Our favorite hotels and resorts in Europe that we would go back to again and again
Over the past year, I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over some of the most beautiful destinations in Europe - both with my kids and with friends or sisters.
One of my favorite parts of traveling is researching a place and figuring out what the PERFECT hotel for the trip will be. This list represents WEEKS of research that I have done over the past year before every trip.
When I am looking to book a hotel, I’m considering:
Location - Ideally, I want to walk to as many places as possible and be centrally located.
Views - if you are going to go all the way to Switzerland, you want a hotel with a VIEW! If I can get a balcony, even better!
Amenities - when you have your kids with you, you want a pool! But I also love an amazing spa
Breakfast - I LOVE being able to wake up in the morning and walk downstairs to breakfast without having to think twice. So many hotels in Europe have amazing breakfasts included in the price - and I’ll often go as late as possible (closer to 10 am) to stretch it and make it so we don’t need lunch till 2 PM.
We will keep adding to this list in the coming months, but for now, I hope you love this list and are inspired to start planning your next trip around one of these amazing hotels and resorts!
𝓘𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭
Located in County Kildare, near Glendalough valley in county Wicklow just one hour southwest from Dublin. This hidden jewel is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland. Imagine sleeping in a real Irish castle, with over 800 years of history woven into every stone wall and tapestry, a full-on, fairytale experience!! The property itself is truly breathtaking, boasting an 18-hole championship golf course right on site—golfers, prepare to be amazed! The luxury spa is nothing short of spectacular. We made sure to indulge in the thermal suite, soaking up the warmth and relaxation, though timing didn’t quite align for treatments this trip. Still, just wandering through the spa's serene spaces was enough to feel like total royalty!
Food: Breakfast was included, and you select from a menu but had authentic Irish breakfast options with coffee and espresso options.
- Few different dining options available for lunch and dinner on the property. We visited on a weekday so the “fancier” option (Restaurant 1180) was not open but we ate at Hermione's Restaurant at the Clubhouse and it was one of the best meals on our trip.
**A highlight for us was having pre-dinner drinks at The Keep. Located within the castle’s original stone walls and vaulted ceilings, The Keep exudes historic charm, featuring a roaring fireplace and cozy bar seating and also opens onto a terrace with views over the castle gardens—a perfect setting for summer evenings as we watched the sunset as we enjoyed champagne and chatted with the bartender and other travelers.
Time of year visited: We visited in April, totally lucked out with the weather!! We even did a short hike in the Glendalough valley - where there are amazing trails for hikes, walks and historic sites.
—> Read our full review on staying at Kilkea Castle and why we loved it!
Located right on St. Stephen’s Green (our room had a terrace that overlooked the park). We loved this hotel for so many reasons including being greeted in the lobby by champagne, but the location was TOP TIER! It was centrally located, just steps away from theaters, museums, Trinity College, and Temple Bar—most attractions are within a 5–10 min walk. We were less than 500 feet to a bunch of the major shopping and some other great local pubs.
Food: Breakfast was not included but they did have an amazing breakfast buffet and a la carte menu available for purchase (we just got coffee).
- There are 3 different dining options with the most notable being Glovers Alley - A fine dining, Michelin Star restaurant. We mostly ate while out wondering around the city.
Time of the year visited: Mid-April and the weather was warm for this time of year but really does vary. It did rain one day but we were in Ireland for one week and most of the other days people were raving about how nice it was, and it was the 60s most days.
𝓘𝓽𝓪𝓵𝔂
Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda
Located on Lake Garda, high up in the mountains, this is more than just a hotel—it’s a destination onto itself in one of the most breathtaking spots in Italy. The spa is absolutely world-class, and many of the guests that come here check in and don’t leave the property for days - it’s THAT kind of place.
I did see a few children here but this place most definitely has a more ADULT vibe - think quiet public spaces and rooms, luxurious pools and everything centered around health and wellness.
**The highlight of this resort is of course the stunning spa with everything you want and more. They have heated indoor/outdoor salt pools, ice pool & cold plunges, lake-view saunas, whirlpool, phytotherapy area and if you can believe it, MORE. The coolest thing I did was booked a 30 minutes session in salt cave where the ratio of salt is like being in the Dead Sea - you truly float.
The outdoor salt pool at the Lefay Resort Spa
This is the view of the cutest little town promenade in the “lemon town” because it is know for all of the lemons grown in Europe.
Food: The amazing breakfast buffet is included in your room rate, and you could truly make it your breakfast AND lunch for the day. There is a chef making omelettes to order, someone juicing every fruit and vegetable you could ever want, a full pastry bar, homemade smoothies, meats and cheeses and much more. In the evening, book a reservation at the amazing on site restaurant for healthy takes on Italian classics (just be forewarned - it is pricey!)
Time of the year visited: Visited in February - would't recommend winter though as the views of the lake aren't good and you can't take advantage of all the little lakeside towns and villages as much because they are closed for the season. HOWEVER, the hotel is pretty remote - it takes 15 minutes of windy roads to get to it from the main road, so many people go there and don't leave all weekend.
𝓕𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
—> Read our full review of the Rivage Hotel and Spa Resort all about what we did in the Annecy area.
