Looking for a child-friendly holiday destination, but no idea where to start? You’re in the right place. Being responsible for a whole other human being is big enough… so, this article’s a nice little cheat sheet to help you pick your first family holiday.
Don’t worry about if a hotel’s got all the facilities you need, if they can put a cot in the room, whether or not they do kid-friendly food – we’ve checked that. Think kids’ clubs, babysitting services and shallow play areas in the pool, perfect for little ones. We’ve shortlisted just five options for you that are all loved by families for a reason. All you have to do is pick one…
We know kids can be spenny, too, so you can also use our free child place finder to pick your trip based on where you can take one little one for free.
Lyttos Beach Resort, Crete
Greece is a win for families – hot island summers with a cool sea breeze and still warm enough in shoulder season for half term breaks or even term-time escapes if you’re little ones aren’t in school yet. Crete is the biggest island as well, so direct flights get you there as quickly as possible and there are loads of big resorts that come with all the facilities you need. Lyttos Beach Resort is a 30-minute drive from the airport, right on the beach and only a short walk into Analipsi village – the location is literally made for young families that want an easy life.
If you don’t want to leave, you don’t have to. There are six pools – one of which is Olympic-sized – but the most important one for you is the kids’ pool. It’s right by the main pool, so if your lot’s old enough to do their own thing, you can still keep an eye on them. There are also some mini slides shooting out of an octopus and pirate ship for a bit of fun, too. Or, the two smaller ones are mainly for relaxing and so have more of a chill vibe if you want to avoid any splashing. The kids’ club here is also a godsend – there’s a whole programme of activities, from archery and pool games to time in the playground. They take it right through to the evenings as well, so you can expect themed parties and magic shows. There are 15 tennis courts and a whole tennis academy if you’re all sporty types, and their lessons are the perfect way to learn.
Ofc, one advantage of hotel-run organised fun is that you can leave them to it. Guests here get a 15-minute free taster massage, so you can’t be wasting that. Once you’re hooked, you can sign up for mud masks, after-sun facials and seaweed body therapy, and other activities liked aqua aerobics, pilates and yoga are more aimed at the adults. Perch by the pool bar, head down to the Blue Flag beach and then dinner at the taverna where you can watch the sunset over the sea is the ideal way to end the day. There’s always the buffet, too, to make sure everyone’s got something they like and cabaret performances and Greek nights are a good excuse for the odd late night.
Grand Cettia Hotel, Marmaris
Turkey’s another top pick that’s not just good for peak season. Temps last into the 20s through to October, so if you’ve left your family holiday a bit late this year, no problem. Marmaris is one of the best-known resorts on the Turkish Riviera, AKA the Turquoise Coast, so you already know the beach is gonna be beaut. The hotel’s on a slope that leads down to the water, which is only a 10-15-minute walk away, and means you’re tucked away in your own little world, surrounded by green trees and hilltops. It’s only a five-minute drive to Aqua Dream waterpark for some wild days out and not much further to Marmaris Castle for a bit of history – your classic classroom lessons could never…
There are two outdoor pools here and one inside, but kids get a couple of their own anyway. The splash park is all about slides and there’s a pirate ship to play in. You’ve got beach volleyball, a mini football pitch, playground, table tennis and tennis courts. But the kids’ club goes even further with cooking classes where you can make your own pizza or cookies. The food options here are definitely family-friendly, with a large buffet spread, the café patisserie and a few à la carte spots. Ege Bar is open all day and shows games on the TV, Lighthouse restaurant is all international food, and there’s Olive restaurant for another option, too. Drinks-wise, Loss Time overlooks the pool, My Favourite Bar is your go-to for cocktails and the Sherlock Holmes Pub brings the vibes with some karaoke. There are also quiz nights, guest shows and kids’ mini discos as part of the evening entertainment.
They’ve really got you covered here, with cots available upon request and the main restaurant allows access to the microwave, hot water, milk and a blender, and they’ve also got highchairs. There’s self-service laundry available for any little accidents and a mini market on site if you’ve forgotten to pack anything important. The spa and beauty salon are big treats for the parents – hello hot tub and some peace and quiet in the Turkish bath. You so deserve this…
Blue Lagoon Resort, Kos
Back at it with another Greece pick and this one’s on the island of Kos – it’s a much smaller, more peaceful spot that makes it a great shout for families. Close to the beach and only a short walk into Kos Town, you can easily visit the Castle of the Knights that dates back to the 1300s and loads of other throwback attractions if you’re not after a full-on fly-and-flop.
