Arenal d'en Castell Holidays

This wedge of Menorca’s northern coast does top-drawer family breaks without the big reputation. Hotels and villas fan out around a mushroom-shaped bay. There’s a sandy beach cuddled up to the cap, and the stalk connects the cove to the Mediterranean Sea. Dunes and emerald-coloured countryside fill in the gaps between the hotels, and the restaurants and bars fit the small and friendly stencil.

Arenal d’en Castell’s closest neighbour, Son Parc, gives a new meaning to ‘clubbing hotspot’. This village is home to the only golf course on the island, and a few minutes’ drive gets you from poolside to putting. Menorca’s easy-on-the-eye capital, Mahon, is a 20-minute flit away, and you can drive to the east coast port city of Ciutadella in just over double that.

Sprogs are spoiled rotten with things to do here. The beach’s buffer-like headlands make the shallow waters perfect for paddling, and there’s plenty of room on the sand for giving the bucket and spade an outing. Leave the shoreline behind, and the spotlight turns to Coves Noves. This neighbourhood, a 10-minute saunter from the waterfront, is a pro when it comes to kid-friendly activities.