Located in Annecy, just outside the French Alps, 25 miles south of Geneva. This hotel is truly the perfect choice no matter who you are traveling with. Families, couples or a group of girls would all have the best time staying here. The rooms are spacious, updated and beautiful, and most rooms have a balcony overlooking the lake (just note that while this hotel is “lakefront”, there is. road just in front of it that you have to cross over to get to the lake and promenade.
The location of the Rivage Hotel and Spa in Annecy is amazing - just outside the main medieval city center (that gets super crowded in the season) but right on a leafy, tree-lined section of the lake. You can walk to restaurants, the casino, the lido and everything else that you want to see in Annecy - yet you are outside of the hustle and bustle. There is onsite parking too, which we loved!
We choose this room so we could put the kids to bed and sit out on the balcony at night. We rented bikes and rode along the bike path that surrounds the lake because we got so lucky with the weather we wanted to be outside as much as possible. If you come in warmer months, you can sunbathe and swim right on the lido on the lake across the street, and easily walk to and from town (it’s about a 20 minute walk give or take depending on how fast you walk).
**The highlight of this resort is the spa area, which you can use as a guest of the hotel, even if you don’t book a treatment. There was a steam room, a sauna, a cold plunge, a full length pool, a baby pool, a whirlpool and more!
Food: There is an amazing breakfast that was included in our rate - I LOVED the vast selection of eggs, meats and cheeses, pastries, juices and everything else you could imagine. You can easily eat a late breakfast here and make it stretch to “count” as your breakfast AND lunch!
Time of the year visited: We visited in November and we got lucky with the weather! It was warmer than normal in the high 60s, so we were able to do lots of outdoor activities! We did a hike, hiked to a nearby waterfall, and ate lunch at an authentic mountaintop restaurant while watching paragliders on a terrace while eating fondue.
𝓢𝔀𝓲𝓽𝔃𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭
Located on the Southern end of Lake Lucerne in Brunnen, this hotel is just one hour from Zurich. If you are coming to Switzerland and looking for a hotel that has amazing views, is in a cute and walkable small town, is on Lake Lucerne and is a great jumping off point to do the Mt. Rigi hike or Stoos Ridge hike - Seehotel Waldstätterhof is for you!
There is a great onsite bar, breakfast is included, and they have an amazing little station setup in the hallway where you can grab a snack or make your own espresso, cappucinos and lates anytime of day or night - all included in the price!
The hotel has an old world glamour feel to it and I loved how authentically “Swiss” it felt. My most favorite part of this hotel though, hands-down, was the AMAZING balcony with a view of Lake Lucerne.
This beautiful balcony is where we spent all of our time while in the hotel
Food:
Breakfast was included in our rate and it was wonderful. You could even get mimosas and champagne included! There is an onsite bar where we got drinks and snacks late one night as well and the bartenders were so friendly and helpful.
Time of the year visited:
Visited in May. The weather was amazing and perfect for doing outdoor activities like a hike.
I have to say, Lake Lugano and the Hotel Lido Seegartren really have it all. The town of Lugano (in the Ticino, or Italian-speaking part of Switzerland) is so beautiful yet it has all the amenities you could want. It’s no wonder that this is where many Swiss come to vacation!
If you want to really feel like you are on holiday but yet still enjoy European culture, history and dining - this is the place for you! Situated directly on the shores of Lake Lugano, about an hour from Milan. If you want to avoid the crowds of Lake Como but still have a dreamy Italian summer escape, you should consider this hotel, which is in the Ticino, or Italian Speaking region, of Switzerland - a stone's throw from the border of Italy. In fact, you can easily do a day trip to Lake Como from here!
The town of Lugano has great restaurants, a lakeside lido and promenade, a funicular that will take you up to Mount Bee for a great hike, yet also has nightclubs and a casino - there is really something for everyone here!
**The highlight of this hotel is the POOL! It is on what appears to be a floating dock (although it isn’t - which I was very grateful for considering I get motion sick) and while the pool is small, there were always enough sunbeds and chairs for everyone to enjoy. Next to the pool there is a vine and flowered - covered terrace and a small bar where they mix up AMAZING drinks - included frozen drinks that make you feel like you are on a proper holiday.
Food: Breakfast was included in the rate of this hotel, and included juices, scrambled eggs, meats and pastries. For an additional charge you could also order made to order omelettes. Out of all the hotels on this list, I will say that I was the least impressed by this breakfast, but even saying that - it was still great!
Time of the year visited: Late may, and the weather was PERFECT.
𝓔𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭
The Grove Hotel Spa and Golf Resort
Located just 18 miles outside of London, in Chandler’s Cross near Watford. This great option to add on to a trip to London in the summer.
It has recently been names one of the UK’s top golf resorts, recently ranked the #1 Golf Resort in England with its award-winning course and has hosted legendary players like Tiger Woods. The real lure for us was the kids activities and outdoor pool area in a garden and even a sandy area known as '“Ralph’s Beach”. The resort also has many activities like axe-throwing, archery, tennis, beach volleyball, archery, clay-pigeon shooting, cycling, and nature or falconry walks. Families can enjoy a kids' pool, indoor games, escape rooms, mini Land Rover rides, pony rides, and a playground.
