From Marrakech to the Greek islands, the best child-free resorts

Just the two of us: From thrilling Marrakech to the awesome Greek islands, the child-free resorts that are perfect for some well-earned ‘us’ time

• The Lindos Grand Resort in Rhodes is a modern hotel with toothpaste-white walls and capacious terraces  
• Riad Elegancia is hidden in one of the alleys close to Marrakech’s vibrant Jemaa el-Fna square
• For Caribbean luxury with a rustic vibe try Cocos hotel on Antigua’s peaceful western coast  

Even the most devoted parent or grandparent may well need a break away from the company of young children, so a hotel or resort that extends a welcome only to adults is perfect. But child-free hideaways are also a godsend for those who want a romantic break, whose jobs mean they can’t avoid school holiday peak season or who just want some peaceful down time.

For a taste of the exotic, look no further than Riad Elegancia (riadelegancia.com) in Marrakech, a packed-to-the-rafters city flavoured with souks and snake-charmers while the snow-capped Atlas mountains loom on the skyline. Hidden in one of the alleys close to the Bab Doukkala mosque and vibrant Jemaa el-Fna square, the hotel has only 11 rooms, so expect a peaceful breakfast.

After a day of wandering pink-washed palaces – and doubtless picking up a henna tattoo – relax on the riad’s multi-coloured rooftop, a startling palate of Majorelle blue, yellow, pink and green. Here you’ll find a swimming pool (heated during the winter), sundeck and Jacuzzi. And there’s a restaurant and bar area that’s ideal for an unrivalled cocktail as the sun sinks and dinner is prepared by the riad’s resident Moroccan chef.

Exotic: Riad Elegancia in Marrakech has a swimming pool (heated during the winter), sundeck and Jacuzzi

Even the most popular of destinations have child-free options – not least the Greek island of Rhodes. The Lindos Grand Resort and Spa (lindosgrand.com), on the east coast of the island, is a dazzlingly modern hotel with toothpaste-white walls and capacious terraces.

Swimmers will love doing lengths in the 40-metre infinity pool (no inflatable dolphins here). Or just dawdle in the water to look down at the views of Vlycha Bay, speckled by paddleboarders and sun-worshippers.

Alternatively, head to the outdoor spa and enjoy a massage under a tented canopy as a soft wind blows in from the Aegean.

As the sun sets, stay on the rooftop to enjoy a meal at the Thalatta Fine Dining Restaurant.

There are 189 rooms, but they’re nicely spaced and many have plunge pools so you can enjoy extra quiet time too.

If you want to do some sightseeing, the hotel can arrange for trips to the nearby cobbled streets of the village of Lindos while the medieval town of Rhodes is less than an hour’s taxi ride away, though after all the fuss and bustle there you’ll be glad to be back at base.

Lindos Grand Resort in Rhodes has a 40-metre infinity pool and views of Vlycha Bay

For Caribbean luxury with a rustic vibe try Cocos hotel (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) on Antigua’s peaceful western coast. Sandwiched between two coral beaches, Cocos offers amazing views from its 30 wooden cottages which were built by local craftsmen and are scattered around a hillside prickling with tropical vegetation.

This is a venue for hopeless romantics. All cottages have an outdoor shower, king-size four-poster-style bed and a hammock. Presumably love is all you need, as there are no TVs. Carefree ways to pass the time include learning to play steel pan drums, cooking, yoga and aqua aerobics, otherwise you’ll need little more than your swimming costumes.

But don’t worry about feeling too isolated: the hotel is a ten-minute stroll from the Jolly Harbour Marina, which is full of boutique shops, bars and restaurants.

A shorter flight away, you’ll find that the child-free Sunrose 7 in Slovenia (sunrose7.com) is creaking with history.

 ‘Even the most devoted parent or grandparent may well need a break away from the company of young children,’ writes The Mail on Sunday’s Angela Epstein. Pictured is a couple enjoying child-free pool fun

Built in 1890, this 18-room boutique hotel lies close to Lake Bohinj in the Triglav National Park – a startling freshwater glacial lake that is popular with swimmers, while the park itself is perfect for hiking and cycling.

The hotel is a place for the ultimate digital detox. There are no TVs here either, but there’s a library, vast gardens, a chestnut grove and a babbling river to explore, all on your doorstep.

If you’re looking ahead for child-free winter sun, consider going further afield to the US desert resort city of Palm Springs. If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, you can satisfy your conscience by checking in to Two Bunch Palms (twobunchpalms.com) – one of the first carbon-neutral resorts in the US, running entirely on solar power.

If you’re looking ahead for child-free winter sun, consider going further afield to the US desert resort city of Palm Springs

Thanks to its dry climate, this is a great place for a warm winter break. Simply relax in one of the hot mineral pools or private tubs, or pull on walking shoes and go hiking in the canyons.

Alternatively, you may want to spend your winter holidays whizzing down the slopes inhaling crisp Tyrolean air. In which case, a break at Elisabeth Hotel in Austria (elisabethhotel.com) may do the trick.

This picture-postcard hotel is located in Mayrhofen, one of the most popular resorts in the Alps since it lies at the foot of the Penken and Ahorn mountains. And you can also indulge in its expansive Elisense Spa, with a basalt pool to gently float in, a sauna, whirlpool bath and a silent ‘serenity room’.

And finally, for those who prefer a staycation, an excellent option is the ravishing Cornish coast with its soaring cliffs, rocky coves and undulating hills.

Mayrhofen is one of the most popular resorts in the Alps since it lies at the foot of the Penken and Ahorn mountains

In Newquay you’ll find Fistral Beach Hotel (fistralbeachhotel.co.uk), which crowns one of the headlands book-ending the bay. On the long, west-facing sandy beach you may want to have a go at surfing – it’s considered one of the best locations in the UK for the sport.

If surfing isn’t your thing, then pack walking shoes as there are endless coastal paths as well as beach walks.

For serious private time, the hotel’s wellness spa offers hour-long private pool hire – £50 for two adults, including a glass of prosecco each and exclusive use of the sauna and steam rooms.

The hotel has modern bedrooms (albeit compact), and the bar and restaurant have floor-to-ceiling windows, so that view is always with you even if your surfboard isn’t.

Source: Read Full Article