The best kids club resorts in Europe for family-friendly fun
Want to take your children on holiday and still get a break? Here are the best hotels on the continent for family activities
AbJimroe
Travelling with kids isn’t always easy, but a European jaunt can deliver a getaway for all the family in just two hours, with safe beaches, shallow waters and guaranteed sunshine.
Nothing beats knowing your kids are having a brilliant time while you kick back and relax. Fortunately, whether your child’s a tiny tot or a discerning teenager, there’s an entire wealth of activities out there to keep them occupied and entertained while you lounge poolside with a glass of something cool.
From surfing and ziplining to performing and DJing, here’s our pick of the best hotels with kids clubs. And keep scrolling to see our top family-friendly European hotel picks.
For more guides to the best family-friendly hotels in Cornwall, the Lake District, Ibiza, Tenerife, Barbados and more, see our hotels page.
Badesi Marina, Sardinia
The medal-deserving, endlessly enthusiastic staff at Le Dune Resort’s kids’ club cater for children aged 18 months to 17 years, who can join in with or without their parents. The 10,000 square-metre “Fantasy Village” play area is just one of the standout features, with a pool and fort amid the sand dunes. Elsewhere, Duneland is an enchanted castle for kids offering creative workshops, a play area and Peter Pan restaurant. There’s also a vegetable garden and aviary to bring children closer to nature.
Expect sports galore, too, includingtennis, mini basketball, padel courts, kayaking, archery and a climbing wall. The resort itself has almost 500 rooms, six pools, 10 restaurants and exceptional beaches.
Address: Loc, 07030 Li Junchi OT, Italy
Price: From £137 per night
Read more: This Cotswolds hotel is perfect for families wanting a touch of indulgence
Zakynthos, Greece
Who says teenagers are too old for kids’ clubs? Located on an unspoilt coastline, Peligoni Club is adored by older kids, who can take part in practically every adrenaline-seeking watersport: sailing, windsurfing, water skiing and more.
For babies and toddlers from as young as four months old, there’s an on-site creche, while six to 10-year-olds get a programme from Tarka, the London-based kids club with branches in Notting Hill, that includes activities such as treasure hunts and raft-making.
Staff are mainly university students who excel in raising the confidence of even the shyest youngsters. There are various event nights: Greek night on Monday and a food festival on Friday are a must for all the family.
Address: VPW7+XF Agios Nikolaos, Volimes, Ag. Nikolaos 290 91, Greece
Price: Pricing is based on a weekly “membership” and varies throughout the year. More information can be found on Peligoni’s website.
Read more: The family-friendly beach getaway with an activity for everyone
Mijas, Spain
In need of a good massage? At La Zambra, you can indulge guilt-free as the kids will be at their dedicated club. This has an indoor and outdoor play area, and there are childcare options for children from six months to 10 years.
For the under-threes, the creche has soft games and activities that promote motor skills, so they’ll be learning through play. There are also lots of opportunities for the older ones to try new things with scientific experiments, cooking lessons and creative workshops. Connecting with nature is highly encouraged, and the kids’ club also offers gardening activities and art with recycled materials found around the hotel.
After the kids’ club has finished, there are lots of ways for the whole family to have fun together. Choose from a family swimming pool, two tennis courts and a padel court.
Address: Av. de Louison Bobet, 9, 29650 Málaga, Spain
Price: From £319 per night
Read more: The best family-friendly hotels in London, picked by a local expert
Sani Beach, Greece
The on-beach “babewatch” service is a genius invention at the luxurious Sani Beach, which has five hotels filled with baby-friendly facilities, several pools and four restaurants. Even better, the first 30 minutes are included in the price of your room. The British-run creche takes children from four months to four years old, with high staff-to-child ratios.
The “Sani Explorers” club gets kids aged four to 11 playing games on the beach, going on short excursions and having picnics and parties, as well as doing treasure hunts, cookie-making and more.
The teenage club for 12- to 17-year-olds runs activities such as hip hop dancing to beach volleyball – all supported by Ozone, a hang-out venue specifically for teens. There are swimming lessons available and there’s even a junior and teenage spa, with dedicated treatments.
Address: Sani Beach Sani Resort, Kassandra 630 77, Greece
Price: Sani Beach has a five-day minimum stay during peak periods, costing from around £2,000. More pricing information can be found on its website.
Morzine, France
This is a favourite among more active families, as Le Crêt has an indoor and outdoor swimming complex, fishing, white-water activities, paragliding, cycling, aquagym and horse-riding.
The kids’ club packs in entertainment throughout July and August for four to 12-year-olds, including creative workshops, Olympic games, theatrical activities, swimming pool games, discos and sports. And in winter, try out the Piou-Piou ski club, which supporters beginner skiers to get confident on the slopes. This serves as a reminder that you don’t always have to go to ritzy, five-star resorts to find good kids' clubs.
Meanwhile, the surrounding area of Morzine offers mountain peaks, pine forests and lakes with great footpaths and walking trails. In summer, the town also has a water park and tobogganing.
Address: 905 Rte de la Plagne, 74110 Morzine, France
Price: From £133 per night
Read more: So you want to go on holiday with friends who have kids? Here are your best options
Dubrovnik, Croatia
With its hillside setting outside Dubrovnik and seafront position, Sun Gardens – which features hotel and private residences – includes the imaginative Marco Polo kids’ club, offering children aged 12 months to 11 years fun-filled and action-packed days, ranging from treasure hunts to making dough animals.
