Picking a family holiday becomes a lot trickier once your little ones become teens. Ideally, you will want somewhere that you can all enjoy together, but with the option for them to be independent and explore by themselves (this peace and quiet is important for mum and dad too!). The perfect destination will be somewhere that has many activities and facilities for teens, but also somewhere that is safe and you do not have to worry about them getting into trouble.
My personal recommendation would be Roquetas de Mar on the southern coast of sunny Spain. This picturesque resort town on the Costa Algeria is a tranquil fishing village that boasts a gorgeous 3km sandy beach, a handful of places to visit and stunning natural surrounds – the entire area is designated a National Park!
Due to its location, Roquetas de Mar has a lovely Mediterranean climate and is never too hot due to the cooling sea breeze. Heavenly.
Roquetas de Mar is also known for its colourful festivals that are not to be missed! Check out our guide here.
So, what is there for teenagers to do when they want a bit of independence?
Teen Clubs
If they want to “hang out with people their own age”, a couple of the hotels in the area provide teen clubs which they are sure to enjoy and it is a great way for them to make some friends in a fun and safe environment.
Playasol SPA Hotel – water polo, carabine shooting, archery, mini-golf, table tennis and shuffleboard are just a few of the fun activities on offer at the teen club here, which is for those aged between 12 and 18. In addition to this, they also host sports days and arrange excursions in and around the town.
Diverhotel Roquetas – Also for those aged between 12 and 18, the teen club here offers a range of sports and pool activities, as well as nighttime entertainment and they can even partake in their own show. Diverhotel also offers teens a relaxing spa session and excursions around Roquetas de Mar.
Culture
Roquetas de Mar also has plenty of culture that will appeal to adolescents if they get bored on the beach or around the hotel. They will enjoy simply walking around the cobbled streets and taking in the sights, such as the medieval tower and impressive 17th century restored church, plus it is usually quiet and this means that it is safe for them to explore by themselves.
If they are music fans, I highly recommend that you suggest that they visit The Guitar Museum in Almeria. Free of charge, the museum is dedicated to legendary Spanish guitarist Antonio de Torres Jurado, who was also a famous Luthier (guitar maker). There are dozens of beautiful guitars on display, as well as a cool giant guitar with the fret reaching to the first floor!
Up on the first floor, there are various shots of the world’s greatest guitarists in action throughout history. They will get a real kick out of the upper level, which features a soundproofed room and an electric guitar for them to unleash their inner rockstar. There are also listening booths where they can hear a range of impressive guitar based music. If they are lucky, they may even catch a gig in the seated auditorium.
How to Get There:
Almería (LEI) airport is the closest airport and around 30km from the resort. Flights from London take around 3 hours, so your teens will easily be able to keep themselves entertained for the duration. Airlines including Monarch and easyJet make the direct flight and are reasonably priced.
Once you touchdown, you will want to quickly head on to Roquetas de Mar so that you can begin soaking up the sun. A pre-booked Shuttle Direct transfer takes all the hassle out of onwards travel and get your trip off to a smooth start. The drive will take around 40 minutes, so sit back and enjoy the ocean views.
Where to Stay:
Playas SPA Hotel – Not only does this hotel have a great teens club, but it also has comfortable rooms that come with TV, a balcony and air-conditioning. There is a large outdoor pool (with slides), a spa and large terrace perfect for relaxing, so your adolescents have plenty of options to keep them entertained around the complex. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout (very important for today’s teens!) There is also a buffet restaurant and lounge bar where you can reconvene for family meals. Other guests have enjoyed staying here due to the fact that it is just a 1-minute stroll to the beach.
Diverhotel Roquetas – If your family enjoys being in the pool then they will love staying here as there are a couple of outdoor pools with slides and a hot tub, as well as an indoor pool. The rooms are bright, spacious and come with satellite TV and Wi-Fi is available (for a small charge in your rooms but free in public areas). Tasty food is served at the buffet for breakfast and dinner, whilst there is also a cool poolside bar. Staying around the hotel in the evening can be fun, as they put on live shows, gigs and games nights. The hotel is a 5-minute walk to the beach.
About Shuttle Direct:
Eliminate the stress of onwards travel with a pre-booked transfer from Shuttle Direct, one of Europe’s leading transfer provider. They provide quick, efficient and comfortable passage between airports, hotels, train stations, cruise terminals and other areas of interest throughout the continent.
Provide the details of your trip on their simple booking form and their expert team will handle the logistics.
