Sabi Sand Reserve

The Ten Best Family Vacation Destinations Around the World

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Children

Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island's Kona Coast.

Luxist readers have selected their favorite luxury vacation spots for families around the world. From Scotland, France, New Zealand, and South Africa to Hawaii, Colorado and the Galápagos Islands, these destinations offer wonderful programs tailored specifically for children, in addition to luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities.

The top ten vacation destinations for families, according to our readers, include:

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise Through the Burgundian Countryside (France)
Abercrombie & Kent offers many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for family vacations, but one of the most special trips has got to be its river barge cruise through the Burgundian countryside. A chartered seven day cruise aboard La Belle Epoque, A&K's 126-foot-long, 16.5 feet wide barge, is a luxurious and relaxing way to travel and taste award-winning Burgandy wines.

The barge, which is equipped with six cabins, all outside facing and each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. There's one deluxe double cabin; one deluxe twin/double; two twin/double cabins and two cabins each with twin beds. There's also a small swimming pool, a sauna and several sun decks. Bicycles are also available for anyone in the family wanting to cycle in the towns the barge visits. A gourmet chef is on board to prepare all of the meals, which are included in the cost of the excursion.

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Ebony Lodge at the Singita Game Reserve: The Armchair Safari

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Notching up virtually every hotel and travel award since its inception in the mid-1990's, the Ebony Lodge at Singita Game Reserve at Sabi Sand, South Africa, has been nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Luxury Summer Family Vacation.

Singita Game Reserves masterfully balances hospitality, conservation and community, setting it apart from other safari experiences. Singita believes in "fewer beds in larger areas", the idea that a minimal amount of guests would have little impact on the land, and its fauna and flora. This benefits the environment, but also provides up-close, intimate experiences for the guest, with numerous opportunities where they can interact with the surroundings and learn more about conservation principles.

Singita's heritage can be traced back to 1925 when James Fawcett Bailes first purchased a pristine tract of land in the present-day Sabi Sand Reserve. It remained in the family. In the early 1990's, Fawcett's grandson, the current owner of Singita, undertook to focus on preserving his grandfather's legacy. Using 1930's aerial photographs, he undertook to maintain and restore the land to its original condition. An exclusive game lodge was built, offering unsurpassed luxury and wildlife experiences. In 1993, Ebony, the first Singita lodge, opened its doors. Following its success, Singita created additional game lodges in South Africa,Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Gallery: Singita Game Reserves, Ebony Lodge, South Africa

Singita Ebony Lodge offers twelve suites located in charming, elegant and secluded thatched cottages. Each suite is equipped with its own en-suite bathroom and shower, outdoor shower, heated private swimming pool, double-sided fireplace, air-conditioning, private lounge, direct-dial telephones, internet access, and game-viewing deck. Rooms are decorated in Colonial-style with a mix of antiques and modern luxuries, providing a homey, lived-in feel. While relaxing or sipping a cocktail on the private deck, it's not uncommon to see elephant, buffalo and antelope grazing only meters away at any time of day.

Singita welcomes families and offers a reduced rate for children. Kids over the age of 10, sharing with two full-paying adults in a family suite, are accommodated at 50% of the daily rate. Children under the age of 10 can be accomodated if the two family suites or the lodge are booked on an exclusive use basis.

The daily rate is approximately $1,500 per person, based on a double occupancy. The rate includes twice-daily open Range Rover game drives with with professional guides and trackers, as well as all meals and all beverages, including spirits, liquers and premium wines (excluding champagne). Laundry and valet service is also included.

For rate information, visit the Singita website or email Singita at: reservations@singita.com.

Vote for the Luxury Family Summer Vacation destination that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: awards-main, Ebony Lodge, luxist-awards, Sabi Sand Reserve, Safari, Singita, Singita Game Reserve, South Africa