Ole Hotels, the perfect option for a family vacation in the Canary and Balearic Islands.

By Luke Durden in Family holidays

Travelling with your couple or friends is very different to travelling with your family and children. Although travelling with your family is a unique experience (especially if your children are between 5 and 10 years old), the experience might turn an authentic drama if you do not book the perfect hotel in advance, the one that covers all your needs and ensures a safe and comfortable stay.

There are just as many types of hotels as there are families. While in destinations like Seville or Malaga you can choose hotels with half board plan, the best option in other areas of the Spanish geography like the Canary or Balearic Islands is the All Inclusive service offered by chains like Ole Hotels. A chain with experience and many good reviews regarding the services it offers. Its best advantage? Its excellent quality/price ratio and the location of its hotels.

Olé Hotels

Olé Hotels

 

Are you looking for your All Inclusive hotel in the Canary and Balearic Islands?

Although Ole Hotels has All Inclusive hotels in different areas of our country, the ones in the Canary and Balearic Islands deserve a special mention for their quality, good reviews and good price also in high season. Which is our selection of hotels of this chain for this summer month?

  • Olé Galeón Ibiza

Apart from being one of the most beautiful destinations of our country (for its hippy ambiance and its wide leisure offer for the whole family), Ibiza hosts one of the All Inclusive reference establishments of the island: the Olé Galeon Ibiza. This hotel located at the shores of the emblematic Puerto de San Miguel is perfect for an unforgettable family vacation.

It is located in a natural setting and offers an excellent gastronomic service. In addition, it features an area for children and children’s entertainment offered by a professional staff. And for adults? Its chill out areas or its exclusive solarium with views.

  • Olé Galeón Tenerife

The best option for those who prefer to spend their holidays in the Atlantic ocean is Tenerife, a destination full of natural gems perfect for a family vacation. It has fabulous All Inclusive hotels like the Olé Tropical Tenerife, a charming accommodation located less than 500 metres away from Troya beach.

The hotel offers modern facilities and a good gastronomic service, and it is perfect for parents looking for safe areas for children.

  • Olé Olivina Lanzarote

If you want to enjoy a summer family holiday far away from mass tourism areas, Lanzarote is your best option, a volcanic island with the essence of the Canary Islands and with thousand plans for the most adventurous families.
Although there are many All Inclusive hotels in the island, only the Olé Olivina Lanzarote has its own volcanic garden and a surface of more than 5000 metres devoted to the entertainment of adults and children. In addition, the hotel has an excellent location 200 metres away from Porcillos beach which makes it one of the most popular hotels of the area.

Majorca, a place to enjoy with the family

By Loren in Family holidays

You will need more than a weekend to discover this small island in the Mediterranean sea. If you have not decided where to go on your family holidays, the biggest island in the Balearic Islands is the perfect choice. Write down our recommendations and start dreaming of crystal water coves and olive groves fields. We will just focus on three places: Cala Ratjada;  Alcudia; and Playa de Muro, three of the most special places to enjoy with the family.

Cala Ratjada

If we are travelling with the family, there’s nothing better than a hotel of apartments near Cala Agulla, a beautiful unspoiled beach in Majorca with direct access to the town of Cala Ratjada with an old seafaring tradition. It also offers a wide range of activities for kids, vibrant nightlife for young people and quietness for adults. The typical food of Majorca is great here: tumbet, trampo, suckling pig, Majorcan soups, sopas mallorquinas, vegetable flatbread, fishes, fresh shrimps…

Green Garden Hotel, Cala Ratjada, Majorca

Green Garden Hotel, Cala Ratjada, Majorca

Alcudia

Alcudia and its medieval fortress are both must-see places in this paradise island in the Mediterranean, specially in summer. You should also visit its beaches in Port Alcudia, with many bars, restaurants and trendy places with exclusive terraces by the sea, offering typical tapas and cocktails. There are surfing and diving schools, marinas where to practice sailing…Not to mention the family hotels in Alcudia, some of the best family hotels in Majorca with an excellent price-quality ratio.

