Photo Friday: Kid-Friendly Hotels on the 2009 Hot List

Conde Nast Traveler released their 2009 Hot List this week and I was thrilled to see two Ciao Bambino Approved properties, Borgo Santo Pietro and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, included in the list. The Hot List isn’t about kids, it’s about introducing trendy and interesting travel finds.
My mantra is that just because you have kids, absolutely doesn’t mean you can’t or don’t want to stay in spectacular hotels that are incredible for you and and fun for your kids. These two attributes are not mutually exclusive!
I stayed at Borgo Santo Pietro in the fall and I have to say that this is one of the most extraordinary property I’ve seen in Tuscany. You can read the complete review on the Borgo Santo Pietro profile page, but I’m going to use Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday to showcase a few highlights of this very special property.
The hotel has grand decor inside and I have to say as a parent of a young boy, I was never very relaxed inside with little and likely dirty hands … but the enormous outdoor areas are wonderful with plenty of space for kids to roam trouble-free. The owner has a 2.5-year-old son and built a terrific playground complete with trucks and toys.

There is also a fantastic organic garden where they grow the majority of the herbs, fruits, and vegetables used in the restaurant. Here’s a shot of Devon giving the garden a test drive.

One of the things that is so well done here is the huge variety of spaces outside for people to relax. Day and night — it’s hard to choose where to sit — I love that! Here’s a shot of one of the grassy areas. What you can’t see is the idyllic view from here …

We were there in October and it was still warm enough for a dip in the pool. As you can see in the photo, it has a great little shallow area for kids. I can only imagine how glorious it would be on a warm summer day.

Although the property is located only 30 minutes outside of Siena, the immediate area feels quite isolated. This is not the ideal home-base for sightseeing, plus, why bother given the phenomenal set up. That said, the surrounding landscape is gorgeous and there are plenty of walking, biking, and hiking opportunities. This nearby ruined abbey had such a surreal, magical feel to it—a fun mini-excursion.

One of the things about Ciao Bambino that is unique is that we actively seek properties that are truly special in one way or another … I’m not saying that it’s necessary or relaxing to stay at a luxury hotel at every stop, but it’s nice to have that option when you are looking for that extraordinary hotel experience. With only 7 rooms, Borgo Santo Pietro is not one of those properties that is going to have huge price fluctuations and deals to offer, even in this market. Regardless, it is a one-of-a-kind spot … kids or no kids.