The best 2019 summer holidays for families with primary-school-aged children

Your holiday time together is precious now, and what children this age want is fun on tap – whether in the form of organised activities, a pool, beach, or simply other children their own age to play with.

1. Pirates in Portugal

Pine Cliffs offers water sports, football, golf and an Annabel Croft Tennis Academy or you can relax on the beach or at the spa. The Porto Pirata kids’ club includes two life-size pirate ships and a dedicated children’s pool. Family cookery classes with a Michelin-trained chef are also on offer.

A one-bedroom Pine Cliffs Gardens Suite sleeping four starts at €480 (£418) per night in high season, room only (pinecliffs.com). Fly to Faro.

2. French country kids’ capers

With just seven apartments, family-run Country Kids in the Languedoc comes with a free crèche and kids’ club for ages three months to 12 years, two nights of babysitting, plus there’s family boating and a weekly circus. There’s also animal feeding and tractor rides, plus a spa and yoga.

A week at Country Kids (country-kids.fr) starts at €7,550 (£6,812) for a family of four in the school summer holidays, all inclusive. Fly to Montpellier.

3. Marvellous Mallorca

Ideal for several families travelling together, a stroll from the traditional town of Alcudia and just 660yd (600m) from Bacarès Beach, the six-bedroomed villa Casa Alcudia Uno comes with a private pool and whirlpool, plus a large dining terrace and barbecue area. There’s also a huge kitchen, comfy lounge, and a water park nearby.

Jet2 Holidays (jet2holidays.com) offers Casa Alcudia Uno from £729 per person travelling from London Stansted on July 6 based on 12 people sharing.

4. Terrific Tenerife

As well as activities for all the family such as yoga and aqua aerobics at Sunwing Resort Fanabe, kids’ clubs cater for ages three to 15, plus there are mini-spa treatments. Rooms come with kitchenettes. You can self-cater or book an all-inclusive package.

Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) offers seven nights at Sunwing Resort Fanabe from £2,237 for a family of four with under-14s travelling from Gatwick on July 19 – add all-inclusive for the whole party for £549.

5. Scandi chic

Spend four nights exploring the coastline of Skane, known as the Swedish Riviera, with its charming coastal towns of Skanor and Falsterbo, pastel-painted beach huts and miles of fine white sand. Then head to Malmö for three nights, enjoying its art and design scene and fine restaurants.

Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk) offers a seven-night trip to Sweden for a family of four from £4,284 B&B in August including four days’ car hire and a Skanetrafiken public transport pass.

6. Cracking Croatia

Scott Dunn’s Explorers’ and Crew programmes at Sun Gardens, set into a hillside in Dubrovnik, provide activities for children of all ages. There are three swimming pools, a beach, spa, and sports on offer including football, tennis and rock climbing, plus family-friendly accommodation with up to three bedrooms.

Scott Dunn (scottdunn.com) offers seven nights at Sun Gardens from £7,900 for a family of four travelling in July/August half-board in a two-bedroom residence, with kids’ club spaces, flights and transfers.

7. California dreaming

Soar in a sea plane over the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Alcatraz, sail on the America’s Cup yacht and hang out with the stars on a VIP trip of Universal Studios on this 14-night self-drive adventure along the Pacific Coast Highway. Other highlights include kayaking, paddleboarding and surfing – plus Disneyland.

Abercrombie and Kent (abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers a 14-night Californian tour in July or August from £7,495pp for adults and £6,495pp per child under 12, including flights.

8. Elephants, birds and beaches

Enjoy five nights of beachside luxury in the Maldives followed by five nights meeting wildlife in the national parks of the south of Sri Lanka including elephants, flamingos and peacocks. Both hotels feature kids’ clubs for ages four to 12 – there’s also an on-site water park at your accommodation in Sri Lanka.

Destinology (destinology.co.uk) offers five nights at Shangri-La Villingili HB in an Ocean View Villa followed by five nights at Shangri-La Hambantota B&B in an Ocean Suite Room travelling between July 28 and Aug 31 from £10,529 for a family of four with children under 12 including all flights and transfers.

9. Puglia hideaway

Built in traditional Apulia style with a conical roof, four bedrooms, three bathrooms stocked with Acqua di Parma toiletries, three living areas and two kitchens, Villa Trullo offers plenty of room for families travelling together. There’s a large pool with speakers on the terraces, and a garden where you can pick fresh fruit. Beaches are a 20-minute drive away.

Oliver’s Travels (oliverstravels.com) offers seven nights in Villa Trullo from £12,041 in July and August. Sleeps eight. Fly to Brindisi.

10. Hit the open road

Enjoy the freedom of the road with a motorhome. You can pick one up in Barcelona and then explore the fabulous beach of the Costa Dorada, as well as PortAventura theme park. You could also visit the Dalí and Picasso museums, explore the Pyrenees, go duty-free shopping in Andorra – or whatever else takes you fancy.

Motorhome Republic (motorhomerepublic.com) offers eight-day hire of a four-berth vehicle, picking up and dropping off in Barcelona from €1,080 (£975), plus €185 (£167) for bedding, towels and an additional driver.

11. Seaview suites in Crete

With every suite offering a sea view and private pool, the Elounda Peninsula is the most secluded of the three Elounda resorts with a beach, plus access to the shared facilities. These include a Six Senses Spa, water sports and the kids’ club for ages four months to 12 years which features two pools and a vegetable garden.

Elounda Peninsula (elounda peninsula.com) suites from £1,336 per night B&B based on four sharing in July. Fly to Heraklion.

12. Solo in Sardinia

Avoid single supplements on a trip exclusively for single parents. The Arbatax Park Resort is just 550yd (500m) from the sea and offers three outdoor pools, tennis, a diving centre and spa, as well as free kids’ clubs from ages three through to teens.

An all-inclusive week in Sardinia with Single With Kids (singlewithkids.co.uk) costs from £1,149 per adult and £824 for a child under the age of 12, departing July 25 or Aug 1, including flights from Gatwick.

13. Reach for the stars

Sky Den is a beautifully designed, thoroughly modern Northumberland treehouse which features glass doors opening on to a balcony with river views, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a wet room. Best of all, on a calm day you can open up the entire roof for an unobstructed view of the sky. Nearby there are water sports, rope courses and other activities for the adventurous.

Canopy and Stars (canopyandstars.co.uk) offers the Sky Den from £207 per night in the months of July and August. Sleeps four.

14. Canal cruising

Take to 2,000 miles (3,200km) of waterways through beautiful, unspoilt countryside in England and Wales on a canal boat with all mod cons including central heating, a shower, fitted kitchen and Wi-Fi. Start at Wrenbury, near Crewe, head across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and on to the pretty town of Llangollen and the Horseshoe Falls, stopping at the various welcoming riverside pubs and restaurants along the way.

Drifters Waterways (drifters.co.uk) offers weekly hire of boats suitable for a family of four from £1,200 in July and August.

15. Wigwams and waterfalls

Strathfillan Wigwams are set on a working farm surrounded by Highland forests. Snuggle up in your cosy wooden cabin, take a woodland walk to a waterfall and then light a campfire to grill exotic kangaroo and ostrich meats, available for sale on site. Loch Lomond and Oban are both within an hour’s drive.

Pitch Up (pitchup.com) offers camping pods at Strathfillan Wigwams from £66 per night in July and August, based on a family of four sharing.