In the realm of family travel, few things beat the wide-eyed wonder of a child discovering that their favorite storybook world has been made real—especially when said world comes with Frette linens and artisanal hot chocolate on demand. These are not your average-themed hotel rooms. They are meticulously designed fantasy suites where beloved characters live in velvet drapes, custom wallpaper, and the occasional enchanted staircase.
Yes, they’re for the kids. But make no mistake—parents will fall just as hard.
Call it the rise of literary luxury: a new breed of family suite that combines narrative play with impeccable design. These rooms are whimsical without being kitschy and imaginative without sacrificing comfort. In short, they’re where fairytales grow up (just a little). From a pink palace tribute to Eloise to a wizard’s lair hidden behind a London bookcase, here’s where to check in when you want your next family trip to feel like the first page of something magical.
The Eloise Suite at The Plaza in New York, NY
Should your child wish to vacation in a world entirely curated by a precocious six-year-old with a penchant for room service and mischief, there is, quite fortunately, a suite for that. Behind a pink door at The Plaza lies the Eloise Suite—a confection of pink and white where zebra-print carpets meet a glowing neon “Eloise!” sign, and the bathtub blushes on cue.
Her clothes are in the closet, her dolls arranged just so, and her books stacked as if awaiting a dramatic reading. Guests are greeted with pink lemonade, sweets, and a welcome letter from Eloise herself, along with a monogrammed tote and sweatshirt—naturally. For those traveling with help (or simply craving a nightcap), an adjoining Edwardian-style Nanny Suite is available, complete with champagne and chocolate truffles.
It’s absurd, extravagant—and exactly what you’d expect from a fictional Plaza resident with impeccable taste.
Wizard Chambers at Georgian House Hotel — London, UK
London has its share of highbrow hotels, but few offer a portal to a parallel universe quite like the Georgian House Hotel’s Wizard Chambers. Tucked behind a candlelit corridor in a 19th-century London townhouse, this hidden suite feels plucked from a spellbook. Stone walls, stained glass, velvet-draped beds, and cauldrons in the fireplace set the stage for a night of pure magic.
Every detail feeds the fantasy—tapestries, trunks, wood-burning stoves—making young guests feel like they’ve been personally invited to wizarding school. Parents, meanwhile, can enjoy the rare pleasure of silence as their children vanish into a world of potions, spells, and elaborate bedtime stories.
The Bemelmans Suite at Ocean House — Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Ocean House is the kind of East Coast grande dame that typically caters to honeymooners and hydrangea enthusiasts. But tucked within its polished clapboard walls is a suite that pays elegant homage to the tiniest Parisian with the biggest personality: Madeline.
Developed in partnership with the estate of Ludwig Bemelmans, the suite captures the spirit of the beloved books without overdoing it. Think pale yellow accents (a nod to Madeline’s iconic coat), original sketches by Bemelmans, and custom furnishings with just enough whimsy to delight younger guests while maintaining grown-up restraint. It’s less costume and more couture. And with ocean views and a spa downstairs, it might just be the rare kids’ suite that’s as restorative for parents as it is thrilling for kids.
Tinkerbell’s Treehouse at Charmed Resorts — Alberta, Canada
Not every storybook suite comes with white-glove service—and that’s part of the appeal. At Charmed Resorts in Alberta, handcrafted cottages inspired by fairytales are scattered throughout a forest clearing like something out of a particularly charming dream sequence.
Tinkerbell’s Treehouse is the standout. Built around a curved staircase and crowned with a turreted roof, it’s pure forest fantasy. Inside, twinkle lights flicker, beds are tucked into cozy alcoves, and everything feels cobbled together by forest creatures with excellent design taste. It’s not lavish but lovingly made—and sometimes, that’s even better. Here, families unplug, explore, and rediscover the pleasure of an old-fashioned story told well.
Ultimately, these suites do more than delight the youngest travelers—they remind the rest of us what it feels like to believe in magic. They’re proof that good design can do more than impress; it can transport. And while your children may remember the treehouse bed or the velvet curtains, you’ll remember how their faces lit up as they stepped into the pages of a beloved book—together, under one very well-designed roof.
