Forte Village Resort

A favorite with families, the Forte Village manages to mix Mediterranean beauty with all of the facilities that keep kids and parents happy.

• A wide array of activities sure to keep both parents and children happy
• Enormous suites that can be connected for large families
• The resort’s three gigantic beaches

There’s a reason it’s called the Forte Village: the sprawling resort is made up of seven hotels and includes twenty-one restaurants and a world-renowned destination spa. At full capacity, there can be more than 1,500 guests, but you would never know it: the fifty-five-acre property is landscaped within a forest of Mediterranean pines and palm trees (arriving guests are driven around via golf cart). It’s also incredibly well staffed, so even during high season guests can find privacy. Popular with celebrities like David Beckham and Sting, Forte Village symbolizes the ultimate luxury family getaway to most Europeans.

At first it appears to be a hybrid of a Club Med resort and a venerable mainstay (think the Breakers in Palm Beach). Some of the architecture seemed somewhat dated and the children’s restaurant was a bit too kitschy for my taste, though kids love it (all the furniture is child-sized). (The resort offers a lot for children: an entertainment complex with go-carts, a bowling alley, a trampoline, an-ice skating rink and a pool designed for kids, as well as performances at the Mini Club, free for two- to twelve-year-olds.) But from the first moment my husband and I arrived, the service was very professional and friendly. And the view from our suite was spectacular, since the spacious room, with a glass wall that looked out over the sea, was situated over the resort’s private beach. We spent our days lying out on our terrace or by one of the many pools, eating well and floating around the spa’s salt Thalassotherapy pools. I strongly recommend trying the hydro-massage with Guido, which was one of the most relaxing spa treatments I’d had in a while.

Tip: If you want to be near the beach, book a room in the five-star Hotel Castello or the Beachcomber or Boathouse suites. The five-star Villa del Parco is a few minutes’ walk from the seaside but is surrounded by lush gardens and located right next to the spa. The bungalows are ideal for small families and offer plenty of privacy.

Families looking for the pinnacle in luxury and amenities.