50 fabulous hotels for a family-friendly break in the Mediterranean
Whether your children are looking for the full gamut of watersports while on holiday (surfing, stand-up paddleboarding or diving), educational gains (archeological digs, theatre courses, pizza-making), or are happy with simply help-yourself gelato and a swimming pool (or seven) – this comprehensive guide, selected by Telegraph Travel experts, covers all the bases – from budget to luxury – for a fun-filled family break.
SPAIN
Whether you like secret coves where the children can run wild, or miles of sand with all sorts of watersports on offer, there are beaches to suit all families in mainland Spain and the Balearic and Canary Islands. All ages will love learning to dive in Menorca, paddleboard in Ibiza or kitesurf in Fuerteventura. There are plenty of toddler-friendly beaches with shallow water, from the Costa del Sol to Formentera and Gran Canaria. Head to northern Spain –Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country – for unspoiled beaches where you can surf before scoffing superb seafood. Stay in a hotel packed with facilities to keep everyone amused or go for simple pleasures in a no-frills place right by the sea.
WHERE TO STAY . . .
Menorca
Meliá Cala Galdana
Menorca, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
This is one of the few Menorca hotels that are actually on the beach. The hotel has a shallow pool for children, a club which keeps ages nine months to 12 years busy day and night with games, crafts, discos and films, and nightly entertainment. Other activities can be arranged by the hotel, from scuba diving to equestrian shows. Family rooms feature interconnecting bedrooms, and menus all have child-friendly options. Read expert review From £84 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best beach hotels in the Mediterranean
Blau Privilege PortoPetro Beach Resort & Spa
Portopetro, Majorca, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
This is a one-stop shop for families, with three large pools, 10 tennis and two padel courts, two baby and toddler pools, and kids' clubs including a Mini Club and Teen Club. Bikes can be hired and there are regular alfresco barbecues, and film and music nights. Aside from family rooms with connecting doors, cots and high chairs, child-friendly menus and babysitting services are available. Read expert review From £180 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best budget hotels Mediterranean
Majorca
Zafiro Palace Alcudia
Port d'Alcudia, Majorca, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
This is a family paradise with facilities to put a smile on every child's face. As well as pools that run the length of the six blocks, the central pool has a swim-up bar and an inflatable bubble to jump off, and the paddling pool features a pirate ship. There's also a water slide, bicycles, mini golf and a playground, and three kids’ clubs for different ages with activities throughout the day. Evening entertainment takes place in a large, tiered arena and is very family orientated. The all-inclusive option provides multiple dining options with ices, snacks and drinks on tap. Babysitters can be hired, and pushchairs, car seats and cribs requested. Read expert review From £121 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best family-friendly hotels in Majorca
Ibiza
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay
Talamanca, Ibiza, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
Children are considered guests in their own right at this spectacular five-star on Talamanca Bay. The kids' club is all about learning while having fun, educating young guests through interactive Posidonia themed storytelling and special eco-focused days. They'll learn how to make body scrubs with local ingredients, make sushi and tacos, and take over the decks for a spot of DJing. What's more, children can attend Flower Power, White, Mermaid and Pirate day parties – the latest addition to Ibiza Bay's signature weekly schedule of iconic island parties. Read expert review From £165 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best kids' clubs in hotels
Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza
Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
The preening, posing party vibe won't suit all families but the Roxity Club means children are well catered for with personal X Boxes, 65ft HD television screens, F1 racing simulators, age-specific activities (four to 11 years) and an area for teenagers with a small cinema. The main pool has a children's area and kids can have a Jelly Gum massage in the spa. Cots are available and some rooms have sofa beds. Read expert review From £117 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best beach hotels in Ibiza
Occidental Ibiza
Ibiza, Spain
7Telegraph expert rating
This sprawling complex allows plenty of space for activities and places to explore, from the games rooms and arcade, to tennis and volleyball courts. There are three swimming pools outside, plus a children's wading pool. Most people stay on an all-inclusive basis, and there's a pool bar for snacks and ice cream, plus nightly entertainment shows performed by the in-house team. Read expert review From £81 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa
Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
This sleek five-star resort is right on Playa d’en Bossa beach and will keep all members of the family happy, from small kids to teenagers, and parents who might want to do a bit of partying as well as relaxing. There are three clubs for children in different age groups between two and 14, with a huge range of sports and fun activities to keep them busy. Cots are available in Junior suites and suites. Read expert review From £114 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Costa del Sol
Kempinski Hotel Bahía
Estepona, Andalucia, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
Gardens of hibiscuses, olive trees and bird of paradise flowers unfurl past three pools, with plenty of space to sunbathe on the lawn, to a sliver of Mediterranean beach. There are tennis and volleyball courts, and golf and watersports can be arranged. Rooms have sofa beds, cots are available, and there are interconnecting rooms and babysitting services. Children's shampoo and other toiletries are provided on request. A good kids' club takes place in high season. The beachside location is a boon. Read expert review From £129 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best beach hotels in Spain
Puente Romano Marbella
Marbella, Malaga, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
If the three outdoor pools (plus one for families) aren't enough, there's an equestrian centre, which offers riding lessons and daily excursions, as well as all sorts of watersports including stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing, and a tennis school. There are family-sized rooms; cots and extra beds for children under 12 are free. Yachts can be arranged if you fancy a day out with the family. From May to September there's a kids' club. Read expert review From £197 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Costa Brava
Sallés Hotel & Spa Mas Tapiolas
Santa Cristina d'Aro, Catalonia, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
Parents can relax at this family-friendly retreat in the Solius Valley, especially in the spa where their children can join them at specific times of the day. There’s a large outdoor pool, a paddling pool, an outdoor playground, wonderful playroom full of toys, games and books, padel court and 18-hole pitch and putt. Cots for children aged under three can stay for free and extra beds are available with breakfast included. Read expert review From £98 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best luxury hotels on the Costa Brava
Clipper Hotel & Villas
Torroella de Montgrí, Catalonia, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
A great-value, family-friendly hotel moments from the wonderfully wild Mas Pinell beach. Children adore the pools (two are outdoor – one main and a smaller one for children – as well as a heated indoor pool). Inside, there's a billiards table near the bar and a comfy lounge area with the daily papers and board games. Cots and beds for children under three are free. Read expert review From £80 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• An insider guide to the Costa Brava
La Palma
La Palma & Teneguía Princess
La Palma, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
With its pools, budget-friendly prices and plethora of activities including kids' club, disco, adventure playground and mini golf, this hotel is an ideal choice for a family getaway on the most beautiful island in the Canaries. There's also an artificial beach of white sand; a thermal spa, sauna and gym; table tennis; billiards; tennis courts; a football pitch and archery. Read expert review Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
La Gomera
Hotel Jardín Tecina
La Gomera, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
This is a little cracker of a property is perched atop a cliff on the pristine island of La Gomera. On-site it has five swimming pools, an 18-hole golf course, sea-view rooms, and very decent half-board dining options. There's even a popular Mini Club with a full agenda of activities and a mini disco for the children. Family rooms provide plenty of space and a babysitting service is available at an additional cost. Read expert review From £122 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
CROATIA
Croatians love children and treat them with respect – like little adults, which is why they're often allowed to join in with the adults, be it for late-night meals or sports activities. One thing to bare in mind is that beaches are of pebble-and-rock, not sand, so rubber beach shoes are recommended for those with sensitive feet. Active teens will love Croatia's adventure sports, and the easy-going outdoorsy lifestyle will appeal to children in general. Dubrovnik generally markets itself as a 'couples' destination so it's the trickiest, but elsewhere, especially on the islands and in Rovinj, you'll feel most welcome.
WHERE TO STAY . . .
