Which TUI MAGIC LIFE hotel to book? We round up the all-inclusive resorts that Mumsnetters love
Got kids that can’t sit still on holiday but don’t want to sacrifice on much-needed downtime at the beach? Consider a TUI Magic Life hotel for access to activities, sports facilities, kids’ clubs, entertainment, all-inclusive dining and seafront locations. We round up the resorts that Mumsnetters rave about.
By Rachel Erdos | Last updated Apr 22, 2024
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If your kids spend most of the week bouncing from play date to playing field via a packed schedule of clubs and classes, they might not appreciate kicking back on a lounger for a week in the sun. Which is why choosing a resort that caters to all activity levels can set you up for the happiest of holidays.
TUI MAGIC LIFE hotels are all located by the beach with direct (or easy) access to sand and sea in popular spots including Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, Tunisia and Mexico. As well as offering a prime position for family holidays, the brand’s mantra is all about ‘taking all inclusive to the next level’ so each hotel is equipped with fantastic sports facilities, a range of pools, a jam-packed activity and entertainment schedule, and kids’ clubs for children aged three to 16. There’s loads for little ones to do throughout the day and there are dedicated family activity sessions if you want to get in on the action too.
And after all that exertion, families can enjoy 24-hour access to all-inclusive dining for round-the-clock drinks and snacks. Cheers to that.
To narrow down the best TUI Magic Life hotels for families, we’ve tapped into recommendations on our holiday forum to highlight the resorts that Mumsnetters can vouch for, having stayed and played there themselves.
Pizzo, Calabria, Italy
11 floodlit tennis courts
Watersports including windsurfing and canoeing
Splash park with a dedicated toddler area
Guests can access a private section of the beach
Board basis: All inclusive
Nearest airport: Lamezia Terme (10 miles)
Number of pools: Four
Between the sea and vineyard-covered hills, TUI Magic Life Calabria is a popular spot for a beach break on Italy’s south coast.
Guests can access a private section of the beach via a pine tree-studded path and the charming town of Pizzo can be reached within a 15-minute drive.
There are four on-site swimming pools to choose from, including a heated family pool and a mini splash park with a dedicated toddler area. And the sports facilities are fantastic with no fewer than 11 floodlit tennis courts (open until 10pm) as well as volleyball courts, football pitches and an archery range. If you’d rather spend most of your time in the water, consider windsurfing or canoeing. There’s even a catamaran for (sailing certified) guests to hire out.
Kids aged 3-16 can join one of the specialist kids’ clubs and there’s an amphitheatre for evening entertainment, including classic family discos. Not one but two playgrounds will help little ones work up an appetite before hitting one of the many dining options including a buffet restaurant (complete with a special pasta section), a traditional trattoria and a beachfront grill.
“Magic Life in general was awesome. The food was great, there was plenty of choice of drinks at the bar, everything was super clean, it just felt like all the staff went above and beyond to make your stay great.”
-Mumsnet user, LadyCatStark
Belek, Antalya Area, Turkey
Nine pools including an aqua park with waterslides and a baby splash pool
10 golf courses nearby
Floodlit tennis courts
Private beach access
Board basis: All inclusive
Nearest airport: Antalya (19 miles)
Number of pools: Nine
On Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast, TUI MAGIC LIFE Masmavi sits on its own beach within easy reach of the resort town of Belek.
There are 10 golf courses nearby and the hotel can arrange sessions with professional coaches for beginners and advanced players. At the resort itself, there are seven tennis courts for lessons or relaxed family games, volleyball courts for team games and tournaments and football pitches for friendly kickabouts. Watersports fans will appreciate the Scuba sessions.
For a more relaxed activity schedule, consider hitting one of the seven pools, or the spa, complete with a traditional Turkish bath. Kids will no doubt enjoy the huge variety of activities on offer at one of the age-specific kids’ clubs. Oh, and there’s an aquapark kitted out with five slides.
Don’t miss Turkish speciality dishes at the main restaurant, just one of seven restaurants to choose from. And there are eight different bars to work your way around during your stay.
Jandia, Fuerteventura
120+ activities on offer throughout the day
Access to a diving centre
Sea and mountain views
Direct access to a white sand beach
Board basis: All inclusive
Nearest airport: Fuerteventura (38 miles)
Number of pools: Four
On the south coast of Fuerteventura, this beachfront retreat offers stunning views of the Pico de la Zarza mountains and is a 10-minute drive from the popular resort town of Jandia.
