Most American families opt for all-inclusive, Caribbean resorts for their family vacation. It’s easy and provides tons of options for all family members. Naively, I assumed it was the only legitimate option as well, but I recently discovered Kinderhotel Oberjoch in Germany. It’s the most toddler-friendly, all-inclusive property that I’ve visited and the best alternative to all-inclusive, Caribbean resorts. If you want something different and you’d like to experience Europe but you still dream of all the conveniences of an all-inclusive, look no further; Kinderhotel Oberjoch is a family-friendly Paradise that truly understands the needs of families with younger children.

Kinderhotel‏ Oberjoch is one of the leading hotels for children in Germany and they understand perfectly what it takes to nurture and care for all of the family from the tiniest baby to the big kids at heart. The welcoming, fun lobby is a great introduction to the amenities available at the hotel. Filled with toys, rocking horses, huge lego building blocks, and vibrant colors, I knew from the moment that I walked in the door it would be a great adventure for Athena.

Kinderhotel offers kids club for children as young as infants to age 16. In order to be allowed to be called a Kinderhotel that welcomes babies too, a hotel must offer more than just a painting and craft area, a playground, and an indoor children’s pool. Kinderhotel provides age-appropriate child care and many exciting opportunities based on strict paedogogical standards. In addition to ensuring your child’s well-being, they provide a wide range of exciting activities tailored to the different age groups of children.

Athena was part of the Toddler Club for children ages 12-36 months. The bright, child-friendly room was full of fun activities and games and the English-speaking child-care providers were warm and welcoming. She had so much fun in the Toddler Club that she didn’t even want to go swimming in the pool. Considering swimming is her favorite activity, it really speaks wonders about the club.

Once Athena found out about the awesomeness of their dining facilities, I couldn’t get her out of there either. Their all-inclusive gourmet dining includes a generous breakfast buffet, a selection of delicacies at lunch, a cake, ice cream, and snack buffet in the afternoon and changing themed buffets in the evening. All non-alcoholic drinks from the fountain are available around the clock for free! Then there’s the windless sun terrace with stunning views of the surrounding mountains, a cozy and quaint room with wood stove and, last but not least, a child-sized buffet bar equipped with plastic silverware, mini plates, a mini drink fountain, and bite-sized, kid friendly foods all within her reach.

There are 145 guest rooms including 80 family suites that provide everything from nursing pillows, baby bath tubs, step stools, baby wipes, and even strollers. Our bathroom had a cute, green step stool, a toddler bath tub, a lower sink for hand washing, a potty, and baby wipes. Athena felt like a big girl when she stepped on the stool and turned on the water on her own. And she felt even more like a big girl when she slept in her own bunk bed. It was the happiest she’d ever been to go to her room.

The brilliant facilities include a swimming and sauna complex with panoramic views, indoor and outdoor pools, giant whirlpool, children’s “Splashing Around the Farm” pool, Germany’s longest hotel water slide (128m), several themed saunas, and a panoramic relaxation room. Most impressively is the 2000m² of indoor play area with a theatre, cinema, gym, go-karting, soft play area, and year-round skating rink. Outdoors, guests enjoy a climbing forest with 15 stations and a mini zoo with alpacas, rabbits, donkies, ponies, ducks, and birds. For both adults and children, there is scheduled hiking, walking, snowshoeing (in the winter), and fantastic ski and hiking areas with free ski passes in winter and free mountain cable car in summer. They even offer toddler ski courses and weekly in-house theatre performances.

There were so many options that I had to create a schedule to fit it all in. The saying should be changed from “like a kid in a candy store” to “like a kid at Kinderhotel‏ Oberjoch.” It was truly remarkable.

Families are becoming more adventures and realizing that the world is now at our doorstep. With direct flights from the US to Frankfurt, Germany and all-inclusive hotels like Kinderhotel‏ Oberjoch, Europe is more accessible than ever. Consider it for your next family vacation, but make sure to plan lots of time because you won’t want to leave.