Junior Design Awards 2023 / Travel Awards 2023 / 19 September 2023

Best Family Travel Brand | Junior Design Awards 2023

These award winning family travel brands will ensure your next holiday is one to remember

Who:Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts

What:Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts, Portugal

Why:

Martinhal is a collection of luxury family hotels in some of the most prestigious areas in Portugal. With resorts in the Algarve and Lisbon, parents can opt for a beach escape or introduce little ones to the wonders of the city break.

And, they will be amazed by the children’s facilities that consider every detail to fulfil parent’s and children’s needs (like puree menus in every restaurant, on-site babysitting and furniture with rounded edges). Honestly, Junior has been over the years – and can vouch that every thing you have heard is true.

For 2023, new Martinhal Residences brings the brand to the trendy Park of Nations district of Lisbon – and offering a more modern, nomad style of holiday for those that would benefit from longer stays, co-working spaces and even Lisbon’s first family club. Here’s why the judges awarded gold…

I have stayed at 2 of the five properties and can honestly say I have never been more impressed with the attention to detail for families. This is why Martinhal remain one of the top - and continuous award winning brands for JUNIOR. We would never recommend anything we haven't experienced ourselves.We totally understand why parents want to keep these hotels a secret!

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

Always good to see Martinhal in the awards! Looking forward to seeing the new property. They offer great family focussed design throughout the hotels - I like that the hotels have been created by parents, for parents - this comes through in the details

Zoey Goto, Travel writer and author, @zoeygotowriter

Who:Oliver's Travels

What:Family-Friendly Villas

Why:

Oliver’s Travels is a unique travel brand that handpicks luxury villas and chateaux for their ‘wow’ factor. That means their books are filled with beautifully designed properties, brimming with state-of-the-art amenities, and overflowing with quirky touches to ensure an unforgettable holiday.

With an extensive portfolio of 7,400+ they really do have something for everyone. They guarantee that once you arrive at your Oliver’s Travels holiday home, you’ll enjoy exclusivity, privacy and space unlike any other accommodation – leaving kids free from the constraints of staying in a hotel and allowing them to just have fun. Sound good to us!

I love the fact that Oliver's Travels offers a unique and different kind of villa holiday booking service for families. Their motto is ‘Why Do Ordinary?’ - and we couldn't be on board with that anymore than we are. Bravo to being different!

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

Having stayed at an Oliver's Travels property in the UK I can safely say it was one of the the highlights of my year!

Ellie Crompton, Deputy Editor at Junior

Great range of destinations - there's something for every family on offer. I love the design focus of the company too.

Zoey Goto, Travel writer and author, @zoeygotowriter

Who:Quinta do Lago

What:Quinta do Lago, Portugal

Why:

This high-end resort in the nestled in the Algarve, Quinta do Lago and situated in the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and is one of Europe’s most highly regarded luxury family travel brands.

Quinta do Lago encourages guests to spend time outdoors and offers balmy temperatures year round. Hosting a selection of outstanding restaurants, multi-sports hub – The Campus (including water sports at the lake, family cycle rides through the Ria Formosa Natural Park, celebrity sports camps, and of course world-class golf facilities), and beautifully relaxed accommodation at The Magnolia Hotel with seven exclusive cottages offering a haven with expansive bedrooms, living areas, a kitchen and patio facilities, a huge amount of space is available for the whole family.

The Magnolia Hotel with its Palm Springs-esqe setting has been on my wish list for a while now. The whole area sounds amazing and I have a massive soft spot for Portugal. They just seem to get family holiday hotels and resorts so right.

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

A truly wonderful travel destination that has luxury and children all wrapped up in one.

Jonathan Kirkby, Founder of Instinct PR, @jonathankirkby

Beautiful high-end design.

Zoey Goto, Travel writer and author, @zoeygotowriter

Who:Scott Dunn

What:Scott Dunn Luxury Travel Operators

Why:

Scott Dunn have been creating luxury holidays for over 35 years – that in itself is no mean feat in this ever changing travel landscape. Maybe it’s because they know what works best for families as they have spent much time researching the best resorts, experiences, room types and flight times – to ensure families have the best holiday possible.

They can literally craft any type of family holiday you want, all designed from scratch, totally unique to you. They also operate exclusive Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Clubs in 10 destinations around the world and offer expert childcare for young guests from 4 months, and activity programmes for older children.

When you think of travel companies for families, Scott Dunn immediately springs to mind. They are best in class - always delivering unforgettable holidays for parents and children

Jonathan Kirkby, Founder of Instinct PR, @jonathankirkby

A trusted name in the family travel world.

Zoey Goto, Travel writer and author, @zoeygotowriter