the on-site mangrove nurseries. They investigate sand under a microscope, learn about the problem with micro-plastics, and are then challenged to build their own coastline; reflecting a real-world engineering issue to protect coastlines worldwide.
Another, the reef rescue program, highlights the fragility and importance of coral and other marine life located along the pristine reefs of Northwest Point Marina National Park near the resort. The kids will learn all about predator-prey relationships on the reef in a life-size coral reef food web. They will also investigate coral bleaching with a hands-on experiment simulating how corals are impacted by climate change, snorkel and kayak, and build a Save the Reef campaign.
The Sun, Moon and Stars program includes nighttime stargazing, constellation mapping, spectroscopy, moon model creation and understanding how to map the galaxy. Kids will love getting little keepsakes and souvenirs from their experiences as well as complimentary tickets to visit Frost Science in Miami. The idea was to offer children a fun, active, and educational experience that will remain with them long after returning home.
The hotel also offers yoga, pilates and fitness classes for younger guests, including instruction in breathing techniques and meditation, to help relieve stress and foster a sense of calm. Coupled with the existing soccer and tennis camps, beach volleyball and basketball, water sports and art activities there is an abundance to do for all the younger guests and most importantly allows for mum and dad to also enjoy their leisure time!
