Far-flung or flight-free, coast or countryside, big groups or small, Catherine Cooper has holiday ideas to thrill all
Beaches and islands
1. Croatia’s secret coastline
Northern Croatia is one of this year’s most buzzed-about spots. The port city of Rijeka is a European Capital of Culture 2020, and the Istria peninsula is fast becoming Croatia’s worst-kept secret, with a slow-food scene that’s gathering pace and a crowd-free coast that makes a great-value alternative Mediterranean holiday destination. On the Istrian coast overlooking the jewel-blue Adriatic, Arena One 99 is the country’s first glampsite. It has smart lodges (complete with air-con and Illy coffee machines), two-bedroom safari tents, an outdoor yoga platform, a tented spa and sauna, a restaurant, kids clubs and a windsurfing centre.
A two-bedroom lodge at Arena One 99 (arenacampsites.com) costs from €89 (£76) to €280 per night.
2. Island escape in the Vendée
The French have camping down to a fine art. Huttopia sites – found all over France, from forest to coast, offer not just pitches, but treehouses, safari tents, cabins and more. All sites have pools or lakes, restaurants and free children’s activities in school holidays. At Huttopia Noirmoutier on the low-key island on the Vendée, some pitches overlook (supervised) Plage des Sableaux, where you can sail, canoe, swim and forage for shellfish, and there’s live entertainment at the Airstream bar and pizzeria.
Seven nights in July at Huttopia Noirmoutier (europe.huttopia.com) costs from €951 for a family of four in a seafront Tente Toile et Bois.
3. Domes from home in Crete
A sister hotel to Domes of Elounda is opening in 2020 on the other side of Crete. Domes Zeen Chania (formerly Chania Casa Cook) is set on a sandy stretch beside a historic Venetian port. It offers cookery classes, painting workshops and sleepovers in a tepee for the kids, with a treehouse-inspired Neverland kids’ club. The Beach House restaurant has healthy dishes designed for children. Parents get treated too, with yoga classes, spa treatments and a pool just for adults. Family suites and villas come with terraces; some also have gardens and private pools.
A seven-night holiday at Domes Zeen Chania costs from £560pp for a week, incl flights, with Olympic Holidays (olympicholidays.com).
4. Idyllic kicks on the Ile de Ré
With great seafood, charming villages and lovely beaches with safe, blue waters for swimming, it’s no wonder the Ile de Ré is the summer playground of choice for Parisians. A short walk or cycle from sandy L’Arnerault beach and the seaside town of La Flotte, five-bedroom Villa Fontaine is ideal for multiple generations as it features a 45ft heated pool (with a hard cover), lovely gardens, terraces for indoor-outdoor lounging, and convenient ground-floor bedrooms.
A week at Villa Fontaine with Simpson Travel (simpsontravel.com) costs from £2,955 to £8,955.
5. Boutique beats in Ibiza
No longer just a hedonist’s paradise, Ibiza is increasingly a destination for wellness and also for families, drawn by go-slow rural towns, and dozens of gorgeous beaches. On Talamanca Bay next to Ibiza Town, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay is great for families who want to dip in and out of the action. It has an innovative kids club which offers DJ workshops and conservation-led activities, brand-new penthouse villas with up to three bedrooms, two seafront pools, a Six Senses spa and several bars and restaurants with an “eat anytime” ethos – great for kids and free spirits.
Seven nights at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay with Destinology (destinology.co.uk) costs from £6,999 in July for a family of four in two rooms, room only. Flights and transfers included.
6. Sustainable in Sardinia
Sardinia is blessed with some of the best beaches in Europe. Skip the Costa Smeralda (too busy, too glitzy) for the north-west coast, where Le Dune is a resort of six hotels (run on renewable energy) set beside a beach of finest sand and safe, turquoise water. They’ve got loads for children: a play area with inflatable pirate ship, an organic garden where you can collect eggs, a Native American tipi village to run riot in, and two kids’ pools, plus clubs for all ages.
