Family friendly holiday options similar to Croatia

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It feels like I’m looking for a unicorn! Our wish list:

• european destination
• family hotel - kids pool/mini disco/playground - don’t need much more than that, wouldn’t be using a kids club
• 4 or 5* with good food - ideally all inclusive
• ideally option to have a separate sleeping space for DD7 (not essential)
• the main issue seems to be is we’d like it to be in an area with things to visit reasonably near by, bit of history etc

We’ve been to Croatia 4x (to different areas) as this seems to be a really good fit for us
as a family so somewhere similar vibe really (also just had a good holiday to Spain which ticked all these boxes and made me realise how important the combo of family hotel plus interesting location is to us)
So many nice hotels are just in the middle of nowhere and that’s a definite no for us - we would never just stay in the hotel for the whole holiday (nothing wrong with doing that obvs it’s just not us!)

Would be grateful for any pointers, whether that’s a hotel or even a region. Thank you 🤩

Have you considered the Italian Lakes? You can explore Verona too.

We loved both Sardinia and Corsica with kids - Calvi in Corsica and Alghero in Sardinia.

Crete - especially near Heraklion, Knossos, Rethymno for day trips

Napflio mainland Greece - lots of historical sites

Agree Lake Garda could work but it depends whether you want beach and sea

If beach and sea isn’t important, consider the Alps - absolutely loads to do and visit especially if you’re willing to hire a car. Or various areas of France eg Loire or Dordogne or Royan/La Rochelle … lots to see and do

Thank you both. Lake Garda definitely a good shout and the Alps, hadn’t thought about that actually and Google has shown me some cool hotels family in the Alps! We’ve done alot of France over the years and had our honeymoon in Crete 🤦🏼‍♀️ Will have a look at Sardinia and Corsica too

Sorry, can't help, but was wondering where in Croatia you'd recommend or what it was like in the places you stayed?

"Kinderhotels" in the Alps - many in Austria, but there are also hotels in Italy and Germany (and Croatia). These are family-run hotels that focus on families with children. Most are out in the countryside, typically in ski resorts, and many are attached to working farms although all are professionally-run hotels.

See Kinderhotels.com or 239 Familienhotels in Österreich finden | Kinderhotel.Info

We’ve stayed in cavtat (for Dubrovnik) Split, Zadar and Porec. All beautiful coastline and old towns. Very unspoilt and because the coast faces west beautiful sunsets wherever you stay!
Hotel wise we really rate the valamar chain - good quality accommodation and food but still with fantastic kids stuff too. Maro is the kids mascot (google Maro world!) They also do adult only hotels if you’re not in your kids disco era like we are 😆

Thank you!

Atlantico Mare in Cyprus is lovely. Food was amazing, small water park onsite for little ones.