Choosing the best family resort for your next summer holiday feels like a big deal. Holidays in Europe feel increasingly expensive. Last year GoCompare discovered that the cost of a package holiday in the school holidays had increased 18% per person since 2022. When you factor in the cost of flights for two adults and at least one child, plus transfers, a two-week family holiday in Europe can represent a big financial commitment (and if you're still making your mind up, don't forget to check out our guide to the best family hotels in the UK).
As well as the cost, there are lots of things to think about when planning a family holiday - do you want to go self catering, full board, or somewhere in between? Is a resort or a hotel better for you, or an apartment where you have more than one room in the evenings when the children have gone to bed? Maybe a pool is essential for you - or is it more important for your family that you’re in walking distance from the beach? And if your kids are small, do you really want to do a fortnight without access to a playground, or would you prefer to be somewhere with swings, slides and climbing frames on hand to tire them out?
For travel writer and mum of three Helen Ochyra, the layout of the accommodation on offer is a key consideration. ‘With three (or more) kids it all comes down to the room. I always have to look at whether the hotel has family rooms that can sleep more than four people. There are often fire regulations or similar that prevent five people from sharing one room, and in my experience interconnecting rooms can never be 100% guaranteed. Car hire is also a challenge (we currently need three car seats in the back) so I tend to choose hotels we can walk to everything from to avoid hiring a vehicle – a return transfer to the airport may look expensive but it’s rarely as much as a hire car for a family of five.’
It’s also worth considering food and catering options. If you’ve gone for full or half board, then you’ll want to make sure there are enough things on the menu that everyone will eat (most places will do kids menus, and many family-focused resorts even offer up pureed food for babies) but if your child has allergies or particularly tricky feeding needs, then this will be something else to consider. Finally, how much paraphernalia will you have to bring with you? Most places will provide a travel cot and high chair, but some will do one better and provide rooms fully equipped with baby changing facilities, bottle steamers and kid’s plates, cuts and cutlery.
We’ve kept all these things in mind when reviewing these European family resorts. We’ve also thought about how far away they are from the airport, where you can fly in from, and what sort of entertainment and childcare is available for children. Could this be the first ever family holiday where you get to go out for a meal just the two of you? Well, we can all dream…
The best family resorts in Europe 2024...
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The one for… a chilled-out escape from the crowds
Pros
- The beach is only accessible from the hotel or by boat, so it’s a private beach in all but name. We went in late August and even though the beach is small there were always plenty of sunloungers going spare.
- Rooms are contemporary and stylish and you’re in your own separate chalet rather than being in a big hotel block (my bête noir is hearing slamming doors and people tramping along corridors).
- The resort has paddleboards and canoes you can take out whenever you fancy without the hassle of booking in advance – it was all very relaxed – so we used them every day and my teenage son loved it.
- The buffet breakfast offering was amazing – loads of choice, so something to tempt everyone, even fussy eaters – and of a very high standard. Difficult not to pig out!
- The whole island has a very family-friendly vibe; it’s laid-back and safe.
Cons
- The resort itself is on a steep hill, with chalets at the top and the reception, restaurants and everything else at the bottom. (Although we did see a guest who used a walking stick being given lifts up and down the hill on a hotel golf buggy, which is also used for your luggage.) So not ideal if you’re still using a pushchair.
- To get here you fly to Skiathos then take a 90-minute hydrofoil to Alonissos. With a teen it wasn’t a big deal, but something to consider if you have younger children.
- To explore the island you really need to hire a car. We didn’t and took taxis but they were expensive.
| Nearest airport | Skiathos |
| Transfer time | 2 hrs |
| Price from | £1,316pp based on two adults and two children sharing two rooms, all-inclusive, flying from Gatwick to Skiathos in June (20kg hold luggage each included). |
| Restaurants and catering | Two restaurants and one beach bar, with drinks and snacks delivered to your sunlounger if you so desire. All offer a kids’ menu and baby food can be freshly prepared on request. |
| Pools | a really lovely main pool plus a separate kids’ pool. |
| Beach access | the beach is on your doorstep and right next to the pool. Even in August it was relatively quiet and the water is crystal clear. The bay is secluded and tranquil so ideal for kids. |
| Kids’ club | for 2-12 years with playground, pool and activities. |
| Others | there were small outdoor yoga classes every morning and evening overlooking the bay. |
- I’ve been in love with the Greek islands ever since my first holiday with friends – and no parents – to Aegina, aged 16. I’ve been back many times since, with friends, then my husband and, later on, children, visiting different islands. But I’d never heard of Alonissos, one of the northern Sporades. This under-the-radar gem is tiny – just 14km long – and is prized by those in the know (myself now included) for its laid-back vibe. You can banish any thoughts of Brit teens-on-tour, à la Faliraki or Kavos, this island has retained its traditional Greek charm, thanks to its under-the-radar status. It also has noticeably fewer tourists than better known islands, such as Crete and Rhodes, even in peak season.