A week at Le Dune (resortledune.com/en/sea) costs from €1,755 for a family of four.
7. Portugal’s best sun and city break
Lisbon tops the list for coolest city, but it’s great for children, too, with tram rides and quirky design attractions. The central Martinhal Chiado has kids’ clubs for all ages, baby equipment on tap, and apartment-style rooms. Combine with some beach time in bohemian Comporta, just south of the city, where the gorgeous Alma da Comporta has new family-friendly houses opening for summer 2020.
A room for a family of four at Martinhal Chiado (martinhal.com) costs from €222 per night, B&B including kids’ clubs. For Comporta houses to rent visit alma-da-comporta.com.
8. Barcelona and beaches
Barcelona is an urban playground for children. Gaudí’s church and park, markets where you choose your food and it’s cooked in front of you, cable cars to a castle and the kid-friendly Miró Foundation. Combine it with a jaunt along the coast – north to Dalí’s hang-out of Llafranc, perhaps, with its laid-back beach in a pretty cove, where Hotel Terramar has family rooms and sea views. Or south to lively Sitges, with its sands and little train tootling along the promenade. The revamped Dolce Sitges hotel is pitched at families (three restaurants, four pools and a spa offering treatments to children from the age of five).
The Generator Penthouse Suite (staygenerator.com/hostels/barcelona) in the Gràcia district of Barcelona sleeps up to six people and costs from £152 per night. Hotel Terramar details at hterramar.com/en. Dolce Sitges (dolcesitges.com) has family guest rooms from €174 per night, sleeping two adults and two small children.
9. Singles party in Montenegro
Single with Kids specialises in holidays for single parents and their children of all ages, so you get the benefit of adult company and the kids get to mix too. You can be as involved or independent as you like. It’s on the Montenegrin coast, near the historic town of Budva, the 1.2-mile sandy beach at Becici (lots of activities for all ages), and the fishing village of Rafailovici.
A week at Iberostar Bellevue with Single with Kids (singlewithkids.co.uk) costs £2,798 for one adult and one child, all-inclusive, with flights from Gatwick, travelling July 30.
10. Marvellous multi-gen in Sicily
Warm from May to October, Sicily can offer a great budget half-term break. Among olive groves and vineyards near Trapani on the west coast, Case Fil has three buildings with a shared open-plan living room, ideal for multiple generations who want a little privacy (and a 60ft pool). Family-friendly beaches nearby include San Giuliano, with more than a mile of white sand which gently shelves into the sea; and Baia Cornino, with a spectacular mountainous backdrop and Caribbean-blue water.
Case Fil is available at Wish Sicily (wishsicily.com) from £1,285 per week. Sleeps 12. Fly to Palermo.
11. Take to the water at a Corfu villa
New this year, Villa Ianthi is set behind Barbati Beach in Corfu. The beach is great for active types – you can do water sports or hire a boat and potter along the coast to find secluded coves – plus there are tavernas along the seafront for the evenings. The villa sleeps four, and there’s a separate suite a three-minute walk away – ideal for grandparents who like their own space.
Villa Ianthi and the Barbati Beach Suite cost from £1,204pp with GIC The Villa Collection (gicthevillacollection.com). Includes flights and car hire; based on six sharing.
12. Bottomless ice cream in Greece
Reopening in May 2020 after a major revamp, and loved for its on-the-beach babysitting service, Porto Sani on the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki offers a free ice-cream truck, new adventure park with zip-lines, two beaches and a lagoon-style pool. There are kids’ clubs for all ages, football, dance and sailing academies and family suites with separate bedrooms and lounges for children.
Seven nights at Porto Sani costs from £4,009 with Inspiring Travel Company (inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk) for full board, including flights and transfers.
13. Join the club in Zakynthos
Combining the privacy of a villa with the social aspect and facilities of a beach club, The Peligoni Club is ideal for active families. There’s a crèche for babies, kids’ club and the Yard Bar beach shack for teens, with yard-long pizzas and mocktails. Watersports include sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding – there’s also tennis, yoga and fitness classes.
