Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in the Mediterranean

Adorned in lavish Turkish designs, the 175-room Kempinski Hotel The Dome is a five-pearl chain property for golfers and beach lovers with two 18-hole golf courses and a picturesque seaside location. Five restaurants -- with seasonal hours -- provide international fare and all-inclusive packages. The staffed Aladdin's Castle kids' club provides activities for children ages four through 12, a themed kiddy pool, and a playground. Kids can also receive welcome gifts, bedtime milk, tear-free toiletries, and kid-sized bathrobes for free. Babysitting services are provided for an additional fee.

Located atop a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, the 121-room Jumeirah Port Soller is one of the most luxurious hotels in Majorca. It has a number of wonderful features for families -- including a pool and a kids’ club -- but the property also offers adult-only amenities and areas for those looking to get away from it all. Rooms are sophisticated and airy, with a soft earth-tone palette and large bathrooms with soaking tubs. Despite the hotel’s quiet vibe, the Jumeirah is popular with families due to its great kids’ club, which has lots of fun indoor and outdoor activities for children between ages three and 12. Kids under 12 stay free.

The Delphin Imperial is a high-end, all-inclusive resort with a ritzy, Vegas-style flair located in Lara, a popular vacation area just east of Antalya. The hotel is spectacular both inside and out while also offering a dizzying array of eating, drinking, and leisure facilities, including a range of pools with waterslides for kids and adults. Its 650 rooms also all open to terraces or balconies, some with private pool access and others with sea views; they're more modern in style than those at sister property Delphin Palace Hotel. While there are a couple shortcomings -- poor Wi-Fi and a lackluster spa -- a quality all-inclusive plan and great kids' facilities (kids' movie theater, kids' club, live music and shows) make this a justifiable favorite among both older and younger guests.

The 545-room Aska Lara Resort & Spa is a luxury resort outside of Antalya. This stretch of the Mediterranean is lined with all-inclusive resorts, but the Aska has a true high-end, but busy, vibe. Contemporary rooms have traditional design elements, and many feature balconies with sea views. There are cabanas and lounge chairs lining the off-site private beach, and the resort’s Wet ’n Wild zone keeps the joyful noise of kids separate from the main pool. Several free kids' clubs are available for different age groups along with kid-friendly features such as a soccer field and carnival rides (rides are located near Wet 'n Wild). A bowling alley and arcade games as well as game consoles and a pool table are provided at the arcade, and there is a movie theater plus live entertainment.

Directly on a beach in a quiet area of Playa d’en Bossa, the luxurious Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa has a pool with underwater loungers and kiddy section, a buffet restaurant, and daily entertainment. Additionally, it offers guests free access to facilities at neighboring sister property Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa, which has themed restaurants, a fully equipped fitness center, an upscale spa, kids’ and teens’ clubs, and two more pools. The resort’s 430 appealing, contemporary rooms have wooden floors, a bright color palette, and furnished balconies or terraces. Some rooms are a little tight, while units overlooking the bar area can get some noise at night. Opened in mid-2015, the Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa is a more luxurious and stylish option than its sister resort.

The luxury 455-room Letoonia Golf Resort delivers a lively family vacation on a well-manicured, 75-acre property along the Acısu River with a bridge to a private beach. Family-friendly entertainment abounds at this all-inclusive resort, with kids’ clubs (although teenager activities are lacking), a wide range of sports facilities, themed performances, and outdoor pools, including water slides, and adult-only pools -- which aren’t always kid-free. Six restaurants serve international fare and nine bars are on-site. Rooms are pleasantly furnished and bungalows feature beautiful wooden carved ceilings; some also have sea-facing balconies.

The all-inclusive, luxury Crystal Sunset Luxury Resort & Spa is a 10-minute walk from the beach in Side. The 584 modern rooms have Turkish design elements with balconies and upscale features like large walk-in showers and free minibars; some have sea views. Facilities are expansive and include a water park, outdoor pools, on-site restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, and many kid-friendly features along with live entertainment. Some services come with additional fees and are available only during high season when the resort can get overrun with children.

The 308-room Atrium Platinum Hotel is a luxury Aegean seaside resort for couples and families, located a quick drive from Rhodes City. The hotel offers a full fleet of amenities and services, which is great for travelers keen on spending most of their time on the property. Features include two game room (with foosball, pool tables, and ping ping), a kids' club, a grassy playground, five modern restaurants, and a glitzy full-service spa. Wi-Fi, breakfast, and cribs (on request) are free. The hotel has contemporary furnishings, but the minimalist design feels sterile and unfinished in some areas.

The 546-room Spice Hotel & Spa is a luxury beachfront resort in Belek. This Moroccan-style resort draws families and guests looking to let loose, with weekly parties, nightly entertainment, and huge outdoor and indoor pools. Caretta Aquapark is a fun seasonal water park complete with waterslides, but kids also enjoy the kids' pool and kids' club, which hosts mini discos and has a playground and an arcade with two bowling lanes, pool tables, and video games. Richly decorated rooms have flat-screen TVs and many feature sea-facing, furnished balconies. Villas have kitchens, pools, and saunas. This resort has several attractive restaurants and bars, plus a patisserie; breakfast and car services are free. There is a massive population of cats on the property, and some cleanliness issues have been reported.

Protur Biomar Gran Hotel & Spa is second to none in eastern Majorca. Stylish, elegant rooms have upscale amenities, balconies or terraces, and wonderful bathrooms with rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs (in most). The huge spa is the highlight here, with several treatment rooms, a salon, and an expansive hydrotherapy area that guests can access for free. The pools, kids’ club (with a kiddy pool and a playground), dozens of daily on-site activities (tennis, archery, mini-golf, bikes), and nightly entertainment are great perks for families, while the adult-only pool with swim-up bar is a relaxing spot for a lazy day. There are five dining options, and a half-board option is available, but there are extra fees for non-buffet restaurants. The location an easy walk from the beach is a plus.

