Back-to-school has taken on an entirely new meaning this year for many families. While a record number of students are home from their classrooms due to the pandemic, their parents are also juggling working remotely. It’s a transition, to say the least, but the ability to work and attend classes from any location might be the silver lining for families who long to travel.
Now that kids can connect online with their teachers from just about anywhere, families are no longer locked into restrictive school calendars. It didn’t take hotels and resorts around the world long to catch on — so along with helping parents navigate the challenges of remote learning, properties are working to provide bright spots in a school year filled with many uncertainties. As a bonus, the properties below in the Virtuoso luxury hotel consortium offer exclusive perks that our Family Travel Advisors can access. Need booking help? Reach out!
The Best Family Hotels and Resorts for Remote Learning
Montage Hotels & Resorts, California, Mexico, Utah, South Carolina and Hawaii
High-speed Internet and access to Montage’s IT support team
24/7 access to instant virtual tutoring on 180+ subjects through Tutor.com, a service of The Princeton Review
Daily healthy snacks and lunch
Movement breaks sponsored by Spa Montage
One elective per day, including P.E., art, history and life sciences
Virtuoso Amenities
Montage Laguna Beach: Welcome amenity; $60 daily breakfast credit per bedroom at The Loft or room service; $100 USD Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay
Montage Deer Valley: Daily breakfast credit up to $60 USD per bedroom, per night; $100 USD equivalent Spa Services credit
Montage Palmetto Bluff: $60 USD daily breakfast credit per bedroom, served in restaurant and in-room dining; $100 USD resort or hotel credit to be utilized during stay
Montage Los Cabos: Welcome amenity; daily $70 USD breakfast credit per bedroom, available in the restaurant or through in-room dining; $100 USD equivalent resort or hotel credit to be utilized during stay. For bookings in Specialty Suites, guests will also receive complimentary one-way airport transfers (for up to four guests).
Montage Kapalua Bay: $30 USD daily breakfast credit per guest, per night (up to two guests per bedroom); $150 Spa Montage Kapalua Bay Spa Services Credit to be used during stay
Auberge Resorts Collection
Remote with Auberge is being offered around the world, at each of the 19 properties in the Auberge Resorts Collection. All hotel and resort locations are working with Advantage Testing to provide both in-person and virtual tutoring services.
Students work in their suite or residence
Complimentary webinars on standardized testing and college admission are offered for parents and high school-age kids
Parents can take advantage of adult education courses ranging from Latin American avant-garde art to statistics, and computer science
Every Auberge Resorts Collection location is offering extra-urricular classes tied to their location – think hula dancing on the Big Island at Mauna Lani and Mexican art history classes in Los Cabos
Virtuoso Amenities
All Auberge Resorts properties: Daily continental breakfast for two guests per bedroom; $100 USD food and beverage credit, to be utilized during stay
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are well known for quality kid-friendly offerings at their properties around the world. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita recently unveiled its Knowledge for All Seasons program. In addition to pool and beach cabanas decked out with Wi-Fi, headphones, lap pads and portable chargers, the program supports remote learning in a number of ways:
24/7 tech hotline
Study buddies are available to help with schoolwork and sit in on classes to provide additional supervision
Private tutoring can be arranged
An assortment of classes about Mexico’s history, including cuisine, culture and Spanish lessons
After-school outdoor activities like tennis, surfing and golf
Virtuoso Amenities
Daily continental breakfast for two guests per bedroom, served in restaurant; $100 USD equivalent food and beverage credit to be utilized during stay
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World, Florida
The luxury brand’s Orlando location is offering supervised study sessions that look, in a sense, like a traditional school day. Students can attend for a half day or full day.
9am-12pm supervised learning in a classroom setting with no more than six children
1pm-2pm optional enrichment classes, including arts and crafts and physical education
2pm-3pm additional schoolwork time
Virtuoso Amenities
Continental breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom; $100 USD spa, tennis, golf or retail credit to be utilized during stay
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The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Georgia
Another brand that’s well respected for its family-friendly programming, Ritz-Carlton properties are helping families balance learning with opportunities to relax and have fun. The Ritz Kids Study Buddy program exclusive to The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is customizable.
