Review / Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong and Junior Aviation Academy team up to offer a staycation with a difference – teach your child to fly a plane this Easter
- Ritz Kids’ Aviator Adventure is a staycation with a difference, offering youngsters the chance to ‘fly’ a plane from the comfort of the hotel
- Real pilots teach flight control, kids get to dress up in uniform and there are even a few extras thrown in, from computer games to in-room tents
Easter is here, and while vaccination efforts are ongoing, the reality hit us all long ago that here in Hong Kong borders will remain closed for yet another holiday. So while we wait until we can make travel plans and visit loved ones abroad again, we’re forced to look closer to home for ways to relax and satiate the boundless energy and curiosity of our offspring.
So, with a young son in tow, I decided to test out The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s creative new Aviation Academy staycation.
What’s the hook?
In partnership with the Junior Aviation Academy, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong has launched a Ritz Kids Aviator Adventure staycation that includes a flight simulation experience that might just get children interested in a career as a pilot.
We arrive to find our room equipped with an in-suite tent, which might be of interest to some children, but after a bit of play, our son mainly left the tent alone. Our conclusion? If your child isn’t going through a phase where camping is exciting or they’re craving personal space, this is one aspect you can skip. Or you can just call housekeeping to take it away like we did.
A video games console with games such as Overcooked and Mario Party was also thoughtfully included in the package, as well as a selection of family-friendly board games such as Twister, Life, Monopoly and Scrabble. But they all serve as minor diversions until the main event – the aviator programme!
What does the experience entail?
When it came time for his flight simulator experience, our son was extremely excited, and as we entered the double suite that had been specially modified for the programme, the first thing he had to do was change into a pilot’s outfit. While he enjoyed getting into the spirit of the occasion, I was probably the more enthusiastic, and proceeded to snap dozens of pictures of him in the smart get-up.