Fancy a weekend without the kids? These adult-only beach hotels make for the most relaxing European breaks
From Spain to Gran Canaria, you don't have to travel far to feel like you're a million miles away
SICK of screaming children and crying babies or just want a weekend off parenting duties?
It's time to try one of Europe's adults-only beach hotels...
1 Amàre Marbella Beach Hotel, Spain
Sub-Editor Charlotte Goodwin checked into the perfect property in TOWIE’s fave town.
THE PAD Expect chill-out tunes, candles and a sea theme with light, modern rooms, sea-view terraces and Molton Brown toiletries. Wicker chairs surround the pool and we loved the spa’s Vit C+C facial, £95, and mood-lit hydrotherapy pool. Enjoy a gin fizz, £8.50, at the rooftop bar, with views of the Med and La Concha mountain. The Amàre Lounge restaurant – with patterned tiles, white sofas and a three-course set menu, £29 – is a gem, too. Think hake confit and caramelised Spanish rice pudding.
OUT & ABOUT Just a five-minute walk away is the historic old town. At its heart lies the beautiful Plaza de los Naranjos, with a mosaic-pebbled floor. Stroll past the remains of the Arab castle walls, charming Plaza Santo Cristo – where flamenco dancing takes place come evening – and peek inside the majestic Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church. Later, head to the , entry £2.50, located in the old Bazán Hospital, to view contemporary graphic prints and engravings by artists including Picasso. Tea addict? You’ll love Cosmopolitea – it’s like an old-school pick ’n’ mix as you take a scoop and fill a bag with aromatic tea leaves. Meanwhile, buzzing Puerto Banús is a 40-minute leisurely bike ride away along the palm-tree-lined promenade. for £10 a day.
DON’T MISS Michelin-starred near the hotel serves to-die-for crayfish with coconut butter, £16, and Black Angus steak, £23.
BOOK IT. Plan your trip at .
2 Barceló Teguise Beach, Lanzarote
Writer Sophie Bronstein found a gem on this volcanic island.
THE PAD Most of the modern 305 rooms in the hotel have hot tubs, ideal for relaxing after a strenuous day at the beach! But possibly the best part (aside from the massive buffet meals) is the spa – a hidden sanctuary that boasts a huge menu of luxe treatments from £17. Once you’ve tired of swimming in the two beautiful infinity pools, you’re a stone’s throw from a dip
in the sea, too.
OUT & ABOUT Stop by the official Wine Museum of Lanzarote. It’s the oldest winery on the Canary Islands, and once you’ve admired the cellars, pick from the huge wine list! El Tomate restaurant is a 20-minute drive from the hotel – we loved the sole fillet and unbeatable choc mousse. Three courses cost from £25 per person. As Lanzarote is in the Atlantic Ocean, it’s perfect for windsurfing, too. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, try the Lanzarote Windsurf School at Las Cucharas beach, prices start from £255.
DON’T MISS Head to Timanfaya National Park for a guided tour of a volcano. While there, visit Restaurante Volcan De Timanfaya where the chef uses the volcano’s heat to cook your steak, £11. Then hit El Golfo, a volcanic crater filled with sea water that filters in from the black sand to create the Green Lagoon. It’s an incredible sight.
BOOK IT, half board.
3 Bohemia Suites & Spa, Gran Canaria
Senior Sub-Editor Stacey Bartlett also sought out luxury in the Canary Islands.
THE PAD Towering over the 3km of Playa del Inglés beach, Bohemia is all jewel tones and polished wood, with free-flowing cava at breakfast, two heated pools (one to catch the morning sun, one for the afternoon) and a rooftop bar with panoramic views over the Atlantic. We felt totally refreshed after a 60-minute Bali massage with foot scrub, £85, at the gorgeous spa, plus all guests get given free use of a 4G Galaxy S3 tablet, so you can order room service or scroll Insta on the go!
OUT & ABOUT Visit the island’s capital Las Palmas, a 40-minute drive away, and start your day in the old town, with its cobbled streets and coloured stone buildings. Stop by Vegueta’s Sunday craft market to buy local pottery, and drop into the beautiful 18th-century Casa de Colón museum to learn how explorer Christopher Columbus visited on his way to America – and take a selfie with the resident parrots! Entry is £3.50. Afterwards, strap on a helmet and explore the city on a private , where you’ll whizz past the castle, the modern harbour and the promenade. It costs £38 for an hour. Refuel in the ultra-cool Mercado del Puerto indoor food market at Piscos y Buches. Choose pinchos from the counter – we loved the pork belly rolls and melt-in-the-mouth croquettes, from £3 – then order bigger tapas dishes from their main menu, from £7.
DON'T MISS Escape the crowds of Playa del Inglés at the magnificent sand dunes at the southern tip of the island, then walk along the beach to restaurant for a glass of Rioja, £5, on the oriental terrace.
BOOK IT . Plan your trip at .
Return flights from the UK to Malaga start from £69, and from £111 to Lanzarote, both with Monarch.co.uk. Flights to Gran Canaria start from £81 return with Easyjet.com.
If these sound great but you're still after something for all of the family, why not try Greater Fort Lauderdale or these UK glamping breaks?