When Falkensteiner Family Hotels say, ‘designed for kids with parents in mind’, they seem to mean every word and not half-heartedly: their hotels even have separate, but equally amazing, spas for children and adults.
But are they the most family-friendly hotels in Europe this summer? Take a look at the top six Falkensteiners, from Alpine meadows in Austria to beachfront Sardinia, and make up your own mind.
1/6 Hotel Cristallo in Katschberg, Austria
Like all great four star ski hotels, Hotel Cristallo adapts from winter to summer without missing a beat. The easy family atmosphere is just as welcoming when there’s a little more warmth in the mountain air (allergen-free at an altitude of 1600m, for fact-lovers). Kids will be delighted to find Falky-Land open for fun and an outdoor slant on the daily activity programme. No season is off-limits for soothing treats and both Falky’s children’s spa and the grown-up alternative are irresistible whatever the weather. And, if anything, Cristallo’s fresh cooking style is even more innovative when the local larder’s packed with summer ingredients.
Hotel Cristallo at a glance
- Four star hotel with 135 spacious family suites and rooms, including 50 beautifully designed new rooms for summer 2017.
- Aquapura Wellness & Waterworld with 60m² family pool, a spa and sauna just for children and a dedicated adult spa.
- Falky-Land Kids Club for three to 12 year olds with daily activities, indoor soft play, bi-lingual carers and summer long entertainment.
- Cristallo’s baby monitors, back-carriers, bottle warmers and buggies let guests travel blissfully light – for a change.
- Carinthian specialities and traditional favourites, served buffet-style, give every mealtime a relaxed, family holiday atmosphere.
What to do in Katschberg this summer
- With over 200 aerial challenges, plus ziplining, rafting and canyoning, Katschberg Adventure Park is Austria’s biggest adventure park. And, best of all, kids as young as three can play in the treetops here.
- Alpine Equestrian Centre is Austria’s highest riding school, home to the cute Pony Pasture, horse-drawn carriage rides and masses of fun for novices to seasoned equestrians.
Best offer for families
Five nights from £ 752 per room for two adults and two children (under six years) including full board.
Find out more about family summer holidays at Falkensteiner Hotel Cristallo, Katschberg
2/6 Hotel Diadora in Zadar, Croatia
Beachfront in lovely Punta Skala, just 15 minutes from Zadar city centre, Family Hotel Diadora is the family hotel for water babies of all ages: Adriatic adventures are amazing fun for older kids and littler fish can start out with lessons at Falky’s Swim Academy. Sports on land and sea are another Diadora talent. And caring, creative Falky-Land kid’s club for three to 12 year olds even gives grown-ups time for distraction-free paddle-boarding, diving or surfing.
Hotel Diadora at a glance
- Holiday Check Award Winner 2016 and Travellers’ Choice Award Winner 2017.
- Four star beachfront hotel with 250 family rooms and suites.
- Acquapura wellness & waterworld adult and children’s spa, swimming pools and waterpark.
- Falky-Land supervised kids’ club for three to 12 year olds with summer-long activities, creative play and entertainment programme.
- Falky’s Swim Academy tuition for babies to adults.
- Sony PS3 Game Room and free WIFI for older kids and teenagers.
- Fantastic range of essentials for babies and toddlers from buggies to bottle warmers.
What to do in Zadar this summer
- Krka National Park is home to the awe-inspiring Krka Waterfalls, glorious Croatian countryside and a mesmerising collection of important architecture, archaeology and monuments, this enormous park is a Croatian legend and a summer holiday must-do.
- Take the kids sailing from Zadar to the Kornati Islands, and idyllic Adriatic archipelago and discover why it’s described as a ‘Nautical Paradise’.
Best offer for families
Five nights from £ 888 per room for two adults and two children (under six years). Full board including drinks during the meals
Find out more about family summer holidays at Falkensteiner Hotel Diadora, Zadar
3/6 Resort Capo Boi in Sardinia
Overlooking the Mediterranean against a backdrop of ruggedly dramatic mountains, Resort Capo Boi is the first Falkensteiner Five Star Premium Family Resort in Sardinia. The island itself needs little introduction, it’s an Italian legend traced with mystery and myth, gorgeous seascapes, ancient ruins and historic cities. A remarkable heritage reflected so well in Capo Boi’s architecture, it’s almost impossible to believe the resort hasn’t stood here for centuries surrounded by lush gardens on the edge of a tranquil and sandy bay.
Resort Capo Boi at a glance
- Beachfront five star resort overlooking its own private bay
- 122 family rooms, suites and a range of detached garden villas.
- Relaxed beach bar and restaurant, choice of club lounges and cocktail bars.
- Falky-Land supervised kids’ club for three to 12 year olds.
- Falkensteiner Teens World and activity programme.
- Swimming complex with infinity pool, family pool and Falky’s Swim Academy.
- International entertainment programme in Capo Boi Amphitheatre.
- Water sports’ centre including Capo Boi diving – some of the finest on Sardinia.
- Acquapura Spa and Falky’s Children’s Spa
What to do in Sardinia this summer
- Cagliari, the enchantingly colourful capital of Sardinia is just a short drive from Capo Boi and pretty much packed with festivals and kids activities in summer.
