Spaniards wouldn’t think of going anywhere without their children, who run underfoot in bars and stay out in their prams until the small hours of the evening. It makes sense, then, that family-friendly hotels in Spain are the norm, making it an incredible destination for the entire pack.
However, fun and sun (and siestas) are only some of the reasons to bring the bunch – some of Europe’s best child-friendly resorts sit in the steamy south, while, in lesser-known corners of the peninsula, storybook hotels with a wholesome, old-fashioned sense of leisure and luxurious vibes nestle among the green mountains. This curated list takes into account lots of different family styles, so whether you’re looking for a resort with all the bells and whistles (kids’ clubs, pools with slides, dedicated children’s restaurants) or a more understated stay you’ll find it here. These are the best family hotels in Spain, from Cantabria to Cádiz, reviewed by our experts.
Northern Spain
Molino Tejada (and Cantabria in general) is one of Spain’s best kept secrets. Magic is in the air in this former water mill converted into cosy rooms and apartments. You won’t find the calculated kids’ resort activities here – this is a country home where everyone’s imagination is allowed – rather, encouraged – to roam wild. Grab a boat from the pillow-covered dock and float down the calm Ebro River, jump on some bikes for a ride around the peaceful valley, or take a dip in the plunge pool. For rainy days, there’s a stylish cinema with a Netflix-equipped big screen and a music room with a view of the rushing water below.
From
£
108
per night
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Aire de Bardenas is a parent’s chance to give their children a once-in-a-lifetime memory: sleeping in a gigantic bubble, under the starry Spanish night sky. Aire de Bardenas is a modern hotel in the countryside outside of Tudela, near the Unesco Biosphere Reserve of Las Bardenas Reales. They have nine giant climatized bubbles, inflatable structures made of plastic and aluminum, half of which are transparent and open to the clear desert sky. Jump on the bed under the moon, feeling rather like an astronaut unrestrained by gravity – unforgettable for both parents and children.
From
£
175
per night
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Hotel de Londres Y Inglaterra, situated as it is front and centre on San Sebastián’s most beautiful beach, is a spacious grand dame with a family-friendly feel. La Concha, with its summer slides and shallow tides, is literally on the front stoop. The café gives major retro luxe European vibes and is a source of endless hot chocolate and churros, a favourite afternoon snack. The hotel has what is probably the city’s largest supply of interconnecting rooms, and kids get their own Petit Prince toiletries upon arrival. Finger food, pintxo-size sandwiches, hamburgers and pizzas make up a bar menu that’s also available for room service (all speedily prepared, perfect for hungry tums).
From
£
81
per night
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Andalucia
When is a kids’ club the best in Europe? When, like at Marbella Club, it’s not a kids’ club but a 5,000 square metre village, where children can roam free to garden in mini plots or learn to whip up gazpacho or paella. With kids busy in their interactive space done up in vintage-style furniture (designed by Minimec), parents can enjoy the luxe spa and a poolside drink. Music, dance, and sports keep active kids moving, while the more relaxed have a library, art studio and computer room at their disposal. A chill ambience pervades the hotel, down to the Beach Club where dinner is served buffet style and in swimming trunks.
From
£
455
per night
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This jewel in Andalucía is miles away (literally) from the package holiday vibe. This stylish countryside getaway offers family weeks several times a year, in which the place abounds with family activities from acrobatics to mobile-making workshops to Spanish lessons. During these weeks, children have special menus, and babysitting services are included. Two villas, The Stables and Casita La Siesta, are also available, with all the services of the rooms and more space and privacy for families. Casita even has a yurt, perfect for teens that need their alone time.
From
£
290
per night
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For when you want the carefree feeling of lounging in a sun-soaked paradise, there is the IBEROSTAR Royal Andalus. Kids run amuck all day and night in this Chiclana de Frontera beachfront hotel, back and forth from the Viking galley pool complete with dragon to the mini disco – think cruise ship on land. The three kids’ clubs, divided into three age brackets, are supremely popular, meaning kids make friends over the course of their stay. Both evening shows and dinners are thematic, hokey but a welcome diversion.
