There are hotels where bringing a toddler feels perfectly natural. Nobody blinks when breakfast ends with yoghurt on the floor, a spoon under the table and one parent eating cold eggs while the other negotiates over a banana.
Then there is Llao Llao.
This is Patagonia’s grand old luxury resort: polished wood, fireplaces, lake views, reading rooms and hallways that look designed for statesmen, diplomats and people who travel with matching luggage.
We arrived with Aurelia—Relly to us—a stroller, toddler gear and the usual parental optimism that lasts until someone refuses to nap.
Audrey had wanted to stay here for years. She grew up hearing her parents talk about Llao Llao and how they dreamed of visiting one day. We had previously come for meals and afternoon tea, but this was our first overnight stay. Doing it with our daughter made the experience especially meaningful for Audrey. A family dream had somehow travelled through generations and landed in a hotel room with a crib, Peppa Pig and a small child who preferred sleeping between us anyway.
We stayed for two nights. That was enough to discover that Llao Llao can work remarkably well with a toddler—provided you understand what the hotel offers, what it does not, and how much of the parenting remains yours.
Relly loved the pool. She used the children’s room with us there. She ran along the main hall before meals and naps. She walked downhill through the gardens until her legs finally surrendered and she fell asleep in the stroller.
We ate well, stayed busy during poor weather and rarely needed to leave the property.
We also got lost inside the hotel, discovered that a crib does not automatically solve toddler sleep, and learned that the phrase “family-friendly” can hide some fairly important age restrictions.
Here is what staying at Llao Llao with a toddler was actually like.
Our Stay Was Short, Wet and Still Packed
Two nights at Llao Llao sounds like plenty until you arrive and realize how much property there is to use.
This is not a hotel where you check in, inspect the minibar and discover you have already seen everything. Llao Llao sprawls across multiple wings, floors, lounges, restaurants, gardens and recreation areas. Samuel described it as having “options galore,” while admitting we barely scratched the surface.
The weather made the stay more compressed.
We had Patagonian wind and rain, which is hardly a shocking development in Bariloche, but it meant we treated every patch of sunshine like a supermarket special with an expiry time. When the clouds broke, we went outside. When the rain returned, we retreated to the halls, pool, children’s room and food.
That flexibility was one of the property’s biggest family advantages.
A smaller hotel might have left us circling the room while Relly dismantled the cushions. At Llao Llao, we could change environments without organizing a full excursion. Walk the halls. Visit the playroom. Head to the pool. Find lunch. Wait out the rain. Try the gardens again.
With a toddler, changing rooms can feel like changing countries.
Families who already know they want the full resort experience can compare current Llao Llao room types, family occupancy and rates on Booking.com. Check the final price and the exact room conditions rather than assuming the cheapest option will suit a crib, stroller and toddler luggage.
Our experience does have limits. We stayed with one mobile toddler for two nights. We did not test babysitting, formal childcare, every room category or the full children’s programme. We cannot tell you what the resort feels like with three children, a newborn or a teenager who would rather be anywhere else.
What we can explain is how the hotel functioned for us—and where current policies may produce a different experience for another family.
The Standard Room Worked, but It Was Still a Standard Room
We stayed in a Standard Double Room in the Bustillo Wing.
Audrey filmed the room tour while Samuel and Relly explored the halls, which gave her a few uninterrupted minutes to inspect the place without somebody climbing onto the sofa or grabbing the camera.
The room had a large wooden bed, television, sofa, closet, desk and views of the surrounding landscape. The hotel had also provided a crib for Relly.
Audrey was delighted by that gesture.
Relly was less committed to the concept.
She generally preferred sleeping in the main bed between us, which meant the crib became more of a secondary toddler zone. It gave her somewhere to sit, play with toys, watch cartoons or potentially nap. That was useful, even if she did not suddenly embrace independent sleeping because a luxury resort had prepared the paperwork.
Parents should remember that “crib available” and “comfortable family room” are not identical promises.
The current Standard Room is listed at 22 square metres. That was manageable for us, but 22 square metres fills quickly once you add two adults, luggage, toddler equipment and a crib. A stroller alone has a strange ability to occupy every remaining piece of useful floor.
The room never felt disastrous. It also never became a spacious family apartment through positive thinking.
Families who need a separate sleeping zone, connecting rooms or breathing room around the crib should look beyond the entry category. Larger rooms and suites exist, but we did not stay in them, so I cannot personally tell you whether the price difference is worthwhile.
Connecting rooms currently need to be requested during booking. Some Standard Rooms may also require stair access. That detail is easy to ignore while comparing views online and considerably harder to ignore when carrying a sleeping child.
The present Standard Room information also says the category does not have air conditioning. That was not the defining issue during our cool, wet stay, but it could matter to families travelling during warmer conditions or with a child who sleeps poorly in a stuffy room.