Rovinj
Amarin Family Hotel
Rovinj, Istria, Croatia
9Telegraph expert rating
Everything is child-orientated at this design hotel by the sea in Rovinj. On arrival children encounter a bouncy net installation, where they can jump about and glimpse the indoor pool, the kids' gym and the garden pool. The grounds have rope climbing frames and slides, outdoor pools, volleyball nets and free scooters to whizz around in. There's a kids' club (painting, collage and hand-printing, and sports), cinema, spa with indoor pool and gym and 24-hour child care, as well as two beached to explore, with watersports on offer. And so much more. Read expert review From £90 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Dubrovnik
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia
8Telegraph expert rating
If you're after a chill-out seaside holiday, with swimming and sports activities, this location is idyllic, and the residences are ideal for families. There are two pools for families, a Sports Academy training football, tennis, water polo and basketball with occasional celebrity sportspeople; and a Marco Polo kids' club, offering games, activities and trips, so parents can have some time alone. Babysitting services available. Read expert review From £84 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best budget hotels in Dubrovnik
Korcula
Port 9 Hotel
Korcula, Croatia
7Telegraph expert rating
This family-friendly resort offers unpretentious accommodation options. The atmosphere is easy-going and ideal for children: they will love the two small beaches (one pebble, one sand), sea and the woods, and there's a Kids' Club in a colourful playroom with toys and bean bags, a playground, two children’s pools, canoes and bikes for hire, and tennis. Family rooms and extra beds are available; cots are free. Read expert review From £76 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Brac
Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa
Bol, Brac, Croatia
8Telegraph expert rating
A great one for active families, with windsurfing and scuba diving facilities, plus hiking and cycling routes, and bikes for rent. There's a wellness centre with several pools, a tennis school, a kids' club (May-September), and extensive sports facilities for teenagers. The hotel is set on the seafront promenade in Bol, a 10-minute walk from Zlatni Rat beach. Children up to two years-old stay for free. Read expert review From £51 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best Croatian island hotels
Rabac
Valamar Girandella Maro Suites
Rabac, Istria, Croatia
8Telegraph expert rating
An all-inclusive resort by the sea which offers great value for families. The team includes qualified nursery teachers. Three Kids' Clubs (split into newborn to three-years-old; three to seven; seven to 12) provide daily activities and the kids' cinema shows evening films (in English and German). The Aqua Maro pool complex (with swimming lessons available) has a warm shallow circular indoor baby pool; an indoor pool (with slides) opening onto an outdoor pool, plus a 40-metre outdoor infinity pool. Below the complex are several pebble beaches with sunbeds/parasols, plus watersports and an inflatable aqua-park. Read expert review From £171 per night
Lošinj
Hotel Aurora
Lošinj, Croatia
8Telegraph expert rating
The Aurora is one of the nicest places to stay on the island of Lošinj. The hotel's seaside location and pebble beach, outdoor swimming pools (including a shallow toddler's pool with a small waterslide), buffet restaurant with plenty of choices for children, and evening entertainment all add up to make this a fantastic place for families. Eight tennis courts, a bowling alley and mini-golf round it off. Read expert review From £66 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best budget hotels in the Mediterranean
Family Hotel Vespera
Lošinj, Croatia
8Telegraph expert rating
As you might expect for a place under the Kinderhotels brand, it doesn’t get much more family-friendly than this. The range of family-oriented facilities is endless – from kids' clubs and dedicated entertainment programmes, to interconnecting family/single-parent rooms, and plenty of water fun provided by outdoor seawater pools (including two suitable for toddlers, with a slide and waterfall) and a pebble beach. Plus, Vespera guests also get discounted entry to the nearby Čikat Aquapark. Read expert review From £72 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
GREECE
Ancient history, swathes of sandy beaches and oodles of watersports activities: it must be Greece. There are over 6,000 islands off the mainland, and with 60 beaches on Skiathos alone, that's a bucket load of coast to explore. And there's something to suit everyone. Where Rhodes has an abundance of gentle beaches and all-inclusive seaside hotels that offer everything on a plate (kids' clubs, watersports facilities, babysitting and wellness in one place), Mykonos is a good one for day trips to Unesco-listed ancient temples before heading into Mykonos Town for dinner.
