New babies bring joy and disruption in equal measure. If you’re left wondering whether you’ll ever go on holiday again, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a selection of our favourite hotels and hideaways set up specifically for your first holiday with a baby, or with toddler in tow. All are easy to drive to (about an hour from an airport), and come with baby- and toddler paraphernalia so you can pack light. And you won’t need to worry about your little one crying or making a mess: newborns and toddlers are all welcomed unconditionally.
1 Caserio del Mirador, near Costa Blanca, Spain
A mountainside mini-hotel surrounded by almond and olive terraces, about 30 minutes from the Costa Blanca beaches, Caserio del Mirador has long views and a lovely swimming pool. Family facilities include a sandpit, trampoline, play park, rocking horses, dressing-up boxes, books, games, toys and a small menagerie of animals. Breakfast is served daily, and other meals five days out of seven. Choose from five one- or two-bed apartments in the farmhouse-villa, each with its own outdoor space, a separate two-bed Casita, or an Airstream trailer.
Best for Babies: A big list of kit is available including carriers, emergency nappies, bouncer, night lights, and baby and toddler baths; your wonderful hosts Sarah and Johnny have created a welcoming house party vibe.
2 Almyra, Paphos, Cyprus
Sleek coastal resort Almyra is perfect for a fly-and-flop holiday, plus there’s stellar service from genuinely smiley staff. You get five pools, four restaurants, a lush spa, a playground, and tennis courts. The excellent kids clubs cater for babies from 4 months old and are open 6 days/week, Easter to October (on request in the winter). Every room (bar one) can take a baby cot; there are suites if you are a larger family.
Best for Babies: The Baby Go Lightly service allows parents to pre-order every conceivable baby item, from car seats and baby gyms to swimming aids and buggies. The shaded toddler pool is heated year-round. And it’s just 20 minutes to Paphos airport.
3 Moonfleet Manor, Dorset, UK
On a lagoon behind Chesil Beach, on Dorset’s famed Jurassic Coast, is this Georgian mansion turned fun country hotel. Moonfleet Manor has a New England-meets-Scandi vibe and an indoor pool, games room and playground. There are kids menus, a cream tea for booking through i-escape, and flexible meal times. All rooms can fit a baby cot, and there are two-bed suites if you have older children with you.
Best for Babies: A separate baby pool; the Four Bears Den creche is Ofsted-registered; baby gear supplied on request; and you get 90 minutes free childcare per night of stay for children 3mo-8 years.
4 Villas Martinhal Sagres, Algarve, Portugal
When you want the facilities of a hotel with the ability to self-cater if your schedule is out of kilter, Villas Martinhal Sagres is the answer to your prayers. These family specialists have created a village set up with four pools, kid-friendly restaurants, all-ages kids clubs, a spa, takeaway pizzas and an ice cream parlour. The chic one-, two- or three-bed villas are set in lovely semi-wild Mediterranean gardens, just a stone’s throw from a golden sandy beach, and have daily maid service, full kitchens and private terraces.
Best for Babies: Three baby paddling pools; the creche caters to infants 6-23mo; there’s a baby concierge and huge quantities of gear to borrow.
5 Country Kids, Languedoc, France
In 30 acres of rural bliss, with a petting farm, tractor rides, trampolines and more, converted farm Country Kids is ideal for a holiday with a baby. All five apartments can take a baby cot; there’s also a separate villa and a self-contained cottage. There’s a little shop (for essentials including nappies), a wine cave and bakery selling delicious home-cooked meals; you get a welcome basket plus a bottle of champagne on arrival. Summer rates are all-inclusive, shoulder and low seasons you self-cater. Best of all, there’s fabulous parent pampering on offer: a dedicated babysitter two nights a week for date nights, while tennis, mini golf, gym, yoga, beauty treatments and massages are all on-site.
Best for Babies: A shaded playpen by the family pool area plus a fenced toddler pool; a soft play barn; loads of free-to-use baby gear is available; the creche starts at 3mo, open six days a week.
6 Mousses Villas, Lefkas, Greece
A wonderland for young families, small resort Mousses Villas is in a quiet spot in northern Lefkas and is a great place for meeting other young families. There are only 12 villas in total, scattered through the shady gardens, with two or three bedrooms each, and large kitchens. It has a huge swimming pool, an on-site restaurant serving lunch and dinner, plus a sociable cocktail bar, and an on-site spa for some parent time out. Pleasingly, the creche runs date nights so parents can enjoy a romantic evening out (there are restaurants nearby).
Best for Babies: Stair-gates in the two-storey villas; each villa comes with a toy box, potty and changing mat; the Hatchlings creche starts at 6mo.
7 Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
This upscale resort comes with vast swimming pools, gourmet restaurants, a golf course, shuttle services to beach clubs, an exceptional spa and flawless design. So far so grown up. We rate Borgo Egnazia as the perfect place for an indulgent first holiday with a baby due to the excellent staff, who see to your every need, and the range of accommodation to suit all sizes and shapes of families – we suggest a Borgo room, a Casetta townhouse or a villa.
Best for Babies: A terrific purpose-built creche (from 6mo); baby listening devices; baby gear of all sorts; and babysitters and child-minders can all be arranged.
8 Barsham Barns, Norfolk, UK
If you’re after a tranquil rural stay, where you can self-cater and set your own agenda, and simply enjoy the baby bliss in your own stylish converted barn, Barsham Barns is the best place for your holiday. The barns come with underfloor heating and wood-burners, good kitchens and private gardens; two of the six barns have two bedrooms each, the rest cater for larger parties. There’s a shared steam room and Jacuzzi, and the glorious North Norfolk coast is a 30-minute drive away for quiet walks.
Best for Babies: A good amount of baby gear (including baby monitors) is available to borrow; babysitting is available by arrangement.