11 Affordable Family-Friendly Hotels For Short-Haul Breaks

Hillside Beach Club is in a truly beautiful location – surrounded by pine forests and sea in Fethiye on Turkey’s southwestern Turquoise Coast. Offering a mix of relaxation and adventure, the resort is set across the privately owned Kalemya Bay, home to three beaches and endless activities at the impressive water sports centre. Rooms are simple and cosy, but you’ll want to spend most of your time out on the water, by the beach or swimming in the huge outdoor pool. This is a family resort with a ‘baby park’ and nursing room for little ones, a kids’ club for four to seven-year-olds, and an activity centre for older kids. The restaurants have numerous choices for fussy eaters – there’s even a dedicated baby chef at the main restaurant. Older kids can try water skiing, knee boarding, scuba diving and sailing, or visit the Beach Club for beach volleyball, cycling and archery, to name a few activities.

From £350 per night.

Visit HILLSIDEBEACHCLUB.COM

French couple Gabriel and Alice moved to Marrakech in 2015 to take over the direction of Le Riad Yasmine. They have transformed it into a modern green paradise in the centre of the Medina. Just 20 minutes from the airport, the verdant riad now has eight well-designed bedrooms – each filled with plenty of plants and cacti – a swimming pool, a rooftop solarium plus a friendly resident cat named Bowie. Cots, baby monitors, boardgames and kids’ menus are all available, and the team can help book family friendly excursions in and around Marrakech. Next door, the hotel’s adjoining riad Le Petit Yasmine sleeps up to six and can be booked for exclusive use of its rooms, private pool, outdoor pizza oven and more. 

Rooms from £125 per night.

Visit RIAD-YASMINE.COM

Set along the beautiful Valtos Beach, Parga Beach Resort is surrounded by lush gardens and crystal-clear waters. Guests can stay in rooms overlooking the garden, spacious suites or larger apartments with kitchenettes – all of which are just steps away from the sandy beach. The hotel has four swimming pools, a playground and a complimentary kids' club with activities like gardening, themed workshops and mindfulness sessions. Parents can enjoy beachfront dining at its beachfront restaurant, which serves Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, and relax with sundowners at the bar. The resort also offers water sports, boat trips to nearby islands, and cultural excursions to nearby castles.

Rooms from £150 per night.

Visit PARGABEACHRESORT.GR

If you’re travelling with older kids or teens, this resort has a range of activities from yoga to kayaking. Set on the serene eastern coast of Corfu, the resort has rooms across its main building, as well as bungalows and more luxurious suites for families and groups. There are two private sandy beaches, a large outdoor pool and a complimentary kids’ club. Adults and teens can rent bikes to explore the local towns, use the spa, gym and tennis courts, while family meals can be spent at one of four restaurants offering typical local dishes and international cuisine. 

Rooms from £150 per night.

Visit KONTOKALIBAY.GR

You’ll find this smart hotel in one of Croatia’s oldest port towns. Overlooking the Šibenik marina, it offers excellent value for money, with its luxe décor and glamorous setting. There’s a 220m heated infinity pool, a rooftop running track and a kids’ club where little ones can enjoy workshops, arts and crafts, and play in the outdoor amusement park. Minimalist rooms and villas cater to babies and toddlers, while secluded villas have private pools. Guests can enjoy seafood and Mediterranean dishes at one of three restaurants, as well as cocktails at the rooftop bar. 

Rooms from £100 per night.

Visit DRESORTSIBENIK.COM

Set along 2km of private Cretan beach by Mirabello Bay, Minos Beach Art Hotel feels like a living gallery, with contemporary art installations scattered around the grounds. Interiors are contemporary and chic, with the kind of minimalist décor you’d expect from a design hotel. Bungalows and villas have private pools or direct access to the sea, while multi-bedroom villas are available for families. One of the main draws is laidback restaurant Bacchus for informal dinners, with plenty of crowd-pleasing dishes for fussy eaters. Babysitting can be arranged for €15 an hour, and children can enjoy the kids' club at the nearby sister hotel, Candia Park Village, free of charge.

Rooms from £215 per night.

Visit DESIGNHOTELS.COM 

São Miguel is the biggest island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago, often referred to as ‘the green island’ thanks to its lush rainforests and wildlife. Ideal for family adventures, it is home to numerous boutique hotels, including Senhora da Ros. Set in a 19th-century manor, it’s surrounded by lush gardens, banana trees and a pineapple greenhouse. Rooms range from doubles to spacious garden lodges overlooking the farm. There’s an outdoor pool lined with pretty parasols, a padel court, and a kids’ club. Meanwhile, older kids can enjoy swimming, hiking, surfing and more around the island. 

Rooms from £95 per night.

Visit SENHORADAROSA.COM