FAMILY
A five-star find When booking a holiday with small kids, it’s not easy to get places that offer the bit of luxury you want as well as the entertainment – and genuine welcome – for the little ones. Linda Daly found one notable exception on the western Algarve
G
OING away with kids can sometimes be akin to doing a triathlon. Children can be hard work no matter where they are. Throw in the hustle and bustle of a holiday resort, dealing with arguments, and watching them like a hawk in unfamiliar surroundings, and the exhaustion sets in right about the time you return home. Even holiday resorts dedicated to families can be tiring and filled with noise, crying children and stressed parents. It was far from five-star hotels that I was raised, but there is a startling lack of quality resorts that offer all the comfort of five stars blended with family-friendly policies. One destination that breaks the mould is Martinhal, a luxury beach resort and hotel on the western Algarve in Portugal. Set within a protected natural park to the south of the country and close to Sagres, Martinhal was opened in 2010 by husband and wife Roman and Chitra Stern. They had a young family, and wanted to provide a five-star holiday destination that catered for people like them. In fact, the couple live on site and use the services regularly so they get to see just what their guests are receiving. In November, I travelled to Martinhal for three nights with my godmother and nine-year-old daughter. With a flight duration of just under three hours and another hour’s drive to the resort, getting there wasn’t too difficult. Martinhal comprises a 37-bedroom
At night time, the restaurant had childminders to look after children in an adjoining room 22 Mothers & Babies 28 January 2015
five-star hotel, a selection of beach rooms, houses and villas, three restaurants, bars and spa. There are three swimming pools on site – two outdoor and a half indoor/ half outdoor pool, a paddling pool, as well as a tennis sports club with artificial courts. Our home for the three nights was a two-bedroom Ocean house, with views out onto the Atlantic Ocean. The Bay houses overlook the national park. The houses have been designed to maximise on those views, so bedrooms were downstairs and living accommodation on the first floor. The master bedroom with en-suite looked out through floor-to-ceiling patio doors to the sandy blue-flag beach, and you could hear the ocean lapping onto shore. The houses are self-catering, with dishwasher, coffee machine, cooker, and an all-important food package. There’s an under-stairs washing machine but cleaners come in regularly, and guests can avail of a laundry service. The bathrooms were top quality and stocked with Voya products. Martinhal prides itself on being an environmentally friendly resort. DESIGN Much attention has been given to the design of the properties, with designer furniture and spacious living accommodation. But thought has been also given to families, with high chairs, travel cots and potties provided. There’s even kiddy steps in the bathrooms. Martinhal is set on an incline, so it was sometimes interesting walking down the hilly paths to the hotel at night, especially as my godmother is visually impaired, but we did note that buggies had no problem traversing the terrain. For the three nights we ate in the hotel restaurant, O Terraço, which served the most delicious Portuguese food and wine, and catered for the vegetarian and child among us. Seafood lovers could opt for As Dunas, the beachfront restaurant, and there’s also an Italian restaurant Os Gambozinos, though that was closed for the low season. Each morning we ate breakfast at
O Terraço, with ample choice and a mountain of food. However, the jewel in Martinhal’s crown is that despite such luxurious surroundings, it welcomes children with open arms. At night time, the hotel restaurant had childminders on hand to look after children in an adjoining room with glass, open doors. There were a number of newborns and toddlers present but very few tears or tantrums. The resort provides crèche facilities and runs kids and adventure clubs for children up to 16 years of age, with a number of games rooms. For the parents there’s a gym at the village square, three bars on-site, and Finisterra spa, which offers child and parent packages for children as young as four. My girl and I enjoyed a mother-and-daughter facial – her very first. It was a special moment. Martinhal has a number of packages aimed at families, including a baby’s first holiday package, which encourages new parents to take their first break with the family. An extended family package sees couples with two children stay in a village house while the grandparents receive a 40pc discount on their stay in the hotel.
If you’re looking to book somewhere for Easter, Martinhal has a five-day/ four-night package. This includes four nights’ stay with buffet breakfast, one meal per day (lunch or dinner), use of the facilities at the spa, one-hour complimentary tennis court hire per day, and a family Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Prices start at €1,032 for two adults, one child up to 12 years and one child up to two years, at the Beach Room. Stays at the one, two and three-bedroom houses cost €1,328, €1,456 and €2,120 respectively, accommodating up to seven people. Check out www.marthinhal.com.