When holidaying with young children it’s often a good idea to stay at a hotel with a short transfer time. It’s something we often look for when booking a holiday and our son is heading towards his teenage years now. There’s nothing more convenient than booking a package holiday. Especially one with a short transfer time. Below we have shared some of our favourite hotels in Europe that have a transfer time by coach of less than 35 minutes.
Caretta Paradise – Tragaki, Zante
A real treat for families is the Caretta Paradise. It features swim-up apartments and a waterpark. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk to a beach and is located close to bars, shops and restaurants. Families will love the waterpark with something for everyone including a great range of slides and a splash park for little ones. Within the grounds, there is a fun park, playground, tennis courts, arcade games and more. Younger children can take part in the kids club and the evenings are filled with family-friendly entertainment. You can upgrade your stay to a family swim-up room with access from your terrace to a shared pool. Coach transfer time from Zante Airport is 35 minutes.
Fodele Beach Hotel – Heraklion, Crete
Located in the north of Crete is the Fodele Beach Hotel. The hotel is next to a golden sandy beach and not too far from the local town. At the hotel, there are three outdoor pools all varying in size. There is also a mini waterpark with an array of flumes and slides, as well as a kamikaze river. Younger guests also have two smaller pools to splash in. Children aged 4-12 can take part in the kids club plus there is an adventure playground. The hotel has a range of sports facilities. In the evenings you can expect all sorts on the schedule including live music shows, family bingo, quiz nights and dance troupes. Perfect for families are their superior family rooms which can sleep up to 4 people. Heraklion Airport is a 30-minute transfer to the hotel.
Titanic Mardan Palace – Lara Beach, Turkey
A stunning Disneyland-style hotel with castle turrets, a five-acre pool complex and 31 places for food and drinks is the Titanic Mardan Palace. It is located on a private sandy beach on the Turkish Riviera. The large sprawl of pools comes with Instagram-worthy features such as frothy fountains and secret bridges. For kids, there is an on-site aqua park with a pirate theme. There are endless activities at this hotel and a spa for adults to find some me time. Kids can take part in a daytime club and in the evenings you can expect live music performances and a mini-disco for the kids. Families will love their 2 bedroom family rooms that can sleep up to 4 people. Or you can upgrade to a swim-up duplex suite for up to 5 people. Antalya airport is a 25-minute taxi ride away.
Aska Lara Resort and Spa – Lara Beach, Antalya Area, Turkey
Located in the popular Lara Beach area of Turkey is the Aska Lara Resort and Spa. It is a great family-friendly hotel and guests can enjoy access to a waterpark. A free shuttle will take you to the Wet and Wild Aqua Park which is located across the road. On-site there is a choice of pools plus a high ropes course with a zip line. The shuttle bus also drops you near the beach although this doesn’t run in the winter. Also at this hotel, there is archery, local watersports, a spa, tennis courts and more. The hotel’s kids club has an American feel to it. Kids aged 4-12 can take part and teens also have their own Wild-West-inspired section. There is evening entertainment from May to October over at the waterpark. Great for families are their 2 bedroom family rooms which can sleep up to 5 people. Antalya Airport is a 30-minute transfer away.
Aqualand Resort and Waterpark – Aghios Ioannis, Corfu
The Aqualand Resort and Waterpark is located in a quiet and rural setting on the Island. A stay at this hotel includes free unlimited entry to the on-site Aqualand Resort Waterpark. This features around 50 waterslides with something for everyone. Younger children will love the pirate-themed area. Other facilities are quite low-key with some sports activities. The hotel runs a shuttle bus service that can take you to the beach once per day and to Corfu town twice daily. There is a kids’ club run by TUI and an evening entertainment programme 6 nights a week. Families will love the duplex 1 bedroom apartments with balconies that can sleep up to 4 people. Coach transfer time from Corfu Airport is 35 minutes.
Occidental Menorca – Punta Prima, Menorca
A great luxury family-friendly hotel is the Occidental Menorca. It is located a short walk from a beach and features elegant decor and a trio of swimming pools. Younger kids will love the splash park with slides and water jets. Other facilities include a multi-sports court, padel courts, a spa and a pool table. There are two kids clubs for different age groups and in the evening you can catch a show at the theatre. Perfect for families are their spacious 2 bedroom family rooms which can sleep up to 6 people. Menorca airport is a 30-minute coach transfer to the hotel.
Marvell Club – San Antonio Bay, Ibiza
With a great seafront location overlooking San Antonio Bay is the Marvell Club. You can expect a chilled-out vibe at the hotel and the UNESCO-rated old town of San Antonio is 5km away. The hotel is fronted by a small section of rocky shoreline. There is a sandy beach a 5-minute walk from the hotel. From the on-site Olympic-sized pool you can enjoy sea views. Children have a splash park with water jets and slides. Family rooms have a shared outdoor play area. Their 1 bedroom apartments can sleep up to 4 people. The hotel runs entertainment both day and night. This may include professional shows, parrot shows, music quizzes and bingo. Ibiza Airport is a 30-minute coach transfer to the hotel.
H10 Suites Lanzarote Gardens – Costa Teguise, Lanzarote
Close the the beach in Costa Teguise is the H10 Suites Lanzarote Gardens. It has a great family-friendly pool scene and an action-packed kids’ club. The centre is just a few minutes walk away where you will find a seafront full of shops and restaurants. On-site there are two large swimming pools. Toddlers have their own shallow pool and there is a pirate ship with slides for the younger kids. Children have two playgrounds within the grounds and there are fun daytime activities run by the hotel. All the family can enjoy evening entertainment such as themed shows and live music. Great for families are their family suites which can sleep up to 4 and their bungalows which can sleep up to 5 people. It is just a 20-minute coach transfer to Lanzarote Airport.