From
£
58
per night
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To little eyes, the ubiquitous colourful tiles and gilded details must make Alfonso XIII appear straight out of Arabian nights. In the heart of Sevilla, this stately grand dame dating back to 1928 gets hundreds of visitors marvelling daily at its gorgeous Mudejar architecture, but staying there means you also get to enjoy its garden pool, ideal for cooling off on 40-degree summer days. It has all the amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel, including adjoining rooms and cribs for kids.
From
£
231
per night
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Days pack themselves full at Ikos Andalucia, the hotelier’s first location outside of Greece. Should you kick around the football as a family or let the little ones run off to the kids’ club while you head to the spa? Decisions. All practical childrearing logistics are on hand – interconnecting rooms, kid’s menus, highchairs and more – and everything parents want (a round of golf, a bottle of Tattinger, and room service) is included, too. Stuff the family into a courtesy Mini Cooper for the day to explore the local beaches or the storybook village of Ronda.
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For kids (and parents) that want to experience one of the finest restaurants in southern Spain, this fabulous hotel nestled in between olive groves is a win. Set over 350 hectares, it’s a little bit in the middle of nowhere, but it means that this destination hotel has plenty of space to run around. Kids splash around their own pool between outdoor activities ranging from horse-riding to cycling. Older children can pick up the local culture at cookery classes and olive oil tastings. Babysitting and adjacent rooms are available.
From
£
190
per night
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One of Andalucía’s (and Spain’s) most fabulous and sought-after hotels, Finca Cortesín is a serene retreat, filled with palm-studded patios and perfumed Mediterranean gardens. Suites are elegantly opulent; there’s a wonderful spa, plus four pools; and a Michelin star twinkles amid its outstanding dining options. Although there aren’t tons of facilities for children here, it is very welcoming including the most wonderful cot set up in rooms with cuddly toys and treats. Because it doesn’t shout about it, it’s a blissful place to travel with a young family as there aren’t hordes of little feet stamping around (which also means your brood will be treated with extra special care).
From
£
588
per night
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The Balearic Islands
Families seeking an ultra-luxurious country stay in Menorca that also accommodates energetic children should look no further than Torre Vella. Its gorgeous, white-washed buildings and namesake ancient tower sits inland on 200 hectares of unspoiled land. Bicycles for every size are lined up off the main plaza, waiting to be mounted to explore surrounding trails and olive groves. Little ones sleep in gorgeous wooden cots, and all kids get Petit Prince activity kits and toiletries. Children at Torre Vella can join in a biweekly baking class, learning to make pastissets with the chef at Torre Vella’s neighbouring sister hotel, Santa Ponsa, followed by teatime.
From
£
318
per night
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Not many hotels combine top-shelf luxury with sustainability and family-friendliness. Tucked away in the quieter north of the island, Six Senses Ibiza deftly interweaves the three. Kids can explore the ‘six dimensions of wellness’ by attending their own yoga classes (in the kids’ club pictured), mixing their own fragrant lotions with herbs grown on site, or, of course, chilling by the infinity pool. Children under 11 stay free, and the gorgeous understated junior suites are great for families of three or four.
From
£
376
per night
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There’s no shortage of gimmicky “kids’ hotels” in the more touristed parts of Spain, but Zafiro Palace Alcudia takes this concept to a new luxe level. Details like complementary cava and locked electronic entry gates give it upscale resort vibes, but the children’s facilities are what really stand out. A huge playground is a magnet for kids, who return day after day. Making rounds to the 11 pools (the 12th is adults only) makes for an adventure, as does the kids’ clubs built for ages four all the way to 16. Don’t miss the entertainment, which goes beyond the typical concert to include an owl show put on by a local bird sanctuary.
