FAMILY HOLIDAYS SPAIN DESTINATIONS The reign Spain is still top of theof Spain list for family holidays this summer, says Katie McGonagle @katie_mcgonagle añana, mañana,’ might be Simply Luxury by Travel 2 has w THE BEACH BREAK Family facilities are also core ‘Ma common refrain heard already seen a 24% increase in Some holidays never go out of to the appeal of the Alegria across Spain, where people bednights compared with last fashion, and a bucket-and-spade Pineda Splash on Pineda de are famed for their laidback year, and Classic Collection break to sunny Spain is one of Mar in the Costa Brava, one of approach to life and there’s little Holidays is predicting its them. Classic Collection has Jet2holidays’ hot predictions for to be done today that couldn’t “best-ever year” based on strong added the Costa Brava, Costa this year’s big sellers. It reopens just as easily wait until tomorrow. early demand. Dorada and Costa de la Luz for this month after a makeover, But anyone wanting to bag Families who leave it late the first time, and expanded adding a colourful splash park a holiday with the kids this might find themselves priced product on the Costa del Sol and with slides, kids’ club and a summer had better not hang out of popular properties, or Costa Blanca, in anticipation of new playground, plus mum about, as demand for this family forced to consider alternative a spike in demand. and dad can take a dip in the favourite is high. Availability isn’t styles of holiday. Monarch’s New properties for Costa adult-only whirlpool if they get a quite as stretched as it was last Lanzarote bookings, for example, Blanca include the Grand Luxor spare moment – and it’s all only year, when the Istanbul airport have shifted in favour of more Hotel, which is by the entrance 300 metres from the beach. attack in June sparked a frenzy budget-friendly three-star and to the Terra Mitica theme park, If that still feels too far to go of switch-selling for summer. self-catering breaks. and the Suitopia Sol Y Mar Suites for a dose of sand and sea, send Yet prices aren’t likely to fall So if you’re struggling for Hotel, which has its own kids’ them to Tui Sensimar Ibiza Beach between now and the school inspiration on where to send pool and splash park for when Resort, where the pool looks holidays, so there’s little be clients, take a look at our guide they get tired of having sand directly over a sandy beach on gained by putting off booking. to some of Spain’s hottest spots. between their toes. the island’s quiet northern El Golfo, Lanzarote 46 travelweekly.co.uk 11 May 2017 11 May 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 47 FAMILY HOLIDAYS SPAIN DESTINATIONS RIghT: Tui Sensimar Ibiza Beach Resort FAR RIghT: Novasol apartment, Iznajar BELOW: First Choice’s Holiday Village Majorca coast. It has a contemporary vibe and continues to be our top-selling Spanish funky furnishings, so would suit those destination, and we have seen good travelling with teens. The Costa del Sol growth year on year. “Costa Blanca is also performing w THE ALL-INCLUSIVE ESCAPE remains our top-selling well, as is Murcia, where we have “Hotels with waterparks are very Spanish destination, accommodation on family-friendly golf ASK THE popular with families,” says Gareth and we have seen good resorts, so guests can enjoy peace and EXPERT Rogers, Thomas Cook regional growth year on year privacy while being close to a great product manager for mainland Spain. range of facilities.” “Especially if they are all-inclusive, with La Torre Golf Resort, for example, Gary Boyer, the added assurance that everything has an 18-hole course, plus tennis head of product and has been paid for in advance. The courts and swimming pools, and purchasing, Classic SunConnect Cabogata Garden in El fussy eaters in check. Kids can enjoy the beaches of Mar Menor are just Collection Holidays: Toyo on Costa Almeria reopened this their own evening entertainment, plus a half-hour drive away. Novasol has “As far as Classic month following a complete makeover. party nights, pop shows and cabaret. two-bedroom apartments that sleep Collection Holidays It now features an à la carte tapas four, starting from £479 per apartment is concerned, Spain restaurant, mini-waterpark and splash w THE VILLA HOLIDAY for a week in August. has never been zone, and a Thomas Cook kids’ club.” Not so keen on in-resort entertainment? Villas also shine a light on areas in more demand. First Choice’s flagship brand is just as Make your own fun by booking families might not have considered Prices have family-oriented, and parents know they a villa with space to spread out. otherwise: Novasol has a two-bedroom increased, mainly won’t face an unexpected