Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 78)

A s every parent knows, holidays take on a whole different meaning once you’ve had kids – and that’s OK, I mean, who doesn’t enjoy getting up at 6am to smear sun cream on a reluctant toddler? But when it comes to your honeymoon, you’re probably thinking more indulgent couples’ massages and lounging on a chic day bed, less constructing 17 sandcastles before noon. As I was to discover on a recent trip to Zafiro Hotels in Mallorca, you can have the best of both worlds – this family-friendly hotel chain balances the needs of the whole family with something for everyone. Indeed, as we drove up to Zafiro Palace Alcudia – our first port of call for this dual- destination trip – its soaring lobby and magnificent views through floor-to-ceiling windows certainly suggested the former over the latter, as did the glass of fizz we were offered to ease the already seamless check in. It was only as we crossed the central pool area that I began to suspect that this is not just paradise for loved up newlyweds but their children too because there, nestled among the – count ’em – nine different outdoor swimming pools, including six swim-ups accessed directly from the ground floor suites and an adults-only area – was a pirate ship, complete with slides. If my five- year-old had been with me, she would have lost her tiny mind at that alone, never mind the playground, which boasts a bouncy castle, climbing frame and table tennis. Reaching our elegant Penthouse Suite, we were swiftly transported back into adult-land: think rooftop terrace complete with Jacuzzi and Bali bed, not to mention a room with space enough for a family of four. The Londoner in me couldn’t resist mentally scrolling through every flat I’ve ever lived in and comparing square footage. No prizes for guessing the victor. There’s also facilities designed to make a parent’s life all the easier: in my case, tea and coffee facilities and a microwave but rooms with a more extensive kitchenette are available too – not that you’d need it as the feast on offer at the hotel’s Market Buffet Restaurant is impressive, with something to please even the fussiest of eaters while catering to the more discerning gourmands out there too with local specialties on tap. 118 ME, YOU AND THE FAMILY TOO It is possible to balance romance and family thanks to Zafiro Hotels’ family-friendly facilities, finds Georgina Cassels