A counselor reaches out to families before arrival to get information about their remote learning schedule
A personal syllabus is designed to ensure virtual learning is followed, and the Ritz Kids Study Buddy will provide mentorship and assistance
Kids receive a personalized tackle box upon arrival with variety of age-level school supplies
Enrichment activities like fishing, nature walks and arts and crafts provide needed screen time breaks
One Study Buddy is provided per family or travel pod
The program can be booked as a half or full day
Virtuoso Amenities
Daily full breakfast for two guests per bedroom; $100 USD resort or hotel credit, to be utilized during stay
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida
It could be the ultimate field trip. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, has partnered with Florida’s The Reef Institute to offer a 5-day, 4-night program designed to get kids excited about marine biology and ecology. The Remote Learning Field Trip: Barrier Island Ecology package focuses on the barrier island that the resort calls home. Instructor-led nature programming is designed to complement students’ earth-science classes.
In addition to supplies like nets and microscopes, the program includes:
Native dune exploration
Kayaking and boat excursions to sample and study water systems
Learning about migratory species habits of whales and sea turtles
Onsite classrooms with high-speed Wi-Fi for kids to connect to their school coursework
Daily breakfast, lunch and snacks
Virtuoso Amenities
Full breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom; $100 USD Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay
Eden Roc Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
For families interested in an extended stay experience, Eden Roc Cap Cana is offering both a 20- and 30-day Family Staycation program. Along with full board and free Wi-Fi, it includes unlimited Spanish and piano lessons.
In addition, Family Staycation offerings include:
Round-trip transfers to and from the Punta Cana International Airport
In-room office setup
Bike tours
Kayaking
Pizza cooking class and watermelon carving
Virtuoso Amenities
Daily continental breakfast (served in restaurant); complimentary 30-minute massage for up to two per stay; $100 USD equivalent food and beverage credit to be utilized during stay; complimentary round-trip private airport transfers
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Dana Point, California
Back-to-school isn’t so bad when the beach is your backdrop. Southern California’s Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club is helping families juggle screen time with plenty of opportunities to get out and soak up some vitamin D. In addition to a golf course, three pools and beach access, the property offers complimentary bicycles and fitness classes.
The Edu-Cations package includes:
A personal dedicated study room fully equipped with high-speed internet, standup desk, seating area, printer/scanner, restroom and private terrace
One hour of online, on-demand K-12 homework help in all subjects, powered by Tutor.com, a service of The Princeton Review
$100 daily resort credit
Onsite Coastal Education Enrichment Center and activities for all ages, including exhibits and content from the Surf Heritage and Culture Center, Ocean Institute and more
Virtuoso Amenities
Daily full breakfast for two guests per bedroom in AVEO Table + Bar or via room service; $100 USD resort credit, to be utilized during stay
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Sonoma, California
The stress of online schooling melts away when recess includes soaking in a soothing geothermal pool. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn School & Pool package earns top marks from parents looking for a family-friendly escape to wine country. Package benefits include:
Guaranteed late (after-school) checkout, 4pm
10% discount off all food and beverages, including wine and alcohol
On-property tech support
Complimentary use of Fairmont bikes
Complimentary Fairmont Fit Gear lending program (P.E. clothes)
Local field trip suggestions, including Jack London State Park and Mission San Francisco Solano
Virtuoso Amenities
Daily full breakfast for two guests per bedroom, in restaurant or via room service; $100 USD resort or hotel credit to be utilized during stay
The Embark World Academy
A joint effort of luxury hotels from around the world, The Embark World Academy offers a unique lineup of live, virtual classes. Courses typically run eight to 12 weeks, meeting once or twice a week.
No travel or hotel stay is required; students anywhere in the world can enroll
Each class is sponsored by a luxury hotel and taught by in-house staff or local experts
Offerings include a conservation and biology class taught by safari guide Juan Pinto from the Royal Malewane in Kruger National Park in South Africa; a marine biology and sustainability course conducted by staff at Soneva, Maldives; and an etiquette class taught by the pros at The Plaza New York
Photos courtesy of the respective properties pictured.
Editor’s note:This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.
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