Abigail Flanagan 

Yes, you can have another ice-cream

Abigail Flanagan lists the top ten all-inclusive family holidays
  
  

Tamassa family holiday resort, Mauritius
Tamassa family holiday resort, Mauritius Photograph: PR

Sicily

Almost 60 years old and still going strong, Club Med, the granddaddy of all-inclusives, now has more than 80 villages as far afield as Bora Bora to choose from. Closer to home, Club Med Kamarina serves up a mix of great food, cracking childcare and excellent activities - from circus skills and sailing classes for kids as young as four, to trapeze lessons for the young at heart - on Sicily's south-west coast.

• Club Med (0845 367 6767) clubmed.co.uk offers seven nights for two adults and two children from £4,144, inc flights, based on July departures. (Book before 31 March for bonus of £450.)

Turkey

We'd be amazed if you hear the words "I'm bored. . ." at LykiaWorld in Antalya. On offer are water sports, 2.5km of private beach, eight pools - and then they up the ante with an activities list that reads like the London 2012 proposal. Nordic walking, pilates, tai chi, aikido, acrobatics, dance, painting, cooking . . . You can even learn how to lob a boomerang. The kids' club caters for babies through to stroppy teens, while the Ayurveda & Wellness Centre provides an escape from activity overkill.

• First Choice (0871 200 7799, firstchoice.co.uk) offers seven nights in a family room for two adults and two children from £2,638, inc flights from East Midlands, departing 25 August.

France

With 30km of beach on your doorstep and an 8,000-hectare pine forest out back, it's the best of both worlds at Club Med's La Palymyre Atlantique. Set on the Avert peninsula, you're brilliantly placed to appreciate the resort's sailing school. Landlubbers can brush up on tennis, archery, climbing and rollerblading, or explore the surrounding 65km of cycle tracks. Outstanding food and kids' clubs for four- to 18-year-olds are part of the deal.

• Club Med (0845 367 6767, clubmed.co.uk) offers seven nights for two adults and two children (two-11 years, under twos go free) from £4,270, inc flights, based on 19/26 July departures. Drive yourself there and it's £3,402. Brittany Ferries sails from Plymouth to Roscoff from £68 each way in July (0871 244 0744, brittany-ferries.co.uk).

Caribbean

Aruba is outside the hurricane belt and August is one of the best times to visit. Famed for its incredible beaches - and pricey restaurants - all-inclusive makes sense, but that often means hotels the size of small cities. For a more personal touch, the family-owned-and-run Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort has good-sized rooms and is seconds from blinding Eagle Beach. Go all-inclusive, and aside from à-la-carte food you'll get two meals out at participating restaurants and free use of mountain bikes and snorkel equipment.

• First Choice (0871 200 7799, firstchoice.co.uk) offers 14 nights for two adults and two children from £4,196, inc flights from Gatwick on 19 August.

Menorca

OK, so we haven't had the tape measure out, but the location of the five-star Insotel Club Punta Prima, overlooking what's probably Menorca's largest beach, should keep water babes happy. Back on land, there's a huge array of sports available, from squash and archery to mountain biking tours, rifle shooting and even a mini astro-pitch for budding Cesc Fàbregas types. Alternatively, hone your Spanish and Latin dancing skills - or just your body in the gym and spa.

• Sovereign Luxury Holidays (0871 200 6677, sovereign.com) offers seven nights for two adults and two children (under 15) from £3,450, inc flights from London Gatwick, departing 25 July.

Austria

Rubbing shoulders with the Carinthian Nockberge Mountains, Lake Brennsee lapping at its toes, the Brennseehof's location alone is enough to convert beach bums. Part of the Kinderhotel group, it takes family friendly to another level: at least 60 hours of childcare per child (from two years) per week, an exhausting array of sports facilities and classes, loads of lakeside larks from pedaloes and windsurfing to a new spa, great food, and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks and fresh fruit.

• Kinderhotels (0845 082 2422, kinderhotels.co.uk) offers seven nights for two adults and two children (three-six/six-12 years) from £2,412/£2,262, based on departures between 11 July and 22 August. Ryanair.com flies to Klagenfurt from London Stansted.

Greece

Refurbished for 2009, Sani Beach Club's "Ultra All...#8209;Inclusive" package is the real deal - with knobs on. Whether you want to dine à la carte or eat ice cream at midnight, it's all included. One of four hotels that comprise the Sani Resort - a 1,000-acre ecological reserve on Greece's Kassandra peninsula - you can dine at most of the resort's other restaurants, too. There's an extensive array of activities, plus a new creche and kids' club. Not forgetting 7km of Blue Flag beach.

• Carrier (0161-491 7650, carrier.co.uk) offers seven nights in a sea-view Junior Suite for two adults and two children (two-12 years) from £3,820, inc flights from London Gatwick. Valid for travel between 28 August-17 September.

Mauritius

While not as hot as the winter months, summer in Mauritius is still balmy and there's less chance of it tipping down. Situated on the island's quieter south-west coast, the colourful Tamassa has kids' clubs, a spa and various sporting activities - but the main draw here is the beach and turquoise lagoon on your doorstep. If you tire of sand castles and snorkelling there are windsurfing, pedalos, kayaks, sailing, water-skiing and glass-bottom boat trips to while away the hours.

• Key2holidays (020-7963 6669, key2holidays.co.uk) offers 14 nights for two adults and two children (under 12) for £5,425, inc Heathrow flights from 20 July-31 August (book by 30 April).

Canaries

Melia Gorriones looks out over the 30km of pristine powdery sand that is Fuerteventura's Sotavento beach. As well as the usual array of activities and facilities, the hotel has a kids' club for five- to 12-year-olds and, at extra cost, a diving school and kite/windsurfing centre - but we reckon it's the never-ending beach that'll hold your focus.

• Classic Collection Holidays (0800 008 7299, classic-collection.co.uk) offers seven nights for two adults and two children (under 11) for £3,660, inc flights from Gatwick, departing 29 July.

Cyprus

Slap-bang on Coral Bay, the Coral Beach Hotel & Resort makes a great base for water babes wishing to follow in the wake of our Olympic swimming squad who've trained here. Vast pool aside, there's a busy entertainment schedule for young and old, with kids' clubs, an arts and crafts centre and a spa - plus a seemingly endless supply of grub that'll ensure you don't go hungry, no matter how many laps you do.

• Prestige Holidays (01425 480400, prestigeholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights for two adults and two children (seven-12 years) from £4,424, Coral Gold Club, inc flights from London Heathrow departing 30 July. Valid for bookings by 30 April.

 

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