Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort Children learn to make "Cowboy Biscuits" at Coyote Camp at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix. Coyote Camp offers activities linked to the Southwest culture and environment. "Many parents say at first, 'What? You want to leave my kids here?' Then they discover it is educational. More like art camp, not day care," said Marti Monti, a counselor. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Posh resorts catering to kids Club Med Sandpiper lets children and grownups be happily active or relaxed

Yes, you and your spouse want a break from the kids to get a romantic dinner or go to the spa or golf.

But how do you know whether the kids' club at the hotel or resort is enjoyable for children -- not to mention safe?

Ask a lot of questions, said Monica Levine-Sauberman, founder of the www.familyvacationcritics.com, a community Web site rating hotels based on their kid-friendliness.

Does the staff have credentials and have life-saving training?

What is the ratio of children to teachers?

Is the area blocked off from the rest of the resort?

What are the activities? Is it just video games or TV or are there more creative ways to play?

Ms. Levine-Sauberman stays away from programs that are on public beaches (because of safety concerns), and she likes to drop in on the program in the middle of the day to make sure that everything is OK.

Just because there is a kids' club, there is no guarantee that your child will like it. So don't book eight hours of spa treatments and a golf outing before discussing it with your child, said travel expert Laura McKenzie, author of the Web site www.lauramckenzietv.com.

Ms. McKenzie's 11-year-old daughter did not like kid's club, which was fine with her. "I want to spend time with my daughter on vacation. We don't spend enough time together at home."

She advises parents to find out kids' club activities beforehand and ask their children if they would like to go on scavenger hunts or look at dolphins with their peers or hang out their family instead.

"You have to have a little powwow about the vacation. What do we want to get out of our vacation? Do we want to spend it together? Or do we want to go off on our own for parts of it?"