What are the best family hotels on the Costa del Sol?

The golden beaches of the Costa del Sol are the undeniable star of the show along this sun-drenched stretch of Spanish coastline. That, and the myriad family-friendly hotels that come jam-packed with every single kind of facility you might want from water slides and playgrounds to kids' clubs, nightly entertainment and more.

But contrary to what you might think, the Costa del Sol is not only about the beach. This corner of Spain is home to ancient fortresses constructed to protect the coastline and curious cave complexes home to one of the largest stalagmites in the world. There’s a museum dedicated to historic cars and a nature reserve home to thousands of technicoloured butterflies. It’s fair to say that the Costa del Sol has something for everyone.

If you’re wondering where to stay to enjoy it all then we can help. We’ve consulted ever-knowledgeable Mumsnetters on our holiday forum to select the best family hotels in the Costa del Sol, whatever your budget.

For more Spanish holiday inspo, check out our guides to the best destinations in Spain, the best Canary islands for families, the best Balearic Islands and the best hotels in Marbella, Benidorm and Barcelona.

1

Best overall hotel

Puente Romano Beach Resort, Marbella

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What we like

Everything! This resort ticks all our boxes with lots to offer parents and children
Bike rental for cycling trips to nearby Marbella and Puerto Banús marina
As well as pool parties, treasure hunts and pirate days, Puente Romano offers private tutoring for kids from a team of international school teachers, perfect if your kids have exams coming up

What we don't like

There’s not much to dislike about this hotel but if you’re after a hotel with waterslides, this is not it

What Mumsnet users say

Realjournal123 · Recommended

"I live in Spain. I'd recommend either the Marbella Club, Puente Romano, Guadalpin Banus. The first two are 5-star but have everything you need and both have the beach and promenade from which you can have a lovely evening stroll into Puerto Banus."

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Our verdict

The Puente Romano has been welcoming families since 1979 and is as charming today as it was when it first opened its doors. On Marbella's Golden Mile with the Sierra Blanca mountains as a backdrop, the property design echoes that found in traditional Andalusian villages: whitewashed walls, terracotta stairs and blue and white tiles set amid a whimsical tropical garden filled with orange and fig trees, geraniums and jasmine.

The property is surprisingly large with 162 suites and three villas with a wide range catering to families. There are four swimming pools (one dedicated to families) a tennis club with 10 courts, a dreamy Six Senses spa and more than 20 restaurants and bars. There's also La Casita Kids Club with a treehouse and villa-style pool that your children are never going to want to leave.

Nearest beach: A short walk from Nagüeles Beach.

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (33 miles)

2

Best beach resort

Iberostar Malaga Playa, Malaga

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What we like

Guests have great things to say about the food but there’s the option to go half-board if you want to sample some of the nearby restaurants
Nerja is a quick bus ride away. Frigiliana and Ronda are also nearby
Beachfront location makes hopping between the sea and pool a breeze
Great for cyclists with dedicated room to store bikes.

What we don't like

Some rooms and apartments don’t have sea views
There are a lot of sunbeds but during busy periods many of them get snapped up in the morning and are occupied for the rest of the day

What Mumsnet users say

RomaineCalm · Recommended

"This would be my suggestion. Plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance and lots of options if you wanted a couple of day trips a it further out."

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Our verdict

Enjoying a prime beachfront position amid palm-studded gardens is this four-star Andalusian-style hotel. A generous swimming pool sits at the heart of the resort surrounded by sun loungers and parasols. Conveniently, the dedicated kids' splashpark lies alongside, so you can keep an eye on the children while you relax, and there's an additional pool for babies and toddlers.

The 413 well-appointed rooms range from standard doubles to family-friendly apartments that can sleep up to five and come with kitchenettes that are particularly handy if travelling with infants or toddlers. For children aged 3 to 12 the fun-packed Star Camp is staffed by enthusiastic entertainers who keep the kids busy with a wide range of activities.

Nearest beach: Playa de Torrox is on the hotel’s doorstep

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (29 miles)

3

Best luxury hotel

Marbella Club Hotel, Marbella

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What we like

We love how this hotel combines glamour and family friendliness
Kids' club is fantastic with lots of imaginative activities for children aged 4 to 14

What we don't like

We can’t find fault with this hotel, and nor can any of the guests who have stayed here

What Mumsnet users say

squeaver · Recommended

"Marbella club is v nice but not cheap."

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Our verdict

Set by the shore on Marbella's legendary Golden Mile, this historic five-star hotel has been wowing guests since 1954 when it opened as the Mediterranean holiday home for Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Prince Alfonso was a playboy responsible for transforming Marbella from a sleepy fishing village to glamorous world-famous resort.

