Imagine reclining on a teak lounge chair by the pool of a luxury hotel, cocktail in hand. Suddenly, splashes, laughter, and shrieks break the calm. Families from the second floor have arrived with five children for an afternoon of water games, running, and diving.

For France’s Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry, the idea that some people consider this a nightmare is alarming. She has pledged to fight the growing trend of “adults-only” hotels worldwide. In May she declared the concept “contrary to culture and philosophy and not something we want as a norm in our country. I will fight the fashion of ‘no children’ places.” She also distributed labels to hotels reading “Family Choice 2025,” featuring a stroller at the center.

This week she was joined by Laurence Rossignol, a Socialist senator and former Minister for Families, the Elderly, Women’s and Children’s Rights. “We cannot organize society and exclude children the way some hotels exclude dogs. Children are not noisy pets. It is unacceptable for people to declare they cannot stand the children of others and institutionalize that intolerance. In the end, women always pay the price. Single mothers also have the right to take trains and holidays,” she said.

A survey in France by Doxa found that only between 3% and 5% of hotels in the republic are adults-only. Yet 54% of French respondents supported such places, and 75% cited as a reason the perception that “children today are less well behaved than in the past.” French law prohibits discrimination based on age or family status, with penalties of up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine. No family has ever sued a hotel or restaurant under this clause. El Haïry and Rossignol want a total ban on child-free establishments, but even such bans can be circumvented. “I charge €100 for an extra bed in the room—it’s an economic deterrent to families,” explained Cathy, owner of a four-star hotel in Corsica.

The “no kids” trend is more advanced elsewhere. In Belgium, one in ten restaurants bans children under 16. Spain leads Europe, and the trend is also rising in Greece. Since 2012, Malaysia Airlines has operated “child-free” routes—free of seat-kicking—and even prohibits babies in business class. In Italy, certain train carriages are reserved for families, while others exclude young children. Worldwide, wedding invitations increasingly state “no children.” Germany has long had child-free hotel chains, and in Asia and Mexico such resorts have existed for nearly two decades. In South Korea, which has the lowest birth rate in the world, six hundred establishments—including libraries—exclude children, prompting government pushback.

Falling birth rates are a key concern in France. For a decade the country led Europe with an average fertility rate of 1.62 children per woman (surrogacy is banned), but in 2024 Bulgaria overtook it with 1.81. Demographers point to a minimum of 2.1 children per woman to maintain population levels. Public denunciation of child-free spaces is part of efforts to promote the message that children are wanted and not a societal burden. French anthropologist Jean-Didier Urbain, an expert in tourism, explained: “This shows a society splintering into smaller groups. We cannot live together, cannot travel together. Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin called it ‘the nightmare of the twenty-first century.’ We are living it, and there is no sign it will weaken.”

On the other side are clients seeking quiet—and many of them have children at home. Vincent Lagarde, associate professor at the University of Limoges, who has studied the business model of child-free hotels, said: “Two-thirds of the clientele cite ‘freedom from family and obligations’ as their reason. They don’t hate children. They just need a break from routine.” He added that teachers and childcare workers are also frequent customers, needing distance from their daily responsibilities. “It’s not a new trend in France. The pandemic strengthened it.”

Another growing group is solo travelers, especially women, who dominate this category. The sector is thriving: in the United States alone, it generated $482.5 billion in 2024. Most solo travelers seek adults-only hotels. On Instagram there are millions of posts about it, while on TikTok influencers enjoying solo luxury vacations are gaining popularity.

Couples without children also seek peace on terraces with panoramic views. Emma Gannon, author of *The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**, wrote in a blog post last year: “Even as a child, I disliked parks, Disneyland, video arcades, or noisy places. I love children and am happy to watch ‘Toy Story’ with them on a rainy afternoon, have a picnic, or play bowling. I will run barefoot on sharp stones for thousands of miles to see my young nephew. But only for a day—not for a long holiday.”

Professor Vincent Lagarde noted that adults-only resorts enjoy a reputation for exclusivity. “These hotels can charge higher rates simply because there are no children crying or screaming. French society is mentally and physically exhausted right now. People want to disconnect.”

In an era where many feel surrounded by noise and anxiety, a place to sip a drink peacefully by an infinity pool or dine in a calm atmosphere has become a luxury product. Right or selfishness? It all depends on one’s view of the blue horizon.