- Marpunta Resort is a short drive from the (tiny) capital, Patitiri, where you arrive on the island by ferry. We were impressed by the generously proportioned and stylishly contemporary family rooms, with large wet-room bathroom. The resort has its own pebbly beach only accessible from the hotel or by boat, so it’s de facto private; it’s a tranquil picturesque bay backed by pine trees and lovely and quiet (no fighting for sunloungers here), so it’s tempting to just lie back with a good book and admire the views. But if you do want to do more than fly and flop, paddleboards and canoes are on hand and you can help yourself when you fancy – no booking required. The sheltered bay even makes mastering standing up on them relatively easy – just watch out for the wake from the occasional passing ferry. There’s also a tennis court and ping-pong table and a kids’ club for under 12s.
- We ate at the à la carte à la carte hotel restaurant, Achinos, which offers fine dining on a terrace overlooking the sea. But we also headed to Patitiri on the minibus service the hotel runs, a five-minute drive down very steep, winding roads. (They also do a set pick-up back to the resort later on to save your legs.) This quaint harbour buzzes as everyone congregates at the tavernas and bars to eat, drink and watch the world go by, and check out the yachts moored nearby. There are lots of good, reasonably priced tavernas and restaurants offering traditional Greek food as well as Italian and Mexican. Give the bog-standard souvenir shops a miss and instead seek out the artisanal boutiques on the side streets.
- Because the resort is small (which adds to the relaxed, exclusive feel), it does encourage you to go out and discover more of the island, which we were so glad we did. We spent a day on the nearest sandy beach – the beautiful Chrisi Milia. It has a great little beach bar above it offering bar snacks as well as traditional fayre and the views are stunning. For a day trip, take a boat trip to the Alonissos Marine Park, the largest marine park in Europe. While you’d be lucky to spot the notoriously shy Mediterranean monk seal, for which the park was primarily established, look out for dolphins, turtles and even whales. And no visit would be complete without a trip or several to Chora, the old town perched on top of a hill. It has pretty cobbled alleys, tavernas, and art galleries, as well as panoramic views and stunning sunsets.
- TUI offers a seven-night all-inclusive stay at Marpunta from £1,316 per person based on two adults and two children sharing two rooms, flying from Gatwick to Skiathos in June 2025 (all transfers and 20kg hold luggage per person included).Visit tui.co.uk or download the TUI app
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www.pinecliffs.com
The one for...your multi-generational holiday
Pros
- A sprawling resort which has something for every age group, from a well-equipped Children's Village, to a 9 hole golf course, a tranquil spa and offers on fitness and wellness retreats
- Has private access to Falésia Beach, this year voted World's Best Beach at the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Awards. And there's a gorgeous bar, Maré, there too for day time drinks and food
- A choice of 12 restaurants depending on your mood - extremely accommodating for children
- Self-catering options available if you prefer to have a bit more independence when it comes to mealtimes
Cons
- Summer temperatures can mean more planning must go into how you fill afternoons
- Absolutely everything you need is onsite, so you might not end up leaving the resort very much, especially if you haven't hired a car
| Nearest airport: | Faro |
| Transfer time from airport: | 30 mins |
| Price from: | £171 per night based on a family of four sharing for seven nights |
| Price in high season: | £675 per night for a two-bedroom garden suite based on a family of four sharing for seven nights in July |
| Restaurants and catering: | There are 12 restaurants to choose from, and two bars, as well as a well-priced onsite supermarket for those who are self-catering |
| Pools: | There are seven outdoor pools dotted around the garden including a main pool, which has a swim-up bar, next to the children’s pool; a tucked-away, peaceful infinity pool and a heated indoor pool at the health club (swimming caps are compulsory) |
| Beach access: | You are a lift ride and a short walk away from the hotel's private beach - Falésia Beach- recently voted one of the world's most beautiful beaches |
| Kids' club: | The resort's Children's Village includes the Porto Pirata, two giant pirate ships, where you'll also find trampolines and a kids pool which offers supervised sessions when it's included on the day's activity list (subject to parents' approval). |
| Others: | Check out the yoga and Pilates wellness getaways |
- We travelled with my parents and our two-year-old, our first 'multi-generational' holiday - and we couldn't have picked a more perfect resort. While we had separate rooms in the hotel's Ocean Suites wing, we also had a connecting door so my parents could watch our son if we wanted to go out for dinner once he was in bed, for example, it offered us the perfect compromise between holidaying together and still maintaining the kind of privacy a shared villa wouldn't. Our room had a full kitchen, complete with washer and dryer, which meant we could pick from one of the excellent on-site restaurants (O Pescador was our favourite, with its choice of fresh local seafood, and the O' Grill was a total treat, too, as we watched Piri Piri chicken prepared on the grill in front of us) or simply prepare our own dinner in our kitchen when my toddler was feeling a bit more fussy, and eat it on our private terrace.