The property hasn't lost any of its shine and continues to welcome couples, families and celebrities. There are 131 rooms in total including two-, three- and four-bedroom villas and bungalows that work well for families. For something truly special, book a stay in one of the Grand Villas equipped with private pools and flower-filled gardens.

One of the best things about the Marbella Club Hotel, however, is its kids' club that offers everything from yoga, dance and gardening to perfume and candle-making using herbs from the hotel's own herb garden. In addition, there are pools and paddle courts, horse-riding, tennis courts, water sports, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Nearest beach: The property has its own beach

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (26 miles)

4

Best luxury all-inclusive hotel

Ikos Andalusia

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What we like

Hotel design is beautiful: sleek, stylish and right on the beachfront
There’s a football academy, an outdoor playground and tennis courts plus splash pools, snorkelling, paddleboarding and more
Families are offered 30 minutes' complimentary childcare either on the beach or by the pool
Kids’ menus are both tasty and healthy and, for balance, there’s free ice cream at Gelaterie all day every day

What we don't like

Not all rooms have sea views; double check before booking

What Mumsnet users say

Xmasgrinchywinchy · Recommended

"Ikos is off the scale fabulous. It’s eyewateringly expensive but a level of luxury I’ve not experienced in Europe before. it’s hard to describe as people will tell you that you can get just as good elsewhere but I’m honestly not sure you can."

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Our verdict

The five-star IKOS Andalusia hotel sits near Marbella's coveted Golden Mile with an incredible seven sublime swimming pools, seven restaurants, a dreamy spa and more family amenities than you could possibly take advantage of during a week-long holiday (tip: stay for two weeks instead!).

The beautiful accommodation comes in a range of sizes including multi-bedroom private villas for families. One of our favourite things about IKOS Andalusia is the age-appropriate kids' clubs. The Heroes Crèche looks after toddlers aged six months to three years keeping them busy with dancing, face painting and time to chill. Four- to 12-year-olds are kept busy in the Heroes Kids' Club with educational games, organised sports, immersive activities and more. There's even a Just4Teens club.

Nearest beach: IKOS Andalusia is located on the beach

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (35 miles)

5

Best spa hotel

Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso, Estepona

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What we like

Location near the charming town of Estepona is perfect for exploring locally
Golfers can work on their handicap on a course just 2 miles away
The beach is fairly quiet

What we don't like

We would like to see the children’s club available out of peak season as well

Our verdict

The five-star Elba Estepona bridges the gap between Technicolor mega-resort and highly stylised luxury hotel offering comfortable, reliable accommodation on a quiet beachfront location. There are 204 elegant rooms, and family options range from Standard Doubles, sleeping a couple and an infant, to the swanky Presidential Suite that can accommodate six people.

Summer is the best time to visit because that’s when the kids’ club kicks into action providing activities from morning to evening. There’s also live entertainment and a games room alongside two themed restaurants. One of the best things about the hotel is its beautiful spa with dedicated treatments for mums as well as a range of health and wellness treatments.

Nearest beach: Direct beach access

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (42 miles)

6

Best for activities

Sunset Beach Club, Benalmadena

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What we like

On-site certified PADI diving school
The hotel can organise guided excursions to destinations including Granada, Alhambra, Ronda and Gibraltar
Regular events such as “Paella Cook Wednesdays” take place during peak season

What we don't like

Some guests report that the resort can be very noisy during school holidays

What Mumsnet users say

lala1245 · Recommended

"We stayed there recently with teenagers. Location was good, lots of nice restaurants nearby and right on the beach. Pool wasn't heated and was cold but weather was lovely.Entertainment was mainly for younger children but there was adult entertainment in the night as well."

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Our verdict

This popular beachfront resort sees families returning year after year for its good value apartments and suites, and its dedicated animation team that keep guests of all ages busy during school and summer holidays. There's a club for children aged four to 10, a group for Juniors aged 11 to 14, a teen-only club and even a group for adults with activities ranging from face painting and karaoke for the kids to aqua zumba and music quizzes for the adults.

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to rooms with options ranging from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom apartments sleeping eight people. One of the things that families love best about the hotel is its on-site supermarket, bakery and even hairdressers. You can even learn to dive here; Sunset Beach Club has one of Benalmadena’s main certified PADI Dive Resorts onsite.

Nearest beach: Direct beach access

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (7 miles)

7

Best for multi-generational holidays

Finca Cortesin, Casares

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What we like

A couple of hours' drive from some of the region's best sights including the Alhambra Palace, the historic city of Ronda, the wineries of Jerez and the lively city of Seville
Hotel can organise day trips to Tangier for a taste of Morocco
Horse riding and watersports including sailing, fishing and kitesurfing can be arranged nearby

What we don't like

The kids’ club is only free for up to four hours per day per child

Our verdict

Treat yourself to a stay in one of Spain’s most fabulous hotels, Finca Cortesin. Located inland from the Costa del Sol, not far from the whitewashed clifftop village of Casares, this luxury hotel, spa and golf course is set on a 215-hectare estate that’s perfect for those seeking something different from their beach holiday.

