Taking a family holiday at Don Carlos Hotel in Marbella

One of my best childhood holiday memories is being dressed up as a birthday table at a kids club somewhere in the Caribbean. I used to love spending time at kids clubs, and that’s why I now loved seeing Big Girl’s excitement of going to kids club when we were in Marbella for half-term.

We stayed at Don Carlos Leisure Resort and Spa in the Marbella area, and the kids club made me want to go back to this hotel.

We may not have benefitted from Nikki Beach being located on the resort beach, but the lovely kids club team did a fantastic job and I’m sure some parents could have escaped for a bit to enjoy the party atmosphere at the beach.

For us, however, it was the first time Big Girl went to a hotel kids club, as she was too young last time we stayed in a hotel with a kids programme, and Don Carlos was fantastic since we could be nearby. There were typically around 10 kids at kids club over half term, with the majority speaking with a British accent, and the kids club was next to the children’s pool, which was super-convenient, as we hung out there while she was participating in the kids activities.

The kids club, open from 11am to 1.30pm and 3pm to 6pm, was in a large fenced in area outdoors with swings, a slide, a football pitch and tables for art activities, and at times they were in a smaller area inside with an art table, a soft play area and TV.

It’s not necessarily the facilities, however, that made it stand out, but the positive and friendly staff. After a big breakfast with fruits, eggs and toast and a play in the shallow, beach-style children’s pool, Big Girl was ready to escape and wanted to play and make friends.

At one point, it struck me that I should start packing beach reads again when going on holiday. I could get used to this!

The five-star Don Carlos Leisure Resort and Spa is located in Elviria, and Nikki Beach Marbella is on the beach at the resort. There is also another hotel beach club, which we were advised would be a better choice for families, so we only went to Orange Beach Club, where hotel guests enjoy complimentary sun loungers and access to a beautiful pool. The beach is a short walk from the main hotel building, on a path through a pretty garden. By the main hotel building, there is a children’s pool and a large pool. We had lunch every day by the pool or at Orange Beach Club, and both restaurants had separate kids menus.
There is also a play area ideal for young children in the breakfast restaurant, and young guests receive kids-sized robes and backpacks with toiletries and a toothbrush in their hotel rooms. Children can also take tennis lessons at the resort, and the kids club, designed for children aged 4 to 12, has both day-time and evening activities over the summer. The lovely Ana, Noelia, Carla and Viktor from the kids club team were brilliant.