Elba Lanzarote Royal Village Resort – Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
A great choice for families is the Elba Lanzarote Royal Village Resort. Located just 900 metres from the resort centre of Playa Blanca, one of Lanzarote’s biggest and best-loved resorts. The hotel has a huge outdoor swimming complex with four pools that are connected by bridges. For the kids, there are some fun slides and a splash area. Other facilities include a playground, sports and there is an indoor play area plus arcade machines. Adults can relax at the spa while children are kept entertained at the kids’ clubs, there is even one for teens. There are family rooms that can sleep up to 3 people, other room options can sleep up to 4. The main airport is a 32-minute coach transfer to the hotel.
Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort – Analipsi, Crete
With a slick and modern design throughout and great facilities is the Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort. It is situated just a 5-minute walk from the beach where there is a section of sand reserved just for hotel guests. Taking centre stage is a big lagoon-like pool. The on-site Stella Waterland waterpark has many slides to choose from with something for everyone. There is also a splash pad at the sister hotel, Stella Village. Sports-wise there is a good range of facilities plus mini golf and a games room. The Stella Spa has an indoor pool, a sauna, a steam bath and a whirlpool bath. Kids aged 4-12 can take part in the club with plenty of activities on offer. Their family rooms sleep up to 4-5 people. You can even upgrade to a family room with access to a shared pool. Heraklion Airport is just a 30-minute transfer to the hotel.
Holiday Village Costa Del Sol – Benalmadena, Spain
Located on the outskirts of Benalmadena is the Holiday Village Costa Del Sol. It is situated on the seafront with a sandy beach nearby. The hotel has a great pool scene with lots of fun pools. There is one with elephant-shaped jet hoses, another with a giant pirate ship plus one with a wave machine that is open in high season. Over at the beach club, there is a waterpark. This has great fun features for all the family including waterslides and more. Some of their other facilities have an additional charge such as a Swim Academy and a Football Academy. There are also sports facilities and an on-site spa. For children, there are clubs that are split into different age groups. In the evening a highly trained cast of entertainers offers an exciting and diverse range of shows and fun activities. Rooms include 1 bedroom apartments that can sleep up to 5 people. Malaga Airport is just a 30-minute transfer to the hotel.
Aqua Bay Suites – Tsilvi, Zante
A stay at the Aqua Bay Suites in Tsilvi, Zante also gives you access to two sister hotels as well. These additional facilities include a handful of pools, restaurants and bars. As well as 8 pools to choose from there is also a waterpark. This has family-friendly play zones including a fountain-filled Aztec Jungle and a pirate ship with slides. The hotel runs a daily activity programme at the waterpark and one of the nearby hotels. TUI runs two kids clubs for different ages and in the evenings there is entertainment for all the family. There are family rooms that sleep up to 4 people, You can even upgrade to stay in a swim-up family room with a terrace. It is a 30-minute coach transfer from Zante Airport.
Labranda Marine Aquapark – Tingaki, Kos
Located on a peaceful spot on Kos’ northern coast is Labranda Marine Aquapark. The hotel enjoys a coastal setting tucked just behind a magnificent stretch of sand. In the centre of the resort, there are four swimming pools. The Olympus pool is great for families with five different slides plus a Poseidon Adventure wave poo. Kids also have their own pool with two mushroom-shaped shower sprays. There is a variety of sports facilities and the hotel team runs a daily activity programme. Children aged 4-12 can take part in the kids’ club and there is also a playground, games room and kids’ disco. In the evenings you can enjoy a variety of entertainment. For families, there are family rooms which can sleep up to 4 people plus 2-bedroom family suites that can sleep up to 5. Kos Airport is a 30-minute coach transfer to the hotel.
Lyttos Beach – Analipsi, Crete
Situated directly on a Blue Flag beach is the Lyttos Beach Hotel in Crete. It features 6 pools plus 11 bars and restaurants. Lyttos Beach is well known for its range of watersports. The hotel has a great pool scene with a huge Olympic-sized pool plus other smaller pools. One of the pools has waterslides plus a splash zone. This hotel boasts 15 tennis courts and you can book lessons for an additional charge. There are other sports facilities plus a big playground. There are a couple of kids’ clubs, one for ages 4-13 and the other for teenagers. In the evenings there are sometimes themed parties, magic shows, cabaret performances and more. Entertainment is also available in the daytime. Family rooms can sleep up to 4 people and you can even upgrade to have your own private pool and terrace. It is just a 30-minute coach transfer to the nearby Heraklion Airport.
Sol Nessebar Palace – Nessebar, Bulgaria
A family-friendly hotel located in the Bulgarian Coastal town of Nessebar is the Sol Nessebar Palace. It is part of a much larger resort which means guests can make use of the wide range of facilities across the entire complex. There is a very large outdoor pool, a kids’ splash pool and an awesome water feature the Rocky River. Guests are entitled to access the nearby waterpark with various slides and splash zones. The hotel has plenty of sports facilities and there is an action-packed kids’ club. Evening entertainment regularly takes place on the big outdoor stage. Here you can enjoy seeing dance troupes, live music and professional cabaret shows. Rooms at this hotel are twins which can sleep up to 4 people. They all have a balcony and you can upgrade to include a sea view. Bourgas Airport is a 35-minute coach transfer to the hotel.