 

Playa de Muro

Amazing natural beauty, as in the Natural Park of S’Albufera entering into the sea:  the biggest wetland in Majorca and one of the most recommended places for bird and insects lovers in Europe. Playa de Muro is one of the largest beaches in the island, where you can sunbathe after a swim in its crystal waters. It’s the perfect beach where to go with your children, due to the low water depth. You can enjoy kitesurfing areas, great beach clubs and chill outs hosting great parties until the early morning. The family hotels in Playa de Muro are the best in the north of Majorca.

Enjoy Fuerteventura with your family at Iberostar

By Loren in Family holidays

This beautiful island in the amazing Canary Islands offers you a wide range of familiy activities. It’s known as the “quiet island” and families are expecting it to give them the renewed vigour to face all future problems. It’s the island of contrasts and impressive landscapes. Famous for Tindaya’s Mountain, where local aborigines used to show reverence to it, as they considered it magical.

Fuerteventura is also called the island of the mills, as its flat but sometimes undulating terrain was perfect to build mills that use the power of the wind to grind the flour included in many typical dishes in the island.

Tindaya Mountain, Fuerteventura

Tindaya Mountain, Fuerteventura; picture: holaislascanarias.com

Iberostar gives you the opportunity to explore this wonderful and unique island.

Available Iberostar hotels

Iberostar offers you three amazing hotels in Fuerteventura, where you can spend a memorable holiday with your kids.

These 4-star hotels are located at the same beach in Fuerteventura, where the sun rises every day and you will enjoy this amazing moment with your family.

What to see in Fuerteventura with your family?

There are many must-see places in Fuerteventura. Below you can find a list of the must-visit places that your family cannot miss, especially if you have children or if you want to have a great time with your couple:

  • Oasis Park: a themed tropical park in La Lajita. 150 hectares home to hundreds of species. Giraffes, chimpanzees, gorillas, crocodiles and the biggest herd of camels in Europe live together in Oasis Park in Fuerteventura. There are crocodiles and sea lions shows every day, which will amaze the whole family. Its botanic garden hosts one of the biggest cactus in Europe.
  • Acua Water Park: popular water park in Corralejo, Fuerteventura. There are lots of water slides, wave pools,… Everything you need to have fun on hot days in the island.
  • Windsurf: Fuerteventura is full of incredible places to practice windsurf. Every place is perfect. no necesitas preguntar el lugar perfecto para hacer windsurf en Fuerteventura. Todos los lugares son perfectos. For this reason, Fuerteventura hosts windsurf world championships.

Sol Katmandu Park Resort is the second theme-park of Spain, according to TripAdvisor

By Loren in Family holidays

Sol Katmandu Park Resort is the second theme-park of Spain, and first in the Balearic Islands, according to the popular TripAdvisor website, which gives awards and certifications to hotels and restaurants based on the reviews and rates given by the customers.

It is the first “fun included” resort in Majorca that has amusement rides inside the building, which belongs to the Sol hotel chain. In fact, the accommodation was built in the middle of the Katmandú theme park.

Katmandu Park Resort

Katmandu Park Resort

This family holiday complex located in Magaluf in the municipality of Calviá. Near the Magaluf beach, turning it into the perfect option for families who want to spend holiday in Majorca, surrounded by all kind of entertainment and the beautiful beaches of this area of the island. It will be something your children will never forget (neither the parents)

Those who stay in this #four star hotel in Magaluf will have free access to the theme park, where they will be able to enjoy the most exciting attractions such as the 4 experience, a 4D cinema where you can watch different movies in mechanical seats that make you feel inside the movie.

It also includes an Aqua park with amusements for all ages, a place where fun is guaranteed to everybody. So if you like golf you can drop by the Expedition Golf, a mini-golf that includes two routes with different difficulty in every level.

