Best Hotels With Children’s Clubs for Croatia Holiday

An enchanting blend of history, culture and the modern Mediterranean lifestyle, Croatia is a wonderful place for a family holiday. It still remains one of the world's most unspoilt destinations in all the ways that matter, even if it’s not a place that can be described these days as ‘undiscovered’.

Whether you want your Croatia holiday to be non-stop fun on the beaches, or you're looking forward to getting out to explore some of the extensive heritage of this deeply storied country, as any parent knows, when you're travelling with children you need to pay particular attention when choosing your accommodation.

Here are some of the best hotels for your Croatia holiday that I would recommend for their fantastic onsite children's clubs – many a parent's saviour!

Bluesun Afrodita

Situated in the beautiful Dalmatian coastal resort of Tu epi, the Bluesun Afrodita is a truly welcoming hotel that's popular with families for good reason. Its proximity to the beach and centre of town make it very accessible, and the availability of family rooms set over two levels reduces the possibility of cabin fever.

There's a dedicated children's pool, free Wi-Fi and use of table tennis and tennis courts. The free children's club is the icing on the cake (for both parents and youngesters), and includes an aqua gym, mini disco and plenty of fun activities for those aged 4-12. The staff that run the animation programme here are simply delightful!

Hotel Astarea

Offering superb value for money, what I love so much about the Hotel Astarea is that it feels so homely yet you're so well looked after. Located at Mlini, just over 10km from Dubrovnik, it makes a great base for exploring the area – there's a shuttle bus to town and boats out to the nearby islands - but you actually don’t ever have to leave the hotel if you don’t want to.

Children get their own mini-pool and playground area and, as well as access to the pebble beach which is just a few steps away, the garden is a wonderful place for them to let off steam. There's also a huge indoor pool and free Wi-Fi to keep everyone occupied. The dedicated mini-club for children aged 3-12 includes an animation programme (staffed by a couple of lovely local ladies) and supervised activities. (Connecting rooms are available for family bookings.)

Valamar Club Tamaris

If you've got livewire children and you're looking for a resort for your Croatia holiday with plenty of room to stretch the legs, the Valamar Club Tamaris is a great choice. I think this is one of Croatia's best family resorts.

Apart from offering that all-important, all-inclusive option (which even includes snacks for the children during activities), everything about the resort is, well, big! Huge grounds, spacious rooms, generous meals – and the list goes on. There's so much to keep youngsters entertained, with fireworks, three pools (including a children's pool), tennis school and the Maro kids club, which caters to children from 4-12 years of age. You can also take easy day trips into nearby Porec by boat or bus. (There's an onsite crèche and connecting rooms are available.)

Hotel Croatia

Five-star all the way, if you thought you couldn't have a luxury holiday with the family in tow, the Hotel Croatia will make you think again. Situated just a 10-minute walk from the lovely town of Cavtat (about 15 minutes from Dubrovnik), the hotel has its own platform beach accessed by a lovely winding path and, while it's a large, I think it still has a genuine family-friendly vibe. There's the choice of three pools, including one especially for youngsters, as well as tennis, table tennis and even billiards for older children. The free children's club operates between June and September, with supervised activities and entertainment for those aged 4-12. (Connecting rooms are available.)

Lafodia Sea Resort

If you want to treat the children to the added novelty of staying on an island, the Lafodia Sea Resort welcomes young guests with open arms. Lopud is a car-free island, so it's the perfect place for a family break, and the resort's amenities and wide-open spaces make it a pleasure to stay here.

Children will love the excursions on the resort's private boats and there are also plenty of onsite activities available, including kayaking, canoeing, tennis and cycling. The animation programme includes a dedicated children's club, which runs from June-September, and offers beach excursions, entertainment, concerts and arts and crafts. (Connecting rooms are available for families.)

If it's to be a successful Croatia holiday with your family, keeping the youngsters entertained and happy is a top priority. Over many years of visiting this wonderful country, I've found these hotels to be among the best in terms of doing just that.