bill at the end Villa specialist Novasol has 3,000 apartment in the hilly Andalucian town owing to the fall in of their stay. Holiday Village Majorca properties across the mainland and of Iznajar – all traditional whitewashed value of sterling has an impressive six pools – including islands. General manager Alex Stuart walls and red-tiled roofs – which is an post-referendum, a dedicated activity pool and splash says: “Spain is by far our best-seller hour inland from the coast and often but demand area – plus four restaurants to keep here in the UK. The Costa del Sol slips under the radar for family remains very strong. Families and couples are having to be more flexible as to when they travel, and if budget is a concern may consider slightly shorter durations. Availability is tight, but we generally find accommodation to match our customers’ requirements, even for late bookings.” 11 May 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 49 DESTINATIONS SPAIN FAMILY HOLIDAYS breaks. Prices start at £499 in August. Simply Luxury by Travel 2 has also com . seen interest in more-independent accommodation. Product and commercial manager Lauren Ross says: “We have noticed an increase in robertocastano families looking for apartment-style ; hotels with kitchen facilities, and introduced the Vasari Vacation Resort monarch in Puerto Banus to reflect this demand. / These apartments are perfect for families and are a short distance from the marina that has family-friendly hutterstock : S : restaurants and bars.” S Even without the facilities of a hotel, there’s plenty to keep kids amused. PICTURE Ross recommends Segway tours in Banus, and go-karting, buggy safaris and the crocodile park in Torremolinos. Christmas and New Year are also popular for family holidays to cities.” w THE CITY BREAK We are getting family Sweltering cities, endless sightseeing w THE ISLAND ESCAPE and bored kids don’t mix well, but enquiries for half-term in When the heat of the mainland gets too approach a city break in the right way particular, from parents much, do as the locals do and escape and it can be thoroughly rewarding, to the islands: the breezy Balearics sampLE keen to take their children especially for older children who would on a cultural holiday couldn’t be more family-friendly, and PRODUCT be equally unamused by splashing resorts are continuing to invest to around with tots at a waterpark. keep that appeal alive. Iberostar Playa Barcelona is a prime example. Not de Muro in Majorca, for example, has Classic Collection only is it cooler in summer than Spain’s renovated its rooms, pool area, lobby Holidays offers land-locked cities, but its mix of CosmoCaixa Science Museum, home and pizzeria this year, and offers a week in a interesting sights, Gaudi architecture to an enormous Amazonian rainforest free stays for kids under six until sea view suite and beachfront access are bound to exhibition. October 21 when sharing a room with with a kitchen be a hit at any age. Try tying it in with Villa rental company The Luxury their parents. Sister property Iberostar at Suitopia Sol what they’re learning at school – art Travel Book has also spotted a trend Playa de Palma, on the same island, Y Mar Suites project on Salvador Dali, anyone? toward family city breaks. Founder also had a revamp last year and has Hotel, starting – and recommend a few family Susie Marquis says: “We have noticed been upgraded to five-star. from £3,920 in attractions for parents to have up their an increase in bookings to Spain, Over in the Canary Islands, Tenerife mid-August, sleeve when the kids get restless. mainly to our city apartments in has a swathe of new openings worth based on a family Monarch suggests offering to Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. We are putting on families’ radar. In Costa of four. The book tickets to Barcelona’s Camp getting family enquiries for half-term Adeje, the GL Victoria Suite Hotel price includes Nou stadium for footie-mad teens, in particular, from parents wanting to opened its doors in spring, offering breakfast, flights or recommending a stop at the take their children on a cultural holiday. a surfing pool and zip lines specially and transfers. designed for kids, while Barcelo hotel classic-collection. Corales Suites Resort opens later in co.uk the year with a mix of junior suites and apartments suited to families. The Monarch offers popular Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel has four nights’ given its baby and mini clubs a facelift, self-catering in while the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife a one-bedroom opened last October, devoting one of apartment at its two towers entirely to family rooms.