Luxury Hotels Are Turning Into Summer Camps for Kids — Included in the Room Rate

More families are choosing high-end hotels that offer camp-style programming for children at no added cost.

Next summer, children staying at Schloss Elmau in Germany’s Bavarian Alps can spend their days attending soccer clinics led by elite German football clubs, participating in literary workshops that end with a professionally bound book, and learning the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and coding. Despite sounding like a prestigious academy or exclusive summer program, all of this takes place at a luxury hotel.

Schloss Elmau is part of a growing group of upscale properties that are rethinking family travel by offering structured, enriching summer activities for younger guests—often included in the nightly room rate. For many families, the appeal is obvious: instead of paying separately for a family vacation and summer camp, they can book a hotel that provides both in one place.

That logic resonated with the Wisniewski family from Dallas. Last summer, they created what they jokingly called “Camp Wisniewski 2025,” traveling with their two school-aged children through Italy, Germany, France, Greece, and Montenegro.

“When you compare the price of sleepaway camp plus a parents-only vacation, it often costs more than traveling together,” says Scott Wisniewski, a wealth manager. “Skipping camp and spending that time exploring as a family can actually save money—and the learning opportunities are endless.”

At D Maris Bay in Turkey, the author recalls relaxing on the beach while her son took part in an educational scavenger hunt focused on the history and culture of the Datça Peninsula. The resort’s summer programming is operated by Gymy Kids, a leading childcare organization based in Istanbul.

Other properties are following suit. At Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa in Texas, children can take golf lessons while parents enjoy the resort’s two championship golf courses. The Preserve Sporting Club and Resort in Richmond, Rhode Island, offers school-age guests activities such as survival skills training, nerf archery, and yoga. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, teenagers can enroll in a marine biologist trainee program, working alongside professionals on conservation efforts like coral reef restoration and manta ray research. Meanwhile, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island, hosts weekly campfires, outdoor movie nights, jewelry-making workshops, surf lessons, and even resort-wide pickleball tournaments during the summer months.

Much like traditional camps, many of these hotels feature secure, enclosed environments that allow children a sense of independence. At Schloss Elmau, kids can move freely between multiple kids’ clubs—jumping on trampolines at one location and doing arts and crafts at another—without adult supervision. Children over seven are allowed to roam the property, while younger guests, like the author’s five-year-old, require an escort.

“The highlight of a family vacation is often the time parents and children spend apart,” says Dietmar Mueller-Elmau, owner of Schloss Elmau and father of six. He explained that offering a wide range of engaging activities helps parents feel comfortable enjoying time on their own—whether that means hiking in the mountains or spending a quiet afternoon at one of the hotel’s seven pools.

In Nantucket, Massachusetts, The Beachside was designed to evoke the feel of an upscale summer camp. “Kids can move freely between the pool, arcade, and lawn games, while parents finally get to relax,” says Jason Brown, one of the hotel’s founders. Guests can expect movie nights under the stars, art workshops, puppet performances, and swim lessons, while parents unwind with a drink on the terrace or take a peaceful bike ride into town.

At the Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland, children spend mornings at Le Monde de Bori, the hotel’s play center featuring an indoor treehouse and expansive gardens with a life-sized chess board. Afternoon activities shift toward skill-based learning, including archery, painting, and pastry-making classes, though these come at an extra cost.

The author’s own summer ended at the Pridwin Hotel and Cottages on Shelter Island, a stay that felt strikingly similar to a classic summer camp. The hotel’s communal atmosphere encouraged fast friendships—within hours of arrival, her daughter had found a swim buddy. Staff members affectionately refer to the property as “Camp Pridwin,” a fitting nickname given the boat rides on Peconic Bay, weekly barbecue nights, and cottage accommodations that resemble elevated camp cabins.