10 of the best family hotels in Gran Canaria with swimming pools for 2024

But there’s plenty to explore beyond the beach, with family-friendly water parks and activity destinations, quaint villages, caves, mountainous trails and spectacular dunes among Gran Canaria’s other attractions.

The thriving tourism sector means there’s loads of choice for family accommodation, whether you’re looking for all-inclusive luxury, the best hotels with waterparks, or resorts that can keep the little ones entertained for hours.

We’ve picked some of the best hotels for families, to suit every budget. All prices are based on a week-long holiday for a family of 4.

For more holiday inspiration, take a look at our pick of the best family hotels in Crete or the best Ibiza family hotels. Or, if Turkey takes your fancy read our extensive review of the Cullian Belek Turkey hotel.

10 of the best family hotels in Gran Canaria at a glance:

• Best for kids’ activities: HD Parque Cristobal Gran Canaria, On The Beach
• Best budget hotel: Hotel Livvo Lago Taurito & Aquapark, Love Holidays
• Best luxury family break: Lopesan Baobab Resort, Meloneras, Expedia
• Best for large family groups: Melia Sol Barbacan, Playa del Inglés, On The Beach
• Best hotel with a family-friendly pool: Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Mogán, Expedia
• Best autism-friendly hotel: Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel, Amadores, Love Holidays
• Best hotel with waterslides: Maspalomas and Tabaiba Princess, Maspalomas, On The Beach
• Best for a bustling location: Barceló Margaritas, Playa del Inglés, Love Holidays
• Best for beach access: Lopesan Hotel Costa Meloneras, Maspalomas, Expedia
• Best for babies/very young children: TUI BLUE Orquídea, Bahia Feliz, On The Beach

When is the best time of year to visit Gran Canaria?

Gran Canaria has great weather year-round, but the warmest temperatures are July to September, when the thermometer reaches around 25 to 26 degrees. Average sea temperatures are around 23 degrees from June to November though, so families can still enjoy balmy beach days outside the main school holidays.

And although Gran Canaria was among regions affected by wildfires in summer 2023, the worst of the fires did not affect main tourist areas as it spread through the hilly central part of the island near the Tejeda peak.

High temperatures did return in October 2023, when schools were closed due to the heat so it's worth keeping an eye on the weather, and checking out latest government advice or visiting the Spanish Met Office website for up to date information.

What is the flight time from the UK?

It takes about 4hrs 25 mins to fly from the UK to Gran Canaria. Flights go from London airports including Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, as well as from regional airports including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Nottingham, Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow.

Which are the biggest attractions in Gran Canaria?

Gran Canaria’s sandy beaches along its south coast are undoubtedly its biggest attraction, and water babies will love the island’s range of water parks, which include the huge Aqualand Maspalomas and Lago Taurito Water Park.

In the south of the island you’ll find the Angry Birds Activity Park, which has trampolines, mini golf, a ball pool and slides. Fans of the natural world should head to the Poema del Mar Aquarium in Gran Canaria’s capital, Las Palmas, which is packed with 350 species, and a panoramic 36-metre curved glass viewing tank.

Gran Canaria’s volcanic origins can be explored in its central region, with a walk through the mountain air to the Roque Nublo stone monolith, while the villages of Tejeda, Teror and Fataga, with their charming narrow streets and pretty houses, are worth a visit.

Here’s our pick of the 10 best family hotels in Gran Canaria

1. HD Parque Cristobal Gran Canaria, Playa del Inglés

— Best for kids’ activities

Star rating: 3 | Price from £2,155 for 4 in August 2024 (all-inclusive) in a 2-bedroom bungalow | Number of bedrooms 233 | Board Room only, B&B, Half board and All-inclusive | Number of swimming pools 2 plus kids’ splash park | Kids club for toddlers, 8 to 12-year-olds and 12 to 17-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 20 miles | Free shuttle bus to beach; Cot available free on request, or add baby pack including cot, high chair, monitor, food mixer and bottle warmer for 10 euros a day.

Ranked number 1 for Best Value Family-friendly Hotels in Gran Canaria on TripAdvisor, you get plenty of bang for your buck at the low-rise HD Parque Cristobal.

