1/13 Calheta Beach – Madeira ★★★★
Four-star Savoy Calheta Beach is an all-inclusive family resort with large lagoon-style swimming pools, dreamy spa with Turkish bath, indoor pool and sauna, and direct beach access to Praia da Calheta. Kids get their own pool, games room and club with daily activities and playroom. Behind the hotel lie Madeira’s mountains, so all 153 modern rooms come with either sea or mountain views. There are two restaurants and three bars at Calheta Beach. The neighbouring marina also has plenty of choice for a day or evening out of the resort. Other activities families may like to take advantage of during a stay at Calheta Beach include a Madeira cooking class, hiking tour of the region or Portuguese lessons.
2/13 db Seabank Resort & Spa – Malta ★★★★
Four-star db Seabank Resort & Spa boasts bright and airy rooms with balconies. The 130 family rooms have separate sleeping areas. This all-inclusive resort is just a few minutes’ walk from Malta’s grandest Blue Flag beaches, with safe, shallow waters. On site, there are six themed restaurants, three bars, shopping mall, huge pool complex, spa with sauna, steam room and indoor pool with panoramic views, gym and plenty of sports such as archery, crazy golf, beach volleyball, diving and watersports. Kids are treated like royalty at db Seabank with their own pool with slides, paddling pool, themed jungle restaurant with playhouse, kids club and full entertainment programme of activities for all ages.
3/13 Royal Thalassa Monastir – Tunisia ★★★★★
Five-star Royal Thalassa Monastir in Tunisia has a fantastic beachfront position along the Gulf of Hammamet with its own beach bar and restaurant, sun loungers and plenty of water-sports to try. The resort sits in tropical gardens, located close to three golf courses, and provides guests with luxurious spa facilities in which they can relax and unwind. All 280 rooms are large and airy, while families can upgrade for saunas and whirlpool baths, or for private pool access. Other amenities at Royal Thalassa Monastir include indoor and outdoor pools, gym and tennis courts. Diners can eat and drink at a selection of three high-end restaurants and five bars, including a shisha lounge. Kids will enjoy the mini-golf course, separate children’s pool and beach volleyball. The hotel-run mini club will care for youngsters aged between four and 10 years old in morning and afternoon sessions, with a range of innovative activities on offer.
4/13 Iberostar Bellevue – Montenegro ★★★★
Iberostar Bellevue is a contemporary beachside hotel based two miles from historic old town of Budva in Montenegro. This hotel sits in over 40,000 sqm of idyllic gardens with views over the mountains and ocean. Bečići Beach is a step away, with water sports galore and beach club. Iberostar Bellevue also boasts two heated outdoor pools and Jacuzzi, spa with indoor pool, sauna and steam room, fitness centre and a tennis court. The Star Camp Kids Club will take care of children aged four to 17 in three themed rooms. Younger visitors will have monkey mascots in the rainforest room, tweens get dolphin in an underwater world and teens can chill out in the Eagle room. Bellevue has an amazing 140 different activities for kids to try, all with an emphasis on protecting and conserving the environment.
5/13 Barcelo Royal Beach – Bulgaria ★★★★★
Barcelo Royal Beach is a smart five-star hotel with gardens overlooking the Black Sea on the buzzy Sunny Beach resort of Bulgaria. The 304 rooms are bright and airy with either balconies or terraces. Guests can upgrade for ocean views and extra rooms. The hotel has three restaurants for dining, including one serving mouth-watering Mediterranean dishes, in addition to a piano bar, poolside bar and lobby bar. There are three huge outdoor pools to enjoy, plus a kids’ pool, indoor pool, large spa and gym. A golden stretch of sandy beach lies minutes away with plenty of amenities, such as sun loungers, hammocks and water sports. ‘Barcy Club’ welcomes kids aged four and over, offering a number of upbeat activities and games.
6/13 Ikos Oceania – Thessaloniki, Greece ★★★★★
Ikos Oceania is set on a slope which cascades down to the private beach and the Aegean Sea below. The resort has 290 elegant rooms, an infinity pool and unspoilt private sandy beach. The Ikos Spa will soothe tired parents’ minds and bodies while children ramp it up in the Worldwide Kids-led clubs, for kids (four to 12), teens (13 plus) and babies (four months to three years). Soccer fans will also love the WK Football Academy for kids aged five to 14, in age-appropriate groups. Ikos Oceania has plenty of outdoor play facilities too like the outdoor playground, tennis courts, pool, beach and gardens. There’s masses to do here for adults too from water polo to aqua aerobics. Should you want to just relax on the beach Ikos Oceania also offers ‘Beach Life’, a beach-based child care service.