WHERE TO STAY . . .
Skiathos
Skiathos Mystery
Skiathos, Greece
8Telegraph expert rating
What this bijou operation might lack in showy facilities, it more than makes up for in attentive, friendly service and spot-on local knowledge. As well as the usual reservations and recommendations, the concierge is happy to arrange fishing trips, guided walks and day excursions on request. Children are very welcome here and cots, high chairs and babysitting are available. There’s a compact but cooling swimming pool. Read expert review From £95 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Crete
Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas
Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece
8Telegraph expert rating
Facilities at this family-friendly resort include a Crèche Club supervised by Worldwide Kids, a game-stocked kids' entertainment room and dozens of well-monitored watersports, as well as two tennis courts and several outdoor pools. It sits in a natural amphitheatre that descends in stages to a private sandy beach. Rooms, villas and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows with views over the dazzling Vathi Bay. Read expert review From £222 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Candia Park Village
Crete, Greece
9Telegraph expert rating
This delightful resort and its self-catering apartments make it a good option for budget-conscious families, and children up to the age of 11 stay free. It has several pools; one large main pool is surrounded by a handful of kids' pools. There are volleyball and tennis courts, a few shops selling snacks and sun cream, and a mini club for tots (classes include cookie making and stone painting). Older children have pool tables and a room full of video games. Read expert review From £82 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• Secret hotels on the Mediterranean islands
Creta Maris Beach Resort
Hersonissos, Crete, Greece
8Telegraph expert rating
An all-inclusive resort overlooking a sandy beach, with good facilities, several pools, and restaurants serving first-rate food. The small sandy beach is clean (but can get crowded in high season). There's plenty to keep the younger family members happy, with mini golf, tennis and archery, as well as video games and a kids' club. Read expert review From £121 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best beach hotels in Greece
Club Marine Palace & Suites
Panormos, Crete, Greece
8Telegraph expert rating
A large pool surrounded by sunbeds (and with clearly defined areas for toddlers) is the central focus of the resort (there are smaller pools scattered around the property). The Aquapark (apparently the largest in a Greek resort) has candy-coloured towers, slides and several large pools. There is also an (indoor) Thalasso spa pool with a full circuit of hydro massage jets: it costs €8 (£7) a day to use the pool, sauna and hammam. There are also tennis courts, a video games room and a children's club – something for all ages. Read expert review From £140 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Rhodes
Mitsis Grand Hotel
Rhodes, Greece
8Telegraph expert rating
The hotel prides itself on its family-friendly atmosphere and offers a host of services and facilities; from complimentary cots and babysitting services, to a playground and a children's outdoor pool. Concierge services can arrange tours, day trips and watersports excursions. A bridge room, electronic game room and a tennis court are also on-site. A shopping arcade features souvenir stores. Read expert review From £88 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Mykonos
Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort
Mykonos, Greece
9Telegraph expert rating
Luxury unbounded. Top-level facilities at this immaculate hotel in Mykonos include helipads and a private pier, and the concierge can arrange private drivers, helicopter and yacht transfers, sailing tours and horseback riding. Families can stay in a Family Sea View Suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and cots are available upon request. Children have a separate play area as well as a saltwater kids' pool. Read expert review From £337 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Santorini
Erosantorini
Santorini, Greece
9Telegraph expert rating
Unlike most places on Santorini, you don’t have to navigate dozens of stairs, so it’s great for babies and toddlers (though do note there are sheer drops around the pool.) Travel cots, changing mats, baby baths, high chairs, bottle sterilisers and warmers are provided. Teenagers will love the outdoor cinema and underwater sound system. All children receive age-appropriate toys, games, books, movies, mini robes and slippers. Cooking lessons and craft sessions can be arranged. A luxury option for certain, but a goodie. Read expert review From £566 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best hotels in Santorini
ITALY
Across Italy, children are greeted like celebrities and pop stars, and nowhere more so than along the sunny Mediterranean where the mantra is 'Un bimbo che non gioca, felicita ne ha poca' ('a child who doesn't play has little happiness'). Quite apart from pizza, pasta and rainbow-coloured gelato, Italy's Mediterranean coastline offers unparalleled variety: from the silky, ivory sands of Sardinia to the black-volcanic beaches of the south. You can stay in watchtowers, castles or cone-shaped trulli, or in crayon-coloured fishing villages. With islands, caves and grottoes galore, there are swashbuckling adventures to be had, and endless opportunities for simply messing about in boats.
