The best teen-friendly family holidays
Hurrah! You made it out of the baby, toddler and children stages and can now look forward to a little more independence on your next family holiday. But stop right there. Because travelling with teens slash semi grown-up children is fraught with its own considerations (see: The White Lotus…) Do you need multiple bedrooms, to protect their need for privacy? Should said bedrooms be interconnected, for maximum supervision? Do you want somewhere that has a kids club for teens, or offers lots of water sports and other activities to keep them busy? And what about food – have they developed their own complex dietary habits now and you need to factor in vegan-friendly plant-based gluten-free cuisine? Enter our edit of the best teen-friendly holidays. You’re welcome
Words by Rebecca Cope
Published: 18th April 2025 | Last updated: 15th January 2026
Best for teen hangouts
XO Cape Arnna, Turkey
Situated on the ever popular Turkish Riviera, a stone’s throw from the town of Fethiye, XO Cape Arnna takes its family-friendly credentials very seriously indeed. While the Kids Club (chargeable from 2+ and free from 5+) will delight little ones, there’s plenty to keep teenagers content too, whether that’s the three giant water slides or the trapeze (just make sure that they don’t try to get you up on it too), or activities like beach volleyball, tennis and padel. What’s more, they’ve got their own dedicated inside hangout for when it gets too hot with an air hockey table and consoles. They’ll also love the G.O.A.T sports bar (open 24/7), which has snooker, pool and shuffleboard to satiate their competitive side. What’s really nice about XO Cape Arnna is that even though it’s a large resort, it feels really safe to let your kids off the leash a bit to explore on their own – something that any parent of teens will know is a must-have
Best for lots and lots of open space
Hillside Beach Club, Turkey
Boasting one of the highest repeat guest rates in the world, there’s a reason why Hillside comes up again and again in conversations about the best family-friendly hotels. And while it’s known for being particularly good when it comes to catering for babies (the resort-stretching baby monitors and purée baby buffet are the stuff of myth) it’s also got plenty to keep older kids entertained too – which is great news for us parents, because frankly we wouldn’t want to give up on the gourmet cuisine, endless wellness activities, next-level evening entertainment and idyllic location. Fidgety teens will love the range of activities on offer, from DJing to dance lessons, volleyball to water sports, not to mention the dedicated hangout space where they can mingle with their peers. Set within a sprawling resort and with plenty of places to get out into nature, it’s also good for anyone whose kids like a bit of downtime in their own space. Oh, and if you’ve got a fussy eater on your hands, we defy them to not find something that appeals to their taste buds at the incredibly impressive buffet
Best for making life-long friends
The Peligoni Club, Greece
The Peligoni Club is renowned for being one of the most ambitiously family-friendly destinations in the world, the very mention of it invoking the green-eyed monster for any parent who has not been lucky enough to experience it yet. The genius concept combines the best bits of a villa holiday with all the facilities of a resort, so that you’ve got access to restaurants, entertainment and a wellness programme without having to share a swimming pool. As we all know, teenagers like their independence, which is why it’s encouraged here: there are opt-in activities, including snorkeling, tennis, coastal walks, 5-aside football and beach volleyball, plus a great watersports programme. Teen ‘Leaders’ act as slightly more sophisticated big brother/sister figures, looping everyone in together at an initial social mixture and deciding on the ‘vibe’ for the week – whether that’s jet-skiing or just hanging by the pool. There are also event evenings, when teens are encouraged to socialise with each other rather than their parents
Best for adventurous sorts
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
When choosing the best long-haul destination for teenagers, it’s worth considering how best to keep them occupied. After all, there’s nothing worse than touching down in paradise to find that they are complaining of being ‘bored’ with ‘nothing to do’ by the pool day-in, day-out. Enter: Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, which has loads to keep older kids busy. Rather than fobbing them off with playstations, its Teen Club instead encourages kids to get outdoors and explore, specifically via abseiling, archery and body boarding – though there are slightly less adrenaline-fuelled activities such as petanque and ping pong too. Six Senses is particularly known for its comprehensive wellness programme, which includes kids too: think cookery classes, workshops and even spa treatments. Want some family bonding time too? Book on to one of the watersports sessions, which are for all ages and can produce some of the best stories too