From
£
127
per night
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From its spectacular location in Talamanca, the Nobu Ibiza Bay brings chic Ibiza vibes overlooking a gorgeous piece of the Mediterranean. While the sleek design and the fabulous salon and spa may go over your kid’s heads, they will love the craft workshops made with found materials from the beach and sushi-making classes given in the kids’ club. There’s even a DJing activity, where they can take turns on the turntables. Pleasingly, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay treats children as guests in their own right, serving proper food like a Bento box of veggie tempura, edamame, and chicken teriyaki.
From
£
377
per night
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A classy, old school luxury resort, St. Regis fills with families in the summertime and on school breaks. The garden area houses the Explorers Kids’ Club, which features two pools and a sand pit. Logistics are all taken care of, from cots to highchairs to special menus and babysitting. Off the grounds, the location is ideal, with beaches and the Marineland and Aqualand waterpark right around the corner. Service is incredible, making this a relaxing spot for a family vacation.
From
£
343
per night
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Catalonia
If you’ve seen Camper shoe, you can imagine what a Camper hotel would be, and the Barcelona Casa Camper is as playful and coloured as you’d expect. Kids will gasp at the bikes hanging from the ceiling and swing from the in-room hammock. Hugely popular with families is the Tentempié, a 24-hour snack buffet serving fruit, sandwiches, salads, and snacks that beats a traditional minibar any day. Most importantly, the Raval location means you’re right in the centre of all Barcelona’s best cultural sights.
From
£
149
per night
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Pack the kids with the clubs for this cult golf destination, set on two award-winning golf courses. The on site club is included and operates out of a purpose-built hut, but older children will absolutely love the nature trail and zip lines that sweep down to tennis and golf lessons. There’s also a gym and a small spa with sauna, steam room and treatment rooms and a clubhouse with a shop selling golf accessories and sportswear, and occasional live music performances by the pool, not to mention food and wine markets in the grounds. Even the smallest details are built with family’s needs in mind, down to clever nutritious dishes on the menu for fussy eaters.
From
£
159
per night
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The Canary Islands
Located 25 minutes from the airport in upmarket Meloneras (and just 300 metres from the beach), Lopesan Villa del Conde was built to resemble a traditional Canary village. Options for shuttling kids around here is endless: a game room, stocked with board games; a dedicated pool, heated in winter; and everything from darts to windsurfing for older kids. In true resort fashion, every night sees concerts take over the ‘town square’, making it quite easy to slip into a lovely family rhythm.
From
£
159
per night
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This Ritz-Carlton, whose buildings in the fashion of a North African kasbah dot an isolated clifftop, is more village than resort. The kids’ club onsite (pictured) will enthrall from ages four to 12 with activities that range from storytelling to feeding the koi fish (a favourite). Teens have their own agenda, slightly more thrilling thanks to archery and graffiti classes among the offering. Let everyone loose to traipse among the pools’ rocks and bridges – other pools on site are quieter for adult enjoyment. The hotel can also arrange childcare.
From
£
309
per night
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It’s all ocean blues and sandy whites at this Lanzarote four star, widely considered one of Spain’s best family hotels. Los Jameos achieves a timeless elegance while planting itself firmly in family resort territory. Pepe the mascot roams the property, enlivening an atmosphere that is already jumping with activity. The only stress will be deciding whether to send your little ones to mini golf or the games room, the gorgeous stretch of sandy beach, or the onsite local folklore museum.
From
£
139
per night
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Madrid
LaNave ticks the boxes on so many parents’ Madrid hotel checklist: reasonable rates, incredible location, and tucked away in a quiet corner in this loud, bustling capital. Family rooms feature bunk beds, fun for kids and great for packing everyone in. It sits in the ‘poshtel’ range, meaning the vibe is informal and affordable, while the design is fab. There are board games, jigsaws and DVDs available for entertainment. For the littlest ones, LaNave provides cots and socket covers as a thoughtful extra.
From
£
84
per night
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From
£
196per night
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.