One of the huge range of hotels in the centre of buzzing Playa del Inglés town, the whole place had a facelift in 2021. Among the new features is a colourful island-themed splash park for children, with mini spiral waterslides, small climbing frames and a tipping bucket – guaranteed to keep them busy for ages.

Both pools – one of which is a family-friendly pool and one designed more for relaxation – have sections for children too, although some reviewers highlighted the water was a little cold during the winter season.

The hotel itself comprises 233 bungalows with spacious gardens and it’s clear plenty of thought has gone into keeping families happy. The 2-bedroom Family Kid Suite has furniture designed with children in mind, like the cabin bed with guard rail and fun décor in the second bedroom, for example. You can even book a suite that’s aimed at families travelling with teens, with cosy bean bags in the second bedroom for bigger kids to slouch on.

As well as family-friendly accommodation, there’s plenty of children’s entertainment, including a zipline in the gardens, night-time camping with a campfire area run by trained instructors, and an e-gamer zone for all ages. Families writing on TripAdvisor highlighted the excellent activities, with one parent sharing: “The team run a great schedule of activities to keep [children] entertained. From normal kids’ club to open air cinema, water mats, discos, treasure hunting.”

All-inclusive guests have meals in a buffet restaurant, plus one dinner in the hotel’s à la carte restaurant for every 7-day stay. There are another 3 restaurants if you fancy something different at an additional cost, and a mini-market if you want to pick up ingredients to cook.

It is around a 20-minute walk to the beach, or you can hop on the hotel’s free shuttle bus.

Pros: All-inclusive option, dedicated child-friendly suites, children’s splash park, great value, free shuttle to beach, lots of entertainment options, wide age of kids’ clubs

Cons: Pools can be cold, 20-minute walk to the beach

Book at: HD Hotels, On The Beach or Love Holidays

2. Hotel Livvo Lago Taurito & Aquapark, Taurito

— Best budget hotel

Star rating: 3 | Price from £1,254 for 4 in August 2024 (all-inclusive) in a 1-bed family room with living room | Number of bedrooms 260 | Board All-inclusive (except in aquapark) | Number of swimming pools 2 plus aquapark pool and slides | Kids club for 4 to 12 and 12- to 18-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 32 miles | Includes access to aquapark except on checkout day

Families with water babies will have a whale of a time at the Livvo Lago Taurito hotel. This all-inclusive, mid-range resort includes unlimited access to the on-site aquapark that boasts Gran Canaria’s largest seawater pool.

The 9-storey hotel overlooks the sea and it’s only a 2-minute walk to the beach, with families on TripAdvisor highlighting the large rooms and range of entertainment on offer for children.

While the hotel itself has its own outdoor freshwater pools – an adult pool and a children’s pool – it’s the on-site Lago waterpark that’s the key attraction. There are 5 big slides including a Space Bowl, a Kamikaze death drop-style slide, a 4-person racer slide, twister slides and the Roller Coaster slide, as well as a mini-park area with a pirate ship for little ones. Good luck getting the kids to leave! One reviewer on TripAdvisor travelling with 2 primary school-aged children and a baby said: “The water park was fantastic. The kids absolutely loved it! It was even suitable for the baby as it has a sloped edge in areas.” Just one thing to bear in mind is that the aquapark is saltwater throughout, so make sure you pack goggles.

The buffet restaurant serves up international dishes like crowd-pleasing pizzas and noodles and has highchairs and microwaves available to use. There’s also food at the pool snack bar from 10.30am-1pm and 3-5pm for rumbling tummies between meals, although some vegetarian families found the lack of choice disappointing.

Read MFM’s Best Spanish family hotels with waterparks for more on the Hotel Livvo Lago Taurito & Aquapark.