You might not think of this as a necessary perk but once you’ve been picked up by an electric club cart to carry you and your luggage to your room, there’s no going back… This service runs 24/7 at the hotel to help you out with all your bags and beach stuff and, of course, baby equipment like highchairs etc are all ready to request. Of the four pools, two are for children here – and one’s for adults only, so at least you know you’re not annoying the child-free crowd and can splash away, guilt-free. Little ones will love the mini waterpark, which has a water bucket, lazy river and big and little slides. And it won’t be hard getting them to use up all their energy with two playgrounds, two tennis courts, five-a-side football, beach volleyball, padel, table tennis and minigolf going on.
While you might think Greek food is gorg, kids’ dining options are on hand for when gyros just isn’t hitting the spot – can’t relate, but still… There’s an Italian, a Chinese, a buffet and poolside snack bars to keep you topped up throughout the day – the crepe station is a serious highlight. You just have to book a few restaurants in advance and the dress code is no sportswear, swimwear or flip-flops for the evening places. After the sun sets, there’s an entertainment tent that hosts Vegas-style shows and ABBA tribute acts. The lobby bar’s a more chilled spot with piano music, or sometimes there’s the odd fire show.
H10 Suites Lanzarote Gardens, Lanzarote
How does a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice award sound? This baby’s got one of those and here’s why… The whole hotel is laid out like a little village, with a pirate-themed splash pool right in the middle. There are slides, mushroom fountains and a shallow pool for toddlers. Another outdoor pool is ideal for swimming and relaxing, with sunloungers and parasols, then the beach is only a few minutes’ walk away, too. You’ll be staying in the heart of Costa Teguise on Lanzarote, which has loads of restaurants, bars and sheltered beaches perfect for families.
This place is the stuff of childhood dreams, from an ice-cream sundae station to mini discos and an entire zip-line to send it down. The Daisy Club is a kids’ club here that runs activities for all ages and splits into groups from as young as 6 months to teens over 13 – they’re only closed on Sundays. Their activities go outside the box, with paella cook-offs and crafts and sports competitions, as well as pool games and Spanish classes – they’re so set for an epic Duolingo streak when they’re older. Pick from the two playgrounds, archery, boules, football, pool, table tennis and water polo… don’t blame us if they turn out to be an Olympian after all this. But, just for you, the Despacio Beauty Centre is all set for massages, manicures and sauna sessions, and there are fitness classes for adults, too.
Food-wise, the beige buffet faves are flowing from the pool bar – think hotdogs, burgers and nuggets – then the main buffet restaurant has show-cooking stations and themed nights. But there’s always a kids’ section to make sure there’s something they’ll like. Rio Bar is where you’ll want to head next for live shows and music in the evening. Or, there’s also live music at the pool bar outside.
Papillon Ayscha, Belek
If you’re an active family, this hotel on the Turkish Riviera is all yours. Yes, you’re on the beach, yes there’s an activity pool with five waterslides but this one also lines up the Papy Kids Sport Academy programme, which offers one-to-one or group lessons in tennis, football or swimming. It’s essentially a kids’ sports summer camp – did someone say regular daycare to free up some much-needed me time?
Get the little ones learning a new skill, then you can join the Fit Club for private yoga, pilates and aqua-bike classes. If you struggle to get a round in on the weekends at home, hit up Belek’s local golf courses – the nearest one is only three kilometres away. The Reborn Spa also has massages, facials and a traditional hammam, and there’s a sauna and gym, too. If the academy isn’t for your lot though, the kids’ club caters to kids from 4 to 12 and puts on arts and crafts, as well as mini club sessions. And even if they want to play spa day, there’s a Children’s Spa and Teen’s Spa available for foam and chocolate massages and pedicures so they don’t feel left out.
The beach is a great time for the whole fam and this place looks out onto 150 metres of pure sand. Set up with some loungers and the beach bar and beach lawn café are all set so you can stay down there for the whole day. The dining options here are for real foodies – there are around six à la cartes that mean you’re spoilt for choice with flavours from all round the world, plus the buffet. Go for Italian one night, Mexican the next, classic Turkish, Asian ft. a teppanyaki station, seafood or you can pay a bit extra to book a table for surf and turf. There’s also a bakery and snack bar, so everyone can find something they like. In the evenings, expect West End-inspired musicals in the theatre, yum cocktails at the Martini and lobby bars, and even DJ nights and karaoke down on the beach.
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Author: Lily Owen (she/her)
Last updated: 26/06/2025
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