All ages are catered for here and there’s a huge range of fun family activities on offer from movie nights to silent discos, mini football to mountain biking. In fact, there are 120+ activities to choose from so you won’t have to contend with any cries of “I’m bored!” during your stay.
Tennis courts, volleyball courts, football pitches, a cycling centre and an archery range round out the sports facilities and there’s an Ocean World Diving Centre to access for underwater exploring.
Hit the spa for some post-activity muscle relieving or kick back in the evening at one of the five on-site restaurants.
Plimmiri, Rhodes, Greece
Low-rise Greek village design
On-site swimming lessons for kids and adults
Kids’ pool with waterslides and fountains
Fantastic watersports on offer
Board basis: All inclusive
Nearest airport: Rhodes (49 miles)
Number of pools: Three
Set on a private beach on the south coast of Rhodes, this family-friendly hotel has the look and feel of a traditional Greek village with low-rise whitewashed buildings and olive tree-studded grounds.
It’s more low-key than some of the other action-packed Magic Life resorts but there’s still plenty on offer for families. Six floodlit courts will keep tennis fans happy and there are beach volleyball courts as well as mini football pitches and shuffleboard.
To make the most of its proximity to the Med, it’s well worth taking advantage of some of the watersports on offer including windsurfing, canoeing and catamaran sailing. And you can try your hand at Scuba diving thanks to free introductory sessions. Not a confident swimmer? The resort has an on-site swim school for kids as well as adults. And there are waterslides and fountains in a dedicated kids’ pool.
There’s a healthy eating corner at the main buffet restaurant and a traditional Greek taverna for authentic dishes. As well as a rooftop bar for cocktails and sea views.
Cala Pada, Ibiza, Spain
Located on Ibiza’s laid-back northeast coast
Apartments sleep up to five
Daily programme of 60+ activities
Access to a diving centre
Board basis: All inclusive
Nearest airport: Ibiza (15 miles)
Number of pools: Four
Stylish interiors, sea views and impressive sports facilities combine at Cala Pada on Ibiza’s laid-back northeast coast. The resort sits at the edge of the pretty town of Santa Eulalia and the hippy markets at Punta Arabi and Las Dalias are a couple of miles away.
Soak up sea views from the grounds or take a five-minute stroll to the beach where you’ll find a diving centre. On-site facilities include six tennis courts, mini football, archery and boules, and you can hit the saddle on a mountain or road biking tour. There are 60+ different activities available as part of a daily programme and the kids’ clubs offer everything from pool parties to sports tournaments. Check out the amphitheatre for evening entertainment including discos and karaoke.
What is a TUI MAGIC LIFE hotel?
TUI MAGIC LIFE is a collection of hotels that combine beachfront locations, on-site activities, sports facilities, and 24-hour access to all-inclusive dining. There’s a real focus on fun, fitness and food at these properties and they’re geared up for active families. The kids’ clubs are designed for children aged three to 16 and are split into age-appropriate sessions: MyMo Minis (3-5), MyMo Maxis (6-12), Teens Time (13-16). A TUI MAGIC LIFE break offers great value for families with (almost) everything included in the price of a package holiday.
Are all TUI MAGIC LIFE resorts family friendly?
Most of the TUI MAGIC LIFE resorts are family friendly with kids’ clubs, family rooms and child-friendly food options on offer. Note that TUI MAGIC LIFE Bodrum, TUI MAGIC LIFE Candia Maris and TUI MAGIC LIFE Jacaranda are adults-only resorts.
How many TUI MAGIC LIFE hotels are there?
There are a total of 13 TUI MAGIC LIFE hotels in destinations including Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, Tunisia and Egypt.
About TUI
When it comes to booking a holiday, we know everyone likes something different - from great value all inclusive deals with TUI MAGIC LIFE where kids can go free* at selected hotels to our action packed Holiday Village options and our TUI BLUE for families hotels which cater for everyone and are handpicked just for your family.
Our holiday portfolio ticks off everything from beach holidays and city breaks through to lakes and mountains getaways. We also offer tours that let you experience exotic places like Costa Rica, South Africa and Japan in a brand new way, and multi-destination trips with over 5,000 combinations to choose from. As one of the biggest UK holiday companies, we're here whenever you need us - via our stores, website or 24/7 Holiday line. Book now for 2024 and get a £0 deposit* when you pay via Direct Debit*.
About the author
Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.
She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London and loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.