The fact there was such a well-equipped kids' club and playground, as well as a site which was very well suited for buggy walks, meant the days were easier to navigate with our toddler, and there was a lot of space for him to run around. There really is so much on offer for little ones, whether it's the bouncy castle, the toy car racetrack or the mini-golf. The hotel also offers supervised activities (whether that's football, archery or art projects). The facilities are free for guests but you can pay for supervised sessions which must be pre-booked.
It was a magical experience for my parents to be able to play on the beach with my son, and go swimming with him in the pool for the first time. It was also wonderful that they could enjoy their own break, with a visit to the Serenity Spa for my mum, or a spot reading in the shade under the pine trees for my dad. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating and we found travelling in May to be the perfect time of year for us, temperature-wise.
www.booking.com
The one for... knackered parents
Pros
- Great for children all ages, from young babies to teens
- Great range of restaurants and the fussiest of eaters are catered for
- The resort is stylish and chic
- Amazing service
Cons
- Can be expensive, especially outside of term time
- The on-site shop is pricey
- The resort can be hilly, which can be tricky with buggies or small children
| Nearest airport: | Faro |
| Transfer time from airport: | <br>90 minutes |
| Price from: | <br>£134 a night for a four-bed villa |
| Price in high season: | From £869 a night for a two-bed garden house (correct as of this year, prices will vary subject to availability) |
| Restaurants and catering: | Three indoor restaurants, plus the Josper grill takeaway and pool bar. Self-catering accommodation also available. |
| Pool: | Three adult and two toddler pools, all heated, one unheated adult pool |
| Beach access | Private, child-friendly beach club on resort, which leads to a public, sandy beach. |
| Kid's club: | Aged 6 months - 14 years, advance booking essential |
| Others: | Multiple playgrounds on site, babysitting service available upon request. |
| Current offers: | The extended family and baby's first holiday packages. |
- We absolutely loved Martinhal Sagres - it was without a doubt the best week of our year. The kids haven’t stopped talking about what a fantastic time they had since we got back. We met so many families who have come back year after year, and we can see why. The resort is brilliantly set up for children of all ages - our two and four year olds had a blast, but there’s so much for older kids and teenagers. Their thing is that they’re a resort for families rather than just children. The decor is classy rather than garish (but always wipe clean), the resort is spaced out enough that there’s always the opportunity for find a quiet (child-free) spot if you manage a trip to the Kid’s Club (we had a 50/50 success rate, our youngest child point-blank refused to go), and one evening, you might even find yourself having a luxe meal, with sea views, and actually having a conversation with your partner while your children happily play with some lego nearby. It’s certainly not the cheapest resort, but if you’re up for self catering (and visiting the nearby town) or can visit outside of school holidays, then It doesn’t need to bust the bank.
In terms of accommodation, you can either stay in the hotel or in one of the self-catering houses or apartments on the resort. As well as their terrace and beach rooms, the hotel also offers a smaller number of suites and interconnected rooms for larger families. We stayed in one of the Bay houses on the resort, which had two bedrooms and a separate living space and kitchen upstairs - which was perfect for us, it meant we had a place to go and kick back while the toddler was having his nap, and also meant we didn’t have to go to sleep in the evenings as soon as the children did. It also gave us the flexibility to eat in the apartment on some occasions, which is great if you want to keep to a budget.
4.
Puy du Fou
www.puydufou.com
The one for: Families with a mix of ages as everyone from small children to teenagers will enjoy it.
Pros
- The cost includes shows so you don’t have any unexpected entertainment costs.
- Park hotels allow you to walk to and from the park so no worries about driving.
Cons
- No self-catering options which might be tricky if your children have allergies or are tricky eaters.
- There is a lot of walking as the park is large which can get tiring for small children. Make sure you allow time for rest breaks.
