Organising a family-friendly holiday may be more of a struggle than most parents might imagine.
A new survey has revealed that almost 250,000 parents are having to cut short their holidays after their offspring received a less-than-welcoming reception at their chosen resort.
The research, carried out on behalf of Luxury Family Hotels, found that one in eight dismayed parents have arrived at their holiday accommodation to find a lack of facilities catering to their young ones, including no baby-changing facilities, adult-only menus and a lack of kids’ clubs.
One shocked parent even described how their child had been branded a “brat”, prompting the family to make a swift exit.
Almost a quarter of those surveyed said that they had been subject to icy glares from other guests.
Nigel Chapman, the founder of Luxury Family Hotels, said: “It’s very sad to hear how many families have experienced below par service or facilities specifically because they have had their children with them.
“Just because you have children this should not mean that you aren’t able to enjoy an amazing family break that caters to all your needs.”
Recent research from Tripadvisor revealed that travellers are keen to have child-free zones on flights, with more than a third of travellers preparing to stump up more cash and buy a more expensive ticket to avoid children altogether.
When questioned whether children should be allowed to fly in Business-Class or First-Class cabins, 34 per cent argued that they should be excluded, while 36 per cent said they were happy for them to stay.
“Even on a short-haul holiday the flight makes up a significant part of the travel experience, and a stressful flight can really have a negative impact,” said Emma Shaw, a TripAdvisor spokesperson.
“Any disturbance when flying is a frustration but it seems that unruly children are among the biggest frustrations for some passengers. It’s clearly a topic that fiercely divides opinion.”