Pros: All-inclusive, unlimited access to aquapark included, close to beach, pool bar handy for mid-meal snacks, good value

Cons: Aquapark is saltwater so goggles recommended, additional charge for room kettle/safe, no kids’ club for toddlers

Book at: Taurito Resorts, Love Holidays or On The Beach

3. Lopesan Baobab Resort, Meloneras

— Best luxury family break

Star rating: 5 | Price from £2,829 for 4 in August 2024 (B&B) for a 2-bed family room with terrace | Number of bedrooms 677 | Board Room only, B&B, Half board or Full board | Number of swimming pools 7, including 2 for kids | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 22 miles | 20 per cent discount on Lopesan Meloneras golf course, including for under 16s

With its unique African-inspired design, the Lopesan Baobab Resort in the upscale area of Meloneras offers a luxurious break in almost 18 acres of grounds. Reviewers praise the attention to detail and outstanding architecture at the 5-star hotel – perfect for those families wanting something different from the usual resort hotel. One parent writing on TripAdvisor highlighted the comfortable beds, beautiful grounds and lovely food, explaining: “If you are a family with kids under the age of 10, you’ll love this place.”

The African theming sets the hotel apart from others on Gran Canaria, and it’s amazing for water babies with 7 pools, including 2 especially for babies and children with depths of 0.3m and 0.5m. There’s also a lazy river, waterfalls and caves. A tip from one family reviewing the hotel on TripAdvisor is to head for the bar pool: “We had a huge choice of swimming pools, but with 2 young children we chose the bar pool with the graduated slope into the pool.”

Family rooms have 2 queen beds, as well as a sofa bed, sleeping up to 6, and you can also book a similar room but with direct access out onto the main pool area for a little extra.

If you do book half board (from £3,204 a week for a family of 4) or full board (from £3,432), there’s 5 restaurants to choose from, including buffet restaurants, an à la carte grill restaurant and even an African-themed eatery. But the hotel’s location just behind Meloneras promenade means it’s easy to wander out for a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants in the area.

There’s a kids’ club to keep the children busy, as well as a mini club disco in the afternoon and evening. The beach and Maspalomas Lighthouse are a 10-minute walk away, if you fancy getting out into Gran Canaria.

Pros: Luxurious, wide range of pools, great location, good choice of restaurants

Cons: No all-inclusive option, expensive, 10-minute walk to beach, no kids’ club for toddlers

Book at: Lopesan Baobab Resort, Expedia or Love Holidays

4. Melia Sol Barbacan, Playa del Inglés

— Best for large family groups

Star rating: 4 | Price from £1,708 for 4 in August 2024 (B&B) for a 2-bedroom apartment or bungalow | Number of bedrooms 150 | Board Room only, B&B or Half board | Number of swimming pools 3 | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 19 miles | Private roof terraces included with 2-bedroom bungalows

For families that are travelling as part of a larger group, the Melia Sol Barbacan has plenty of space to spread out in the heart of Playa del Inglés. Spacious bungalows and apartments with 2 bedrooms and a lounge can sleep up to 6, and have well-equipped kitchens and 2 bathrooms. There are 1-bedroomed bungalows and apartments too. A lovely feature of the bungalows is their private terraces surrounded by gardens, and sundecks on the upper floor, so families get a real sense of having their own space.

One family writing on TripAdvisor explained: “There were 5 adults and 5 kids in our party, and we had one bungalow and one apartment. The rooms were really spacious and the kitchens were great, especially in the bungalow which had a full-size fridge freezer. Two good sized bedrooms, and we had a third bed put in the second bedroom in the bungalow instead of using the sofa bed.”

There are 3 heated outdoor pools, a children's water-jet area and shallow areas for splashing about. The pools are heated year-round to about 25-27 degrees, a feature that parents loved. One wrote on TripAdvisor: “We were there in the low season (January) at around 20 degrees. The pools were heated to 26 which was awesome for our 2-year-old.”

The kids’ club is open to children aged 4 to 12, offering sports activities, crafts, mini golf, a mini disco, and live music. Teenagers also have their own dedicated Teeny Lounge, so if you’ve got older kids, they’ve got somewhere to escape.

There’s a buffet restaurant and a restaurant dedicated to traditional cuisine, like lobster, cod or hake with rice for adventurous little diners, plus 2 pool bars that have the usual kids’ favourites including pizza, pasta and burgers.