- Night shows might be too much for young children as they are long and end around midnight
| Nearest airport: | Nantes, an average 1 hour flight |
| Transfer time from the airport: | An hour; you need to hire a car and drive 45 minutes to Puy du Fou |
| Prices: | From €400pn for a family of four, including tickets to the shows |
| Restaurants and catering: | Breakfast must be eaten in your hotel restaurant - for lunch and dinner you can eat in any one of the six hotel restaurants, but you must book. There are numerous fast-food options in the park for during the day. |
| No of pools: | None. This is not a lounging-by-the-pool kind of resort. |
| Kids clubs: | None |
| Playground: | A playground with a wooden castle to climb and complete with slide, and swings. |
| Top tip: | Buy an Emotion pass which allows you to skip the queues to shows. |
- The accommodation at Puy du Fou is in six themed hotels such as a medieval castle, an ancient village and a Roman villa. We, a family of five, stayed in the La Citadelle, a medieval-style castle and the accommodation was one large room with a double bed and a single sofa bed, and another room with twin bunk beds. We entered the rooms via a small hallway which gave a sense of space. All the hotels have similar options.
In terms of catering, most of the restaurants are within the hotels and so are similarly themed; those that are not are where you can watch a show whilst you eat. Breakfast is eaten at your restaurant hotel but for lunch and dinner you can eat at any of the hotel restaurants – but you must book. All meals, except for those with a show, are buffet style so you can choose what you want to eat and how much so it’s brilliantly suited to dining with children. Breakfast includes fruit salad, cold meats and cheese, boiled eggs, pastries, crepes with jam. Dinner is strongly based around meat but there is also fish and omelettes and vegetables side dishes, but there is no other specific catering for allergies. The pudding options are a child's dream. There are numerous fast-food options throughout the park for eating lunch or snacking during the day.
Puy du Fou is one of France’s most popular theme parks - it outranks Disneyland Paris - and we can understand why – we had had a fabulous time there, and it is perfect for a two or three day break so either a long weekend or as part of a longer holiday in France. Although it is a theme park, it doesn’t have rides. Instead, you watch a series of shows that bring to life a period in history. But don’t think boring… the shows, set in enormous venues and featuring rotating stages and all manner of spectacular stagecraft, are breathtaking. One is set in a replica of the Colliseum with chariot racing, another features horses cantering through fountains, their riders doing acrobatic tricks. Our favourites included Les Vikings where a Viking Ship rises out of the river and there are the loads of explosions and another fire-breathing ship, and the award-winning Le Mime et L'Etoile, which was less swash-buckling but beautiful to watch as it was set in Paris during the Belle Epoque. The shows run on a continuous timetable so you get more than one opportunity to see them. In the evening, set around a large lake are two stunning shows with fireworks and fountains set to music and each featuring hundreds of performers – a truly magical way to end the day. The commentary is in French but you can get a translation; they are so visual, though, you don’t need one to enjoy what’s going on.
How we reviewed these resorts:
We visited with some of the hardest-to-please guests out there, our children! But we also asked our audience on The Juggle - Grazia’s parenting platform - what they wanted to know most about a family resort before deciding whether to book. We had hundreds of responses, and there were some things that many different parents wanted to know about. So, when we reviewed our resorts we thought about the following things:
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How far away it is from the airport
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Whether there’s a separate space for the grown ups after the children have gone to bed at night.
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Whether there are catering options that are suitable for children - including those with allergies.
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Whether they have pools, play areas and access to a beach
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Whether they offer a kid’s club and other childcare services
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Whether they have any specific offers or deals on that you can take advantage of
Frequently asked questions:
What’s the difference between half board and full board? Which is better when you’ve got children?
‘For picky kids (i.e. most toddlers), a buffet is a dream,’ says Helen, who has three children under five. ‘You can let them munch their way through a full baguette with a side of jelly or grab a fistful of ham and a bowl of yoghurt rather than having to order half the items on a pricey a la carte menu in the hope of them cobbling together enough food to make up a meal.’
‘With older kids, though, or just those who are less fussy, eating out in a different country is a joy and as soon as my kids graduate from the fussy phase I’ll be booking B&B and heading out for our other meals. In my experience restaurants in hotels are never the best or most authentic places to eat, so even if it’s a little more expensive I would always go for meals in local restaurants (and always ask the staff where they eat while you’re there).’
Is it better to book your flight separately or do it with your accommodation as a package?
‘If you’re booking last minute, it’s always worth looking at packages – with unused capacity needing to be sold, you could get a bargain,’ explains Helen. ‘Additionally, when booking a package you benefit from ABTA protection, which means more chance of getting your money back if things go wrong.’
‘If I’m going on a beach holiday I often book a package with someone like Tui or Jet2, which means getting transfers thrown in as well, but for a city break or anything more complicated I would most often book the separate elements myself – you generally get more choice that way and can personalise your trip.’