7/13 Grand Oasis Palm, Cancun – Mexico ★★★★★
Located right by the beach and with kids at its centre, Grand Oasis Palm provides the ideal space for a family holiday to Cancún. A kids’ club offers a fully supervised and playful environment where children can move between different activity rooms under the watchful eye of trained staff, while adults enjoy a relaxing spa treatment. Or, for activities involving all the family, guests may want to take advantage of the kayaking, bike tours and lagoon-style swimming pool that comes with plenty of sun loungers for soaking up the warm Mexican sunshine. And while there are a number of places to eat within walking distance, Grand Oasis Palm boasts 16 of its own speciality restaurants serving a range of international dishes, including Tex-Mex and sushi.
8/13 Eix Lagotel Hotel – Mallorca ★★★★
Four-star Eix Lagotel Hotel has an enviable position next to the S’Albufera nature reserve and just 800m from the beach. The 340 rooms have views either over the pool and gardens, nature reserve or lake. Family rooms are huge, with separate bedrooms and a terrace with views of the lake. Guests have a range of dining options from all-inclusive to self-catering. There’s a supermarket, buffet restaurant and three bars to cater for all choices. During the day, there’s mini-golf, squash and tennis courts, three pools and a gym to work up an appetite at. Kids aged four to 12 will appreciate the children’s club with morning and afternoon sessions.
9/13 Louis Zante Beach – Zante, Greece ★★★★
Award-winning Louis Zante Beach sits on Zante’s longest stretch of golden sands, backed by 230 acres of emerald green pine forest. The beach is famed as nesting site of turtles, and guests often are lucky enough to spot the protected species here. The large pool with beach bar is just metres away from the beach for fantastic sea views. Kids have their own pool too. Activities to try at Louis Zante Beach include tennis, beach volleyball, aqua aerobics and even Greek dancing classes. Kids may prefer the video games room or mini-disco. There’s also a kids club, open for morning and afternoon sessions, where children can enjoy face painting and sandcastle building.
10/13 Pine Bay Holiday Resort – Izmir, Turkey ★★★★★
Pine Bay Holiday Resort in Camimani Bay, Kusadasi was completely renovated in 2014. The hotel sits on a private Blue Flag beach, perfect for families, and is close to a marina for sailing and a huge range of water sports including parasailing, wakeboarding, snorkelling and diving. At the resort, there’s more water fun, with three outdoor pools, four children’s pools and a water park with big and small waterslides. The expansive spa has a hammam, sauna, steam bath and indoor pool. Should youngsters want a change from the beach and water park, there’s a playground, plenty of land sports like football and tennis, a youth club, games room, mini disco, mini-golf and kids club. Teens will appreciate the beach and pool parties too.
11/13 Serita Beach Hotel – Crete, Greece ★★★★★
Built with faultless architecture and painted with pretty pastel colours this hotel provides unforgettable holidays for all ages, directly located by the Cretan Sea. The hotel comprises a total of 276 rooms (with 10 suites) spread over 3 floors along with a number of bungalows. The hotel features a foyer with 24-hour reception desk, a lift, several lounges and an air-conditioned restaurant with terrace, high chairs and non-smoking area available for use. Those arriving by car may take advantage of the car park. Younger guests may let off steam in the playground and participate in the kids’ club activities (4-12 years). Babysitting on request and for a charge. A laundry service rounds off the facilities on offer.
12/13 Hotel Constantinou Bros Athena Beach – Paphos, Cyprus ★★★★
Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel is a large beachfront hotel close to the pretty harbour in Kato Paphos. All rooms have spacious balconies with sea or garden views plus luxury bathrooms. Grounds lead directly onto the beach, and the extensive gardens are available for families to enjoy. The hotel’s Elixir Spa boasts a sauna, steam room and gym plus a range of relaxing treatments. There are three outdoor pools, one indoor pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis plus two children’s pools, one with waterslide. Kids also benefit from a playground and mini-golf site. A kids club is available during the summer months and Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel also arranges activities and games several times a week for children of all ages.
13/13 Hotel Best Jacaranda – Tenerife ★★★★
All-inclusive Best Jacaranda Hotel lies 450m from the Fañabé Beach in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, and only 10km away is the Las Aguilas Jungle Park for a fun day out. At the hotel, there are six swimming pools, and pretty waterfalls cascading next to sun terraces, for a restful place to relax. Rooms are large with private balconies. Guests can upgrade for living areas and pool views. Hugo, the lovable friendly dragon mascot will please little ones as will the many organised games and activities set up by the hotel for children, the playground and the two splash pools. The mini club for four to 12-year-olds also provides regular care for kids with pool games, mini discos, arts and crafts, recycling workshops, drama classes and sports. The whole family can enjoy the sports on offer such as tennis and beach volley plus facilities like a cinema room and ping pong tables.