Our bathroom had a fixed showerhead and a handheld showerhead. We did not document a bathtub. The handheld option was practical enough, but families who consider a tub essential should confirm it before arrival.
The same advice applies to the crib.
We received one. Current booking information, however, is inconsistent. Some listings suggest cribs may be supplied subject to availability, while others say they are unavailable.
I would not gamble on this.
When a crib is necessary, contact the hotel directly and make sure the request appears on the reservation. Do the same for connecting rooms, step-free access and bathtub requirements. A verbal “that should be fine” is not nearly as comforting when you arrive after a long travel day with a tired toddler.
Before choosing a non-refundable rate, check the live Llao Llao room categories and booking conditions, then confirm any essential family request directly with the hotel.
The room worked for our family because our expectations were realistic. Relly already liked sleeping with us, we stayed only two nights and we did not bring half the contents of our home.
Another family may need more.
The Children’s Room Helped—Childcare It Was Not
Llao Llao had a game room with ping-pong, pool and table football, as well as a dedicated children’s area linked to the Nahuelito programme.
During our stay, younger children could use the space with parental supervision. We took Relly there about once a day.
She could play, explore and enjoy a change of scenery. We remained with her.
This distinction matters because hotel language around children can become mushy very quickly. A playroom is not a kids club. A kids club is not necessarily drop-off childcare. Babysitting is another service entirely.
Parents see a photo of colourful toys and begin mentally booking a quiet lunch.
Careful.
The current organised children’s programme is advertised for ages four to ten, with activities divided by age. Reservations may be required, and some programming can be affected by weather.
The current information does not clearly confirm that children below four can still use the room with a parent in the same way Relly did during our visit. That should be checked before booking when the space is important to your plans.
Babysitting is even less clear. Some major booking platforms list paid babysitting or supervised childcare, but the hotel’s current family information does not clearly explain the age requirement, operating hours, notice period or cost.
Families who need guaranteed childcare should ask direct questions:
- Does it currently exist?
- What is the minimum age?
- How far ahead must it be booked?
- Is the child watched in the room?
- What does it cost?
- What happens when staffing changes?
We never used it, so I am not going to pretend we did.
For us, the children’s room was another place to spend time together. It helped. It was especially welcome during bad weather. It did not remove us from active parenting.
Llao Llao worked because we were comfortable with that arrangement.
Relly’s Favourite Activity Was Running Down a Hallway
Luxury resorts spend enormous amounts of money creating activities, programmes and facilities.
Relly’s favourite feature may have been a corridor.
The main hall is long, grand and full of old-world character. Adults notice the architecture, fireplaces and social spaces. Relly noticed that she could run.
She went up and down that hall before meals and naps, burning off energy while we followed behind. We probably spent more time there than in some of the official recreation areas.
This is the sort of family detail that never appears in polished hotel descriptions, but it mattered enormously during our stay.
We had space.
When the weather outside was terrible, we were not trapped inside 22 square metres trying to persuade a toddler that quietly examining the curtains was an exciting activity. We could leave the room and still remain indoors.
Obviously, a hotel corridor is shared space. We did not unleash her like a greyhound and retire to the bar. We supervised, watched for other guests and adjusted as necessary.
Still, that hall gave us something valuable: a pressure-release valve.
Travelling with a toddler often comes down to finding safe places where movement is possible. Llao Llao had plenty of them, even when they were not officially presented as children’s facilities.
The Pool Was Fantastic for Us—But Read the Current Rule
Relly loved the pool.
She had already used it once and enjoyed herself, so returning was an easy decision. Llao Llao’s indoor pool connects to an outdoor section, allowing guests to swim outside while surrounded by Patagonian scenery.
It is one of the resort’s signature facilities and one of the clearest reasons the hotel worked for us during questionable weather.
The current pool setup also includes a children’s pool.
Now for the rather important catch.
The hotel’s current house rules state that children wearing diapers are not permitted in the pools. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and they are not allowed in the jacuzzi.
That rule could completely change the value of the property for a family travelling with a baby or younger toddler.
Relly used the pool during our stay. Her exact diaper status at the time is not established by our footage, and I am not going to manufacture a memory years later because it would make the article tidier.
Our experience happened. The current rule also exists.
Parents booking today need to follow the current rule.
The wording does not clearly explain whether specialised swim diapers are treated differently, so ask the hotel when that distinction matters. Do not arrive assuming common pool practice elsewhere will apply here.
For a toilet-trained toddler, the indoor pool can become a major part of the stay. For a diaper-dependent child, it may be unavailable. That is a considerable difference when the weather is wet and the pool was supposed to be the main backup plan.
The pool was one of our highlights.
Just make sure it can be one of yours.
The Grounds Were Beautiful—and Conveniently Exhausting
When the weather improved, we headed into the gardens.