A villa for a family of four at The Peligoni Club (peligoni.com) costs from £1,365 per week. Club membership from £175 for adults, £105 for children, including children’s activities, land-based sports and more.
UK and flight-free
14. Make music in Devon
Just inland from Bude and the coast, Candyland Studios is a home-built hideaway in the woods with a musical twist: the three-bedroom cabin comes loaded with guitars, ukuleles, a baby grand piano and a recording studio on site. There’s a hammock on the deck, and a garden and field for campfires.
Candyland Studios is available from Canopy and Stars (canopyandstars.co.uk) from £190 per night. Sleeps eight.
15. Wooden cabin in Finistere
Tucked away on a sheltered shore of Brittany (a conventient 90 minutes’ drive from Roscoff), Bot-Conan Lodge is a family campsite that has two beaches, woods to run amok in, and new glamping options from safari tents to a bijou wooden cabin (with a mezzanine sleeping area for kids – a dream). It comes with free bikes to explore the area, plus there’s a communal barbecue and campfire area, sauna and hot tub. You can also hire canoes and paddleboards.
Breton bell tent from £78 per night from Canopy and Stars (canopyandstars.co.uk). Sleeps four.
16. Old-school hols on Tresco
Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly, has been perfectly preserved. There are no cars and no development, save a couple of (child-friendly) restaurants and a pub – which makes it great for old-fashioned family holidays. You can sail, kayak, swim, cycle, play tennis and golf – and best of all are its many stunning sandy beaches. Stay in traditional cottages or beachfront Flying Boat cottages, which have steps down to the beach and come with passes to Tresco Island Spa.
A week at Flying Boat Cottages (tresco.co.uk/staying-on-tresco/flying-boat-cottages) which sleep from six to 10 people, costs from £2,205 to £5,735.
17. Mountain highs in Morzine
Head away from France’s busy coasts for an alternative summer break in the Alps. The traditional village of Morzine is a ski resort in winter, but it offers loads to appeal to sporty families: some of Europe’s best mountain biking, white-water rafting, high ropes courses and more. There are summer kids’ festivals, a gorgeous swimming lake and donkey rides too.
A week in the two-bedroom Valdez Suite with VIP Ski (vip-chalets.com) costs from £420, self-catering (B&B and half board options available too).
18. Surfing in Cornwall
For kids happiest in the water, it’s hard to beat Watergate Bay Hotel. Set on a gorgeous beach north of Newquay, the hotel runs a surf academy for all ages (the waves are world-class here); while inside it has an infinity pool with Atlantic views. Add to this Ofsted-registered kids’ clubs, family places to eat and drink and suites for up to six – and it’s dog-friendly.
A family room for four, B&B, at Watergate Bay Hotel (watergatebay.co.uk), costs from £295 per night.
19. Glamp in the shires
The great outdoors with full comforts: groom ponies, swim in the lake, wallow in the hot tub, play on the water trampoline, and bed down in rough-lux tented suites at Upper Shadymoor Farm, a Feather Down Farm in Shropshire. Other activities include a Deer Safari and a Dusk adventure, and arts, crafts and cookery lessons.
Book stays at Upper Shadymoor Farm at featherdown.co.uk or shadymoor.co.uk
20. King of the castle
Accessible only by boat, foot or helicopter, a new lochside house near Mallaig on Scotland’s west coast has all the romance of a castle with mod cons such as a hot tub. Go walking or sea kayaking, sail to Skye or spot dolphins. Get there on the sleeper to Fort William, then a boat.
A week at the castle with Scotts Castle Holidays (scottscastles.com) costs from £7,500 per week, including boat transfer.
21. Boating in the Brecons
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is one of Britain’s most scenic, passing through the Brecon Beacons National Park. Hire a narrow boat, if you have the kind of kids happy to work the locks without complaining. By day, dramatic mountain views; at night, pubs for supper and dark skies for stargazing. Start near Abergavenny to see Crickhowell’s castle and waterfalls at Blaen y Glyn.
