Even Babies Are Welcome at the Spa at These Ultra Luxury Resorts

Hotel spas were once sanctuaries of adults-only serenity, where frazzled executives and exhausted parents could escape, leaving chaos outside. But step into that same tranquil space today, and you might find a different scene: a mother and her 12-year-old daughter in matching robes, preparing for side-by-side massages. Mom opts for deep tissue, while her daughter enjoys a gentle “mini-me” massage. Nearby, a teenager waits for a specialized treatment that targets muscle tension caused by her phone use.

What was once an exclusively grown-up domain is now being marketed as a multigenerational wellness experience appropriate for stressed teenagers, curious elementary schoolers and even toddlers and babies. Gone are the days of dropping your children off at a “kids club” so you could enjoy a few child-free hours—parents now expect to share most experiences with their kids. And there’s a consensus, among the wealthiest parents at least, that spending money on these bonding activities, no matter how luxurious, is worth it. The wellness and travel industries have taken note, identifying the under-16 crowd as their next lucrative frontier, blazing ahead with offerings that go well beyond “Mommy and Me” manicures.