Shipra & I just walked out of the Grand Club at the Grand Hyatt in Goa and it seems I have a headache. We checked-in here this morning to spend our long weekend at this hotel, and we were prepared to see a lot of crowd by the poolside and the breakfast tables, but not in the Club.
In our first couple of rounds to the lounge during the day, the lounge was all empty and peaceful. However, when we got back in the evening for the canapés and Manager’s Drinks, that was not the case. We saw the club full with at least 20-25 kids. Last I checked, this was not the crèche or the Camp Hyatt where babysitting could happen.
I’ve almost never ran into small kids at a hotel lounge, so, this was surprising for a host of reasons.
First, what were the kids doing there? Yes, there was no clause in the hotel rules against bringing kids in the lounge, but most of the times, I’ve seen nothing less than a teenager floating around in these places.
Second, the kids were sort of unsupervised. The parents were busy with their chatter, and left the kids to play inside the lounge as it if was home. So, we had two kids fighting on the floor of the lounge, and then we had other kids directly shooting ball under the table we were seated at.
Third, how many people is good enough in the lounge? I’ve witnessed people coming in during evening drinks to get canapes and so on, but here, there was not even standing room left. There was cacophony all over the place, and more and more people walked in with their kids but none walked out. It sort of came across as if there was one massive group of families checked in, and no one asked them to behave and not be a nuisance to other guests.
We shared our concern with the lounge staff and while they were sorry for the experience, they told us that there is nothing they could really do about it. Apparently, all of them were booked into the Grand Rooms, which come with access to the club included.
The question that is running through my mind is:
Should kids be allowed in hotel Club lounges? What are you thoughts? How would you deal with a situation like this?
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I have always taken my kids from the age of 6 to lounges all over the world. There are no rules stopping the kids. However I always ensure that the kids are well behaved and are not nuisance for other guests. In fact I was surprised that in Canada there is a resort called Delta Lodge in Banff where G8 summit was held. They even allowed pets in their SIgnature Club lounge which was exclusive for elite members…!!! The parents need to be responsible.
What are parents with kids supposed to do? Either the hotel needs to provide strict rules concerning the lounge etc at the time of booking else it’s fine. Everyone is on holiday. If u want peace, don’t travel on long weekends etc.
@Sumeet parents with kids can’t have their kids go out of control in public and turn a blind eye
I think parents need to decide and only someone with kids can comment on it.
@Sumeet if people can’t teach their kids to behave, people without kids have full rights to comment on their behaviour. They being on holiday does not mean they ruin someone else’s holiday!
@Sumeet – By your criteria, only people that smoke should be allowed to determine smoking policies.
I would say my kids 13 and 8 are mature enough and know how to behave in club lounges. They have their phones or computers and just sit at a table in the corner and avoid eye contact.
Club lounge is not a place from kids under 12.
We are currently at the Marriott Park Lane in London and the kids are out of control. I’ve spent my time in the morning and evening dodgeing them and having to put up with their horrid behavior. Just watched one ten year old just take the entire bowl of humus for himself. There is no adult supervision. This really changed what an evening relaxing in the lounge used to be. I vote no kids!
We are currently at the Marriott Park Lane in London and the kids are out of control. I’ve spent my time in the morning and evening dodgeing them and having to put up with their horrid behavior. Just watched one ten year old just take the entire bowl of humus for himself. There is no adult supervision. This really changed what an evening relaxing in the lounge used to be. I vote no kids!
It is stupid to say you can’t have kids in lounge. My well behaved young kids were in at least 30 hotel and airline lounges.
I see plenty of kids in lounges in USA as well as abroad.
Dumb to say you haven’t seen kids in lounges.
If they are not behaving that’s a problem whether kids or adults.
They should’ve been warned to either keep their kids in check or leave, regardless if they paid for the lounge access or not. Unacceptable behavior in a lounge.
lol, with many folks know to MS nowadays, not a surprised that many today are able to book stays that come with the lounges access