WHERE TO STAY . . .
Amalfi Coast
Belmond Hotel Caruso
Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
Caruso is the best located hotel in Ravello and facilities and services are endless, starting with the immaculate infinity pool, several restaurants and boat trips along the coast. Child-sized robes and slippers are available, toys are placed on children’s beds and a dedicated team dream up activities for young-uns (some carry an extra charge) including pizza-making lessons, video-making and painting with a local artist. Read expert review From £548 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Marina Riviera
Amalfi, Amalfi Coast, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
A relaxed atmosphere, panoramic rooftop terrace complete with heated pool, incredible restaurant, and nearby beach make this a great hotel for families, and its location in Amalfi town makes it a convenient launchpad for various day trips and ambling along the seafront. The property is family-owned by the Garganos, and you'll be welcomed with all the warmth of the Italian south. Read expert review From £80 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best Amalfi Coast hotels
Hotel Botanico San Lazzaro
Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
Maiori's expansive beach of dark volcanic sand is a good place for children, and the hotel's vibe is relaxed and unstuffy: more of a friendly boutique hotel than a swanky five-star affair. Family-friendly facilities include a swimming pool with water cascade and its own area of private beach. There's a terrace pizzeria with wood-fire oven (open in high season), and family rooms sleep up to six. Read expert review From £211 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Liguria
Belmond Hotel Splendido
Portofino, Liguria, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
With the park, pool and beach across the road, plus its proximity to the picture-perfect (and uber-chic) village of Portofino, there’s plenty here to keep all the family happy whether they want to lounge by the sea or go sightseeing. Cots and extra beds can be added to suites free of charge (for under-18s). There are children’s menus and high chairs in the restaurants and special treatments in the spa and bathrobes, slippers and activities books are provided for younger guests. The Kid’s Club caters for four to 12-year-olds. Read expert review From £786 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Sardinia
Le Dune
Sardinia, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
Forte Village resort is a self-contained paradise with no less than 21 restaurants, and sports and children's facilities to boot. Le Dune is one of the resort's five-star hotels. Along with kids' clubs and a children’s restaurant, there’s an enormous Acquapark with slides. There are also more than a dozen Academies (these cost extra) that you can sign the kids up for, including magic, dance, chess, DJ, as well as rugby, tennis, and a football academy with Chelsea trainers. Read expert review From £697 per night
Colonna Resort
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
The isolated position and excellent facilities appeal to families, and the reasonable 'all-in' packages make it pocket-friendly. Children are well catered for, with seven pools, and a small private beach nearby. The Mini Club with activities including a cinema club, for children aged between three and 10 years, is a plus. Bookable excursions include helicopter tours, dolphin-watching and trips to the mountains. Read expert review From £171 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Le Sabine at Resort & SPA Le Dune
Badesi, Sardinia, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
Popular with families and it's easy to see why, with swimming pools, multi-sports courts for football, tennis, basketball and archery; and windsurfing, horse riding and scuba diving activities. Nightly live music, plus 'baby dance' to get the children off to sleep more quickly, complete the offerings. You'll even find an aviary with peacocks and chickens, plus cinemas, and 'fantasy playgrounds' with inflatable pirate ships and forts. Read expert review From £97 per night
Sicily
Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea
Taormina, Sicily, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
Children are catered to the moment they arrive with a welcome kit. Infinity pools, private beaches, watersports, and complimentary boat cruises (May to September) appeal to those of all ages. Even underwater photography activities can be organised. Family-friendly DVDs, buckets, spades and snorkels are provided. There's a child-friendly menu at Restaurant Oliviero, and teen and child spa treatments are available. Read expert review From £344 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Puglia
Masseria Torre Coccaro
Savelletri, Puglia, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
