The Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Europe to Book This Summer
"Sciacca, Sicily An evergreen beachside hangout, this hotel was a labor of love for Rocco Forte and his sister Olga Polizzi when it opened more than a decade ago on the southwest coast of Sicily. The huge estate between the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the fishing village of Sciacca remains as slick as ever. Its architecture, a pared-back, modernist affair, has stood the test of time, the whitewashed buildings sitting strong in the rugged landscape dotted with olive groves and fragrant citrus trees. New this summer are 20 Hollywood Hills–style villas with private pools, and while they might look terribly grown-up, with earthy tones of terra-cotta and ochre and handcrafted ceramics, they come kitted out with night lights, safety plugs, baby baths, and other crucial paraphernalia. The whole place is subtly but deftly geared towards the smaller members of the family. Fussy eaters won’t have anything to complain about, feasting on spaghetti al pomodoro on colorful plates at Liolà trattoria. Food miles are minimal—the fish at all four restaurants is fresh from the sea. Extra energy is burnt off in the sports clubs where professionals train in everything from football to windsurfing, on the tennis courts, dive-bombing into the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and cycling around the 568-acre grounds, which are flat enough to navigate with a buggy. The kids club is full of singing-and-dancing Sicilian Mary Poppins organizing fun and games. Toddlers can take naps in a cool sleep room while parents have theirs under the parasols on the sandy beach or on a treatment bed in the state-of-the-art spa. Smart, easy to get to and high-octane, this may be where Diane von Furstenberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bradley Cooper come to attend Google Camp, but it’s also a laidback refuge for those looking for some vitamin D—fueled downtime and to feel the sea breeze on the whole family’s skin. Price: Rooms from around $491 per night" - Lauren Burvill
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