A week in a boat for four in the school summer holidays with Drifters (drifters.co.uk) costs from £1,499, excluding fuel.
22. Biarritz by boat
Take the overnight ferry and wake up in Santander, then drive to Biarritz. Its Atlantic waves are great for surf-mad teens, while calmer beaches such as St-Jean-de-Luz are good for younger ones. La Canopée sleeps 12, has heated pools indoors and out, plus a cinema room.
A week at La Canopée costs from £7,995 in July/August with Simpson Travel (simpsontravel.com).
23. Sleeper in Yorkshire
Near Whitby, this converted railway carriage next to Old Hawsker station is enchanting, with original details such as first-class seats, and three bedrooms sleeping up to five. The old line is a 20-mile walking and cycling trail.
Carriage costs from £439 per week with Sykes Holiday Cottages (sykescottages.co.uk).
24. Fire in the fells
Fireman Sam fans will adore this converted fire truck on a working farm at the southern foot fells of Blencathra. The kids’ twin room has fire engine bedsteads and there’s a (lockable) fireman’s pole down from the main bedroom. The children can play with fireman costumes and a disused hose. There’s a patio, walking routes direct from the truck, and the market town of Keswick is nearby.
A week’s stay at Red Rescue Retreat costs from £513 to £660 from holidaycottages.co.uk.
25. Provence by train
Take an early morning train from St Pancras and you can be sipping rosé and Orangina in Marseille by lunchtime. Pick up a car for exploring Provence; then go stay at the four-bedroom L’Armoise, 10 minutes outside Aix. This traditional bastide features a pool and mature gardens, as well as table football and table tennis for the kids (and competitive dads).
L’Armoise sleeps nine and costs from €1,500 a week with Sawdays (sawdays.co.uk).
Action and adventure
26. Sailing in Norway
Have a Swallows and Amazons-style summer with a Nordic twist, learning to sail a 60ft yacht around the Lofoten islands off Norway’s wild north-west coast. You’ll sail somewhere new every afternoon, and drop anchor in fjords where you can fish and kayak, hike and cook your catch of the day over a campfire. The boat has nine berths, and families can charter the whole thing.
From £11,600 for 10 days with Rubicon 3 (rubicon3.co.uk), including skipper and all food. Flights extra. Book six months in advance.
27. Californian road trip
Florida doesn’t have the monopoly on big-hitting family entertainment – the west coast has lots for kids to love, too. Ride the iconic cable car up and down San Francisco’s hills, drive through the Napa Valley for superlative food (and wine for adults); go kiteboarding on Lake Tahoe, hiking in Yosemite and whale-watching off Monterey County; then check out new-for-2020 Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride at Disneyland and The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! attraction at Universal Studios.
A 13-night California self-drive Family Fun Adventure with Bon Voyage (bon-voyage.co.uk) costs from £2,495 including flights, four-star room-only accommodation, SUV hire and driving itinerary.
28. Costa Rica for toddlers
Don’t be scared – Costa Rica’s tamed rainforest paths are well suited to children (and Americans). This adventure is designed by new tour operator Two Point Four Travel, set up to create more intrepid holidays for families with children aged two to five (and their older siblings), with professional childcare on tap. Travelling with other two or three other families (single parents can opt for a solo parents’ trip), it will take you from beach to jungle; you’ll eat street food in San Jose Central Market, meet sloths and butterflies, kayak the Rio Frio through jungle, wallow in thermal springs and take family yoga classes.
Nine-night Costa Rica Adventure with Two Point Four Travel (twopointfourtravel.com) costs from £3,995 per adult and £2,995 per child, B&B in four-star hotels, plus some meals and all activities. Flights cost extra.