But if there is something that really stands out from the rest of the amusements it is the Upside down house. Where people has to walk across different rooms of this particular place where everything looks pretty strange, maybe because ¡everything is upside down! Scary halls, games, puzzles… a place where ¡anything can happen!

In addition, if you’re with your baby you can enjoy until October 15 the baby month advantages, since the Sol Katmandu Park & Resort has a series of special services these days that will make your stay far more comfortable, like pushchairs, cots, special tubs, bottle warmers, high chairs and hammocks near the pool.

You can also sign in the yoga and massage courses for parents and babies or access to the Kamp Katakidu, a miniclub for babies from 8 months to 12 years with lots of amusements, and the first children with 6 years or less will stay for free sharing an accommodation with two adults. Now there is any excuse left to stay home, don’t miss this opportunity and come enjoy a lovely trip to Katmandu Park & Resort.

Family trips: Barcelona coast, Canary and Balearic Islands

By Loren in Family holidays

To travel with family you need to choose a good destination in order to satisfy tastes of every member of the group. Children, grandparents, teenagers, parents… Beach is the most convenient option when you travel with children, since they can have fun freely and adults have always the possibility to relax without worries. Today we are going to analyse the advantages of 3 beach areas traditionally recommended to make the most of summer with family.

Barcelona Coast

Also called Maresme, the coast of Barcelona is one of the best alternatives for a family holiday. Easy to arrive by car from any point of the peninsula and Europe, it represents a historical destination with good services, quiet atmosphere and complete family accommodations.

It boasts comfortable beaches with easy accesses, quiet waters, all kind of attractions to complement a fun day with the little ones, bars, restaurants and clubs in the centre and surroundings. Calella, Santa Susanna, Pineda de Mar… Villages of this Catalonian coast are friendly places offering a range of possibilities in terms of culture, sport and children’s leisure.

Among the accommodations in Maresme, it is worth mentioning historic hotels in Calella, dedicated to families during decades, hotels in Pineda de Mar, shaping a top level tourist centre, and apartments, which are always an interesting options especially if you travel during a longer period (more than 10 days).

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands, headed by Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, are the ideal destinations if, besides a fun place for children, you want to take advantage of the quietness, relaxation and magic of this wonderful archipelago.  Good aerial connections from almost any airport of the peninsula make them, despite of its distance, one of the most comfortable options: flight prices are really affordable, with many charter offers and low cost companies; there is good public transportation service in all the areas connecting to the airport and tourist centres, and most of the family hotels in Tenerife, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura provide direct transfers.

The number of leisure, cultural and sport plans are so many that choosing and organising a holiday plenty of activities, without giving up rest is really difficult. Theme parks and zoos, surfing, scuba diving, boat trips, hiking tours, wine tasting, local gastronomy…

Accommodations are complete and affordable, even those with higher category (4-5 stars). Among them, family hotel in Costa Adeje stand out, as well as spa hotel in Tenerife and family hotels in Jandía, Fuerteventura which are perfect for those in search of relaxation and entertainment.  4-star resorts in Lanzarote stand out for their services and prices.

Majorca

It has been, is and will be the favourite one of families. Its nature, capacity of providing different leisure activities specially conceived for those who travel with children have turned it into a reference during decade and have kept it as the family holidays’ capital in Spain. With one of the best connected airports in Europe, and infrastructures designed to make the tourist’s life easier, enjoying Majorca is simple, although it is not as affordable as in other destinations of the peninsula.

Nevertheless, those who travel to this island, return and claims that it is worth it. Attractions in theme parks, as well as in nature, gastronomy, heritage and culture, make up a holiday plan hard to match: in Majorca we find some of the best Mediterranean beaches, amusement parks for children, varied and healthy gastronomy, a wide range of events, popular celebrations, museums, clubbing areas, bicycle, sailing, climbing and hiking routes which have attracted the most famous sportsmen in the world…

Hotels in Majorca are also some of the most innovative family hotels that you can find. It is worth mentioning some accommodations in Magaluf of Sol Hotels, such as Sol Katmandú, which is an authentic amusement park with hotel beside the sea.  All inclusive hotels in Alcudia are also very renowned because, besides being located in an enviable environment, they offer complete services specialised in children. The area of family hotels in Playa de Palmais the most convenient if you look for an accommodation close to everything, well connected to the airport and to the centre of the island’s capital.