Sitting on a private beach in Belek, the 363-room Papillon Ayscha is a luxury family resort with a social atmosphere thanks to evening entertainment, themed outdoor parties, a sports complex, and kids' clubs. The property features outdoor pools and a water park with heated pools, plus a modern gym in the spa. All-inclusive restaurants and bars are throughout the property, including the beach and pool, where there are usually long lines. Modern rooms and suites feature charming butterfly designs and balconies or terraces, some of which give sea views.

The 380-room Princess Andriana Resort and Spa is a quiet and modern beach sanctum for families and couples with three big pools. There is lots of entertainment for kids including archery, tennis, mini golf, and a kids' club with playground, arcade rooms, and amphitheater. There is also a modern spa, two restaurants and terrace snack bar, and live music in the evenings. Rooms are stylish and serene; some have balconies and private pools.

The Delphin Palace Hotel is an upmarket, all-inclusive hotel set in the popular Lara resort area just east of Antalya. Decor is traditional throughout and the 557 rooms are elegant; those who prefer a more modern style should consider sister property Delphin Imperial nearby. Facilities are extensive and impressive, with lots of pools, restaurants, and bars and with particular emphasis on activities for kids. Even though it's not quite up to advertised five-star standards, it's still one of the top options in the area.

The Fergus Style Cala Blanca Suites Hotel is a busy, upscale all-inclusive property a short walk from two beaches and with lots of family-friendly features. Its 175 suites have stylish contemporary decor, living areas with sofa beds, and furnished terraces, most with sea views. Convenient amenities include a pool, an adult-only rooftop deck with whirlpools and views, a kids’ club with activities and a playground, and a beach bar. The kiddy pool has several slides and a few loungers around it, and daily entertainment keeps children busy. But it's jam-packed during peak season to the point that it can be uncomfortable -- particularly at the pool -- and the all-inclusive package doesn't include many of the drinks and snacks offered.

On a beachfront in a quiet area of Playa d'en Bossa, the upscale Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa has two large freshwater pools, two kids' pools (one of them with slides), three theme restaurants, extensive sports facilities, and a kids’ club (with daily activities) and teens’ clubs (with video games and movies), plus daily entertainment. Spacious, bright rooms range from Doubles to Master Suites with two bedrooms, and have balconies or terraces as well as bathrooms with jetted tubs and showerheads. Some of the rooms have dated decor not up to scratch for this caliber, while others have been updated. Packed with family-friendly facilities, the Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza is also within a five-minute walk of Ibiza’s famous nightlife.

Sherwood Breezes Resort is a stylish and upscale all-inclusive hotel set on extensive and immaculate grounds in Antalya's upmarket Lara district. A 2014 makeover is still very much in evidence, and there are chic, polished interiors throughout. Rooms are bright and attractive, with furnished balconies -- some with sea views -- though some overlook a wall. Facilities for all ages are superb -- highlights include an on-site water park, mini-club, and splash pools for kids and a late-night disco and long sandy beach with butler-service cabins and beach parties for adults.

The 371-room Sunshine Vacation Club Rhodes is an all-inclusive resort located on the beach in northwest Rhodes. There are activities for all ages, with an energetic (and loud) animation team working hard to create fun; travelers seeking quiet time in the sun may want to stay elsewhere, as the noise and commotion begins early and lasts until late in the evening (though one of the several pools is a designated quiet pool). Activities for kids include a mini club, kids' pool with water slides, and a playground. Tennis, volleyball, scuba, archery, and miniature golf are all available. Rooms are spacious, but the decor is dated -- think mirrored closet doors –- and worn around the edges, though balconies are appealing.

The 247-room luxury Lti Louis Grand Hotel is a gorgeous, secluded, all-inclusive resort right on the beach, surrounded by nothing but beach bars and restaurants, local tavernas, and a spectacular landscape. Unlike many all-inclusive properties, the Louis Grand never feels crowded; there are no lines at bars, early morning competitions for sunbeds, or waves of humanity at the dinner buffet. There is a full line-up of sports, including lighted tennis courts, ping-pong, volleyball, water polo, and archery, and a game terrace with pool tables, air hockey, and video games. Kids are treated to a special kids buffet, mini disco, pool activities, and more. There is (good) food available all day long, and the public spaces as well as the simple, modern, light-drenched rooms inspire instant relaxation.

Loano2Village is an upper-middle-range resort-style property popular with families and tour groups due to the apartment-style rooms complete with kitchens and balconies (traditional hotel rooms are also available). There is a huge outdoor pool and several smaller pools, including a family pool. Additional features include soccer fields, archery, a kid's club, and a sandy beach area. Meals aren't included, but packages are available and the Bikini bar and breakfast buffet get good reviews. The location is outside of the city center and not within walking distance of Loano's beaches, but there's a free shuttle.

The 253-room Sun Palace Hotel is a mid-range property, family-friendly that appeals to sun-seeking families and couples with an on-site water park and a beach within close walking distance. Located in the tourist-friendly Faliraki area of Rhodes, the hotel is a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive from the popular sports bar, King Arthur's Club, and a five-minute drive from a golf course. The hotel offers air-conditioned public areas, casual family dining, and a water park. There's a kiddy pool with a small waterfall, a Wave Pool with inner tubes and a faux sandy shore, and a Lazy River winding past a patio area dotted with tan lounge chairs and white umbrellas. The main pool hosts lively water polo and volleyball games, while the smaller Relax pool also attracts families with children. Some room furnishings are outdated, but overall rooms are clean and well-kept, with mini-fridges and balconies.