29. South Korea: Buddha and Seoul
New for 2020 from family holiday favourite Audley Travel, this private, guided trip combines the spiritual and sublime in an unforgettable whirl around South Korea: tasting street food in Seoul’s Gwangjang Market, relaxing on the beaches of Jeju Island, staying in the Golgulsa Temple monastery and talking with Buddhist monks, and visiting the infiltration tunnels dug by North Korea.
A 12-day tour of South Korea with Audley Travel (audleytravel.com) costs from £3,495pp, including accommodation, tours, flights and transfers.
30. Spot wildlife in Alaska’s fjords
National Geographic’s family tours are so engaging that the kids won’t even realise they’re learning. Travelling in a small group with a handful of other families, you’ll spot Alaska’s “big five” – grizzlies, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves – in Denali National Park, watch champion sled dogs train, and cruise the Kenai Fjords, where a glacier meets the sea. You’ll also get to stay in the Denali Grizzly Bear Resort on the edge of Denali National Park – home to 350 bears.
A nine-day Alaska Family Journey with National Geographic (nationalgeographicexpeditions.co.uk) is suitable for ages seven and up and costs from £3,333 per adult and £3,174 per child in July and August. Accommodation, activities and meals included. Flights extra.
31. Highlights of Vietnam
This 12-night tour is tailor-made for families, and roves all over Vietnam. Travelling in a group of up to 16 people, you’ll watch a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi, spend a night aboard a junk in Halong Bay and another in a homestay in the Mekong Delta, take an overnight train to Hue and a dragon boat along the Perfume river, relax at Cua Dai beach and explore Ho Chi Minh City.
A 12-night Vietnam Family Holiday with Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) costs from £985 per adult and £887 per child, including all B&B accommodation, some meals and internal travel. International flights extra.
32. All fun and games in Japan
Tap into the Olympic spirit on a private, tailor-made trip with local guides that could include karate lessons, sweet-making and manga drawing, as well as visits to Tokyo, the ancient temples of Miyajima, a cruise around Hakone on a replica pirate ship and a ride on the bullet train.
A 15-day family adventure to Japan with Original Travel (originaltravel.co.uk) costs from £4,605pp based on B&B for a family of four. Includes all flights, accommodation and transfers.
33. Canada beyond the Rockies
Enjoy the city, towns and countryside of Alberta on this trip, which could include a cycling tour of Calgary, hunting for dinosaur fossils in Drumheller and meeting wolfdogs (the offspring of dogs and wolves) at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. You could also go whitewater rafting on the Bow river and learn about indigenous Canadians at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
An eight-night self-drive tour of Alberta with Canadian Sky (canadiansky.co.uk) costs from £4,439 based on a family of four sharing. Room only; car hire and return flights included.
34. From temple run to the coast
Spend four days on a private family tour with local guides. Discover some of the temples hidden away in Angkor’s jungle by bike, cruise the waterways of medieval “floating” village Kompong Phluk, which sits on stilts above the water, and then head off by speedboat for a few days R&R or watersports, based in a luxury beachside villa at Alila Koh Russey.
A 10-night Temples & Beaches trip with Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) costs from £11,180 B&B for a family of four in interconnecting rooms, including tours, transfers and all flights.
35. Learn about Laos from locals
Sleepier and quieter than Thailand, Laos makes a fascinating alternative South-east Asia adventure for families. On this private family tour with local guides, learn about traditional farming and fishing from locals, stay in a Kamu Lodge safari tent on the banks of the Mekong, and a homestay at the Sayaboury Elephant camp, and go kayaking along the Nam Ou river, visiting villages, waterfalls and caves.
A 10-night Laos Family Adventure with InsideAsia Tours (insideasiatours.com) costs from £4,995 per family including transfers, excursions and most meals. Flights not included.
36. Florida Keys road trip
Escape the theme parks and the beaches to explore the “real” Florida. Visit the world’s first licensed turtle hospital, spot dolphins and miniature deer, and take a snorkelling trip to admire the coral. Head for Mallory Square in Key West for the spectacular sunset – there’s a free celebration every night of the year.