Meanwhile, the hotel offers teens activities such as jet ski safaris, speedboat trips and a games room with PlayStation consoles, TVs and table tennis. The hotel also runs training programmes in football, squash, swimming and basketball, helping your little one to hone their technique to perfection.
Rooms themselves are specially equipped for your children’s age range, including plenty of toys and games. But no evening activities or group meals are offered here.
Address: Na moru 1, 20235, Orašac, Croatia
Price: From £126 per night
Read more: The best family-friendly hotels in Bali, from humble homestays to action-packed resorts
Crete, Greece
The all-inclusive Creta Maris, half an hour south of Crete’s capital, Heraklion, has not one but five children’s pools to choose from. An open-air cinema, a waterpark and a kids’ club offering for babies and children from zero to 17 years of age completes the extremely family-friendly offering.
At the kids’ club, children engage in themed experiences that are held both indoors and out, with a range of sports, arts and crafts, cooking, eco-conscious and water experiences certified by the Luxury Childcare Association. There’s also an affordable babysitting service available so that adults can enjoy some downtime after sundown.
Address: Dimokratias, Chersonisos 700 14, Greece
Price: From £263 per night
Read more: I found a hotel in Crete that ticks the boxes for a fun-filled family holiday
Tenerife
The five-star Ritz-Carlton has one of the largest kids’ clubs in Europe, with zones for four to 12-year-olds dedicated to astronomy, wildlife, sustainability, technology, theatre, and arts and crafts across its 305 square metres of indoor space and private outdoor area.
Families go for the world-class tennis and golf facilities, as well as the positioning of the hotel right on a cliff top, providing spectacular views. The MB restaurant is another lure, as it holds two Michelin stars. There’s also a fabulous spa and private beach with a beach bar and restaurant.
Address: Calle María Zambrano 2, Carretera General, TF-47, Km 9, 38687, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Price: From £193 per night
Read more: Best family hotels in Tenerife, reviewed
Cascais, Portugal
With more than 2,300 square metres of well-designed kids’ playgrounds, complete with a 20m zipline, bouncing area and sandpit – and a kids’ club with 700 square metres of play space – this beach resort is a real hit with families.
Onyria Quinta da Marinha’s kids’ club offers seasonal programmes for children up to 12 years old in playrooms, playgrounds and green spaces. There is a “Dreammarine” experience available for children for sensory and interactive play.
There are also two pools and a baby concierge. Plus, the three on-site restaurants have full ranges of baby purees and an extensive kids’ menu.
Address: R. Palmeiras 247, 2750-005 Cascais, Portugal
Price: From £202 per night
Read more: Best cities and towns in Portugal to visit
Opio en Provence, France
Located in the south of France, in the hinterland behind Cannes, the stand-out point of Opio en Provence is the “Creactive” playground designed by Cirque du Soleil, where adults and kids can enjoy up to 30 acrobatic and artistic activities, including flying trapeze lessons.
The playground is regularly used by the petit club, mini club and teens club (there’s also a baby club), all of which are open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and again in the evenings.
The multinational staff are enthusiastic and the food and evening shows are great too.
Address: Chem. Cambarnier N, 06650 Opio, France
Price: Prices start at £1,230 for a seven-night stay. More details can be found on its website.
Read more: The best family hotels in Cape Verde from kids’clubs to watersports and beaches
Talamanca, Ibiza
If the ’rents aren’t quite ready to let go of their clubbing days, check out this 152-room Nobu hotel, which opened in 2017 on Talamanca beach, five minutes by car from Ibiza town.
The kids’ club, aimed at four to 14-year-olds, is one of the few dedicated clubs for children in a five-star hotel in Ibiza and offers activities from cooking to DJ workshops, bohemian foraging sessions to swimming lessons.
There’s also plenty of opportunity for arts and crafts, sports and chill-out sessions (this is Ibiza, after all). For mums and dads, there’s a spa and the restaurant is, of course, Nobu.
Address: Carrer de Ses Feixes, 52, 07800 Eivissa, Illes Balears, Spain
Price: From £686 per night
Read more: The best hotels in Ibiza, reviewed
Halkidiki, Greece
If you’re keen to keep things simple without compromising on quality, the award-winning Ikos Olivia is a great shout. This family-friendly hotel includes Michelin-starred dining and drinks, sports, wellness and water activities, family services and activities, luxury accommodation and local discovery experiences.
Children between six months and 17 years are catered for in age-appropriate groups and supervised by experienced professionals following Ofsted guidelines, so you can rest assured they’ll be in safe hands. Whip up some healthy competition with the youngsters on the tennis court, try canoeing, windsurfing or pedaloing, kids’ yoga, giant chess, boccia, board games, kids’ karaoke and even a mini disco. Budding Mo Salahs and Alessia Russos can also hone their footwork at the on-site football academy.
There’s also a spa, solid entertainment and 450m of pristine Blue Flag white sand beach and shallow aquamarine waters to splash around in.
Address: Thesi Rahones, Gerakini, Halkidiki 631 00, Greece
Price: From £383 per night
Read more: The Greece trip that made me a Neilson holiday convert
The hotels featured in this list have been carefully selected by The Independent's expert travel writers, each with a deep knowledge of the destinations they cover. Our contributors either live in these locations or visit frequently, ensuring a personal and informed perspective. When picking which hotels to include, they consider their own experience staying in the hotels and evaluate location, facilities, service and all the other details that make for an exceptional stay for all types of traveller.