Ibiza

Despite what people might think, Ibiza is not only for young people in search of party or for couples wanting to relax in front of the sea.  Ibiza is a peaceful and fun destination for families too. Villages such as Santa Eulária des Riu or Port de Sant Miquel are wonderful option to have a good time with children: nature, beaches and activities for all ages combine perfectly in these areas.

Connections to Ibiza are better and more complete: there are more trips to the main cities of the peninsula, flight prices are more affordable than ever, and it is really easy to mover around the island if you rent a car.

Family accommodations in Ibiza have been also growing, adapting and specialising to offer a more complete service, allowing families to take advantage of attractions of the island for children and adults, with original and careful leisure plans. Resorts in Port de Sant Miquel, as well as hotels in Santa Eulària –which are the areas more focused on families–, are the most recommended ones, although it is truth that nowadays you can find family hotels in almost any place in Ibiza, from Playa den Bossa to Sant Antoni.

 

Family trips: ready for anything!

By Loren in Family holidays

One of the images that comes to mind when we talk about family trips is the car with the boot full of stuff, from the air mattress for the kids to the surfboard of the eldest son, the hammock of Grandma… A chaos.  Anything but the holidays we all hope during all the year.

However, that image is now somewhat obsolete or, rather, reduced to only one part of the population: those enjoying the whole summer holiday with all the members of the family on the beach, by car and with all the equipment. But besides these travelers that often choose apartments in eastern and southern areas of Spain, there are many who decide to travel with family and they not only travel in any season but also to any destination.

The only requirement to organizing a different family holiday is being patient and always planning the trip in advance.  Look for a friendly destination, with good transport connections, cheap flights and family holiday accommodation close to the areas where you can enjoy the main reasons that led us to choose this destination: beach, water park or children entertainment, museums and cultural centres, the city centre, a natural park, a sailing, diving or golf school…

Family holidays in Fuerteventura

Family holidays in Fuerteventura

Most of the times, choosing the right accommodation is the first step towards enjoying your holiday.  For example, in the area of hotels in Playa de Jandia, Fuerteventura, we can find several family resorts next to Playa Gaviotas offering diver level beginners courses near to one of the liveliest towns in the area, offering a complete range of food for all ages and tastes and some of them even with Adults Only areas, such as Fuerteventura Palace Hotel.

To make decisions, you must first be clear about who travel with you and the type of trip you want to do. And be prepared for everything. If you travel with your partner and the child or children, it is an easy decision because most of holiday destinations and accommodations are created to enjoy as a couple with kids. Hotels with miniclub in tourist areas such as Majorca, Minorca, the coast of Almería and Andalusia often outstand for its great atmosphere and great possibilities for outdoor leisure: from the quiet turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea to the wonderful natural environment of Cabo de Gata or the marshes of Huelva.

If we planned the trip for Easter, an interesting option is giving up the beach and the mountains and exploring a city. In Spain we find beautiful places to enjoy and, in most of them, accommodations are mainly targeted at families. Many hotels in the centre of Madrid, for example, have worked hard in the recent years to offer new services more focused on those who travel with children or elderly: adapted spaces, spacious rooms with different environments, special furniture and details to ensure the whole family enjoy the stay, from the youngest to the oldest.

Family hotel in Barcelona Family hotel in Barcelona

Like in Madrid, it is more and more common to find hotels with family rooms in the centre of Barcelona, Seville or even in smaller cities like Salamanca. Although urban hotels have their limitations (not only space but services designed for kids), many are those that offer cots, truckle beds and even babysitting service so that parents can enjoy a night at their leisure.

