Everything you need to know about Mark Warner beach holidays

Seeking a family holiday that offers more than sun, sea and sand? With impressive beachfront locations and fantastic facilities, Mark Warner beach breaks provide the perfect balance of action-packed sports and activities, high-quality childcare and excellent hospitality - helping you share unforgettable family experiences and create memories that will last a lifetime. And with professional childcare on offer for babies (from four months old) and a whole range of kids' clubs catering to children aged between two and 17, a Mark Warner beach resort is a brilliant option whether you're on your first family holiday or travelling with toddlers, tweens, teens and everyone in between. 

Opt for a sun-soaked Greek island, the idyllic Ionian Coast or Turkey’s dreamy Aegean coastline — there’s a destination to suit every family. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Mark Warner beach holidays, including insights from Mumsnet users that have tried and tested them.

-Mumsnet user, DPotter

What’s included in the price of a Mark Warner beach holiday?

One of the major perks of a Mark Warner beach holiday is that the package price covers most of the essentials upfront including flights, transfers, accommodation, food, an extensive suite of activities and access to high-quality childcare (from four months) and kids’ clubs for children aged between two and 17.

Having a packed schedule of fun activities available every day takes the pressure off having to plan itineraries in advance and pay separately to keep the kids entertained, allowing you to focus on the important part - having fun and spending quality time with your family.

What are the kids’ clubs like?

My older kids absolutely loved their clubs and activities (Aged seven and eight). Mumsnet user, Givemesomewineplease

Whether you’re travelling with a young baby or tweens and teens seeking some independence, Mark Warner kids’ clubs offer the chance for children aged three to 17 to meet new friends and enjoy fun shared experiences. 

Groups may be combined outside of peak season, but are generally split into age-appropriate sessions with a range of activities as follows:

• Toddler Club for 1-2 year-olds featuring trikes, pool time, songs and painting

• Mini Club (half day) for 3-5 year-olds featuring puppet shows, painting and mini club sailing

• Junior Club for 6-9 year-olds featuring windsurfing, sailing, tennis, volleyball and pool games 

• Kidz Club for 10-13 year-olds featuring windsurfing, sailing kayaking and sea frisbee 

• Indy Club for 14-17 year-olds featuring windsurfing, sailing, SUP boarding, kayaking and rounders. 

If you’re travelling with babies, chargeable childcare can also be arranged for babies aged four months to 11 years with 1-2 carer-to-child ratio and a designated keyworker for the duration of your stay. 

Providing excellent peace of mind for parents, all childcare staff are English speaking, DBS checked and first aid trained, with a minimum of two years’ relevant childcare experience. The majority of Mark Warner nannies also have a NNEB, DCE, NVQ or equivalent qualification.

What activities are on offer?

As well as access to beaches and pools, Mark Warner resorts offer a huge array of complimentary activities. Most importantly, there’s absolutely no pressure to take part so you can dip in and out during your stay.

Using all the latest sports equipment, Mark Warner’s experienced instructors offer sessions to suit every ability, whether you’re looking to try something for the first time, learn new skills, challenge yourself or simply improve your technique. 

For those who want to take their activities more seriously, you can even arrange one-to-one or accredited sessions (gaining qualifications in the process) for an additional fee.

While the full list of activities can vary depending on the resort, here are some of the activities you can expect from a Mark Warner beach holiday:

• Watersports: Making the most of the beautiful beachfront locations and excellent wind conditions, guests can take part in a range of exhilarating watersports including windsurfing and sailing. If you prefer more serene activities, stand-up paddle boarding is easy for beginners to learn, while kayaking is a great way to explore the tranquil waters at your own pace, discovering everything the local surroundings have to offer. 

• Tennis: With free access to HEAD racquets and balls, guests have unlimited use of outdoor tennis courts during their stay, as well as padel and pickleball sessions if you fancy dabbling with something new. We love the free social tennis sessions where you can challenge other guests to some friendly competition, and the high-tempo cardio drill sessions are guaranteed to work up a sweat. 