The hotel is in the thick of Playa del Inglés town, opposite the renowned Yumbo Centre with its plethora of shops and chain restaurants, so there are plenty of options for eating out. But having your own kitchen facilities and supermarkets within a 2-minute walk means self-catering is super easy too.

The beach is around a 20-minute walk, but many families take one of the plentiful taxis that take around 5 minutes. One parent writing on TripAdvisor, who travelled as part of a family of 5, praised the spacious bungalows and choice of fresh food at breakfast, but warned it is a “bit of a walk to the beach if you have younger children, but loads of taxis and only a few Euros”.

Pros: Heated outdoor pools, spacious accommodation, activities for children and teenagers, bustling location

Cons: No all-inclusive option, 20-minute walk to beach, no kids’ club for toddlers

Book at: Melia Sol Barbacan, On The Beach or Love Holidays

5. Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Mogán

— Best hotel with a family-friendly pool

Star rating: 5 | Price from £1,102 for 4 in August 2024 (B&B) for a 1-bed family room with balcony | Number of bedrooms 422 | Board B&B or Half board | Number of swimming pools 2 plus kids’ pool and splash park | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 33 miles | Spa open Wednesday to Sunday

Within a short walk of the picturesque harbour village of Puerto de Mogán, with its cobbled streets, canals and whitewashed houses, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is a winner with families who praise its family-friendly pools, decent food and spacious rooms.

TripAdvisor reviewers describe the kids’ pool as excellent, with one family highlighting the bouncing pillow in one of the pools “providing hours/days of entertainment for the kids”. The shallow water means younger children can enjoy sliding, climbing and jumping to their heart’s content, as well as splashing around in the mini splash park’s water jets and there’s lifeguards on duty. The activities don’t stop there, as there’s even a small climbing wall for energetic little monkeys to stretch their arms and legs.

The hotel’s Very Important Kids Club (VIC), for little ones aged 4 to 12, is located next to the pool and open 10am to 6pm, with a break for lunch from 1-2pm, and there are 3 restaurants with a great selection of food, according to families sharing their reviews online. Unsurprisingly, the hotel is ranked highly on Booking.com, with families scoring it 8.8.

Rooms in the 4-storey hotel include family rooms that sleep up to 4 (and have 2 flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi for when everyone wants to watch something different) and interconnected family rooms. If you are a larger family or just want a bit more space to spread out, there’s also 2-bed suites with a pool-view balcony that sleep up to 6, as well as 3-bed suites. The hotel also has 13 specially-adapted rooms with a pool view for those with limited mobility.

For families that want to explore their surroundings on foot, a plus point for the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Gran Canaria Mogán is that it’s an easy 10-minute walk to quaint Puerto de Mogán – also known as Little Venice due to its pretty canals and cobbled streets. The hotel is a couple of minutes to a local supermarket, and it’s less than 10 miles to Aqualand Maspalomas for a day of thrilling, watery fun. The iconic Roque Nublo is 14 miles away, if you fancy a walk in the island’s mountainous central region.

Pros: Walking distance into town, on-site spa, great kids’ pool, choice of accessible rooms, luxurious

Cons: No all-inclusive option, no kids’ club for toddlers, 10-minute walk to beach

Book at: Radisson Hotels, Love Holidays or Expedia

6. Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel, Amadores

— Best autism-friendly hotel

Star rating: 4 | Price from £1,753 for 4 in August 2024 (all-inclusive) for a 1-bed family room with sea view and balcony | Number of bedrooms 364 | Board All-inclusive | Number of swimming pools 2 | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 31 miles | Certified an Autism-Friendly environment

Combining loads of activities for children with a relaxing spa, and the fact the Gloria hotel chain is certified as an ‘Autism-Friendly environment’, a break at this cliffside hotel could be one of the more relaxing family holidays out there. In fact, families rated the Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel a score of 9 on Booking.com for a holiday with children, with many reviewers returning year after year because of the friendly staff, location and range of activities on offer.

The hotel is in a quieter part of southern Gran Canaria with views over the sea from its 7 floors. It’s around a 10-minute walk to either the white sand and clear waters of Playa de Amadores or the livelier Puerto Rico beach. Rooms have a double bed and sofa bed, sleeping up to 4, although be aware that the hotel says the maximum age for 2 children in the sofa bed is 6.

