In The Know: June

The New Grecotel LUXME Kos Open for Summer

Ah, we do love a Greek island holiday in the summer. Guaranteed sunshine, warm turquoise seas, delicious local food and that laid-back pace of life that makes you immediately forget what day it is. And if this sounds like your kind of getaway, there’s a new spot in Kos you’ll want on your radar

Opened in April, the reimagined Grecotel LUXME Kos is bringing a fresh dose of luxury to the area – with one very special feature – its very own tiny island. Set in the middle of the resort’s vast lagoon pool complex, the sandy little oasis that is Papaya Island is dotted with hammocks, loungers and evening fire pits, creating the most idyllic holiday set up

Located in the peaceful seaside area of Psalidi, just a short hop from Kos Town, the all-inclusive, five-star hotel occupies an impressive 100,000-square-metre beachfront estate overlooking the Aegean Sea. The property has undergone a complete transformation, introducing a collection of redesigned guestrooms, family suites, bungalows and private-pool villas

Families are front and centre here. Kids will love Grecoland, the resort’s dedicated kids’ club, which takes inspiration from two of Kos’s most famous stories: volcanoes and Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. Young guests can enjoy hands-on activities, interactive exhibits and botanical garden adventures designed to help them connect with the island in a fun, easy way

Lakes by YOO New Cabin Collection

Just when we thought we’d exhausted every dreamy staycation option the Cotswolds had to offer, The Lakes by YOO has gone and launched a brand-new collection of lakeside cabins. And they look like the sort of place you’ll book for a long weekend and immediately start plotting your return visit before you’ve even checked out

Launching ahead of the summer holidays, the new three-bedroom cabins sit right on the water’s edge within the private Lakes by YOO estate, offering a lovely new way for families to check out one of UK’s best countryside retreats

Designed by YOO Studio, the cabins blur the lines between indoors and outdoors in all the right ways. Think floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors that open directly onto the lake, wraparound terraces made for morning coffees and sunset drinks, and generous open-plan living spaces with room to play. Inside you’ll find three en-suite bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, and plenty of room to spread out. It’s the kind of setup that works so well for multi-generational family breaks

Of course, the real appeal is that a cabin stay unlocks access to everything else The Lakes by YOO has to offer

The New European Flights for Summer ’26

If you’re planning a European break this summer, getting there might just have become a little easier. Several airlines have announced new routes from UK airports, opening up even more options for families

First up, Gatwick has been particularly busy. Jet2 has launched a new three-times-weekly service to Tenerife, making it even more straightforward to reach one of our favourite family-friendly Canary Island resorts The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama. With year-round sunshine, brilliant beaches and plenty to keep little ones entertained, it’s not hard to see why Tenerife remains such a popular choice

There’s more good news from Gatwick too. Air France has introduced a new route to Paris, while Condor will now fly directly to Frankfurt. Altogether, the airport is offering more than 230 destinations this summer – its largest network since 2019

Elsewhere, Stansted is expanding its route map with new Jet2 flights to Jerez in southern Spain, great for access to Andalucía’s beaches, culture and amazing hotels like OKU Andalusia. Then there’s AJet new flights to Bodrum and a BA CityFlyer service Olbia in Italy

And for anyone who fancies a getaway a little closer to home, British Airways has introduced the first-ever direct route between Heathrow and Guernsey. With a flight time of just over an hour giving access to the Channel Island’s stunning sandy beaches, cliff-top walks and old-world charm

Lujo’s New Five-star Sunset Villas

If your dream hotel sits somewhere between an ultra-sleek movie set and a luxury design magazine shoot – with five-star service to match – then Lujo, Bodrum will appeal. The resort’s brand-new Sunset Villas are next-level fabulous. Minimalist in all the right ways and effortlessly chic, these stunning properties come in a range of sizes, sleeping up to 10 guests in the largest five-bedroom villa

But it’s not just the design that makes these villa stand out. What really elevates the experience is the incredible level of bespoke service. Take the resort’s Tailor-Made Family Flow Plan, for example. This fully personalised, day-by-day itinerary is designed around your family’s ages, interests and holiday style. From beach days and pool time to restaurant bookings, activities and excursions, the team can pre-plan your entire stay before you even arrive. In other words, all you need to think about is what to pack

And then there’s the Kids Concierge service – quite possibly one of the most genius family travel concepts we’ve come across. Each family is assigned a dedicated team member who helps organise every aspect of your child’s holiday, from kids’ club sessions and sports lessons to nap schedules and daily routines. It’s the sort of thoughtful detail that makes travelling with younger children feel infinitely easier

For parents, that means less time coordinating logistics and more time actually enjoying the holiday. For children, it means a unique stay planned entirely around them. So if your definition of luxury is switching off and letting someone else handle the details, Lujo Bodrum might just be the ultimate family escape

The New Pierre & Vacances Property for Families

If you’ve never come across Pierre & Vacances before, here’s what you need to know: they’re one of Europe’s biggest names in family holidays with a huge range of child-friendly accommodation. Founded in France back in 1967, the brand built its reputation on creating easy, budget-friendly holidays where everything is designed to make travelling with children feel that little bit simpler

Today, Pierre & Vacances operates hundreds of holiday properties across Europe – and its latest opening in Fuerteventura might just be one of its most appealing yet. Say hello to Hotel Drago Park. Newly opened in Costa Calma, one of Fuerteventura’s most popular beach resorts, this four-star hotel has family holidays written all over it

You’ll find 236 rooms and 24 well-equipped apartments, that cater well for different ages and sizes of group. There’s a huge swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and gardens, with a dedicated splash are for little ones – and the fun doesn’t’ stop there. One of the biggest draws is the kids’ club, packed with organised activities and entertainment throughout the day. There’s a fitness centre, squash court and multi-purpose sports facilities too. Dining is a buffet set up serving a mix of local and international favourites, plus a poolside bar and sports bar for laid-back family meals.

Sunshine, swimming pools, kids’ clubs and enough activities to keep everyone happy? It sounds like Pierre & Vacances may have another family favourite on its hands and best of all it’s all pretty reasonably priced too

New Tiny Travelship Names To Know

There’s nothing we love more than shouting about brilliant family-friendly hotels and resorts. So whenever a new one joins the Tiny Travelship collection, we can’t wait to share it with our community

First up is Valamar Tirena Hotel in Croatia. If Dubrovnik is on your travel wish list, this is a fantastic place to stay. Set on the beautiful Babin Kuk Peninsula, it combines a stunning coastal location with family-friendly rooms and facilities designed with little travellers in mind. Kids will adore Maro World, an enormous 1,800m² kids’ club for children aged 3 and over, packed with soft play areas, a cinema and outdoor adventure zones. There’s a spa and great dining too -it really does tick all the boxes

Dreaming of a countryside escape in France? Let us introduce you to La Ferme du Cayla. This charming boutique retreat in the heart of the Lot Valley is one of the few rural properties in France to offer on-site childcare, with a Baby & Kids’ Club welcoming children from 6 months to 12 years old. Families stay in spacious, well-equipped gîtes surrounded by rolling countryside, with a swimming pool, full-board dining options and plenty of space for little explorers to roam. It’s peaceful, picturesque and wonderfully family-friendly