A father’s viewpoint …

Yet another thing that makes me uncomfortable about leaving home for the resort experience is security.  It’s not the lack of it that makes me uncomfortable, however, it’s its omnipresence.

To make it clear where I am coming from, I am one of those people that believes terrorists are actually trying to get us to turn ourselves into a police–and security-obsessed–state.

On the other hand, while I would prefer to fly alone and no one have to take off their shoes first, when I am with the kids, I want the security.

The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, where we are this week, manages to be ultra-secure without being in your face about it or letting a bunch of bullying security guards run roughshod over the guests.  The hotel manages this in a number of ways.  Instead of uniformed security guards, they employ an alert, omnipresent general staff.  Access points are subtly but carefully supervised.  Even the architecture has been designed to make the place safe, especially for children.  The children’s centre, for example, has only one, non-emergency way in or out with an employee working discreetly at a desk with a full view of this entrance and exit. 

It only takes a day here before you feel comfortable letting the kids run ahead or run-off to play while you and your wife finish your dinner.

The place is secure against more than possible human threats, too.  Access to the beach, while easily achieved, is limited and supervised.  You never have to worry about a young child wandering off into the surf.  The same is true about parking lots.  There are no exposed pieces of machinery or tools or vents or drop-offs that you see at so many other supposedly ‘child-friendly’ resorts. 

The pools not only have eagle-eyed lifeguards but, again, there is the omnipresent staff moving about that subtly augments their monitoring of young swimmers.

A kid would really have to work hard to get hurt or lost here and that gives a parent a comfort level  that is essential to being able to enjoy themselves.

This truly is a remarkable place to bring your children as I am noticing more and more each day.