Hotel Finlandia, Spain

Family-run hotel in Marbella, two minutes walk from the beach. Emma & Jose (and 3 yr old daughter Maya) were just the kindest hosts. Made us feel like we were visiting friends rather than clients. They don't do daytime childcare but they do offer children's early supper (really good homemade food, I was quite jealous), and babysitting.

Rooms basic but spotless and very, very reasonable. Fridge and kettle in the lobby. They don't do breakfast but there's a lovely, child-friendly cafe round the corner.

Marbella was a nice surprise. I anticipated lots of mafia/costa del crime types in flash cars. Actually it's a pleasantly ordinary Spanish town with great beaches - lots of which have climbing frames and stuff for the kids on them. Jose is also a keen mountain biker and lends bikes to (grown up) hotel residents for free.