Falkensteiner Diadora Resort Punta Skala, near Zadar, Croatia
Perfect for Families with Children of all Ages
Why Choose a Croatian Resort?
Lots of our friends had raved about Croatia, though mostly reminiscing about trips they’d taken before children. Stories of leisurely boat excursions, ancient cobbled streets and wandering through beautiful walled cities sounded idyllic, but they weren’t quite what we were looking for on a week-long family escape. What we really needed was a chance to switch off from work, school runs and the endless juggle of everyday life.
The crystal-clear waters of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast had been calling us for years, so we chose to stay at Falkensteiner’s family-focused Hotel Diadora. To balance beach time with a little culture, we planned one final night in the historic, pedestrianised city of Zadar, just a 20-minute taxi ride away.
It was during the short flight that I realised our family travel dynamic had quietly changed. The activities I’d packed in their goody bags were actually working, our eldest spent the entire flight absorbed in a book, and no one (myself included) shed a tear. Then our youngest looked up and asked what the word embarrassing meant. I felt a wave of relief that she didn’t yet fully understand the feeling, along with excitement for the days ahead. We were about to spend time together in our own little Croatian bubble, free from routines and responsibilities- and, if I’m honest, I was equally excited to introduce the children to one of the best kids’ clubs we’ve ever experienced. Trust me, you’ll want to keep reading.
Zadar from the Bell Tower
Just 30 minutes from Zadar Airport, the drive to Falkensteiner Punta Skala winds past vineyards, olive groves and dramatic mountain backdrops before arriving at the private peninsula that the resort calls home. More than a single hotel, Punta Skala is a destination in itself, comprising the family-focused Hotel Diadora, the adults-orientated Hotel & Spa Iadera, luxury residences, the Fortis Club sports centre, two waterfront restaurants specialising in seafood and steak, and, until the end of summer 2026, a horse-riding school.
A coastal promenade links it all together. On one side, the sparkling Adriatic; on the other, fragrant pine trees providing welcome shade. The leisurely 30-minute walk passes the resort’s restaurants before reaching Fortis Club, where Diadora’s sandy beach gives way first to rocky coves and then to a wide pebble beach popular with adults and local dog walkers. It’s the sort of coastline that feels lifted from a 1960s Riviera postcard, with stylish Europeans lounging by impossibly clear turquoise water—a scene that proves this timeless aesthetic never really went out of fashion.
Check-in came with an unexpected stroke of genius: waterproof rubber wristbands that doubled as both room keys and cashless payment cards for drinks, snacks and the inevitable ice creams between meals. It meant no more frantic rummaging through oversized beach bags or asking, “Who’s got the key?” Children can even have their own wristbands, provided you trust them not to spend the day funding the gelato counter.
Hotel Diadora strikes an effortless balance between relaxed luxury and genuine family practicality. Small details make all the difference: baby seats in public toilets, QR codes giving instant access to the daily activity programme, a shaded toddler splash pool, and an atmosphere where no one-not staff nor fellow guests-seems remotely fazed by children cartwheeling through the restaurant after one too many visits to Candyland (more on that shortly). Despite the resort being busy, it never felt crowded, and finding a cluster of sun loungers together by the pool was never a problem – a luxury in itself during peak season.
From our camera roll...
What are the Rooms Like?
Every room at Hotel Diadora, even the entry-level categories, includes a separate children’s bedroom, making family life instantly feel more spacious. Our sea-view suite featured two generous marble bathrooms, a comfortable lounge, two large balconies, blissfully quiet air conditioning, and a master bed so enormous it could easily have slept the whole family.
The girls barely noticed any of it. They raced into their bedroom before bursting back out, shouting, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Suspended above their beds was a climbing wall leading to a netted den—a dream setup for our wall-climbing, book-loving duo. A secret reading hideaway reached by climbing? They were in heaven.
Meanwhile, I was already armed with the complimentary beach bag and towel cards, eager to explore the resort. Convincing them to leave the room, however, proved surprisingly difficult. Then I remembered one important detail: the enormous indoor play zone that’s open all day, complete with a huge soft play area, cinema room, teen gaming lounge, climbing wall and plenty more. The mere mention of it had them sprinting out of the door.
What to Eat at Diadora?
This is no ordinary buffet. Spread across a series of beautifully presented stations that change daily, the food is genuinely impressive. We tucked into everything from vibrant salads and freshly grilled fish—including monkfish, sea bream and salmon—to perfectly cooked duck, beef fillet and pork. Live cooking stations served truffle pasta, ravioli and tagliatelle to order, alongside smash burgers, pulled pork bao buns and a seemingly endless supply of wood-fired pizzas.
There were wheels of local Pag cheese and Parmesan, platters of seasonal fruit, and even a morning Mimosa station for parents easing into the day. Younger guests had their own dedicated buffet with child-sized tableware, familiar favourites including pasta, chips and cheesy bites, alongside fresh crudités. Gluten-free options were clearly available, while guests with allergies could order freshly prepared dishes made to their requirements.
