From rustic French farm stays to glossy Greek resorts, these European hotels please parents and kids equally
Done well, a family holiday can fast become the most special time of the year – the week you reflect on in December and use to inspire your next trip. The best family-friendly hotels in Europe really do get it right, catering for parents and children in equal measure, and proving the travel scene's evolution from the old days of primary-coloured plastic slides and queues for the breakfast buffet. It's true that planning a holiday with children can feel daunting, and making choices for the masses is a big responsibility, but finding what works for you is the key to a successful stay. Whether it's all-bells-and-whistles resorts with excursions for teens and five different restaurants on site, or family-run boutiques that welcome babies as if they're one of their own, there's a family-friendly hotel in Europe that promises a wonderful, memorable stay.
This edit is a curation of reviews by parents who know what it's like to go abroad with children and teens, and can recognise what makes one of the best family-friendly hotels in Europe worthy of its title.
Paphos, Cyprus
Paphos city and its melee may be moments from Almyra, but you’ll be hard-pressed to drag yourself from the hotel’s family comforts. Every age group is catered for, from the five freshwater pools – including one for kids, heated and partially shaded by a beautiful olive tree, and one sleek adults’-only option, some distance away – to tennis and swimming lessons for the easily bored, and the mighty, multi-spaced kids’ club. Split into groups from four months to teens, it guarantees the most attention-grabbing activities – from rather impressive art projects to exploring the nearby harbour and castle. It comes armed with every piece of kit a young human could possibly need, including the space-saving Baby Go Lightly service (also on offer at Anassa, which is owned by the same family), enabling you to pre-order most paraphernalia ahead, from car seats to swim nappies.
Parents can therefore shoot off stress-free to the adults’-only wellness spa for a spot of sage-smudging, meditation and massage. You actually want to spend time all together? Book an experience: maybe picking and pressing olive oil, or trekking to where Aphrodite met Adonis. The ultimate highlight here, however, is the food. From heavenly sushi and miso cod at cool Japanese-Mediterranean fusion spot Notios, to super-fresh fish and salads served with a serenade at beachside Cypriot restaurant Ouzeri, all dishes are wonderfully distant from nuggets. Somehow this reasonably priced family-owned hotel manages to be laidback enough for rambunctious crews, yet smart enough for grown-ups after a real escape.
Click here to read the article in Condé Nast Traveller.