High-design hotels for tots

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Design Hotels has named its top 3 hotels for travelling with children, where the presence of baby-friendly facilities doesn’t compromise on luxury or design. Almyra, Paphos, Cyprus Set amid 3.2ha of gardens overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Almyra has been a firm favourite for chic family retreats for over a decade, and with good reason. The family-run 189-room resort offers the holy trinity for parents: guaranteed sunshine, bulletproof childcare and an award-winning spa to massage away the stress of toddler tantrums and teenage meltdowns. Parental time-out comes courtesy of the kids’ clubs and adventure outposts for children aged 4 months – 14 years, while more active families will appreciate Almyra’s bike station and the two freshwater pools. Throw in creative children’s menus, kiddie concierge and even a pre-order service for all the baby paraphernalia guests could possibly need, and you have the ultimate family vacation all wrapped up. Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature Park, Bornes de Aguiar, Portugal Back to nature takes on a whole new meaning at Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature Park, where 12 eco-houses and 2 treehouses blend seamlessly into the lush greenery of a centuries-old park in northern Portugal. An innovative family activity programme focuses on the natural bounty of the hotel’s spectacular surroundings, and days packed with treasure hunts, mountain biking, horse riding, nature trails and tree climbing are certain to convert even the most committed tech-head. In each of the guest houses, floor-to-ceiling windows and wood-lined private decks bring the outdoors inside and create a feeling of camping – albeit in the chicest way possible. rocksresort, Laax, Switzerland Located adjacent to the base station at Laax-Murschetg, the 112-room rocksresort is Europe’s only fully integrated ski resort, making it the ideal introduction to skiing en famille. The complex of architecturally minimalist cube-shaped buildings houses furnished holiday apartments, shops, restaurants and bars – all arranged around a central square. The region, known by locals as Flims during the summer months, is a year-round destination. The nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sardona Tectonic Arena offers 250km of breathtaking hiking trails, including buggy-proof and themed routes designed for young families. The rocky landscape for which the hotel is named offers world-class rock climbing and mountain biking.

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