For those who want a trip with a large family (3 children or more, with cousins or grandparents), the most recommended option is to opt for family beach resorts: a week sunbathing and enjoying the comforts that offer this type of accommodations could be affordable and please everyone. For example, the area of hotels in Alcudia is an ideal place to find this trip alternative: it is a destination with many outdoor activities thanks to good weather, and the hotels offer facilities for all tastes: mini club, mini disco, sports, spa areas, restaurants of all kinds…

Another important aspect, besides the destination and accommodation, is to reconcile hobbies and leisure activities, since it is not the same traveling with children that with grandparents. Planning an active trip can be a good option as everyone can travel at their own pace. A couple of good locations are Lleida, with a spectacular mountain area, or Almería. In the latter case, it is advisable to book a family hotel close to Cabo de Gata, since the park is full of hiking options, beaches, water sports and landscapes that you can only enjoy by walking.

The safety and health services the destination offers are also something to consider. But in any case, it is essential to decide and book as soon as possible in order to choose without limitations. From March, many of the best rooms and hotel family packages are sold out or more expensive. Planning a trip in advance means having always an ace up your sleeve.

Travelling with children: trending destinations

By Loren in Family holidays

Family holidays are still an important diving force of the Spanish tourism. Although during 2014, Spaniards have reduced the number of trips to national destinations in search of places beyond the borders, families are still a main figure in local tourism: people travel with children especially around Spain: the Catalonian coast and Andalusia, along with the islands, are the favourite destinations.

But, in the same way, new tendencies are beginning to stand out in this country. Sun and beach have been essential at the time of travelling with children, but it is less and less common. Nature, ecological camps, towns where you can know the rural and quiet life, learn a new sport, attend English courses… these are some of the most successful motivations when choosing the destination to visit with children.

IBEROSTAR Torviscas Playa for families

In fact, figures from Familitur tourism survey show that in last years the rural tourism has been gaining ground in this sense and, along with it, destinations which are not precisely the first image on your mind when you think of the classic holidays. Avilés, in Asturias; Nigrán and Balona, in the Galician Rías Baixas, Castile and León, Santander…

Besides these new destination, there is more demand in coasts targeted at family and traditional holidays, such as Maresme coast, in Barcelona, with family hotels in Calella, Santa Susanna and Pineda de Mar.

There is also an upturn in Granada: Almuñécar and Motril, and the demand for holiday hotels in Fuengirola remains in force; likewise, the demand increase in the wonderful beaches of Calas de Conil and Chiclana, specifically in the area of hotels next to La Barrosa, one of the most recommended beaches for children in the entire coast of Cádiz. Hotels in Cabo de Gata, Almeria, with spaces for sports and wellness are also benefited from this new rise in the number of national tourists travelling with family.

Islands never fail

Beach and sunshine guaranteed. They offer diversified services and provide a range of experiences which cover almost all the things the peninsula can offer, but in a limited territory, therefore more controllable, manageable, and safe: what all the families look for. This is why it is so successful season after season.

The most visited by families are still beach destinations with several services. Hotels for children in Tenerife, All inclusive hotels in Costa Adeje and hotels with miniclub in Majorca get the main part of the bookings, although customers are opting for diversity and choosing more specific destinations and more specialized accommodations such as the theme hotels for families or beach resorts for children in Lanzarote and Tenerife which are standing out since a couple of years ago.

Here is a list with the most visited places during the three last holiday season:

–        Alcudia and Playa de Muro (North of Majorca)

–        Puerto del Carmen (Lanzarote)

–        Calella, Santa Susanna and, specially, Pineda de Mar (Maresme)

–        Punta Umbría (Huelva)

–        Playa Jandía (Fuerteventura)

–        Cabo de Gata and Roquetas de Mar (Almería)

–        Torremolinos and Fuengirola (Málaga)

–        Almuñécar and Motril (Granada)

–        Salou (Costa Brava)

–        Andorra and Vall d’Arán (for winter holidays)