It would be easier to list the activities that this family-orientated masseria doesn't offer rather than the masses they do. Among the most popular are the regular 'Festa di paese' nights, recreations of pugliese village fairs complete with food stalls and traditional music. Families can use the resort's mountain bikes, and the Masseria lays on several activities for children including pizza-making courses. There's also a supervised beach club. Read expert review From £166 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Borgo Egnazia
Fasano, Puglia, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
Guests are allocated a 'local advisor' who helps tailor their stay. Whether you want to hire bikes, drop the children at the friendly kids' or teens' clubs, take them to the miniature farm, escape for a Vair spa treatment, learn to make orecchiette pasta or local pottery, play tennis, golf, take up windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking – or just peg out at one of the resort's two private beaches or three outdoor pools – there's something for everyone. Read expert review From £193 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Don Totu Dimora Storica
Salento, Puglia, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
One of the nicest things about this walled palazzo is how safe and private it feels. A handful of bikes – electric or push – are available to borrow, a rooftop cinema is set up for films once a week, and children (and grown-ups) can help themselves to gelato all day. The coast is less than 10 minutes' drive, or you can cycle. But ultimately you'll want to spend your time beside that dazzling pool. And you can hire the whole place out. Read expert review From £196 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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MALTA
Malta has it all for a family holiday: it's easy to get around, English-speaking, and family-oriented, with child-friendly resorts, food, beaches and sightseeing. What child doesn't love a castle? The tiny fortified cities of Mdina and Gozo Citadel are idea for older children to explore, as are Fort St Angelo and St Elmo. At the temples of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim or Ggantija, kids can absorb the Neolithic in open playable spaces. Or why not get lost in the spooky labyrinth of Byzantine catacombs? Mellieha Beach slopes so gently it is even suitable for toddlers, while there are boat trips, swimming and watersports galore across the islands.
WHERE TO STAY . . .
db Seabank Resort + Spa
Mellieha, Malta
7Telegraph expert rating
This all-inclusive resort hotel is ideal for a classic beach holiday. The property boasts one of the largest hotel swimming pools in Malta, and there's an outdoor terrace with a glass-walled indoor pool and kids' club with gated play area. The club offers crazy games, bowling, basketball, mini golf and mini discos. Other evening entertainment includes magicians and live music. The Jungle American restaurant has a children's play area. Read expert review From £102 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands
Mellieha, Malta
8Telegraph expert rating
As well as having a small stretch of private beach, the hotel sits right on the broad sands of Golden Bay. Its four swimming pools include outdoor, indoor and children's pools, while the watersports centre offers diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, paragliding and more. There is a kids' club in summer and a daily programme of activities in high season. The hotel has seven restaurants, but Flavours' sumptuous buffet has a children’s area and covers all bases. Read expert review From £76 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
The Westin Dragonara Resort
St Julian's, Malta
7Telegraph expert rating
A five-star in Mellieha with facilities for all ages. Two large outdoor pools and a children's paddling pool overlook the sea. The hotel's private shoreline is rocky, but there is also a little patch of sandy cove ideal for children to go paddling. There's an extensive range of watersports, and children are entertained in bright play areas. Under-threes may use the facilities accompanied by an adult. Child-friendly menus are available and you can order food ahead so no long waits at the table. Read expert review From £84 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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FRANCE
For fairytale glamour, there is no Mediterranean coastal stretch as mythical as the French Riviera – long-time celebrity playground which, with careful planning, families can enjoy too. From five-star palaces on the sands in chi-chi St-Jean-Cap-Ferret, to a remote ancestral mansion on a car-free island best explored by bicycle, or ecological treehouses in the hillsabove Nice, all budgets and hankerings for swashbuckling adventure are well-covered. Moving west into the Camargue, land of cowboys and white horses, and beyond into the canal-kissed Languedoc, you can expect better value for money and exciting outdoor action. Family-friendly hotels on centuries-old horse farms and chateau resorts are de rigueur here.
