Thanks to our contributor Jake Cain for sharing his amazing experience relaxing near Versailles with kids!
We’d just survived a full day at Disneyland Paris with three boys – and I’m using the word “survived” very deliberately here. By the time we dragged ourselves and our exhausted kids to the next stop, we looked like we’d just run a marathon at the happiest place on earth. All we wanted was somewhere quiet to recover before tackling the heart of Paris with kids the next day.
That’s when we pulled up to Dolce by Wyndham Versailles, and I immediately had that sinking feeling every parent knows. You know the one. The pristine lobby, the glass tables, and high-end furnishings have you questioning if you should have brought your three spirited kids to this place. When Wyndham invited us to check out the property we were a little skeptical, and they were going to need to convince us that it’s truly a family-friendly option.
I started out being worried that a broken glass table might end up on my credit card’s “incidental” charges, but it turns out that hidden behind the luxurious first impression of the Dolce by Wyndham Versailles is a place that works for the entire family.
When Luxury Doesn’t Mean “No Kids Allowed”
Walking into Dolce feels like stepping into a French countryside estate, which makes sense because that’s exactly what it is. The 178-room resort sits on 135 acres of gardens in the beautiful Bièvre Valley, just a few minutes from the Palace of Versailles. It’s the perfect place to base yourself if you plan to visit Versailles with kids and want to make your stop more appealing to your offspring.
❗Pro tip: Due to heavy tourism, you now need to purchase your admission to the Palace of Versailles in advance if you want guaranteed admission for a specific day. Go for the Passport ticket here to include the incredible gardens in your ticket along with the Trianon.
I quickly learned that the staff at Dolce has mastered the art of family-friendly luxury without sacrificing the peaceful atmosphere that adults want. A friendly young man grabbed our suitcases and drove us down to our room on a golf cart, which immediately scored points with the kids. Our room came with a sunny private terrace and was a quick walk from the spa, which would prove to be crucial for our sanity.
There are lots of different room types here that work for families, including regular rooms with a bed and a sleep sofa, suites and even apartments with a kitchenette. Since we have three kids, we stayed in adjoining rooms and had plenty of space to spread out. The boys loved the direct access to the outdoors from our patio.
The property is made up of several buildings connected by walking paths through lots of trees and open spaces. It felt like what I’d imagine staying at a rich French uncle’s estate feels like, not a typical hotel.
The Spa Experience That Saved Our Trip
Here’s the thing about traveling in Europe with kids for three weeks: by week two, your body feels like you’ve been run over by a very small, very energetic monster truck. My wife and I knew we’d be worn out and sore from all the walking, so we planned ahead and booked a couples massage at Spa du Moncel by Sothys.
This turned out to be one of the best decisions we made on our entire Europe trip. The spa was a high-end experience that made us want to book another 50 minutes right afterward. We also had access to all the spa amenities including the steam room, ice cave, sauna, and the heated indoor and outdoor pools that are connected via a swim-out.
We took the boys with us to the pool area, and fortunately had a beautiful, sunny July day where we could grab loungers and actually unwind – an addition to our visit to France with kids that they really appreciated. They loved the indoor-outdoor pool to splash in the sun when they felt like it and then cool off in the shade later. The kids could swim and play while we recovered from our day at Disneyland. For the first time in weeks, nobody was asking “what’s next on the schedule?”
The Kid-Friendly Fun Hiding In Plain Sight
While we were waiting for our room to be ready, our golf cart driver showed me something that completely changed my perception of this place. Right behind the front desk check-in area was a private billiards room. Not obvious, not advertised, just there for guests who knew to ask.
Then he pointed out a foosball table in the lobby, but showed me another one that was more tucked away, so you could play without disturbing the peaceful atmosphere. It’s a smart design that keeps everyone happy.
But the best discovery was downstairs in their expansive conference area: a ping pong table! We all love to play, so we got in some doubles matches each night before heading to our room. The check-in desk has all the equipment you need, you’ve just got to ask.