• Cycling: Whether you opt for exhilarating mountain bike trails or a more leisurely route on a road bike, heading out on two wheels is a great way to explore the local villages, take in the breathtaking coastal views or even spot some local wildlife on your travels. All routes and tours are graded based on ability - so you can clearly see the duration, distance and level of physical demand before you set off. As well as an impressive fleet of road and mountain bikes, Mark Warner also provides free access to helmets, puncture repair kits and pumps, so nothing but the scenery will stop you in your tracks.

• Fitness and well-being sessions: In addition to air-conditioned gyms, each Mark Warner beach resort offers several drop-in fitness classes throughout the day, all led by qualified instructors. From starting the day with a sunrise stretch or a guided run to high-intensity beach boot camps and aqua aerobics, you can choose from a wide range of classes to help energise, relax and revitalise. If you’re seeking some ‘me time’, the resort spa is the perfect place to get some well-deserved pampering, from facials to pedicures.

Are the activities suitable for beginners?

Absolutely! As well as sessions for refreshers and improvers, Mark Warner runs group sessions that are tailored to your level of experience, even if it's something completely new. 

This a great opportunity to try out a new activity with experienced instructors who will help you learn skills, improve your confidence and most importantly keep you safe. 

I learned how to do new sports - all included (every morning I had a windsurfing lesson and also sailing lessons). Mumsnet user, AdoretheBeach

What’s the food like? 

Mark Warner is great for activities (my whole family learnt to sail, windsurf, waterski) and fantastic for adult-only meals. Mumsnet user NewMoney1000000

Expect local dishes made with fresh ingredients and lots of choice. Families will love tucking into a continental or cooked breakfast to help fuel their busy day ahead.

Children can eat a kids’ dinner served at 5 o'clock and pick from a child-friendly menu or eat with parents from the adult menu in the main restaurant. If you fancy a relaxing dinner as a couple in the hotel restaurant, evening childcare can be arranged from 7.30 to 10.30 pm for children aged four months to 9 years if they’re already booked into the daytime clubs.

Your dining arrangements will be dependent on the resort but it’s as follows:

• Half board (at all Greek resorts): breakfast and dinner 

• Resort board (at Phokaia Beach Resort, Turkey): five days of full board and two days of half board (leaving you free to explore the local dining options outside the resort for two nights during your stay. 

Note that drinks are not included.

What are the accommodation options?

After all those activities, you’re going to want a comfortable night’s sleep and Mark Warner’s modern and air-conditioned accommodation doesn't disappoint. 

Typically surrounded by spacious gardens, you’ll find low-rise buildings offering a range of room options to suit families of all sizes plus WiFi, tea and coffee-making facilities, a hairdryer and a mini fridge.

Whether you opt for interconnecting rooms and suites or family rooms with sliding door privacy partitions, each room comes with a spacious balcony or sun terrace, so the fun doesn’t need to end when the children run out of steam.

Are Mark Warner holidays just for families?

No. While Mark Warner holidays cater well for families, they are open and accessible to everyone including couples and solo travellers. 

About Mark Warner

Over the last 50 years Mark Warner has perfected the family holiday. 

In our family-friendly beach resorts across Greece and Turkey our kids’ clubs are all about activity. Every child from 4 months old to 17 joins a club where they come first, led by qualified and energetic childcare professionals. Babies and toddlers enjoy home-from-home care, while children aged 3-17 learn to kayak, paddleboard, play tennis and so much more. 

Holidays that give you a lifetime of memories - guaranteed.

About the author 

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in product reviews and roundups. Having written reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products to help people make confident purchases. She has also written for US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard.

As a city dweller, Lucy lives for the summer holidays, relishing the opportunity to travel with her daughters and get that first sight of the sea, whether that's staying at one of the best family hotels in Cornwall, or exploring the best European family holiday destinations.