Best Hotels in the Canary Islands for Families

Built into the cliffs overlooking Amadores beach on Gran Canaria, the Gloria Palace Royal Hotel & Spa is a sprawling oceanfront resort with beach access and stunning vistas of the water. The two outdoor pools are definite highlights, as they are large and overlook the beach.There is also an indoor playroom with a ball pit and jungle gym, as well as the outdoor children’s area and kiddy pool. Games and entertainment tailored specifically for the little ones are also offered.

Hotel Suite Villa Maria is a quiet village-like sanctuary perfect for young families. Its 78 duplex villas are more like vacation homes than typical hotel rooms. (Maybe make that dream vacation homes, since here you can cook dinner and leave the kitchen disorder to housekeeping.) They start at 800 square feet and come in one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations, all with full kitchens, living rooms, and multiple bathrooms (even one-bedroom villas have guest bathrooms on the first floor). The villas are positioned around a peaceful pool complex with three pools (one for kids), an enclosed playground, and a pool bar with barbecue. The hotel has a teen room with four PlayStations, and an adjacent supervised kids' club with activities like face-painting, bingo, water aerobics, Play-Doh, ping-pong, balloons, live music, and a nightly free mini disco. When we visited, the mini disco was just getting started in the main square, but the participants were largely distracted by the exotic bird show that was setting up a few feet away.

This 271-room luxury hotel is kid-friendly and large -- with five buildings, two pools, three restaurants, and a wide array of on-site amenities -- but sprawling grounds allow for uncrowded and mostly serene spaces. Family-friendly features include a heated kiddy pool, playground, and kids’ club with activities, as well as outdoor tennis court, a nine-hole putting green, an indoor squash court, and loaner bikes.

HD Parque Cristobal Tenerife's bungalow concept is unusual in Playa de las Americas, an area where most hotels are big-box balconied buildings. But Parque Cristobal's low-rise layout doesn't mean it's not lively: a digital concierge in the lobby lists day's agenda, which might include water polo, yoga, sangria workshops, rifle shooting, shuffleboard, and football tournaments, and live entertainment is staged every night in a subterranean nightclub. The enclosed grounds mean that kids can rove about freely with newly acquired friends without parents' constant concern. For this reason, and because of its easy stroller access, Parque Cristobal is first and foremost for families with children. The hotel's Kid Suites were renovated in 2015, and come with changing tables, high chairs, bottle warmers, and food processors. Their colorful second bedrooms feature two beds, beanbag chairs, and PlayStation 2s.

There is always a lot going on at this sprawling, African-inspired resort, with a kids' club with daily activities, two kiddy pools (one of them with slides), and a packed entertainment program for adults and children. Additionally, there is a long sandy beach down the street. Just be aware of the handful of extra fees, including for Wi-Fi, parking, and in-room safes.

The kids’ club at this large, luxurious resort features a kiddy pool, daily activities, and an area for teens with a PlayStation, board games, and a foosball table. Tennis courts, a putting green, yacht day trips, and an on-site astronomical observatory that hosts guided star-gazing nights keep kids and their parents entertained.

Costa Adeje Gran Hotel is a large, family-friendly hotel conveniently located a short walk from the beach, bars, restaurants, and shops. With three large pools, two restaurants (one particularly good), optional all-inclusive rates, and a kids' club with daily indoor and outdoor activities, the hotel offers a solid upscale resort-style stay in a central location. However, some guests may find rooms a little plain for a hotel that advertises itself as a luxury property, and extra fees can add up.

An all-inclusive resort catering to families and couples, the H10 Costa Adeje looms large as a 467-room property. Its on-site beach is small and rocky, but the hotel runs free shuttles to Las Américas beach. There is also free Wi-Fi, a buffet restaurant (plus two others: one Japanese and one a la carte), and a  kids’ club offering daily activities, a playground, and mini-disco at night.

Melia Jardines del Teide is located a 15-minute walk from Playa del Duque, one of Costa Adeje’s best beaches. The hotel is a popular pick among families, thanks to its kids’ club, a playground, a kiddy pool section, and kid-friendly entertainment, so be warned that it can get busy. Wi-Fi comes at an extra charge, but all in all, this is probably the area's best all-inclusive.

Though the 448-room Gloria Palace San Agustin is not right on the sea, it offers impressive views of the beach, which is about a 10-minute walk away. The property is conveniently located near one of the main highways and the shops of Playa del Ingles. It caters to families in particular with its kids' club, table tennis, child-friendly entertainment, and kiddy pool. All ages can enjoy the extensive pool complex, which spans two levels that house two outdoor pools (in addition to the one for children only) and plenty of lounge chairs.

Families and groups looking for an all-inclusive beachfront hotel with plenty of dining and entertainment options won't be disappointed with Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort. With 488 rooms, three pools, and several restaurants, the most common issue guests have is getting lost on the grounds. Guest rooms vary in size but even the lower-category room types have terraces and some rooms have beautiful water views, along with dated decor. The hotel offers daily activities for kids and adults, including a sports complex with tennis and basketball courts, miniature golf, and a kids' club with a playground and lots of toys and activities. Las Coloradas Beach is easily accessible via a direct path from the hotel.

This family-friendly all-inclusive resort has serene grounds and ocean views. In keeping with the many all-inclusive resorts that line the shores of the Canary Islands, the Hesperia Lanzarote Hotel offers the standard amenities one would expect: four outdoor pools (including two that are heated year round), three decent restaurants (an international buffet, a Mediterranean eatery, and an a la carte restaurant serving regional cuisine), and kid-friendly features, such as a kiddy pool, a kids’ club, a playground, and a mini-golf course.

The 368-room Sands Beach Resort is a mid-range beachfront property popular with families and older couples seeking value. Spacious apartment-style rooms can be hit or miss, as some have been renovated and feature simple but contemporary decor and updated kitchens, while others feel like they haven’t been touched in years, with dated elements including tube TVs. Aside from the on-site beach, the property offers dozens of daily activities for all ages -- including seven pools, a restaurant, a tennis court, non-motorized water sports, a game room, and nightly entertainment -- but it’s mostly quiet thanks to its sprawling grounds.