The kids had their entertainment (screen-free!), we had our quiet luxury, and somehow it all worked perfectly.
It’s like Dolce figured out the secret to family travel: give kids what they need without ruining the experience for everyone else.
Food That Made Us Forget We Were Tired
Since we were spending our first day recharging our batteries, we decided to have dinner at La Toile, one of the resort’s two restaurants. The weather was perfect, so we sat on the huge patio surrounded by garden views with light music playing in the background.
I’d love to give you a full menu review, but none of us could get past how amazing the steak sounded and looked. We all ordered it, and it was an amazing decision. The steak was cooked to perfection and capped off one of the most relaxing days of our trip.
The breakfast buffet was equally impressive and one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve had. Yogurt parfait station, eggs, meats, pastries, and more, plus a barista machine that creates cappuccinos and lattes on demand. It’s the kind of breakfast that makes you want to linger instead of rushing off to the next tourist attraction.
Getting to Paris Without the Paris Stress
One of the smartest things about staying at Dolce is the location. We had no problem scheduling an Uber from the hotel to the train station, but during morning rush hour we decided to walk to the nearby Metro station instead. It’s an easy 10-minute walk, and the total travel time to Paris city center was about 45 minutes.
You get the peaceful countryside setting at night and easy access to the Eiffel Tower area during the day. It’s like having a retreat that’s still connected to everything you want to see.
We were so worn out after dinner in Paris that we opted for the convenience of an Uber ride back to the peaceful setting at Dolce Versailles.
Why This Resort Works for Every Type of Traveler
If you’re traveling as adults only, you’ll love the spa experience and the calming nature of the property. Do splurge for a massage and definitely go for the steak at La Toile – you’ll quickly turn your France trip into a vacation.
But here’s what surprised me: if you’re traveling as a family that wants to unplug and get away from the noise of the big city while still being able to spend time in the heart of Paris, you’ll love the sneaky kid-friendly amenities that Dolce provides.
It feels like an upscale experience from beginning to end, but one that actually welcomes families instead of just tolerating them.
The Bottom Line
Most family-friendly resorts make it obvious that kids are welcome by plastering everything with cartoon characters and primary colors. Dolce takes the opposite approach. They’ve created a sophisticated environment that happens to have everything families need, just tucked away where it doesn’t interfere with the peaceful atmosphere that adults want.
It’s proof that you don’t have to choose between luxury and family-friendly amenities. Sometimes the best family destinations are the ones that don’t look like family destinations at all.
After three weeks of European city hopping, this place gave us exactly what we needed: a chance to recharge in beautiful surroundings without sacrificing the cultural experience we came for. And those hidden ping pong matches? They might have been the kids’ favorite part of the entire trip.
Jake Cain is an entrepreneur from Cincinnati, Ohio. He started his journey as a travel writer in 2020 when he and his wife decided to homeschool their 3 boys and embark on a two-year road trip across nearly every US state in their 1999 conversion van. What started as a personal travel blog at SamplingAmerica.com has led to syndication on the AP Wire and MSN.
Plan your family trip to France
Want to make Versailles part of an epic family trip to France? Check out these articles to plan the rest of your trip!
Nice write-up — helpful details. Quick question: did the resort offer any kids’ activities or childcare that let you enjoy the spa, or was it mainly the adjoining rooms and outdoor space that made things manageable? Also, was breakfast family-friendly (timings/choices) or did you have to adjust plans for the kids?
Hi Petra,
Thanks for reading! I don’t believe they had childcare available while adults visited the spa. Our boys were old enough that we kind of let them do their own thing in our room while we visited the spa. As for breakfast, I’d say it was quite family-friendly. You serve yourself buffet style, but you are seated in the nice restaurant area and they had plenty of options in terms of food choices. It was a really impressive breakfast!
Nice write-up — really helpful. Quick question: did you find it easy to get a late checkout or quiet space for naps with three kids, or did you have to pay extra for those conveniences?