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Croatia is perhaps one of the most surprising and under-rated countries in Europe. While those already in the know will wax lyrical about its staggering natural beauty and incredible breadth of history, Croatia holidays are also getting a well-earned reputation for an entirely different aspect – their family friendliness. In my experience, an ideal destination for families is Croatia. Holidays with children to this country benefit not only from excellent attractions and activities geared towards young visitors, but also the country's culture is extremely family oriented. Children are welcomed in most restaurants and some of the best hotels and resorts offer onsite babysitting and crèche services, so you can have some adults-only downtime with the confidence that your offspring is being looked after by caring, qualified local staff. Here are some of the best establishments I've come across with facilities onsite to care for children. Dubrovnik Palace Hotel The 5-star Dubrovnik Palace Hotel has the wow factor and more. Perched on the end of the Lapad peninsula, close to Dubrovnik, this marvellous hotel debunks any theory that you have to give up your luxury when you holiday with children. Elegant and contemporary, the hotel emanates an ambience of old world glamour, and the views are out of this world. Young guests are well catered for, with connecting rooms, a dedicated children's pool and a babysitting and crèche service onsite - so you can sneak off for a special lunch, dinner, or just sundowners on the beach terrace Maslina restaurant. Valamar Club Tamaris This is one of the best resorts in the country for families, set within lush surrounds that offer plenty of room for the children to run around. This Istrian gem (situated close to close to Porec on the Lanterna peninsula) is purpose made for families to make the most of their Croatia holidays. With direct beach access, Valamar Club Tamaris offers all-inclusive accommodation and extensive facilities for children, including connecting rooms, babysitting and crèche services, water slides, kids' club, water sports and daily activities. Sit back, relax and suddenly it feels like your holiday too! Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik Just a few steps from the history-rich old town of Dubrovnik, this lovely hotel makes the perfect family base from which to explore the city and beaches. If you plan on introducing the children to some of the heritage and history of Croatia you'll be in the ideal spot, within a short walk of museums, palaces, shops and restaurants – not to mention the beach just a hop, skip and jump away. With a 5-star rating and connecting rooms available, you can also take advantage of the babysitting and crèche services if you want a day out to delve into the art and culture of Dubrovnik on your own. Hotel Liburna Experience some island life at the friendly Hotel Liburna, situated on the picturesque island of Korcula, on the Pelješac peninsula. Just a few minutes from the old town of Korcula, chances are you won’t see the children for hours on end with the onsite mini-club to keep them occupied. With a fantastic private beach with water sports and paved areas, and plenty of opportunity to get up close to nature within the lovely gardens, the hotel enjoys a laidback and relaxed ambience that will set you at ease immediately. If you want a quiet night out at a local restaurant in the old town, you can rely on the babysitting and crèche services to take care of the children and keep them entertained. Hotel Neptun I love the dramatic location of the Hotel Neptun and you almost feel like you're on a ship, so close are you to the ocean. Situated on the Babin Kuk peninsula, just out of Dubrovnik, you'll think you can reach out and touch the water when you wake up here, and your children will love the choice of activities, entertainment and even their own dedicated pool. And for the parents? Well, I recommend you make use of the babysitting or crèche services and book yourselves in for an indulgent pampering session at the onsite spa, followed by dinner at the On the Rocks terrace lounge. Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel Cool, classic and thoroughly contemporary, this brand-new hotel on the Dubrovnik Riviera (at Mlini) offers a true 'get away from it all' experience for your family – without the risk of anyone getting bored! The huge, cultivated grounds are great for children to stretch their legs and you're just footsteps from the lovely pebble beach. There's a playground, children's pool, tennis courts, huge sun terrace, plenty of water sports available on the beach and an onsite crèche and babysitting service. This hotel is a great addition to the family friendly accommodation around Dubrovnik and they've thought of everything to give you a very stylish and relaxed break. Once children are in the picture, choosing a holiday destination becomes about very different priorities to those of the days when you were young, free and single. Of course, no parent would change it for the world but, unless you plan with youngsters' needs in mind, it can often feel like you need a holiday to recover from your holiday. From my personal experience, these excellent hotels and resorts are ideal for family friendly Croatia holidays – and by that I mean for the parents as well as the youngsters! John Dixon is an experienced world traveller and the Managing Director of Prestige Holidays. For over 30 years, he has been providing luxury Croatia holidays, as well as holidays to Bermuda, Sicily and many other destinations around the globe. John tries to visit each of the destinations regularly in order to ensure the quality of his properties, and stay up-to-date about the latest local news and events. He has a taste for the finer things in life and has an interest in arts, history and culture.
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