This sunny Spanish resort is the perfect place to book your next family holiday

Recreation

Golf

First and foremost, the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa is best known for having three of the best 18-hole golf courses in Europe, along with a Golf Academy and Practice Centre. Some of the best players in the world have graced these golf courses and it often holds major professional tournaments. If you’re a fan of the green, this should definitely be on your bucket list.

Tennis & Padel

A visit to the Racquets Club with the kids can’t be missed. It is one of Europe’s most popular tennis destinations with 28 courts on three surfaces, seven floodlit padel courts and a pickleball court. There are summer camps every year for youths, from beginner to amateur levels, and equipment can be rented or purchased in their Pro Shop. 

The best times to book into the camps are the summer holidays in July and August and the half-term breaks in October and May.

They also have cricket facilities, a football centre, and nearby walking trails and hikes, so the family will never be short of something to do.

Relaxation

Pools

If you’re planning a family holiday, perhaps one of the best features of the hotel is its outdoor swimming pools – which include a family pool with a baby’s area and an adult-only infinity pool with views over the golf course and poolside bar service. If your kids are booked into a training camp, you can sneak off to a children-free zone and sip cocktails in the sun. (This was one of my favourite parts of my trip!)

Spa

The newly refurbished wellness centre is a whopping 1,700 square metres and includes a state-of-the-art gym and an Arabian-inspired spa, Alma, which means ‘water’ in Arabic and ‘soul’ in Spanish. In fact, water is a key theme throughout the spa, from its hydrotherapy pool to its multi-sensory circuit with a sauna, steam room and cold plunge pool.

During my stay, I booked a deep tissue massage that melted my stresses away. Afterwards, I was brought to a relaxing lounger and served hot tea with mochi ice cream to ease the transition back to the real world. I made a day of it at the spa, swimming in the hydrotherapy pool, enjoying a deep cleanse in the sauna and reading my book in between dips.

Food & Accommodation

Rooms

There are 192 elegant guestrooms, including seven signature suites, with options of a balcony or a terrace available. Guests can choose between a view of the golf course or of the pool – both are idyllic scenes to wake up to on holiday. Each room has a  luxurious feel and the latest amenities, including a smart TV, rain shower and air conditioning. There are also cribs available on request.

Dining

As someone who derives great joy from indulging in a quality meal, my holiday taste buds were well-satiated at the hotel. The resort has 11 distinctive dining destinations, featuring home-grown as well as international flavours. From an Italian trattoria to an authentic izakaya sushi bar, and from Southeast Asian cuisine to fine dining, there is truly something to suit everyone’s palate. 

One of my favourite meals was at the breathtaking beachfront La Cala restaurant. The hotel offers a shuttle service to this intimate beach, where you can spend the day swimming and enjoying refreshments at the bar. Using fresh ingredients, the restaurant’s fare includes top-quality fish, seafood and traditional local dishes such as caldero rice.

There’s also a breakfast buffet each morning and it’s a smorgasbord of delight. They serve up your typical morning foods like made-to-order omelettes, as well as those inherent to Spain like fresh meats (the jamón is divine), cheeses and fruits.