Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Spain

You'll pardon us for offering the most indulgent option right off the bat, but the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa is a stunning luxury option that spoils adults and kids alike. Children under 12 stay for free, and there's a great kids' club that offers indoor and outdoor activities, plus daily entertainment for children aged 3 to 12. In fact, between those activities and the large pool, the hotel sees a lot of families among its many guests -- and adults are kept happy here as well. Dining options are excellent and range from sushi to tapas, and the quieter adult-only areas are a welcome retreat for some peace and quiet. It's hard to argue with the sunning design and cliffside setting as well, and the spacious rooms mean there's plenty of square footage for parents and kids to spread out.

This Marriott property has a prime seaside location that's just a 15-minute drive from the bustling town of Marbella, in Spain's Costa del Sol. While the style is a bit old-school, all rooms here are one- to three-bedroom apartments that can fit up to eight guests, making them ideal for families large and small. Of course, this is the Costa del Sol, and those families will likely be spending little time indoors. With that in mind, the playground, sports courts, multiple pools (including a kids' pool), and stunning beach all create a perfect environment for relaxing, playing, or distracting even the most finicky of children. There's even an on-site supermarket for stocking the kitchens, making it easy to self-cater (though with dining options ranging from a sports bar to Mediterranean fare, there's plenty to keep everyone fed as well).

Ibiza likely conjures images of twenty-somethings raving till dawn, but it has a softer, family-friendly side too. Yes, the Grand Palladium White Island Resort is located on Ibiza's largest beach -- Playa d'en Bossa -- and while there are nightclubs within a 10- to 15-minute walk of the resort, this part of town is significantly calmer. But with so much to do on-site, it's unlikely that families will be wanting to leave the resort's grounds. As the property is connected to the Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa, those staying here have access to the children's pools as well as kids' and teen clubs, which are packed with video games and other entertainment. The all-inclusive rates help keep everyone fed and happy, and the beach is -- not surprisingly -- a stunner. Need even more incentive to stay here? The rooms here are fresh and contemporary, making them a welcome change of pace from so many kid-friendly properties that we've seen over the years.

In a town that's quite literally packed with loud all-inclusive resorts, Holiday Polynesia is a standout. The grounds are impeccably landscaped, rooms are handsome and spacious, and there's more than enough here to keep families occupied for days on end. Of course, it all starts with the prime beachside location, where kids and adults can play along the sand all day long. The wave pool, water park, splash area, and pirate ship at the Beach Club add plenty of other wet-and-wild fun for the little ones (and even some adults). Access to these features is included in the hotel's all-inclusive rates. Active types looking for drier options can head to the hotel's mini-golf course, tennis courts, arcade, and bowling alley. Some extra fees for Wi-Fi, inner tubes, and towels are annoying, but all in all, this is a great bet for families who want their vacation contained within one lively package.

Benidorm can be a wild or wildly underwhelming place -- we've seen more than our share of dated and drab budget and mid-range hotels in this holiday town. Thankfully, Magic Aqua Rocks is a complete departure from that norm, and has some truly awesome kid-friendly features. While the property is only a three-minute walk from the beach, the star attraction at this hotel is its water park. This includes four waterslides as well as a large pool. There's also a kids' club and entertainment for the young ones day and night. Yes, the decor in some of the public areas verges on theme-park tacky, but rooms are pleasantly modern, and the all-inclusive rates mean that adults and kids can indulge until their hearts are content. It's a 10-minute drive from Benidorm's old town, but the bars, restaurants, and shops of New Town are a 10- to 15-minute walk away.

Here at Oyster, we understand that families don't always mean adults and young children, and that plenty of families don't necessarily need a seaside vacation to return home happy. For families with kids that are in their teens, urban getaways are a great alternative, and Spain is home to one of the world's great cities: Madrid. Check out the apartments at the ApartoSuites Jardines de Sabatini. They're spacious enough to give adults and teens plenty of privacy, and the bright decor has broad appeal. Views over Madrid's stunning Palacio Real and its gardens are stunning, and there's even a collection of funky old cars on-site. It's an easy walk from the coffee shops and youthful boutiques of Malasaña, and the city's major theaters are within 10 to 15 minutes on foot as well. Of course, no family vacation in Madrid would be complete without indulging on churros and chocolate, and luckily, San Gines Chocolateria is only a 15-minute walk away.

The Evenia Olympic Palace is the kind of place that knows its market -- families with kids -- and caters almost exclusively to them. That translates to a wealth of activities for the hotel's guests, drawn here by the all-inclusive rates and fun-in-the-sun ethos. Yes, the summer months mean you won't be the only guest at the property (and there are fees for Wi-Fi, the gym, and spa access), but the hotel has tons of other included perks. Active families might head to the soccer fields and tennis courts, while those looking to cool off can take a ride down one of the hotel's many kids' waterslides, or splash in its family-friendly pools. There's also a theater for all-ages entertainment in the evenings. While rooms aren't the most stylish we've seen, they're far more pleasant than many of this hotel's regional competition. Just keep in mind that some features aren't all available year round.

Not all families crave the sort of big-ticket features that many of Spain's coastal resorts offer. In fact, some do their best bonding when they're sharing an intimate getaway together. With low-key families in mind, diminutive Aiguaclara Hotel is a great bet. There are only 10 rooms at this tiny property, which sits right in the historic center of Begur, near Spain's Costa Brava. Each room has a different boutique look -- a big change of pace from the mega-resorts nearby -- and the restaurant is wildly popular with previous guests. The town is a great place to explore on foot for the culturally curious, and sun seekers can be at the closest beach in just five minutes by car. The hotel has both toys and beach towels on hand for free -- a plus for families who prefer to pack light. While rooms are built for two occupants, extra beds can be added, as there's plenty of space in many units.

This resort works best for families with young, rambunctious kids, as its greatest asset is its fairly large splash park. This includes all manner of slides, soaking stations, platforms, and water features to keep kids occupied for hours -- if not days. There's also a regular pool for slightly calmer action, plus a wave pool and a dedicated children's pool. The direct beach access only sweetens the deal. Rooms are pleasantly modern in most cases, and most were overhauled with a subtle seaside motif in 2015. The resort also offers all-inclusive rates, though Wi-Fi can be spotty, and dining in the buffet restaurant doesn't get the best reviews.

What's a family resort without a theme, you ask? Well, as you've seen, there are plenty of alternatives to that prerequisite, but we're not opposed to one, particularly when it's executed as well as the African safari theme at the Lopesan Baobab Resort. The sprawling property is a 10-minute walk from the beach in Maspalomas (and its famous sand dunes), though plenty of guests stay on-site from the moment they arrive until their departure. Decor throughout convincingly replicates traditional African architecture, and rooms have a sharp, up-to-date finish. Those pleasing facts aside, it's the volume of activities on offer that sets this hotel apart from its Gran Canaria competition. The daily entertainment program has events and activities for both adults and kids, and there are seven pools ranging from lively to tranquil options (one of the children's pools has slides). Keep in mind that there are only half- and full-board options here, and all-inclusive plans aren't available. Additionally, you'll pay extra for Wi-Fi.