Updated August 19, 2025

Childhood experiences of summer holidays can really shape character and confidence, creating happy memories to last into adulthood. Luxury private villas are a perfect way to relax and have fun with family, offering all the convenience and comfort of an exclusive home-like setting. Kids are happiest playing in the pool, setting out on an adventure, and spending time at the beach, but it also doesn’t take long for them to say “I’m bored” once they run out of things to do.

If this happens to you and your family during your villa stay, you may find that there’s always a solution to keep kids engaged and busy during their stays, whether it’s in the best private villas in Phuket, the most elegant rentals in Bali, or even a beautiful villa on Koh Samui. Not only will these activities keep kids from getting bored, but they also help make their trips to these tropical destinations extra special.

Related article: A Guide to Koh Samui for Kids

10 Unconventional Ways to Make Villa Stays Special for Kids

It always helps to have a fun activity or two for kids in your bags to make long hours of traveling bearable, but they’re also helpful for those times when there’s “nothing to do” at the villa. Note that some villa features such as billiard tables, gym equipment or deep infinity pools are not appropriate or safe for all kids, so consider booking a kid-friendly villa first before planning anything around your stay.

1. Take Scrapbooks and Art Supplies

Scrapbooking may be a lost tradition, but it is a wonderful way for children to pass the time and create a memento of their holiday. Take big scrapbooks with you along with paper and art supplies so that kids can indulge their artistic side, and encourage them to collect things like tickets to tourist attractions, pictures from brochures, and other paper-based memorabilia.

2. Inspire Imagination and Creative Writing

Use your luxury villa setting as a basis for a short story. Perhaps spending time in the villa’s gardens could spark off a story about a fairytale secret land. What about a tale exploring a magical jungle or adventures at sea with a castaway, desert island plot? Tell your own stories as you explore the villa and its nearby attractions to fire up their imaginations.

Related article: Top 8 Fun Activities to Do for Kids in Phuket

3. Encourage Visual Storytelling

Most kids, especially the older ones, love being creative. Encourage them to take interesting holiday snaps to artistically arrange in one big photo board for a fun and satisfying project to put together at the end of the trip. They can also create a photo slideshow and even a video of their holiday experiences. A visual account of their holiday is a great project for all ages, but especially for tweens and teens who can do anything with their phone cameras.

4. Invite Everyone to A Midnight Feast

It does not have to be exactly at midnight, but youngsters love the idea of doing something out of the ordinary. As a special treat, let children go to bed and pre-arrange the event so that when you all sneak into the kitchen there are lots of pre-made snacks laid out by the villa staff and private chef. Let kids stay up talking a little so that they feel like conspirators and they will always remember this night.

Related article: How Meals & Food are Served or Arranged at a Luxury Villa

5. Plan a Slumber Party

Relaxed activities are often preferable to high-energy pursuits. Create some fun for an evening where the whole family, or just the kids, get into their nightwear early and enjoys a themed night. You can play board games or watch a movie in the villa’s private cinema room. In some cases, you may even want to book a kid-friendly massage therapist and turn the slumber party into a relaxing spa night.

6. Go On a “Digital Detox” for The Whole Family

Whilst youngsters may pine for their smartphones and sulk for a while if you take them away, a luxury villa holiday offers so many alternatives they will soon forget that they need to stay connected. Adults are always being advised to tune out of work and their emails, and children need time off too. Give them a break from using their phones and gadgets, even for a short while, and encourage them to interact with others face-to-face.

Related article: A Guide to Taking a Digital Detox

7. Join In On the Fun

At home you all have your busy lives and set roles. The luxury of a holiday villa is that you can loosen up and be as carefree as the kids. Take part in their interests and activities as much as possible, and spark their imaginations with your own creative ideas. This may be a great opportunity to get to know kids better, and they might even learn more about the grown-ups in their lives as well.

8. Learn A New Skill and Enjoy New Experiences

A luxury villa destination promises a rich world of holiday adventure and an opportunity for youngsters to try out new potential hobbies. Get them to list a few activities they would like to do and bring learning into the experience. If they try something different, they’re likely to have a great sense of achievement which helps with their personal development. Plus they may get the opportunity to make new friends, whether with the villa staff or people they meet while sightseeing.

Related article: Essential Phrases to Learn When Visiting Thailand

9. Create a List of Holiday Challenges

At the start of the vacation, give each child a to-do list of fun and interesting things to achieve. This might include collecting seashells, spotting wildlife, using phrases from the local language, and some physical challenges as well. During their holiday kids can tick off each task, with a special end-of-holiday surprise if they complete them all. This is a great way to not just keep them active, but also occupied, involved and engaged.

10. Organize a Scavenger Hunt

With the help of your villa’s helpful staff, you can create a mystery trail with clues hidden around the villa grounds. Set it up so that each piece of the puzzle leads to the next. You could hide small gifts along the way too and even give the hunt a theme. If you want to make the activity more elaborate, get kids to dress up and give them roles to play as a detective, beachcomber or pirate. Give them a set time to find the hidden treasure for additional excitement.

Related article:Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Spend a Luxury Villa Holiday in Bali

Make Luxury Villa Stays More Engaging

A luxury villa holiday can be dream come true for youngsters. Even when kids say they’re “bored,” you can always find a way to make their villa stays more interesting for them if you let your imagination fly. That way, they don’t have to rely on gadgets or solitary activities to keep themselves amused. Inject imagination, education, and activities into the experience and create a magical vacation they will remember forever.

Get more fun travel ideas with our Travel Guide & Inspiration.