Two pools include an accessible pool for those with reduced mobility, as well as a children’s pool. There’s also a colourful splash park with slides, water jets, sprays, and tipping buckets for little ones, open 10am to 6pm, a playground, kids’ club for children aged 4 to 12, from 10am to 5pm, and a mini disco to keep little ones entertained.

A unique feature of the hotel is that it has been awarded certification by the Spanish Autism-Friendly Club – a group of professionals aiming to raise awareness of ASD and backed by the likes of Olympic athletes, a former Real Madrid footballer, musicians and entrepreneurs. Staff are trained and aware of ASD, while the hotel has adapted menus and signage with pictograms and a fast check-in service to avoid unnecessary waiting around.

One family writing on TripAdvisor said they have been returning regularly since their children (now aged 7 and 11) were very young, as they can’t find another hotel to equal the Gloria Palace Amadores in terms of the quick check in, lovely family room, great food and friendly animation team.

If you want to do more than hang out in the infinity pool or spend the day at the beach, it’s around a half-hour drive to Palmitos Park, a 49-acre botanical garden and zoo which offers interactive dolphin encounters, and around 20 minutes to Aqualand Maspalomas. And, if you do manage to get any time away from the little ones, it’s well worth indulging in the hotel’s thalassotherapy spa, which includes a seawater pool with 29 hydromassage points, and a range of therapies at additional cost. Fancy trying chocolate therapy or vinotherapy? This is the place…

Pros: All-inclusive, autism-aware staff, amazing sea views, relaxing location, spa on-site, good value

Cons: No kids’ club for toddlers, 10-minute walk to the beach

Book at: Gloria Palace, Love Holidays or On The Beach

7. Maspalomas and Tabaiba Princess, Maspalomas

— Best hotel with waterslides

Star rating: 4 | Price from £2,532 for 4 in August 2024 (all-inclusive) for a 1-bed standard family room | Number of bedrooms 798 | Board All-inclusive | Number of swimming pools 6, including 2 for kids and splash park | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 21 miles | Tabaiba Princess rooms are all renovated

Well located for getting to the tourist areas around Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, the main attractions of this all-inclusive hotel are its range of pools and new on-site splash park. The main pool is like a huge lagoon, while the new Sábana Aqua Park has 2 pools, including a safari-themed shallow pool with a resident life-size elephant, flumes and water jets.

There's a total of 6 outdoor pools – 2 of which are just for kids – and you could spend the whole day having fun in the water as there’s a couple of snack bars for refuelling. One family, writing on TripAdvisor, especially loved the Mordisco family snack bar, which is open from 10.30am-5.30pm: “The pools are great, very clean and checked regularly, as are the grounds which are spotless. The water park is good fun for the children. Mordisco, the family restaurant by the pool, does very good food, especially for children.”

Kids’ clubs, a mini disco, games including giant chess and table tennis, a playground and free special meals for children on request make this an ideal family hotel for a break with young children. TripAdvisor reviewers praised the entertainment team and described the aqua park as “amazing”.

Like most all-inclusive hotels, there’s a main buffet restaurant with a range of food for everyday dining, but you also get one dinner included at one of the specialist restaurants (either Italian or Asian) for every 5-night stay.

The hotel is actually 2 hotels merged into 1, sharing the same facilities, so some reviewers have noted it can get busy in school holiday times. Standard family rooms sleep up to 4 while superior family rooms – which are essentially 2 interconnecting standard rooms – sleep up to 6. If possible, it’s worth trying to get a room in the Tabaiba Princess side of the resort, as these have all been upgraded.

The hotel isn’t directly on the beach, but it’s around 2 miles to either Playa del Inglés beach or Maspalomas beach, with a taxi costing around 5 euros. The hotel is also a stone’s throw from the Maspalomas Dunes, and around 2.3 miles from Aqualand Maspalomas, so it’s easy to jump in a taxi for a day out.

