FINDING a family holiday that actually lives up to the glossy brochure pictures is rare – especially one that’s also affordable.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you by tracking down some of the top-rated resorts on Tripadvisor that also have incredibly cheap package deals.
Whether you’re booking ahead for winter sun in Egypt and Tunisia, or wanting massive family aquaparks in Turkey and Spain, we’ve got you covered.
And these aren’t just ordinary hotels – we’ve found a video game-themed resort in Spain with an on-site retro arcade, and a hotel on the sunny Turkish Turquoise Coast with a whopping 13 waterslides.
All of these hotels have an average rating of 4 out of 5 approval rating or above on Tripadvisor, and offer all inclusive weeks away for under £500pp.
Here’s our pick of top-rated breaks based on a family of four staying 7 nights all inclusive, from as little as £299pp.
Happy Life Village – Dahab, Egypt
With a solid 4.5/5 rating on Tripadvisor, it’s safe to say many guests leave happy after a holiday at the Happy Life Village.
This hotel sits on Egypt’s Red Sea, home to a huge coral reef which you can explore by scuba diving or snorkelling.
This resort is built to keep families happy, with waterslides and a children’s pool for the kids to make a splash, as well as a relaxing spa for parents to unwind.
One happy holidaymaker left a gleaming Tripadvisor review, writing: “It’s possibly the best holiday I’ve ever had. Out of many”.
“The facilities – pools, bar, restaurant, beach are amazing in my opinion. And the big one for me – right off the beach, corals as far as I can swim both sides. Kilometres! Stunning snorkelling. I love this hotel”.
We found a deal for a seven night, all inclusive break from October 25, with return flights from Edinburgh, for £469pp.
Orka Sunlife Resort Hotel and Aquapark – Olu Deniz, Turkey
Fancy zipping down a waterslide into a crystal clear pool, which offers sweeping views of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast?
The Orka Sunlife Resort Hotel & Aquapark sits in Olu Deniz, a Turkish hotspot home to beautiful beaches and the Blue Lagoon, where water glows almost luminously blue.
The hotel itself has five pools, 13 waterslides, and an all-day entertainment program to keep little ones entertained.
The hotel has a 4.3/5 rating on Tripadvisor, with one guest writing: “The hotel was beautiful, we loved everything, the shows, activities, everything was perfect, we had so much fun.”
Another praised the entertainment staff, writing that the “Atmosphere at this hotel is absolutely amazing the entertainment team made my holiday they are wonderful and work really hard to entertain the guests”.
We found a deal for a seven night, all inclusive stay from October 27 with return flights from London from £479pp.
Hotel Magic Games – Spain
As Spain’s first video game-themed hotel, it’s safe to say it’s near-impossible for kids to get bored here.
Hotel Magic Games sits in Spain‘s Costa Del Azahar, a beautiful stretch of coastline known as the Orange Blossom Coast. Here, you can stroll through quiet pine-backed beaches or visit the medieval Papa Luna Castle.
For days spent at the hotel, explore the on-site video game museum, dine in the themed Pixel Buffet Restaurant, float past giant dragons at the on-site waterpark and tackle old school arcade games in the massive Magic Play Zone.
When night rolls around, head back to your immersive, gaming-themed room – complete with comfy gaming chairs, chessboards and glowing neon lights.
This hotel has a comfortable 4.1/5 rating on Tripadvisor, and is the top-rated stay in the Oropesa Del Mar area.
On the Beach offer a seven night, all inclusive break from October 25, with return flights from London, for £333pp.
Gravity Sahl Hasheesh – Hurghada, Egypt
With an outstanding 4.7/5 rating on Tripadvisor, the Gravity Sahl Hasheesh is certainly an impressive place to stay.
This five-star family resort boasts seven pools, an on-site aqua park, a private beach and a full-service spa.
Come evening, the resort lights up with live entertainment and a popular on-site nightclub.
One Tripadvisor review reads “From the very first moment, it was clear that this hotel in Hurghada offers an outstanding level of luxury and truly deserves more than five stars”.
“The hotel has a lot to offer for children and adults, making it perfect for families and couples. The pools are beautiful and well-maintained, and the beach is very clean with a lovely private pier.”
Loveholidays offer a seven night, all inclusive stay from October 27 with return flights from Edinburgh, from £489pp.
Grand Uysal Beach Hotel, Antalya
Rated 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor, the Grand Uysal Beach Hotel is a reliable pick for families looking for an action-packed Turkey holiday.
Here there’s several pools with a kids zone surrounded by waterslides, plus there’s even an underground tunnel that leads you straight out to the beach.
One Tripadvisor guest praised the hotel’s friendly staff, writing “The active and consistent work of the staff and the deliciousness of the food were among the most important things we noticed”.
“The entire place was also very clean, which is due to the discipline of the staff; they were always active and smiling. We would love to come again with my family”.
Loveholidays offer a week-long, all inclusive package break from £299pp in November.
With temperatures still sitting comfortably in the 20s, it’s an absolute steal for families with pre-schoolers or older teens who aren’t tied to term times.
Hotel Le Sultan, Hammemet, Tunisia
If you’re looking for a family holiday with plenty of activities for the kids, Hotel Le Sultan is a top pick.
Here you can play tennis, go catamaran sailing, practice archery and even go horse riding at the hotel’s very own equestrian centre.
The hotel has a 4.5/5 rating on Tripadvisor, with over 5,000 reviews.
One review reads “We had a wonderful stay at the Hotel Sultan in Hammamet. The hotel is very beautiful, the staff friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was simply wonderful”.
“We would especially like to highlight the kids club. Our children had a lot of fun there and were well taken care of”.
EasyJet holidays offer a week-long, all inclusive package break from £341pp in November, when temperatures are still hitting 23C.