Relly practised walking and running downhill. She kept going until the physical laws governing toddler energy finally worked in our favour.
Then she fell asleep in the stroller.
We continued walking towards Puerto Spiegel while she napped.
This was one of those rare family travel moments where exercise, scenery and sleep lined up properly. Nobody had to perform a 45-minute nap ritual inside the room. Patagonia did the job.
The grounds gave us somewhere to explore without committing to a major excursion. That mattered because organizing a day trip with a toddler can involve more packing than a Himalayan expedition.
A short walk was enough.
That said, Llao Llao is hilly. One route working with our stroller does not prove that every path is smooth, flat or universally accessible. Gradients and surfaces vary, and the charming downhill section loses some charm when the child refuses to walk back.
You can bring the stroller.
You should also prepare to carry the toddler.
Families with mobility needs or a heavy stroller should ask the hotel for the easiest current route between the main building, gardens and key facilities. Do not assume every scenic path is a relaxed promenade.
Eating on the Property Saved Us Work
One of the best things about staying at Llao Llao with a toddler was that we could eat without repeatedly travelling back into central Bariloche.
The resort is removed from downtown, so on-site dining is part of the experience. With a toddler, it is also part of the logistics.
Breakfast was the easiest meal.
The buffet had pastries, breads, fruit, juices, yoghurt, cereal and staffed cooking stations. Audrey loved the pain au chocolat and fresh juices. Samuel spent serious time at the omelette station and consumed enough specialty coffee to alter local demand.
We ate so much that breakfast started drifting towards brunch.
That gave us flexibility. A large breakfast meant we did not need to stage a full lunch operation 90 minutes later.
At the restaurant then known to us as Lago Moreno, Audrey ordered sushi and Samuel went for a double Angus burger. We shared both.
Relly wanted the sushi.
Audrey took one look and delivered the parental ruling: too much wasabi for you, girl.
This sums up dining with toddlers rather well. The adults may be excited about menus, presentation and views. The child wants a bite of the one item least suitable for them.
We also had a lighter meal in the lobby bar and returned for fondue.
The fondue was advertised for two.
Except now we were three.
It was interactive and fun, although fondue with a toddler naturally requires more attention than fondue during a romantic weekend. Hot cheese and small children are a combination best approached with alertness rather than blind optimism.
Restaurant names and locations have changed over time, so our meal history should not be treated as a current dining directory. The family question is simpler: can you feed yourselves without leaving the resort every time somebody becomes hungry?
For us, yes.
Families with specific requirements should still confirm the details. Current hotel information does not clearly answer every question about high chairs, children’s menus, smaller portions, food warming or breakfast charges for young children.
Parents travelling with formula, allergies or specialised food should also review the hotel’s current rules around bringing outside food. The published policy limits ordinary outside food quantities, though it does not clearly explain how infant, medical or dietary needs are handled.
Ask in advance.
Luxury does not eliminate the need for planning when your child will only eat one brand of yoghurt.
Getting Lost Is Funny Until the Toddler Falls Asleep
Llao Llao is huge.
There are multiple floors, wings, elevators, staircases and corridors. On our first day, we used a map to find a restaurant and still ended up going to reception for help.
We descended floors, crossed a long hallway and entered another elevator.
At one point we announced that we were halfway there.
Halfway to lunch.
This is a hotel, not the Camino de Santiago.
Relly seemed thrilled by the entire exercise. For her, every corridor was another adventure. For us, the size was both entertaining and ridiculous.
The hotel has numerous elevators, but having elevators does not guarantee a simple route. Some rooms may still involve stairs. Different sections connect across changing levels, and a route that feels charming while exploring can become tiresome when somebody is hungry or asleep.
Room location therefore matters.
Parents often focus on view, bed type and price. With a toddler, proximity to breakfast, the pool or a useful elevator may be more valuable than another angle of the lake.
When step-free access matters, request it directly. Ask whether the assigned room can be reached without stairs. Ask how far it is from the facilities you expect to use most. Put the request in writing.
Do not rely exclusively on third-party accessibility checkboxes. Current booking platforms are inconsistent enough that some basic property information is plainly unreliable.
Our navigation problems never ruined the stay. They became part of its character.
Still, I would rather get lost while the toddler is laughing than while carrying her asleep after dinner.
Families expecting to travel regularly between the resort, downtown Bariloche and surrounding sights may find their own vehicle useful. You can compare current car rentals in San Carlos de Bariloche on Booking.com. A car is less important when the plan is to remain almost entirely at Llao Llao, which is one of the advantages of paying for a self-contained resort in the first place.
Two Nights Worked, but Three Would Be Easier
We enjoyed two nights at Llao Llao.
They gave us enough time to use the main family facilities, eat several meals and experience the hotel beyond a quick visit. We left feeling that the stay had been worthwhile.
We also left feeling that we had only touched part of the property.
