5 Family-Friendly Hotels To Know About In Europe
Castelfalfi, Italy
The Property:
Driving one hour through the rolling Tuscan hills from Florence airport, you can feel your shoulders drop as you step out onto the beautifully cobbled lanes of Castelfalfi, a resort near regional hotspot, San Gimignano. Set within an existing borgo, or small estate, the hotel has a main building with neutrally decorated rooms (many of which are interconnecting) and suites, all with commanding views of the green hills, while family-friendly villas and townhouses pepper the streets close by. Choose from a variety of restaurants, all of which serve Italian and international cuisine, as well as lounge and bar areas to relax in, while wine and olive oil tasting – all grown locally on the estate – is also available.
The Vibe:
Whatever the weather, there’s plenty to do here. This season sees the opening of the Adventure Park, with archery, axe throwing and a climbing wall available, as well zip lines and rope bridges, all set within the lush woods of Del Monte on the estate. For budding Bear Grylls-types there’s shelter building, orienteering, fishing, falconry, and jeep night safaris to get involved with, while amateur cooks will enjoy the authentic pizza-making experiences, truffle hunting, and the honey and bee experience. Plus, there are acres of grounds to explore and multiple pools for swimming.
The Appeal:
This has to be one of the best spas in Europe, having recently partnered with Thailand’s RAKxa Integrated Wellness Retreat. Using locally-sourced essential oils derived from indigenous herbs, the treatments are designed to enhance the body and mind through a combination of complementary therapies. The indoor/outdoor pool is also heated to tropical temperatures – so you can sit in the rising steam as you watch the sunset behind the distant cypress trees.
Rates from €600 per room for a deluxe room. Fly to Florence or Pisa with BA or EasyJet and the hotel can provide a private transfer. Alternatively, hire a car to explore the region while you’re there.
Visit Castelfalfi.com
St Nicolas Bay, Crete
The Property:
Within walking distance of the stylish town of Aghios Nikolaos in eastern Crete, and ideally situated on a secluded beachfront with spectacular views, this well-established gem has recently had a bit of a makeover. With a range of new amenities built in 2023, plus refurbished villas and spaces for 2024, there’s an extensive range of rooms on offer, including four new Olives & Sea suites complete with private pools. Ideal for families with young children, each of these new suites sleep four, and are hidden among olive and fruit trees, and vegetable gardens, with unbeatable views over Mirabello Bay. Also check out the newly refurbished Thalassa villas – freshly renovated for summer – which are perched on a small hill overlooking the sea.
The Vibe:
Keen swimmers will enjoy two new pools, while professionally trained staff are on hand to offer lessons. Kids won’t run short of fun, with a spacious outdoor children’s nature area to explore, made up of 7,000sq m of outdoor space. Set among lemon and olive trees, an interactive herb garden is also a great opportunity for kids to learn about the variety of plants grown on site – guests are also welcome to pick the herbs and use them in personalised cooking sessions hosted by the hotel’s chefs. Meanwhile, the Teen Club is somewhere older children can relax and socialise, with a range of activities available, including a PlayStation, a music bar, video wall, a billiards room and table tennis; the large kids’ club also has a games room and a cinema. Finally, the water sports centre offers plenty for adrenalin junkies, including water-skiing lessons, windsurfing, canoeing, banana boating and jet skiing.
The Appeal:
Where this hotel scores highly is in the design of the public spaces. Discreet pockets of space – on the beach, on rocky platforms and by the pool – offer plenty of variety, so you could easily spend a week here and never sit in the same spot twice. There’s a charming spa, several restaurants (including fine dining and casual Greek), a handy boutique and a new gym. Rooms are tucked away, so you can enjoy private time as a family, as well as time within the main hotel.
Sovereign offers a seven-night stay, priced from £3,699 for a family of three. This includes flights from London Gatwick, private transfers and half-board accommodation.
Visit StNicolasBay.gr
Lujo, Turkey
The Property:
On the Bodrum Peninsula on the southwest coast of Turkey, and facing the Greek island of Kos, Lujo is fast becoming the go-to all-inclusive luxury hotel in the region. This is a big hotel – it has 17 room types, as well as 56 villas, including seven brand-new villas, all in a style of quiet elegance and smooth contemporary design. Meanwhile, the resort features eight restaurants and bars serving Italian, Japanese and Turkish traditional cuisine, at different poolside and beachfront locations.