Pros: Good value, all-inclusive, excellent kids’ water park, wide range of pools, good food options for children

Cons: Pools can be cold, sun loungers get busy during school holidays, expensive, no kids’ club for toddlers, not walking distance to the beach

Book at: Princess Hotels, On The Beach or Booking.com

8. Barceló Margaritas, Playa del Inglés

— Best for a bustling location

Star rating: 4 | Price from £2,208 for 4 in August 2024 (all-inclusive) for a 1-bed family room with terrace or balcony | Number of bedrooms 322 | Board All-inclusive, half board, B&B | Number of swimming pools 2 | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 19 miles | Free shuttle bus to Playa del Inglés beach, can upgrade to Royal Level (168 rooms) at additional cost for extra pool and restaurant

For families that love a bustling holiday destination, the Barceló Margaritas Hotel is located a 10-minute walk from Gran Canaria’s popular Playa del Inglés area, with a fantastic choice of shops, eateries, and activities.

Playa del Inglés, which began its life as a holiday destination in the 1960s and has grown in popularity ever since, is packed with options for family-friendly activities from dolphin-spotting tours, to surf school. It’s also just an 8-minute drive to the huge Aqualand Maspalomas water park, for a thrill-packed day out that doesn’t involve a long journey.

Although it’s not directly on the seafront, the hotel provides a free shuttle bus down to Playa del Inglés beach, making it super easy to reach the renowned 3km stretch of golden sand and safe waters.

Renovated ahead of the 2022 season, the hotel has 2 pools, one of which is a completely new family pool. There’s also a colourful kids’ club, with an outdoor playground, and entertainment in the daytime and evening.

Family rooms and family suites in the 8-storey hotel sleep either 4 or 5. A TripAdvisor family reviewer found the hotel great value for the price, while another’s kids enjoyed the food in the main restaurant and praised the homemade pizza and pasta.

The hotel has launched a new Royal Level, which offers extra facilities including a separate pool and restaurant, with prices for a family of 4 staying the same week in August 2023 costing around £450 more.

One family writing on TripAdvisor recommended the extras like complimentary drinks in the Royal Level reception, but advised: “As we had small kids, we found the main restaurant was better for them and often took them there for earlier dinner, then we ate at the Royal Level later.”

Pros: Lots to do nearby, all-inclusive, free shuttle to beach, good food options for children, newly renovated pools

Cons: Can be noisy, not much for older children to do in hotel, not walking distance to the beach, no kids’ club for toddlers

Book at: Barceló Margaritas, Love Holidays or On The Beach

9. Lopesan Hotel Costa Meloneras, Maspalomas

— Best for beach access

Star rating: 5 | Price from £2,572 for 4 in August 2024 (B&B) for a 2-bed family room with terrace or balcony | Number of bedrooms 1,138 | Board Room only, B&B or Half board | Number of swimming pools 4 | Kids club for 4 to 12-year-olds, plus babysitting service (additional cost) | Gran Canaria Airport 22 miles | Additional cost for Unique Club with dedicated pool area

The standout feature of the Lopesan Hotel Costa Meloneras has got to be its 19-acres of lush garden surroundings that give it a luxurious tropical feel – there’s a real holiday vibe from the moment you enter.

Combine that with its location by the 19th century Maspalomas Lighthouse and a stone’s throw (well, a 10-minute walk) from the huge expanse of the Maspalomas Natural Dune Reserve and its Booking.com score of 9.5 by families travelling with kids becomes clear. You can even book a camel tour through the dunes, suitable for adults and little ones aged 3 and up.

Described as “excellent” by one parent writing on MadeForMums’ forum, the hotel offers room only, B&B or half board stays, for families who want some flexibility around their eating arrangements. Japanese, Italian and grill restaurants are a treat if you can get the night off (there is a babysitting service for an additional cost), plus there’s a 13-station buffet restaurant and several snack bars too.

The 8-storey hotel is huge – it’s got more than 1,000 rooms including 45 family rooms that have 2 queen-sized beds – but despite the enormous size, reviewers highlighted the friendliness of staff.

