The best European family hotels close to airports

We’ve spent hours reading the hundreds of reviews you’ve shared with us, to produce a visited & verified shortlist of the best European family hotels close to airports. We hope you find this really useful, and if you do, that you consider booking via our complimentary Tiny Travel Agency service or the affiliate links in the article (meaning we make a small commission, and can keep providing you with this kind of content!)

A bite sized guide to: The best European family hotels close to airports

Best for sporty families – The Magnolia, Portugal

Best for all seasons sun – Kora Nivaria Beach, Tenerife

Best affordable all inclusive – Mitsis Rinela, Crete

Best for lesser-trodden luxury – Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa, Corfu

Best uber luxe under-one-roof resort – Lujo Hotel Bodrum, Turkey

Best for foodies – Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, Ibiza

Best for water babies – Zafiro Palace Palmanova, Mallorca

Best for culture vultures and beach bums – Ikos Aria, Kos

Best fairytale French stay – Chateau Villarlong, France

Best authentic Italian farmstay – Duca di Castelmonte, Sicily 

The Magnolia, Portugal

A uniquely utopian set up, The Magnolia Hotel provides affordable access to the unparalleled array of amenities in the Quinta do Lago resort – and all only a 15 minute scoot from the airport. We’re talking world-class golf, elite wellness facilities, a glug of restaurants, miles of unspoilt Portuguese coastline and a roster of seasonal Sports Camps for smalls. Note to readers – you’ll want to hire a car to get around this sprawling coastal estate. Back at base, The Magnolia leans into an Americana aesthetics with decor punctuated by pops of Palm Spring style and Miami cool. Facilities onsite include a heated (!) outdoor pool, games room, spa, gym, low-key restaurant and super sweet movie nights under the stars. Rooms are minimalist, but comfortable, and the 2-bedroom cottages are well equipped to cater to families, with kitchenettes and private patios

From: £105 p/night

Kora Nivaria Beach, Tenerife 

One of the chicest, cheapest, hotels in Tenerife, perhaps across all of Spain, Kora Nivaria Beach nails the elusive blend of freedom and facilities. The modernist self catering apartments were cleverly designed with families in mind; late check out is available; spacious terraces provide a post bedtime easy escape; the coffee maker guarantees a perky wakeup; and, the ocean vistas couldn’t be dreamier. The fully equipped kitchens mean there’s no need to wait for restaurant doors to open and in a stroke of genius the onsite Gastro Corner dishes up a hassle-free, gourmet brekky. The setting is achingly gorgeous, yet also incredibly laid-back. There’s a free Kids Club (4+), small, heated jacuzzi, toddler’s splash pool, complimentary yoga classes and a sweet little playground sprinkled around the resort. Tenerife South airport is a hop, skip and (15 minute) jump away and there’s a handful of restaurant within walking distance, but we recommend hiring a car to make the most of this corner of the Canaries 

From: £136 p/night

Mitsis Rinela, Crete 

A purse-pleasing all inclusive, 10 minutes from the airport and walking distance to a local town? Sign us up! A shoo in when it comes to a sure-fire, fun-for-all-ages holiday. Younger guests (4+) can be dispatched to the shiny Kids’ Club while parents sneak off to the Blue Flag beach (widely recognized as one of the country’s finest). Rooms are the antithesis of stereotypical ‘package holiday’ decor, favouring contemporary seaside style. Private pools are an option, with Two Bedroom Family Suites offering even more space for broods. Equipped with a playground, a couple of little water slides, arcade games room, and the all important evening entertainment, the carefully considered details at Mitsis Rinela alleviate a lot of family holiday headaches. It’s a big yes from us 

From: £155 p/night

Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa, Corfu 

A world apart from run-of-the-mill family resorts, Kontokali Bay in Corfu is a hidden hotspot well worth a place on your travel bucket list. A tonic for sleep-starved parents, and their offspring, days here are go-slow and restorative. Mini mermaids will go mad for the private pool rooms, enabling an almost non-existent wakeup to water commute. When beachtime beckons, it’s only footsteps away, and the sea is especially lovely. There’s also, of course, a Kids Club (4+), playground and babysitters to book. Meals at the 4 onsite restaurants showcase authentic ingredients and low-mileage menus, while the proximity to Corfu Old Town scratches any cultural itch. Only 15 minutes from the airport, this deliciously low-key getaway, nails what you really need from a family holiday; good food, good wine (!) and a guaranteed good time for the kids 

