You have my list of chic adults only hotels, now here are my top family friendly hotels. Traveling with kids isn't really a vacation — it's a trip. But that doesn't mean you have to trade the destination for the diaper bag. After sharing my adults-only hotel list, you all asked for the reverse: the hotels chic enough for us, but that still welcome kids. So here are the ones we recommend bringing the kids to (and a few still on the list).
Stephanie’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Hotel Son Net - Mallorca, Spain
I could go on and on about how much we ADORED staying here last summer with Millie. I have a little Mallorca guide here by the way. We went in mid-June, and it was perfect and not overcrowded with foot traffic like the Belmond was. It’s interior design heaven. We had the most amazing suite with a separate living room area that was impeccably decorated. Millie slept in the bathroom so we could have our alone time and go to and from dinners easily, and then played in the living room area with the babysitter we hired each day from the hotel. I think she was the best babysitter we have ever received through a hotel. She brought a basket of toys with her so we didn’t have to worry about her being bored and would take her to the pool.
The hotel is perched on a hill with incredible views and a long pool. The pool was cold, but it was perfect with the heat wave. You could even walk to the little town and grab dinner there if you wanted something else. I have seen way too many people flock to this hotel this summer, so I would go while you can before it becomes mobbed with more Americans and prices go up.
Truly would not recommend enough.
Marbella Beach Club Hotel - Marbella, Spain
Ok we actually did end up visiting this hotel this summer! So ignore my IG reel I filmed before going on our Euro Trip to Spain this summer. I will get into my honest thoughts about this hotel in a separate Substack, but for now I’d vouch that this would be a great hotel to visit with kids solely for the kids club, size of the hotel, restaurant options, and convenience of getting there. A lot of you asked why we did not stay here?? And the reason we decided to stay at Son Net’s sister property 30 min away by car since this was a trip we took sans Millie.
But they do have an amazing kids club ( your child isn’t 3 yet, you can hire a nanny through the hotel to take them); there were lots of families (literally every single person I think there was a family with kids) and even had a Chanel boutique on property. Plus a really cute kids’ boutique store and home store. But my honest thoughts…coming to you on another Substack dedicated to Finca vs MBC.
Estelle Manor - Cotswolds, England
We stayed here when Millie was 4 months old, and it was the perfect weekend getaway while we were in London. Super easy to get to by train; if not, you can hire a car service to take you there from London / Heathrow Airport.
They had the cutest little sage green mini Land Rovers (Millie had very little neck control at this point to put her on one lol), Falconry, and more. I think they even have like a summer camp during the summer only for kids and the animals on property. We didn’t see any horses when we were there, but this was also 2 years ago, so that might have changed because I thought that was a big miss for them to not offer horseback riding or at least have horses living on property.
They rolled out all the stops for us there: bathtub, bath essentials, diaper pail, and more to ensure Millie had everything she needed. They also had a great babysitter we used so we could leave the property one night for dinner into town.
It’s quite a beautifully decorated property interior design-wise, red stripes, an incredible pool, and the spa was amazing, too! Honestly, anywhere in the Cotswolds we have been to has been all families and incredibly kid-welcoming. Would go back anytime and at any age, and so easy to tack onto London when you have enough relaxing time and want to bop around and shop back in a city atmosphere. I heard Claridge’s around the Holidays is amazing with kids, especially…I just prefer not to stay in Mayfair personally.
Passalacqua - Lake Como, Italy
Ah Passa…I could also go on and on about this hotel and stay. Chase and I say it’s a tie between this and Son Net with littles in tow.
The hotel, first of all, is a DREAM. If you haven’t already seen it, do yourself a favor and go stalk their Instagram immediately. The green and white curved umbrellas, the pool overlooking Lake Como, the rooms, the ambiance, the place settings at the restaurant?! It’s no wonder this hotel sells out at only 24 rooms and suites. They gave Millie the cutest little crib with crib bumpers, hotel slippers made for tiny feet hotel branded and the cutest little chick stuffy (both of which we took home).
I just loved the small, boutique feel of this property, something that you want when you have a baby in tow at the ripe age of 3 months. Especially with the nap schedule and time change, being able to go between your room back to the pool or restaurant and back is a game changer. We preferred this so much more over Grand Hotel Tremezzo (which is massive and always has day trippers and just is a larger property in general). This is more low-key but chic vibes vs GHT is more of those who want a scene, in my humble opinion.
The service was 20/10, everyone knows you by name, and the food was delicious. There’s so much to do in the neighboring towns, lots of hotels you can check out for lunch / dinners, so if you get bored of the same routine, you can bop around.
Imperiale Palace - Santa Margherita, Italy
A gem of a hotel that you will find very few Americans at, which I just loved. I talked about this town in my other Substack here on where to go vs not to go. We loved this coastal town so much- it’s adjacent to Portofino. Much more down-to-earth, all people who grew up coming here from Milan but still close enough to the glitzy Portofino.
This hotel specifically we loved because they arranged great babysitter services for us in-house via the hotel family through local families in the town, most of whom were nurses, so we took comfort in that extra layer, especially in a foreign country.
The hotel is old-world glamour, gorgeous architecture, and giant pillars. It had a great pool and beach club area right on the rocks that reminded me a little of La Fontellina but more rustic, less scene. Loved how there were a lot of Italian families at this hotel and also the cute little town.
Lilly of the Valley - St Tropez, France
Ok so technically, this is located in La Croix-Valmer, 20–25 minutes from central Saint-Tropez, BUT it is relatively close to all the action and doable! You can rent a car and still be able to do any of the beach clubs (my favorite is Indie Beach, which is a Pampelonne Beach Restaurant where you can also rent beach loungers and stay all day).
We were going to stay here earlier this summer in May but cancelled the trip last minute. However, we have had friends go with their kids as young toddlers who said this place was a dream. They even have the cutest rattan high chairs you can imagine for your little ones.
South of France in general, like the Cotswolds and Provence, I found extremely family-friendly, so many of them in tow and you don’t have to sacrifice the destination. It just may look a little different than going to Le Club 55 with friends. I can’t wait to go back with Millie and my family, hopefully next summer, and see this trip come to fruition one day!
Anyways, hope this list helps! I think the key when traveling with kids who are babies or toddlers is to pick a beautiful hotel where you won’t mind spending too much time at. One that has a pool, things to do nearby, a little town, or one that you would be OK with spending all your days at. Because in those early days, you will be tied to a nap schedule, or in those later years, you will have meltdowns, so why not enjoy this at a beautiful hotel? You don’t have to sacrifice the destination; just pivot the expectations, and you’d be pleasantly surprised at how things turn out.
In the end, when people ask me what I think is worth the money? In my head, it will always be a beautiful hotel. Five stars ideally.
Also, I can’t end without tying this travel post to a little shopping. So for those wanting some outfit help for their Euro Summer vacation that they still have yet to take here you go. That’s everything I’d pack this summer if I were you!
You can always shop all my looks from this summer and past looks here, too.
xx
Steph
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.