WHERE TO STAY . . .
Côte d'Azur
Hotel Royal-Riviera
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Côte d'Azur, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Kid-tastic. The Royal Kid Programme gives children a passport at check-in, age-appropriate gifts and free ice-cream vouchers at the pool. One under-14 can stay in their parents Deluxe room or suite for free. Interconnecting rooms and family-sized suites are available. Entertainment spans from active watersports to the languid: chill out at the hotel's private beach, beside the sparkling turquoise pool. Read expert review From £174 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Côte d'Azur, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Club Dauphin is the hotel's pièce de résistance; a huge heated infinity seawater pool. Book a swimming lesson with Pierre Gruneberg, the club's famous swimming instructor, whose pupils have included everyone from Charlie Chaplin's children to Robin Williams. The hotel has a babysitting service and kids' club. Children under 18 are free if accommodated in their parents’ room in a cot or rollaway bed. Read expert review From £289 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Le Mas du Langoustier
Porquerolles, Provence, France
8Telegraph expert rating
If you don't mind spending money on your children, come here. It's private, sprawling and has a Michelin-starred restaurant. There's a pool and tennis court in there somewhere, and then you're on the rocks, overlooking a creek and beach which, though not private, feels that way. The different blues of the sea are as clearly defined as colours on a flag and, over on the wooded headland, stand the remains of a fortress. Read expert review From £173 per night
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Château St Pierre de Serjac
Puissalicon, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Laid-back luxury is the vibe at this sophisticated 19th-century chateau. Activities include swimming, boules, tennis and bikes, and the Mediterranean, river and lake beaches are all half an hour's drive away. The kids' club runs in July and August, with activities such as building dens or archaeological digs. Self-catering houses, many with plunge pools for families seeking privacy, and cots and babysitting are available. Read expert review From £149 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Orion Tree Houses
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Côte d'Azur, France
8Telegraph expert rating
Families will love this ecological retreat with a beautiful, natural pool and four treehouses, especially the King Louie (each is named after a character in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book) with its second mini-cabin for kids. Colonel Haithi can sleep up to five, and cots are available. It's so relaxed in this woodland escape, you'll drift asleep to the sound of crickets and miniature frogs. Read expert review From £204 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
• The best village hotels in Provence
Le Mas de Peint
Camargue, Provence, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Children will love the wild setting at this unpretentious Provençal farmhouse; there’s a comfortable home-from-home vibe and endless outdoor adventures. The lovely large pool is set within its own walled garden and is open between June and September, during festival season (horse parades, bull marching and running, and the important Saintes Maries pilgrimage). Miles of sandy beaches are a short, scenic drive away. Read expert review From £211 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Château Les Carrasses
Quarante, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Les Carrasses, a turreted 19th-century castle with luxurious hotel suites and self-catering cottages, offers a heated infinity pool, clay tennis court, volleyball court, boules pitch and complimentary mountain bikes. Beyond the usual cots and highchairs, there's a kids' club for four-12-year-olds, free children's bikes and an early kids' dinner. Reception lends out DVDs, board games and iPods loaded with catchy playlists. Read expert review From £142 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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