Hi Kelly H Here! I don’t know about you but Nik and I have been talking about holidays a lot recently. Now we have Dexter we keep discussing what we are going to do next year for a holiday. Will we go away on our own, go with friends or go with family, stay in a hotel, an apartment or a villa, but most importantly where we are actually going to go? There are a million places we would both like to go but going with a baby does rule a lot of these places out. One family friendly place we keep coming back to is Spain, It’s only a 2 hour plane ride, we love the food, and there is so much variety in terms of choice of holiday. Today I thought I would call in the experts and have invited First Choice Holidays to the blog to talk about a couple of family friendly locations in Spain to give you a bit of inspiration.

A Family Guide to Spain

Travelling abroad with children can be trying for all concerned, but choosing the type of resort, accommodation and itinerary wisely can make a holiday in Spain a great success for all! Here are two Spanish destinations that First Choice flies to and a low down on what to do with the kids there to keep the smiles on their faces.

Mallorca

Mallorca is a great place to start; it’s Spain in miniature with fantastic endemic features thrown in. Gorgeous beaches, tranquil coves and shallow waters beckon, but Mallorca also has great off-beach activities and attractions to offer, from the Pirate Extravaganza in Palma to pony trekking in the Tramuntana Mountains, from towering castles to colourful markets where everyone can try churros and chocolate, Mallorca’s own spicy sausages and fragrant cheeses, simple tapas and plates of grilled sardines at affordable prices. It also boasts many organic farms where families can stock up on fresh local produce for less than supermarkets charge – after visiting the farm’s own petting zoo and farm animals, of course.

Mum and dad can enjoy wine-tastings at Binissalem, while the kids explore ancient wine presses and enormous wine barrels in the winery’s own museum. Head to the picturesque village of Deia in Mallorca’s southwest for delicious gambas and fabulous photo opportunities.

Water sports like swimming, surfing, scuba diving, sailing and snorkelling are popular and Mallorca boasts more Blue Flag beaches than it’s possible to visit in one holiday. Many beaches have not only lifeguards and cafes, showers and toilets, but also feature Wi-Fi zones and safety deposit boxes. Mallorca also boasts an abundance of historic lighthouses, several nature parks and adventure grounds that will challenge everybody.

Costa del Sol

It is tempting to go to the Costa Tropical in the cheaper Granada Province, but the Costa del Sol has far more to offer for families. Along Marbella’s main beaches there are trampolines, playgrounds, sailing, surfing, diving schools and at Cabopino, in the east of the town, boats leave regularly for dolphin watch tours.

Marbella is famous for luxury shopping and fine dining, but also has a wealth of traditional tapas bars and seafood restaurants where mum and dad can introduce kids to foreign food without wasting too much money, should their little treasures demand burger and chips instead.

In neighbouring town Fuengirola family attractions include a Grimm’s fairy tale park for little visitors (the brand-new Parque Doña Sofía) and Sohail Castle, which houses an informative and entertaining museum. At Bioparc Fuengirola, which includes a family amusement park and zoo, families can spend all day to watch dolphin shows, cheeky apes, parakeets and children’s entertainments. Local buses link Marbella and Fuengirola with the main attractions and family amusement parks, so there’s no need to hire a car.

With so much to do with the family in Spain, you can be sure that kids won’t get bored or agitated. There’s nothing an ice cream, sandy beach and amusement park can’t fix.

(Images by Tommie Hansen and Leo Hidalgo, used under the Creative Commons license)