INDOOR ACTIVITIES
The Nellie & Nelson Activity Centre
Come rain or shine, Mount Nelson Hotel’s children’s activity centre is where the action is. Located on the ground floor of the Main Hotel building, just a short stretch away from the Hotel Lounge, the secure and cosy space contains a range of educational games and toys, a big screen TV complete with educational DVDs, a blackboard wall, a Nintendo Wii, cosy carpets, beanbags, books and child-friendly furniture.
A floor-to-ceiling mural depicts the hotel’s celebrated African Penguin hosts, Nelson and Nellie, along with their penguin family and assorted local animal friends. Organised activities from group games to storytelling take place throughout the day, and healthy snacks from a mini-bar keep hunger pangs at bay. An enclosed outdoor area leads out from the play area, with a custom designed bathroom and baby-changing facility.
The fully supervised centre is open throughout the year daily from 10am to 6pm (closed over lunchtime between 12:30pm and 13:30pm), and available to all resident hotel guests between the ages of four and twelve at no extra charge (children under four years must be accompanied by a parent, au pair or babysitter).
The centre is also available to locals and outside guests visiting the hotel and Librisa Spa at an hourly rate of approximately ZAR125.
Teens Lounge and Games Room
Located adjacent to the Nellie & Nelson Activity Centre, the Teens Lounge and Games Room has proved extremely popular with teens and in-betweens. Slick styling (think oversized couches, mirrored surfaces and monochrome prints) and an exciting selection of games and cool gadgets (the likes of Playstation, Wii, DVDs and computers) make this an ideal secure (and semi-supervised) chill-out zone and meeting place for big-kids.
The hotel also provides a personalised Teen’s Concierge service which is arranges tailor-made excursions for teens upon request. The Teens Lounge is open to hotel guests over the age of 12 everyday from 10am until 6pm.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Fresh air, sunshine and space to play
The hotel’s rolling green lawns lend themselves to cricket and soccer, or a make-believe fairies’ tea amongst the roses. After all that, there’s no better place to cool off than the super-sized (and supervised) Oasis swimming pool. Flowerbeds with colourful blooms and tree-lined pathways provide ample ‘hide-and-go-seek’ territory, and after everyone’s been discovered, nothing beats an afternoon nap on a comfy lounger under a tree.
For curious kids, educational garden walks with the hotel horticulturist Paul Rice may be arranged, and to help instil eco-awareness, a visit to the hotel’s vermiculture or ‘worm farm’ project is a must.
DISKI FEVER!
Celebrating World Cup 2010
To encourage families to get into the spirit of things before and during the World Cup 2010 period, Mount Nelson Hotel has arranged for a professional team of dancers from a local community to teach guests to ‘diski’. The diski dance is the official World Cup 2010 supporters dance – it’s inspiring and addictive, and it’s a great way for friends and family to reconnect by doing something active and out of the ordinary.
Diski lessons take place at the hotel and are available upon request at an hourly rate of ZAR700 (ZAR100 is donated to a local football-related charity organisation).
FOODIE FUN
Mealtimes with Nellie & Nelson
Executive Chef Rudi Liebenberg and his team have devised a new themed menu with little tummies in mind. Featuring children’s classics, each dish is nutritious and easy to eat. The menu is available all year around from In-room Dining, Oasis restaurant, the Hotel Lounge and the Nellie & Nelson Activity Centre.
SPECIAL TOUCHES
Festive Fun
Mount Nelson Hotel is famous for its annual Festive Season Programme for children. Daily indoor and outdoor activities are organised by trained supervisors and range from play-dough sculpture to drawing, storytelling, tennis, soccer, and other entertainments. The emphasis is on movement and exercise – encouraging children of all ages to be active, stay curious and get creative. The programme is available to all resident hotel guests under the age of 12, at no extra charge.
Children’s Concierge
Mount Nelson Hotel’s Concierge and Guest Relations team will put together a specially designed family holiday itinerary including child-friendly excursions to places of interest close to the hotel (for example, The Planetarium, Aquarium, Atlantic Seaboard beaches) and day trips to destinations around the Cape Peninsula (the likes of the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simonstown and Cape Point Nature Reserve).
Spa Treats for Little Princesses
Mount Nelson Hotel’s Librisa Spa is the only spa in South Africa to offer treatments specially designed for little girls. A ‘Sparkle Mini Pedicure’ complete with glittery polish, is the ultimate treat for tiny feet, and a ‘Lavender and Aloe Cinderella Facial’ or ‘Cocoa Fairy Mask’ is a sure bet to get any little face glowing.
Babysitting Service
Mount Nelson Hotel is all about romance, so for moms and dads looking to take time out to enjoy a child-free night out, a 24-hour babysitting service is available (rates vary depending on duration).
Little Extras
Little guests are made to feel extra special with the following complimentary child-friendly extras:
Children (aged 3-12 years)