The highlight for many guests is the 18-hole golf course, one of the best in southern Europe and home to a Jack Nicklaus academy. But even if you can’t tell your woods from your irons there’s plenty to do including tennis and padel, mountain biking and dozens of other outdoor activities.

In terms of accommodation, there are 67 suites and eight villas to choose from. Best for families is the Family Suite with two interconnecting rooms but there are also private villas, one sleeping up to 10 people. A small kids’ club is in operation during high season but really this resort is best suited to teens who will make the most of the myriad activities on offer (and who won’t disturb those couples who have left their children at home!).

Nearest beach: Baha de Casares Beach (5-minute drive)

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (45 miles)

8

Best design hotel

Kempinski Hotel Bahia, Estepona

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What we like

Children under four are welcome to join the Bee Kids’ club if they're accompanied by a parent or guardian
The hotel has a great family offer available with 50% off the hotel's Best Flexible Rate on the second room for your kids under 12 (available throughout the year apart from July and August)

What we don't like

It would be good to see a larger choice of dedicated family rooms

Our verdict

This Art Deco-inspired five-star hotel brings a touch of old Hollywood glamour to the Costa del Sol alongside excellent facilities, fantastic service and some of the best food you'll find on this stretch of coastline.

Three pools sit at the heart of the award-winning property, tucked away among the landscaped and flower filled gardens. One is reserved for adults but the other two are perfect for kids, especially the one that is heated. From Easter until the end of October the Bee Kids' club welcomes children aged four to 12 years old for baking, painting, dancing and other creative activities. All rooms can sleep up to three guests and interconnecting rooms are available.

Nearest beach: Less than a minutes' walk

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (50 miles)

9

Best for teens

Holiday World RIWO Hotel, Malaga

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What we like

A giant splashpark, nine pools and a separate wave pool will keep kids busy for days
Teens aren’t always catered for in hotels, so the dedicated teen zone is a welcome addition

What we don't like

It's a 20-minute drive from the nearest town, Benalmadena

What Mumsnet users say

Kidssendingmenuts · Recommended

"Look at holiday world in Malaga, there's either the holiday village, holiday Polynesia or holiday palace. All fab and give access to the giant water park on site. Lots to do in the hotel too such as arcades and entertainment."

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Our verdict

Guaranteed to keep the whole family happy is this rainbow-coloured family resort that caters perfectly to all ages. For younger guests aged four to 12 there’s a dedicated mini-club with slides, a soft play area and a mini-golf course all led by the hotel’s cheerful mascots, Holly and Worldy. Older kids can take part in dance classes and sports sessions and when they want to take time out, they can retreat to The Zone for some time gaming or chilling out in the LED-lined music room.

There’s a wide choice of accommodation, all of which has been designed especially for families. We particularly like the Junior Family Suite, an apartment-style room that can sleep up to six people and comes with its own private terrace. The Dinoworld Junior Suite, complete with mini drawing tables, PlayStations and more, is a must for all dinosaur-mad kids.

Nearest beach: Located between Benalmádena and Fuengirola (500m from the beach)

Nearest airport: Malaga Airport (12 miles)

Is Costa del Sol good for families?

In a word, yes. The Costa del Sol has long been a favourite with families simply because it has so much to offer kids of all ages. The Blue Flag beaches are fantastic, there’s a wide range of family-friendly hotels, the food is excellent, and the sun is (almost) always shining.

Which part of the Costa del Sol is best for families?

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to places to stay on the Costa del Sol with kids. Top of the list is the historic coastal city of Malaga that offers a range of beaches nearby. Other favourites include the pretty seaside town of Nerja, which is quieter than some of the other coastal villages. The popular resort of Torremolinos is packed with things to do including Aquaplaned Water Park, home to a 22-metre-high kamikaze water slide. Fuengirola, Marbella and Benalmádena are also popular.

What’s the best family-friendly hotel on the Costa del Sol?

We love how many great family-friendly hotels there are in the Costa del Sol, but our favourite is the Puente Romano Beach Resort.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet holiday forum to find out what family hotels in Costa del Sol were being recommended.

We then did some research across the wider web, looking at what family hotels in Costa del Sol had won accolades or been featured in ‘best choice’ lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best family hotels in Costa del Sol at the moment.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.

About the author

Katja Gaskell is a freelance journalist and blogger with over 20 years of experience producing travel content including guidebooks for Lonely Planet, hotel reviews for Mr & Mrs Smith and feature articles for a range of publications including The Telegraph, Wanderlust Magazine and the Mail on Sunday. She's passionate about family travel and loves to explore new places with her husband and three kids, documenting their adventures on her blog, globetotting.com