A seven-night self-drive trip to the Florida Keys with Purely America (purelytravel.co.uk/USA) costs from £4,399 for a family of four, travelling in August 2020. Includes flights, car hire, room-only accommodation in three locations and some activities.
37. Ranch riding in Texas
Saddle up for a riding holiday at the family-run Mayan Dude Ranch. Enjoy cowboy breakfasts on the open range, hay wagon rides, hiking, fishing, fossil-hunting, country dancing, barbecues, bonfires for roasting marshmallows, and more. Children aged six and up can join the trail rides (two per day) while smaller ones get a rein-led ride in the corral.
Seven nights at Mayan Dude Ranch with Ranch Rider (ranchrider.com) costs from £7,854 travelling in July or August for two adults and two children staying in a two-bedroom cottage. Full board, with most activities, flights, transfers and gratuities included.
38. Cycling in the Netherlands
A cycling holiday is more doable than you might think, even with younger children – when it’s all on the flat. Saddle Skedaddle has a self-guided cycling trip exploring southern Holland; highlights include Duinrell amusement park, The Hague and Amsterdam’s museums, as well as two nights aboard the cruise ship hotel SS Rotterdam and at least one windmill visit (if you feel you need more than one). You’ll cycle 10 to 20 miles most days with two rest days; luggage transfer is included, and there are bike trailers available for tiny ones.
An eight-day self-guided trip with Saddle Skedaddle (skedaddle.com) costs from £910pp for adults and £592pp for children – under-fours go free. Flights and bike hire not included.
39. Portugal’s best surf school
Spend the mornings learning to surf as a family on the near-deserted golden-sand beaches of Povoa de Varzim, just up from Porto on Portugal’s Atlantic coast. The afternoons are yours to do whatever you want – practise your newfound skills, try yoga, paddleboarding or kayaking, or head out and explore the local area. Accommodation is in a family tepee on a campsite with pool and playground.
A seven-night Family Surf School trip with Families Worldwide (familiesworldwide.co.uk) costs from £449pp B&B, which also includes five dinners, surf school fees and transfers from Porto. Flights not included.
40. All action in the Azores
Go kayaking and mountain biking at Sete Cidades Lake, snorkel in a lagoon, bathe in hot springs and swim with dolphins. You’ll also go whale-watching and explore Sao Miguel’s longest lava tunnel. Stay at Sao Miguel Park Hotel (with indoor and outdoor pools) close to the centre of Ponta Delgada, or upgrade to the Marina Atlantico hotel on the waterfront.
A seven-night Azores – Lava Lands and Swimming with Dolphins trip with Activities Abroad (activitiesabroad.com) costs from £1,525 per adult and £1,095 per child, based on four sharing B&B. Seven other meals, flights and activities included.
41. Wind and pedal power in Greece
New for 2020 and suitable for children as young as six, this trip combines cruising on an 18-berth motorised sailing yacht with guided hikes and bike rides to beaches, ancient towns and temples. You’ll have seven nights on board, with stops along the way including Hydra, Spetses and Piraeus – and time for kayaking, swimming and plenty of relaxation.
A seven-night Peloponnese Family Bike & Sail trip with UTracks (utracks.com) costs from £1,390 per adult and £1,040 per child. Flights to Athens not included.
42. Watery wild times in Turkey
Offering sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, tennis and more, Mark Warner has been a family favourite for more than 40 years. Add English-speaking kids’ clubs that encourage children to get on the water, as well as family-friendly accommodation, and all the ingredients are there. At Phokaia Beach in Turkey, the cute fishing village of Foca is just a short bike or boat ride away.
Seven nights at Phokaia Beach (markwarner.co.uk) costs from £2,486 for a family of four, including most meals and activities, plus childcare for over-twos.