The Vibe:
If you’re travelling with a baby, the hotel can supply everything you need, including special toiletries, bottle warmers and babysitting services. But the jewel in the crown is the extensive kids’ club, including entertaining and educational workshops, music rooms, a theatre, science lab, Lego room, games centre, including PlayStation and Laser Tag, and outdoor play areas. Explore the world of robotics and coding, experiment with a range of techniques in the art room, or discover the joy of movement at the dance academy – experienced instructors can teach a variety of dance styles, from ballet to hip-hop, for all ages and levels. There’s also basketball, where children can master their court skills while building teamwork and sportsmanship, and did we mention the on-site aqua park with six slides?
The Appeal:
Need some passing the time while the kids are busy? For adults, the state-of-the-art Sensum Spa offers a wide range of treatments, from authentic Turkish massages to Asian-inspired treatments. Many of the pools (which are heated) have swim up bars and there’s a stretch of white sand beach with an adults-only section, so you can unwind to the sunset DJ sessions while the kids let loose back at the kids’ club.
British Airways offers a seven-night stay, priced from £4,910 for a family of three. This includes flights from London Heathrow and bed and breakfast accommodation.
Visit LujoHotel.com
Ikos Andalusia, Spain
The Property:
You’ll find this five-star, all-inclusive hotel in central Andalusía on the Costa Del Sol, close to buzzy Marbella and the historic town of Estepona. Appealing to families with children of all ages, it has a lovely beachfront location on the Iberian Peninsula and seven restaurants to choose from including Asian, Greek, French and Mediterranean inspired cuisine, with some menus created by Michelin-starred chefs. In 2023, Ikos Andalusia revealed several new elements as part of an ambitious extension, including the new deluxe pool, Heroes Village (a space for children) and two extra restaurants.
The Vibe:
There’s a fantastic range of daily activities on offer for children aged six months to 17, supervised by highly qualified professionals who meet UK Ofsted standards. For children looking to dive into a new hobby or hone an existing talent, there are academies for tennis, football and swimming, and for those who just want to play, there’s everything from face painting to sensory spaces. At Just4Teens, the aim is to make friends and explore a programme of age-appropriate activities, events and games that older kids will love, from action-packed team sports and arts and craft activities to cooking classes.
The Appeal:
Book a Deluxe Collection signature suite, in special, privileged locations, where iced champagne, private pools and concierges are on tap. Plus, you can unlock exclusive beach zones, upgraded menus and complimentary spa treatments. As part of the experience, you can enjoy a romantic meal for two in a private location on the beach. Wellness and fitness facilities are aslo easy to access, with tennis, golf, cycling, watersports and beachfront yoga also available, plus private boat hire for special days out.
Destinology offers a seven-night stay, priced at £2,227pp. This includes flights from London Luton, all-inclusive and private transfers.
Visit IkosResorts.com
Capelongue, France
The Property:
Set among the hilltop villages of the Petit Luberon, Capelongue is a Provençal gem. With jaw-dropping views from your bedroom, the pool or restaurant, this hotel and its setting is the ultimate place to relax and unwind. Located in Bonnieux, one of the region’s most authentic villages, this hotel offers an opportunity to explore the countryside – which is made up of whimsical cypress alleys and dry-stone walls, ancient olive groves and century-old plane trees. Colourful markets and nearby hiking trails give guests an opportunity to go beyond the hotel walls and live as a local, too.
The Vibe:
Full immersion in local tradition is central to the ethos of the kids’ club, which is open from May to August every day, and weekends only from September to October. Aimed at children aged three to 16, the goal is for kids to discover Provence from a different point of view, with activities such as painting workshops, traditional storytelling and even the creation of a herbarium in Capelongue's gardens. Where this hotel doesn’t have multimedia games rooms and sports academies, it offers a different pace of life, including fitness events in the forest, boules tournaments and donkey rides.
The Appeal:
On the terrace of La Bergerie on Thursday evenings, let yourself be carried away by reinterpretations of jazzy classics, set against a sunset backdrop. Join hotel manager Barthélémy Bauters on Wednesdays at Café Capelongue for a typically Provençal aperitif, with glasses of rosé or pastis, tapenade and other local spreads. With the help of one of the team, meet the cream of local producers at Bonnieux's weekly market. Or how about a musical Sunday lunch? In fine weather, at La Bergerie, Les Disques de la Sainte-Victoire will play a selection of jazz vinyls from its shop. There also a spa and Roman bath experience available.
Enjoy four nights' accommodation for the price of two in a deluxe room with a balcony, a star-rated dinner, a wood-fired dinner, a treatment for two, fitness with a private coach and electric bike hire, until 31st May.
Visit Beaumier.com
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