Best for the hottest new opening
OKU Andalusia, Spain
Pairing sophisticated interiors with family fun, following on from the success of its Ibiza and Kos locations, OKU Andalusia is set to open its doors this summer. With five swimming pools, a handful of restaurants, spa, gym, padel and tennis courts, there will be plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Teenage guests will also have a dedicated space to hangout with each other by the beach, where they can enjoy more grown-up activities than the kids club offers, like slacklining, ping pong, watersports and bonfires. You can even book an excursion to a local goat farm, where you can learn about the art of cheesemaking, or take a gardening workshop in the wellness garden. Top tip: if you’re travelling with a big group, try to snag the only on-site villa – it’s got four en-suite bedrooms – great for privacy-hungry teenagers
Best tropical paradise
The One&Only Le Saint Geran, Mauritius
The undisputed Grand Dame of the Mauritian hotel scene, the One&Only Le Saint Geran has been delighting families for 50 years – teens included. Set in a turquoise-hued lagoon, and with elegant, white-washed interiors that nod to its colonial past, this is the sort of place that you might very well not believe was real once you touch back down on home soil. Teens are specifically catered for via the One Tribe club, which welcomes those from 13-17, with activities including everything from table football championships to 5-aside games, snorkelling trips to beach bonfires. Those looking for a little pampering can also book a one-hour family slot at the spa to enjoy some mummy-and-me time treatments by Guerlain. Make sure to book interconnecting rooms if you’re after a little more privacy too
Best for wellness warriors
Vila Vita Parc, Portugal
Vila Vita isn’t just a hotel, it’s an entire empire! With 10 restaurants, six bars, six swimming pools, a private beach, a golf course and a Sisley spa, it’s left no stone unturned when it comes to entertainment. One of the best-loved (and biggest) resorts on the Algarve, it’s unsurprisingly become a hit with families, who come here so that they don’t have to worry about leaving the hotel. Those who want culinary variety will never tire of the huge amount of restaurants on offer, but maybe save one of the two Michelin-star eateries for a night when the kids want to get room service and chill out in front of a movie. Teens will love being able to wander around the frankly ginormous 50-hectare resort unsupervised, though the Teen Club, with its promise of handball, badminton, tennis, football, volleyball and basketball, might lure them in. Particularly cool for bigger kids is the Teen Wellness Programme, which offers personalised sessions with diverse activities and workshops that focus on supporting their mental, physical and emotional well-being
Best for intrepid explorers
Nayara Tented Camp, Costa Rica
Families who want to get off the beaten track for the holiday of a lifetime could do worse than to stay at Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica. Located in Arenal, which is known for its national parks, it’s the perfect base from which to go sloth-spotting, white water rafting, ziplining and horseback riding – things that most teens love, essentially. Earth-conscious Gen Alphas will love the camp’s ethos, which sees it acting as a sanctuary for sloths, with endless birds, frogs and armadillos running around the site too. Thankfully, this isn’t camping as you know it either – there’s no need for a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award or a compass – instead think luxurious dwellings with a canvas roof, featuring all the mod-cons that the entire family has come to rely upon for their sanity
Best for all inclusive ease
Ikos Oceania, Greece
The Ikos brand has become synonymous with happy parents and happy children, thanks to its seamless blend of elegant accommodation, excellent facilities, friendly staff and a truly superior all-inclusive offering – for many families, that last factor alone makes it a no-brainer when you’ve got ever-hungry teens going through a growth-spurt. The Oceania outpost in Halkidiki in northern mainland Greece is particularly popular with bigger kids thanks to its water sports and activities programmes, which keep even the most fidgety teenagers busy. And if you’ve got a FIFA addict on your hands, never fear, as you can borrow an Xbox for the duration of your stay, phew. Speaking of footy, there’s also a dedicated football programme, with two hour-long sessions led by ex-pros