With 4 pools and a kids’ club for children aged between 4 and 12 years, there’s absolutely loads of entertainment within the grounds. A couple of the pools have access ramps, with the hotel’s El Lago infinity pool featuring an artificial sloped beach into the water. That pool extends to a huge 4,000sqm – almost the size of a football pitch – while there’s also a lazy river and 2 more pools. One TripAdvisor reviewer wrote: “My daughter loved the smaller warm pool and the lazy river pool. The large pool is cold but huge, so if you swim the length of it you heat up!”

First opened in 2000, the hotel used its Covid-19 closure time to revamp its facilities, so it’s now got more accessible areas too.

Pros: Extensive gardens, close to Maspalomas beach and dunes, luxurious, babysitting service available, good choice of pools, upgrades available

Cons: No all-inclusive option, expensive, sun loungers very busy during school holidays

Book at: Lopesan Hotel Costa Meloneras, Expedia or Love Holidays

10. TUI BLUE Orquídea, Bahia Feliz

— Best for babies/very young children

Star rating: 4 | Price from £1,646 for 4 in August 2024 (all-inclusive) for a 1-bed family room with living room | Number of bedrooms 255 | Board All-inclusive | Number of swimming pools 5 | Kids club for 3 to 5 and 6 to 11-year-olds, plus Hangout zone for 12 to 15-year-olds | Gran Canaria Airport 15 miles | Baby Club for 0-3 years at additional cost, plus cots, pushchairs, sterilisers and bottle warmers for hire

Known as one of the quietest tourist areas in the south of Gran Canaria, Bahia Feliz is a good choice for families wanting a more relaxed vibe. It’s also one of the closer beachfront areas to the airport, which means less travel time once you touch down.

The village of Bahia Feliz itself is mainly centred around a quaint square, with a selection of cafes and restaurants if you want to venture out of the all-inclusive Tui Blue Orquídea.

The 11-storey hotel has 2 main pools and 1 in the spa, plus a partially-shaded baby pool and a splash park, with slides, fountains and a tipping bucket.

Air-conditioned lounges for under 2s are close to the pool and open all day, stocked with microwaves and bottle warmers, as well as changing facilities. There are also 2-hour sessions at the hotel’s Baby Club for 0–3-year-olds available for an additional cost.

If you’ve got older children, the kids’ clubs for 3–11-year-olds offer up to 2 hours of themed activities, 6 days a week. They’re split into age groups, with activities tailored for each, such as the ‘Cook with Captain T’ sessions where your little ones can try their hand at pizza making and concocting fruit salads.

Older kids get their own space – The Hangout – where teens aged 12 to 15 can chill out and relax away from younger siblings (and parents!). There are daily activities, as well as an evening session once a week.

TripAdvisor reviews highlight the quality of the kids’ club and the evening entertainment, with one family writing: “The entertainment staff are brilliant! They were all fully committed and always had a smile on their faces. The kids’ club was great too, even handing over an unsure toddler we were reassured he was in good hands.”

Rooms are spacious – with split-level family rooms including a separate bedroom and living room. It is possible to request a room on one level, like this parent who shared her experience online: “Before we went, I was nervous about the split-level room with my 15-month-old, so I emailed the hotel asking for a single level room. I knew there was no guarantee, but when we arrived and went up to the room, they had fulfilled my request and we had a lovely spacious room on the 4th floor with a huge bathroom and also a cot as requested.”

Two-bedroom suites can sleep up to 6 if you’re a larger family. Like most all-inclusive hotels, there’s a buffet restaurant with plenty of choice for children, and there are 2 à la carte restaurants too.

A major plus point is that the sand and shingle beach is almost immediately outside the hotel and a go-karting track is a 5-minute drive away. If you fancy exploring the island’s capital Las Palmas, with its Poema del Mar aquarium, child-friendly Museum of Science & Technology, and botanical gardens, there’s a bus stop 300m from the hotel. Buses go every 20 minutes and take half an hour into the capital.

Pros: Quieter area for families wanting less hustle and bustle, close to bus stop for Las Palmas, all-inclusive, good value, great choice of kids’ clubs, close to airport, close to beach, good value

Cons: Most family rooms are split-level

Book at: Tui Blue Orquidea, On The Beach or Expedia