43. Dolomites adventure
Ride a horse to lunch at a secluded mountain hut, use via ferrata to traverse paths from the First World War, brave the high-ropes course and go whitewater rafting – all in the spectacular setting of the Dolomites in spring or summer. Then again, you could just take a gentle walk and laze around in the spa. Stay at luxurious Rosa Alpina, with its family-friendly suites, excellent spa and renowned three-Michelin-star restaurant.
A 10-day Dolomites Family Adventure costs from £4,785 per person with Powder Byrne (powderbyrne.com). Includes B&B, guides, transfers and a full private itinerary of activities. Flights to Innsbruck not included.
Mountains and countryside
44. A chateau for all the family
With safe, quiet roads for exploring by bike, historic villages and towns and quiet, calm beaches, Languedoc-Roussillon ticks all the boxes. Château St Pierre de Serjac offers well-equipped and ultra-stylish apartments and villas for easy independence, with hotel services on site including a restaurant, spa, fabulous pool and cute eco-themed kids’ club.
Seven nights at Chateau de Serjac (serjac.com) costs from €1,610 to €3,717 for a two-bedroom apartment. Fly to Montpellier or Beziers.
45. A playground in Umbria
With hiking and biking for teens, historic towns and villages and its own soft play, several generations will all be happy at Villa Tesoro. It comes with a fenced garden, play equipment, a large pool and trampoline, with copper baths and a grand piano inside.
Seven nights at Villa Tesoro costs from €5,025 to €8,625 with Scott Williams (scottwilliams.co.uk). Sleeps up to 12. Fly to Perugia.
46. The ‘other’ Mallorca
In the north-east interior of Mallorca, Finca S’Hort d’Misser comes with a chlorine-free gated pool and an orchard of lemon, fig, almond and olive trees. It’s a traditional Mallorquin farmhouse near Campanet, with its tapas bars, restaurants and weekly market. The beaches of Porto Pollença are a 25-minute drive away.
Seven nights at Finca S’Hort d’Misser costs from £943 to £2,434 with Freelance Holidays (freelance-holidays.co.uk). Sleeps six. Fly to Palma.
47. A casa on Spain’s coast of light
Set back from the coast of Andalucia, Casa La Siesta is usually an adults-only boutique hotel – but for several weeks of the year it opens to families. There’s arts and crafts; Spanish lessons for the children taught through songs, stories and flamenco, plus early kids’ meals and free evening babysitting. There’s a heated pool outside, and the white-sand beaches of the Costa de la Luz are a 20-minute drive away.
Seven nights at Casa La Siesta (casalasiesta.com) costs from €3,500 for a villa for four, B&B, with activities included, select weeks between March and October.
48. All-inclusive in Tyrol
Sonnwies is a family-run hotel offering almost everything young families could want, with extensive kids’ programmes and baby care included and allergy-proof rooms designed specifically with families in mind. There’s an organic farm with pony riding and a petting zoo, five pools and three waterslides, mountain hut picnics and sleepovers in the hay barn, and the family grandmother even runs cheesemaking lessons. There’s also a spa.
Sonnwies (sonnwies.com) offers rooms for two adults and two children from €380 per night, all-inclusive. Fly to Innsbruck.
49. An eco-retreat in Iceland
Go whale watching, glacier climbing, and riding from Torfhus Retreat, this new development within easy reach of Reykjavik where 10 luxurious two-bedroom stone houses each have a private basalt stone pool. At the restaurant, the chef prepares local food to guests’ tastes and the entire retreat runs on geothermal and hydroelectric energy. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the Northern Lights.
A seven-night stay at Torfhus Retreat costs from £13,695 for a family of four B&B with Abercrombie & Kent (abercrombiekent.co.uk), including flights and car hire.
50. Agriturismo in Tuscany
On the outskirts of Florence, at Fattoria Lavacchio, you can take a family ceramics workshop, go riding or join a Tuscan cookery class. Outside you can wander in the vineyards, go cycling or simply enjoy the pool. There’s also a kids’ club in July and August.
Seven nights at Fattoria Lavacchio costs from £870pp with Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk) based on four sharing, including flights and car hire.
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