- Molentargius Nature Reserve are ancient salt flats close to Cagliari. They are home to everything from flamingos to native pond tortoises and fantastically good fun to cycle with kids.
- When you can tear everyone away from the beach, Sardinia’s countryside is wonderfully easy to explore – plenty of guided tours, if you don’t want to drive.
Best offer for families
Four nights from £ 1759 per room for two adults and two children (under six years), half board.
Find out more about family summer holidays at Falkensteiner Capo Boi, Sardinia
4/6 Club Funimation in Katschberg, Austria
The name Funimation gives away the philosophy of the Club Funimation in Katschberg right from the start. From the huge Falky-Land world of play to miraculously child-soothing Acquapura children’s spa, everything’s in place to make holidays magical, active and exciting for kids. Parents are well looked after too, with wellness pampering, gorgeously spacious family suites, high-altitude mountain air to whisper away any outside-world worries and baby equipment supplied to save you carrying your own.
Club Funimation at a glance
- Four star hotel with 185 family rooms and suites.
- Swimming pools, chutes and slides at Falky Acqua-World.
- Falky-Land 1000m² world of supervised play including kids’ cinema, crafts’ area, climbing gyms and baby-safe space.
- Summer long indoor and outdoor kids’ activity and entertainment programme.
- Acquapura children’s spa and sauna and Acquapura spa for adults.
- Family restaurant with carefully planned kid’s menus including organic ingredients and gluten-free options.
What to do in Katschberg this summer
- No snow makes no difference to the thrill of a long, fast and blood-curdling toboggan run at Katschi’s Gold Ride. Kids as young as seven can try this one alone.
- The Mountains are unmissable in Katschberg and a major source of family fun whether you want to try gentle hiking or serious climbing.
Best offer for families
Five nights from £ 752 per room for two Adults and two children (under six years). Full board including Drinks during the meals
Find out more about family summer holidays at Club Funimation, Katschberg
5/6 Club Funimation Borik in Zadar, Croatia
Holiday Check Award Winner for the past four years running and winner of the Traveller’s Choice Award 2017, Club Funimation Borik is a blissful family beach resort minutes from the heart of Zadar. True to the ‘club’ spirit, everything’s been thought of here from fresh-every-day activities for kids and adults to wonderful water sports and even a miniature train to tootle you into the city centre – just as charming as it sounds.
Club Funimation Borik at a glance
- Four star beachfront hotel with 258 family rooms and suites.
- Acquapura Thalasso Spa and Falky’s Children’s Spa
- Falky-Land supervised kid’s club for three to 12 year olds with cinema, disco, adventure playground and summer-long activities.
- Borik water sport centre including diving, sailing and surfing.
- Teen and adult daily activity programme.
- Pool complex with waterslides and chutes plus almost two kilometres of safe swimming from the club beach.
What to do in Zadar this summer
- Start Exploring 3000 years of Zadar. Historic Zadar is a mesmerising collection of ancient and very ancient heritage, but skip down to the seafront and kids can play on the famous (and thoroughly modern) Sea Organ – one of the few works of art you can walk on.
Best offer for families
Five nights from £ 836 per room for two adults and two children (under six years), all inclusive.
Find out more about family summer holidays at Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik, Zadar
6/6 Hotel Sonnenalpe in Nassfeld, Austria
High altitude Hotel Sonnenalpe sits at 1500m surrounded by Alpine pasture and the views are astounding, with everything from cloud-grazing peaks to rivers, lakes and lush, green valleys in the frame. Two-storey Falky-Almland is an amazingly good fun alternative to the great outdoors for kids. The Acquapura Spa has family-sauna time every day – ideal for tired little muscles. And interconnected indoor and outdoor swimming pools are almost as exciting as nearby river rafting – but not quite.
Hotel Sonnenalpe at a glance
- Four star hotel with 147 spacious family suites and rooms, including Tree House Suites and themed family rooms.
- Aquapura Wellness & Waterworld with family sauna time, children’s spa, interconnected indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a 15m waterslide.
- Falky-Almland fully supervised kids club for three to 12 year olds with daily activities, playhouses, Ravensburger games, ball pits and craft areas.
- Sonnenalpe has baby monitors, back-carriers, bottle warmers and buggies for the asking.
- Alpine-Adriatic cooking, Carinthian specialities and traditional favourites, served buffet-style, are Sonnenalpe restaurant signatures.
What to do in Nassfeld this summer
- Whatever you feel like getting up to in towering trees, rushing rivers or high mountains, Felsenlabyrinth has it covered. Wildly exciting rope courses manage to make tubing and 3D Archery look tame – they’re not.
- Water isn’t in short supply round Nassfeld so if you want to try anything from rafting to canyoning, Nassfeld River Adventures is the place.
- The great outdoors really doesn’t get much greater than Nassfeld-Pressegger whether you want to go lake cycling, mountain biking, hiking or climbing in this summer
Best offer for families
Five nights from £ 635 per room two adults and two children (under six years), full board.
Find out more about family summer holidays at Falkensteiner Hotel Sonnenalpe, Nassfeld