Designed for Families

Endless Fun for All Ages

As a parent, you can usually tell when a resort has been designed by people who genuinely understand family travel – and this place is a perfect example. Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts was founded by husband-and-wife team Chitra and Roman Stern. Parents of four themselves, they recognised there was a gap in the market for luxury family holidays where children could be entertained just as well as the adults. After struggling to find family holidays that delivered the same experience they had enjoyed before becoming parents, they set about creating something different. The result is a resort that goes far beyond simply offering a kids’ club. Instead, it feels as though every member of the family has been considered

That vision is immediately obvious when you look at the childcare facilities. There’s a nursery for babies aged 6-12 months, staffed by a wonderful team in a bright, welcoming space where I’d feel completely comfortable leaving a baby. The creche is full of soft play, colourful toys and the staff are very competent and capable

My little boy is quite clingy and he cried at handover, but the team were able to distract him easily as I nipped out. He was there for a three-hour morning session and when I collected him he was happy and smiling. At pick up they gave me a detailed run down on how his session had been, how he slept and what snacks he had eaten. This is so reassuring for parents of very young children and it really felt as good as his nursery back in the UK. It’s also worth noting that babysitting is also available for children aged six months and above

Amazing Food and Kids Welcome

There are three main restaurants at Martinhal, and each offers something a little different but all three equally great with kids in tow

O Terraço is the largest and where you’ll find the resort’s impressive morning buffet, Breakfast here quickly became one of our favourite parts of the day. The buffet stretches across multiple stations and includes everything from freshly baked pastries and breads to made-to-order eggs, tropical fruit, local cheeses and freshly squeezed juices. There’s a lovely buzz to the restaurant in the mornings, but it never feels chaotic despite the number of families staying at the resort. Lunch and dinner are also served here, with a menu inspired by Mediterranean, Asian and South American flavours

For a beachfront setting, As Dunas is hard to beat. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it specialises in fresh local fish and seafood, with the catch of the day being a particular highlight. There are also poke bowls, burgers and vegetarian dishes on offer

Parents will especially appreciate the fenced sandy play area and trampoline, while the shaded terrace makes al fresco dining with little ones refreshingly easy

Plenty of Ways to Relax

If wellness is high on your holiday wish list (it certainly is on mine), Martinhal won’t disappoint. The Finisterra Spa is a peaceful oasis tucked away within the resort, offering a fantastic range of treatments in six individual wooden treatment rooms. Treatments use luxurious 100% organic Voya skincare products that smell absolutely divine

While you may choose to save the spa for some well-earned down time while the kids are happily occupied in the clubs, there are also parent-and-child treatments available which is a nice touch

Thankfully, this doesn’t mean the spa loses its tranquil atmosphere. During my visit, a father and toddler were quietly playing in the garden area, and it was clear that as long as guests remain respectful, families are welcomed without disrupting the calm environment

There’s also an adults-only pool for those seeking a little peace and quiet, alongside a fantastic range of activities. The water sports centre makes the most of Martinhal Bay’s excellent wind conditions and offers lessons in windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. Sessions are available for complete beginners through to experienced enthusiasts, with both private tuition and group lessons on offer

Overall though this is very much all about families hanging out together, so don’t expect lots of adult only spaces. For example, you’ll always find kids in the restaurants unless you book for very late. But this means no one expects you to be quite or hide away with little ones – they are welcome pretty much everywhere and we loved that chilled out, friendly atmosphere

Lots to See Nearby

The beach is undoubtedly one of Martinhal’s biggest highlights. You’re staying right on one of Portugal’s best bays for watersports. Throughout the day you’ll spot colourful sails skimming across the water, paddleboarders exploring the shoreline and families trying kayaking together for the first time. Just a short stroll from the heart of the resort, this wide sweep of soft sand with calm, sheltered waters that are ideal for kids. Little ones can paddle safely along the shoreline and there’s plenty of space for everyone to spread out without feeling crowded

There are three family pools across the resort, all heated year-round. Next to each is a shallow splash pool just 50cm deep, meaning younger children can safely paddle while older siblings enjoy the main pool nearby. And that’s still not everything. There’s also mini golf, a climbing wall and bouncy castles

If you’d like to explore more of the resort and surrounding area, make use of the bike station where you can hire bikes, baby seats and child wagons. We particularly loved hiring bike and cycling into Sagress. The team at the bike hire were really helpful, arranging a phone holder for us on the bikes and linking us with their app and a pre-planned route which was flat and straightforward. We cycled over to Sagres and stopped for a coffee at a local coffee shop. It was such a lovely way to explore and again hotel made it so simple, providing suitable bike helmets for both kids as well as water bottles. We are not cyclists by any stretch, so it was a really nice casual ride, avoiding roads as much as possible and the kids even got so comfy they managed to fall asleep in the wagon behind