Family holidays provide special memory-making moments for us all. They offer an opportunity for everybody to come together without the pressures of work or school, away from the familiar surroundings and habits that we’re used to, and they encourage us to approach our days with a real sense of freedom and fun. Creating the perfect conditions to enjoy a great family holiday can be a little challenging though. Catering to a mix of children’s age groups and interests is always important and there should be consideration for the more grown-up pursuits too. This balancing act begins with the most important decision to be made, the choice of resort.
Luxury Family Resorts Europe
Europe is blessed with an amazing amount of wonderful summer holiday resorts across several countries. Our guide will give you an important head start on your research and help make your planning a breeze as you countdown to that vital vacation with the confidence that there is something everybody will love.
Cretan Malia Park, Crete
Crete is the mountainous marvel that stands amongst the largest of all the Greek islands. Located to the south of mainland Greece, this place has been a popular attraction for centuries luring Romantic poets and roving families alike with its Hellenic charm and inviting Mediterranean climate. Cretan Malia Park is a proudly local resort of guestrooms, bungalows, and suites on the island that are impeccably designed for a more mindful stay than most locations can offer.
This relaxing environment is perfectly pitched for children too, with two age-appropriate clubs for the little ones boasting a wealth of activities to make their holiday a trip to remember. The Tiny Explorers Club serves kids up to 3 years old, with a safe, stimulating, and nurturing habitat that allows them to explore and learn in some breath-taking surroundings. For slightly older children, The Little Explorers Club is hosted within the verdant gardens of the resort, delivering daily activities of craft, cooking, and play.
Regular cinema screenings, hot tubs, and hammocks are also available at The Place, an area here reserved exclusively for teenagers to relax in. The philosophy of Cretan Malia Park is ‘A Lifestyle Worth Discovering’ and it is easy to see how most families would agree.
Hillside Beach Club, Turkey
Hillside Beach Club is a haven of chalets cut into the rocks surrounding a luxurious collection of private and Blue Flag beaches on the Aegean Sea. One would assume that this level of opulence aside from the sparkling azure waters would be a strictly adult offering for romantic couples, but this is very much a luxury destination for families too. The Main beach is a hive of activity for keen young sailors and those wanting to try their hands at water sports and beach volleyball.
Three restaurants offer exquisite menus of local and international cuisine with some very interesting wine pairings for Mum and Dad to try after a long day relaxing. All accommodation here is designed to be as harmonious as possible with the stunning natural surroundings and terrace views providing vistas of your own piece of paradise. Amongst the many awards and accolades, Hillside Beach Club was referred to by a Harvard Business School review as ‘Delivering the ultimate family vacation in the Mediterranean’.
One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro
Montenegro is often referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic with a landscape of emerald mountains against the dazzling sapphire seas, all connected by lush expanses of greenery. The One&Only Portonovi resort is nestled between the ancient towns of Kotor and Perast on the beautiful Boko Bay with its coastline of dramatic elegance. This is a modern Riviera-style retreat that has been indulgently reimagined for the 21st Century. Treasure hunts and telescope creation classes will have the younger ones enthralled as parents are busy bathing on beaches that wouldn’t look out of place in Mauritius or The Maldives.
There is even a chance to benefit from the world-famous wellness treatments and methods of Henri Chenot here in the exclusive Chenot Spa Space. It is incredibly rare that family-friendly comes in such a fabulous form as this. The added bonus is that it remains somewhat of a secret, so it might make sense to make Portonovi your one and only this summer.
Six Senses Ibiza, Spain
Six Senses Ibiza is on course to be the brightest jewel in the Balearic crown as a resort that offers more for families in a responsible way. Owned by the influential architect and developer, Jonathan Leitersdorf, there are eco-efficient design innovations everywhere you look. The entire aesthetic is a result of a sympathetic and creative strategy for a space that draws from the landscape and the heritage of the surrounding community.
The cliffs and fishermen retreats are echoed in the accommodation of Cave Suites and mansions that have room for up to 10 guests, all placed in the stirring scenery of Xarraca Bay in North Ibiza. With junior suites for families and a children's club that leans into impressive sustainability credentials through great crafting and play activities, Six Senses feels like a blueprint that most modern resorts will soon be following. The staff-to-guest ratio here is pleasingly high to make this feel like a VIP vacation that will have your family waited on hand and foot.
Verdura, Sicily
This huge expanse of South Sicily between the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the sleepy village of Sciacca is subtly located like a modernist paradise on the coast. With externally decadent villas and immaculate suites holding a surprisingly cosy and child-friendly interior, it makes Verdura a strong choice to support the best of both worlds for family vacations. Four exceptional restaurants serve the guests, with the Buon Giorno created exclusively for morning meals to provide the best breakfasts beside sparkling seas in the wonderful Sicilian sunshine.
The Kids’ Club offers everything for budding football fans, super cyclists, and tennis titans, and the cooled nap rooms for toddlers provide an opportunity for the occasional spa treatment or glass of fizz by the pool for you too. Recent patrons such as George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, and Leonardo Dicaprio should be able to give you all the references you need to begin your booking at the Verdura resort.
All that’s left now is to make your choice and take the plunge for a fun family adventure, in the finest location. Bon voyage!
