13 European Hotels For Fly & Flop Holidays

A whitewashed Andalusian village reimagined as a luxury resort, Puente Romano is one of Marbella’s most glamorous addresses. Set on the Golden Mile between Marbella and Puerto Banús, it’s home to over 15 restaurants and bars – from Nobu to Cipriani – plus a Six Senses spa, tennis club and botanical gardens. Rooms and suites are dotted among cobbled lanes and bougainvillaea, with beach access just steps away. Whether you’re here for the food, the pool scene or the people-watching, everything you need is on site.

Rooms from £290 per night.

Visit PUENTEROMANO.COM

On Sicily’s wild, volcanic island of Pantelleria, Parco dei Sesi is a soulful retreat designed for slow days. Set within a 5,000-year-old archaeological park, the 12 dammusi (traditional stone dwellings) are scattered across olive groves and caper fields, with views of sunsets over the sea. Interiors are earthy, with curated art and handcrafted details. Guests spend their days with yoga, sound healing, or dips in the saltwater pool, followed by aperitivi and farm-to-table dinners under the stars. Direct flights to the island from Palermo take just 50 minutes.

Rooms from €130 per night.

Visit PARCODEISESI.COM

In the heart of Mallorca’s countryside, Finca Serena is an adults-only retreat set on a 40-hectare estate of vineyards, olive groves and lavender fields. The 25 rooms are minimalist and serene, with natural textures and views across the Pla de Mallorca. Guests can join yoga classes, explore the trails or simply unwind by the infinity pool. The Jacaranda restaurant serves ‘zero-kilometre’ cuisine using produce from the hotel’s gardens, while the award-winning spa offers treatments rooted in local botanicals. Just 20 minutes from Palma airport, this is a peaceful, grown-up base for those who want to do very little.

Rooms from £555 per night.

Visit FINCASERENAMALLORCA.COM

In the beautiful and lesser-trodden seaside town of Cadaqués, Hotel Playa Sol is a family-run hotel with front-row views of the bay. Set just steps from a quiet beach, the hotel has a leafy garden with a heated pool, hammam and outdoor jacuzzi, plus a summer restaurant shaded by pine trees. Rooms are bright and contemporary, many with sea-facing balconies. Guests can kayak along the coast, cycle through Cap de Creus, or simply unwind with a glass of cava on the terrace. Ideal for a low-key Costa Brava break.

Rooms from £140 per night.

Visit PLAYASOL.COM

Set within the walls of Ischia’s Aragonese Castle, this former convent is one of the island’s most atmospheric stays. Albergo Il Monastero has just 20 rooms, each with vaulted ceilings, sea views and a pared-back Mediterranean aesthetic. Guests can explore the castle grounds, relax in the herb garden, or dine on the terrace overlooking the bay. The restaurant serves seasonal dishes with ingredients from the hotel’s own orto, though there are plenty of charming nearby restaurants for when you want to venture out.

Rooms from £150 per night.

Visit ILMONASTEROCASTELLOARAGONESEISCHIA.COM

A Riviera icon since the 1930s, Hôtel Juana is a grand Art Deco hotel in the heart of Juan-les-Pins. Overlooking the pine grove and just steps from the beach, it has 40 rooms and suites with marble bathrooms, balconies and vintage decor. Guests can relax by the white marble pool, dine at the Bistrot Terrasse, or enjoy access to the private beach at sister hotel Belles Rives. The shaded terrace is perfect for aperitifs after a day by the sea, while chic beach clubs and waterside restaurants are just a short walk away. 

Rooms from £210 per night. 

Visit HOTEL-JUANA.COM

On a private peninsula with four Blue Flag beaches, Grecotel Corfu Imperial is a polished resort that makes switching off easy. Rooms, bungalows and villas are dotted among olive groves and gardens, many with sea views and private pools. Guests can dine at multiple restaurants – from fine dining to beachfront grills – plus a spa, watersports and a chic promenade for evening strolls. Best of all it’s just 25 minutes from the airport and close to Corfu Town, where you’ll find a range of seafood restaurants, ice-cream shops, boutiques and more.

Rooms from €280 per night.

Visit GRECOTEL.COM

Set along 2km of private Cretan beach by Mirabello Bay, Minos Beach Art Hotel feels like a living gallery, with contemporary art installations scattered around the grounds. Interiors are contemporary and chic, with the kind of minimalist décor you’d expect from a design hotel. Bungalows and villas have private pools or direct access to the sea, while multi-bedroom villas are available for families. One of the main draws is laidback restaurant Bacchus for informal dinners, with plenty of crowd-pleasing dishes for fussy eaters. If you’re travelling with kids, babysitters can be arranged for €15 an hour, and children can enjoy the kids' club at the nearby sister hotel, Candia Park Village, free of charge.

Rooms from £215 per night.

Visit DESIGNHOTELS.COM