On a recent trip to the Maldives, the general manager of a resort looked at me chasing after my little one and smiled - “Next time, come here only with
your husband. You will have a different, peaceful experience.” I laughed it off but his words stayed with me. He was even ready to set up a beautiful deck-side evening just for us but I walked in with the kids. The mother in me couldn’t settle with the idea of sipping cocktails in serenity while my children were tucked away in a play area. Of course, serenity was far from what followed. One child found her slushie too thick, the other demanded more coffee in her iced coffee. Snacks were never quite right and what was meant to be an indulgent evening turned into a keep-the-kids-happy activity. It’s the irony of family vacations - we yearn for peace, but travel often turns into managing tiny meltdowns in the most scenic of places. I remember how badly I wanted to book a stay at Ananda in the Himalayas only to be told kids aren’t allowed. I never made that booking. At Taj Rishikesh, I sat by the Ganga with the majestic Himalayan ranges in front of me, yet couldn’t take in the beauty because one child was edging dangerously close to the river while the other whined about going back to the room. Bliss was all around, but impossible to absorb. It turns out, this isn’t just my story. Across the world and increasingly in India, adults-only and no-kids resorts are becoming a growing trend. The Atmosphere group’s newly redone Sadar Manzil in Bhopal, for instance, doesn’t allow children or even stag groups. The Tamara Coorg in Karnataka restricts entry to children below 12, citing safety concerns in its forested, nature-heavy environment. This shift hasn’t come without debate. In France, Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol once called for a ban on child-free resorts and hotels, arguing they were “discriminatory” and risked “creating a society of intolerance.” Her remark was sharp- “Children aren’t troublesome pets.” But parents themselves admit to double standards. “When we travel with kids, we expect others to adjust. But if I have paid a premium for peace and quiet, and noisy children disrupt that, I do complain,” says Pratima Singhla, mother of two. “You just want to float in the infinity pool and chat quietly, but then kids jump in with floaties, splashing and shouting. It does irritate us.” Hoteliers are keen to clarify: adults-only doesn’t mean anti-family or anti-children. It’s about offering a different kind of holiday which is focused on quiet retreats, sleep tourism, wellness and reconnecting with yourself or your partner. Parents, singles, couples and friends alike are increasingly willing to pay a premium for this stillness. And it’s not just about the absence of children. Adults-only resorts lean into experiences like wine tasting, yoga, wellness treatments, spa therapies, cooking classes—wrapped in premium comforts. Think infinity pools with uninterrupted views, soft sheets, artful interiors, experimental cuisine and uninterrupted conversations. For single travelers, like entrepreneur Vinisha, these escapes mean indulgence without compromise. For parents, ironically, they have become a chance to recharge before heading back to the chaos of family life. While family-friendly resorts remain plentiful, the adults-only niche has been there and is now carving out a bigger space for itself. Because sometimes, the most luxurious thing of all isn’t the location or the view, but the sound of absolute silence.