**A highlight for us was renting bikes and riding around the property exploring the trails of The Grove Hotel. My 9-year old also did archery and he couldn’t stop talking about how much he loved it!
Spa: We of course utilized the spa. The sequoia spa is an adults only area that includes, steam rooms, huge pool, jacuzzis and more that you can use free of charge as a guest.
Food: Breakfast was included. This breakfast buffet was best breakfast buffet I've ever ate at. The Grove Hotel had literally everything including Lox, all the breakfast breads, fruit and MTO - waffles, pancakes, and omelettes.
-We opted to do the dinner buffet at the Glasshouse - feature on Netflix’s ‘Million Dollar Buffet’ documentary and this was a fun experience. Prices vary by day of the week- but it was £66 PP and kids were half price for us but, it was 100% worth it. My kids tried so many different foods and it was truly one of the best done buffet’s i’ve ever been too (I normally don’t love buffets). They featured fresh fish, sushi, and cuisines from all over the world. Most notable was the create your own pasta dish station and the made to order steak and salmon.
Time of the year visited: Late June. England was having a heat wave and we wanted a place to let the kids swim and relax and this couldn’t have been more perfect.
St. Ermin’s Hotel - Autograph Collection
Located right in central London. A luxury hotel that caters to families and is kid-friendly. We LOVED staying here so much!! The room types are family friendly - they currently are offering buy one room and get the second half off for families, the staff is so accommodating and the location is PERFECT. You are a 10 minute walk to many top tourist attractions like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye and Buckingham Palace. Another huge thing for us when stying here was being so close to both Hyde and St. James Parks to let the kids play.
Food: No breakfast was included in our stay but you can choose this option when booking. St. Ermin’s offers both a breakfast buffet and a to-go a la carte menu for you to choose from; But of course you can always to choose to have breakfast in bed.
-They have have 2 other on-site restaurants the Terrace and Caxton Grill. We ate lunch on the Terrace because it was so beautiful out and the menu was a variety of handmade fresh sushi, salads small plates. Then on the second level of the lobby they offer an authentic afternoon tea, with kid friendly options available (must be booked ahead of time).
Time of the year visited: Late April. We got very lucky with the weather as it was nearly 80 degrees the 3 days we stayed here but the weather is usually in the 60s this time of the year (of course London’s weather is unpredictable).
𝓖𝓮𝓻𝓶𝓪𝓷𝔂
Located in Fussen, just about 90 minutes from Munich, the hotel provides captivating scenery situated on the lake and the Bavarian Alps. This is a truly magical place to stay in the countryside if you are planning to visit Munich and want to spend some time outside the city and/or if you are planning to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. The infamous castle that was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, a short 10 minute drive away from this hotel. You can also make the 15 minute walk to the charming old town of Fussen, which we loved exploring each night for dinner and some local shopping.
**A highlight for us was the large spa with indoor and heated outdoor pools, four types of saunas, steam room, cold plunges, infrared cabin, gym, and relaxing areas with breathtaking mountain views in the background. All of these amenities were included with your stay and WE LOVED waking up and utilizing these each morning.
Food: A Breakfast buffet was included with traditional German food like cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruit and bread. Hotel Sommer also served some cereal, yogurts and hard boiled eggs. We personally loved the fresh juicer they had for you to actually juice local fresh produce.
-They did have an onsite restaurant that served lunch and dinner but we ate out in the town for these meals so we only had breakfast here. We did love the hotel bar though. the staff were so welcoming and made us some of the best post-dinner drinks.
Time of the year visited: We visited in August and it was GREAT to beat the heat and escape the crowds and we LOVED all the facilities that were included at this resort.
Located in central Munich, this hotel was the perfect place to stay while visiting Munich and exploring the city. We were close to Biergartens, the infamous Hofbräuhaus, and all of the shopping you could image within 15 minutes of the hotel.
**A highlight of staying here was the location but also the hotel bar. We came back here almost every night and had some food or drinks. Located in the original Hall of Mirrors, this bar dates back to the 1800s and impressively survived WWII bombings. The elegant mirrored décor was fully restored to preserve its charm - I am a little bit of a history nerd and loved learned all about the history of not only this bar but the hotel.
Enjoying a slow morning of the most incredible room service at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich.
Food: A full breakfast buffet was included. The Bayerischer Hof had a variety of food from traditional German cuisine, to make to order waffles and omelettes. The food was overall good but nothing unforgettable.
- Bayerischer Hof has over 4 different restaurants in the hotel to choose from, including a French restaurant - Atelier (2 Michelin Stars). We did eat a late dinner here after going to a concert . We had burger and salads in the lounge area and the food was amazing! Sadly, Trader Vic’s - the tiki bar was closed for renovations so we didn’t get to go there but looked really cool.
Time of the year visited: Mid-August. We wanted to stay in the city to explore and we were going to a concert at Olympia Stadium. We carried a handheld fan everywhere we went. It was vVERY hot but thankfully this hotel had air conditioning!
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