From: £246 p/night

Lujo Hotel Bodrum, Turkey 

The 15 minute airport transfer is probably the only ‘little’ thing about Lujo Hotel in Bodrum – a positively palatial pad in sheer size and entertainment options. An all-inclusive with a passion for fine dining, beige buffets are strictly banned here. Instead culinary-savvy guests are treated to exceptional a la carte experiences. Foodie credentials aside, there’s honestly so much to do here it’s impossible to get bored. We’re talking, a 4500m2 Kids Club (1+, which runs until 2am!), sports academies, science rooms, coding workshops, a 5 slide Aquapark and evening entertainment worthy of the West End. With tots taken care of, we urge parents to make a beeline for the adults-only beach – where live DJs, cocktails and beckoning day beds hark back to the days of your pre-pregnancy past

From: £680 p/night

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, Ibiza 

A name no doubt foodies are well acquainted with, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay’s childcare credentials goes toe to toe with its impressive restaurant roster. Sounds appealing? Taking Kids Club (4+) entertainment to a whole new level, tiny travellers are treated to DJ workshops, jewellery making and even sushi sessions. A 14 minute airport transfer isn’t the only postcode perk here, with the trendy Marina Botafoch a 30 minute pram-able away. Not stopping there, this A* all rounder is one of the best beachfront bases on the whole of the White Isle – with most hotels being built into the cliffside. Parents can devour signature Japanese fusion-fare and snooze by the sleek pools, while internally patting themselves on the back for a destination decision well made! 

From: £381 p/night

Zafiro Palace Palmanova, Mallorca 

A favourite of parents seeking a sleek stay with all the trimmings, five-star Zafiro Palace Palmanova offers a gorgeous, great-value, getaway. Starting the road to relaxation right, the airport is only a 20 minute drive away, while the beach can be reached by 5 minutes on foot. For those aged 4+ the complimentary Kids Club awaits, while there’s a pint-sized-people-pleasing pirate ship splash pad, bubble pool and playground for younger guests.  Rooms are found in low-rise buildings surrounding the plethora of pools, meaning no matter where you bed down for the night, you’re never far from a morning dip. The all inclusive dining is an international affair, with 4 a la carte restaurants to choose from. Add to that, sweet mini discos, a swish spa and enviable location only 20 minutes from the city of Palma. Need we say more? 

From: £253 p/night

Ikos Aria, Kos 

Only 20 minutes from the airport, Aria is the Ikos outpost for you if a minimal plane:pad transfer is top of your holiday ticklist. Known for redefining luxury, family friendly, resorts, the brand has amassed an army of fanatic fans, for a good reason. While the five-star foodie fare and comprehensive childcare (4 months +) is exemplary across all hotels, we especially love Aria for her beautiful beach and ease of exploration. Not only will you find two ancient ruins within the grounds, getting familiar with Kos’ stunning coastline and ancient sights is a piece of cake, thanks to the Local Discovery & Drive programme – which gives guests complimentary Tesla hire for the day, along with museum passes 

From: £377 p/night

Chateau Villarlong, France

Just 2 hours from the UK (followed by a 20 minute drive to the airport) getting from A to B-eautiful bolthole couldn’t be quicker at Chateau Villarlong. Everything you’d ever want from a self catering stay, the 13 apartments here sleep 2-6, with fully equipped kitchens, but far from being left to fend for yourself, there’s also a magical restaurant onsite for hassle-free wining and dining. If sightseeing is your raison d’etre you’re in luck. This is the South of France at its finest; with medieval villages, swimmable lakes, canal-side cafes and even a sprawling animal reserve on the doorstep. A sparkling infinity pool, giant chess, boules, volleyball and tennis courts provide plenty of fun in the sun. A utterly romantic retreat for all ages? A rare vintage indeed

From: £155 p/night

Duca di Castelmonte, Sicily 

A mere 20 minutes from the airport, this family-run farmstay is an excellent choice for budget-conscious broods. The beautiful grounds are dotted with colourful buildings and plenty of picture perfect spots – including a glistening pool, tennis court, playground and mini museum! There’s no shortage of tempting food dished up by the traditional Sicilian restaurants, with Thursday evening al fresco feast nights a real highlight. Activities for little’uns include pizza making and visits to the vegetable gardens, with island boat trips, vineyard tours and impossibly beautiful towns to visit nearby. You’ll leave wishing you could have stayed for a month 

From: £75 p/night

Themes: The Family Friendly European Edit, Hotel Hotlists

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