A two-night booking gives you one full day plus pieces of the arrival and departure days. Check-in is generally in the afternoon, and check-out is before noon. Add a nap, a meal and bad weather, and the usable time contracts quickly.
Activities may require reservations. Some operate on schedules. Outdoor plans can be cancelled.
A toddler does not care that the programme begins in 15 minutes if she has just fallen asleep.
Two nights make sense when Llao Llao is a special finish to a broader Bariloche or Patagonia itinerary. That is how it worked for us.
Three nights would give most families more breathing room. You could absorb a poor-weather period without feeling that half the stay had vanished. You would also have a better chance of enjoying the resort slowly instead of treating the property map like a competitive challenge.
We did not personally test three nights, so that is my editorial judgment rather than a direct comparison.
Two nights were memorable.
A third would have made them less frantic.
So, Is Llao Llao Good With a Toddler?
For us, yes.
Llao Llao gave Relly room to move, places to play, a pool she enjoyed, outdoor space and enough variety to survive bad weather. It allowed us to feed the family without repeatedly leaving the resort, and the staff treated us kindly.
Most importantly, the hotel gave us options.
That is the currency of toddler travel.
The property did not remove the work. We still supervised Relly. We still organized naps, interpreted hunger and carried the usual pile of family equipment. We still had to think about sleeping arrangements, weather and meal timing.
Llao Llao simply gave us more good ways to handle those things.
| Family situation | Likely fit | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile toddler, parents expect to supervise throughout | Stronger fit | Crib or bed setup, room access, meals and pool eligibility |
| Child aged 4–10 interested in organised activities | Potentially strong fit | Current programme, schedule, reservations and weather conditions |
| Diaper-dependent child and pool is a major reason for booking | Weaker or conditional fit | Current pool rule and whether any exception exists |
| Parents need guaranteed drop-off toddler care | Conditional fit | Babysitting availability, minimum age, cost, hours and advance notice |
| Family needs a crib, bathtub or connecting rooms | Conditional fit | Written confirmation for the exact booked room |
| Stroller-dependent family or mobility requirements | Conditional fit | Step-free room assignment and routes to key facilities |
| Family wants a compact hotel with minimal walking | Weaker fit | Room location and distance from meals, pool and children’s spaces |
| Family values an all-in-one resort during unstable weather | Stronger fit | Which indoor activities will operate during the stay |
Before paying, confirm the room arrangement and the facilities your child can actually use. Check the current children’s programme. Read the current pool rules. Review the full booking price for child charges, resort fees and parking rather than staring only at the room rate.
When the room and current policies suit your family, you can check availability and compare current rates at Llao Llao Resort. Booking the correct room matters far more than saving a little money on a configuration that creates two nights of avoidable parental misery.
Families who like the Llao Llao setting but need an apartment, kitchen or a different price point can also compare other places to stay around Llao Llao on Booking.com. We did not personally test those alternatives, so treat them as options to compare rather than recommendations from our stay.
Our family stay was not a perfectly choreographed luxury experience.
Relly rejected the neat logic of the crib. She ran down the grand hall. She wanted wasabi sushi. We got lost on the way to lunch.
It was better that way.
Llao Llao gave Audrey the family dream she had carried since childhood, and it gave our daughter an enormous Patagonian hotel to explore on her own terms.
For two nights, the grand old resort became Relly’s playground.
We just tried to keep up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Llao Llao Hotel good with a toddler?
For our family, yes. Aurelia had room to play, a pool she enjoyed, gardens to explore, indoor spaces for bad weather and several places to eat, but the stay still required active parental supervision.
Does Llao Llao offer childcare for toddlers?
We used the children’s room with Aurelia while remaining with her. The current organised programme is advertised for ages four to ten, while babysitting details should be confirmed directly before a family relies on childcare.
Can toddlers use the pool at Llao Llao?
The current house rules require children to be accompanied by a responsible adult and say that children wearing diapers may not use the pools. The wording does not clearly explain whether specialised swim diapers are treated differently.
Can you request a crib at Llao Llao Hotel?
A crib was supplied during our stay, but current booking information is inconsistent. Families who need one should have the request confirmed in writing for the exact reservation rather than assuming availability.
Is a Standard Room large enough for two adults and a toddler?
The 22-square-metre Standard Room worked for the three of us, although the crib, stroller and luggage used the space quickly. Families needing a separate sleeping area or connecting rooms may prefer a larger category.
How many nights should a family stay at Llao Llao?
Two nights gave us one full day plus partial arrival and departure days, which was enough for a memorable stay but still felt compressed by naps, meals and weather. Three nights would likely be easier, though we did not personally test that length.
Project 23 Argentina: This article is also available in Spanish. [Leé la versión en castellano: Reseña del Hotel Llao Llao con niños: nuestra estadía familiar con una toddler]
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