Then, every evening, came the highlight for children (and, if we’re honest, plenty of adults too): Candyland. Hidden behind its own doors is an air-conditioned sweet room packed with giant glass jars of pick ‘n’ mix, dainty desserts, generous slices of cake, an ice cream station with every topping imaginable, and an enormous chocolate fountain, complete with fresh fruit and warm doughnuts ready for dipping. It’s gloriously over the top—and guaranteed to become the highlight of every evening.
GOOD TO KNOW: If your children are anything like ours and insist on crisps as their go-to poolside snack, stock up before you arrive. They were the one thing we couldn’t find anywhere on the resort. There’s a handy supermarket in the nearby village of Petrčane, just a short drive away, where you can easily pick up snacks and other essentials.
Resort life
It’s worth taking a stroll around Hotel Diadora on your first day to get your bearings. The resort is spread across several levels, all connected by ramps, making it easy to navigate with pushchairs or wheelchairs. Rather than feeling vast, the winding pathways create the impression of a collection of smaller spaces, giving the hotel a more intimate, boutique feel. Bright pink, red and white flowers pop against the brilliant blue Adriatic sky, creating postcard-worthy views at every turn.
Alongside three outdoor pools, there’s an indoor swimming pool, where children can book swimming lessons, plus a dedicated indoor family spa area complete with slides, splash features and a gently heated steam room designed for younger guests.
By midday each day, I’d settled into the aqua aerobics class in the main pool while the girls happily raced down the slides for what felt like the hundredth time with their dad. Despite its impressive facilities, Diadora never feels like an anonymous mega-resort. The setting gives it a real sense of place, with the pine-fringed Adriatic coastline on one side and Croatia’s dramatic mountains rising in the distance.
In the evenings, the waterfront comes into its own. Fairy lights twinkle between the pine trees, hammocks sway gently beside the sea, and a relaxed beach bar with daybeds is the perfect spot to watch the sun sink below the horizon with a cocktail in hand. I had visions of stretching out there, listening to nothing but the waves. Reality? I managed about two peaceful minutes before the girls announced we urgently needed to get to Candyland before all the sweets disappeared. (Spoiler alert: they never do.)
Candyland!
Restaurant Artigiani
The Artigiani Bar & Lounge
From our camera roll...
What can Kids do at Falkensteiner Diadora?
Hotel Diadora has mastered the art of creating a resort that genuinely caters to both children and adults, often finding that happy middle ground where grown-ups rediscover their own inner child. Giant waterslides, an inflatable floating adventure course and an entire room dedicated to desserts and pick ‘n’ mix sweets? It turns out they’re just as exciting at 40 as they are at four.
One of the best things you can do after checking in is spend a little time in the spacious reception area. This is where you’ll find QR codes linking to the daily activity programme, allowing you to book children’s clubs and workshops before they fill up. It’s also the place to arrange resort excursions, including submarine adventures, or chat with the concierge about day trips to places such as Krka National Park. While you plan, younger guests can climb aboard the rubber horses dotted around the lobby or make friends with the resort’s cheerful mascot, Falky. A little planning on day one goes a long way and helps avoid that inevitable holiday fear of missing out if popular activities become fully booked.
You’ll also meet Falky each evening at the 8pm mini disco, a joyful, high-energy affair led by an enthusiastic entertainment team who throw themselves wholeheartedly into making it memorable. It’s one of those moments that even the most reluctant children usually end up loving-and parents can’t help but smile along too. Once the disco finishes, the resort settles into a much calmer rhythm. Aside from the indoor play areas, evenings are wonderfully peaceful, making it surprisingly easy to coax little ones to bed after a day packed with swimming, adventures and far too many trips to Candyland.
Kids Club Time
We made a conscious decision to carve out a few hours for ourselves during the holiday. As much as we love spending time together as a family, exploring the Croatian coastline without negotiating snack stops or waterslide requests felt like a real luxury. Besides, we knew it wouldn’t be long before the girls were asking to head to the kids’ club with their new-found pool friends.
And what a kids’ club it is. Falky Land is in a league of its own, with dedicated spaces for babies and older children, packed with imaginative activities throughout the day. Our girls baked Nutella pastries, made their own pizzas, got creative in arts and crafts sessions, challenged each other on interactive games, and spent an evening in the dedicated science lab making slime. It was the sort of programme that feels genuinely designed by people who understand what children actually enjoy.
Each child receives a personalised Falky passport when they register, and the club runs throughout the day and into the evening with no minimum session lengths. That flexibility meant we could dip in and out whenever it suited us. One afternoon I headed off for a snorkel while my husband enjoyed the gym; the next, we swam together in the Adriatic while the girls proudly kneaded pizza dough with their new friends.
The combination of constant swimming, fresh sea air and endless activities worked wonders. Both girls slept deeply every night in their cosy little den, allowing me one rare holiday treat: slipping out alone for an early morning walk. At home, our creaky house and busy mornings make that almost impossible. Here, the soundtrack was simply the gentle waves, the occasional hum of a maintenance cart and the quiet whirr of a robotic mower gliding across the immaculate lawns. It was blissfully peaceful.
Spa Time
Modern family life is wonderful, but it’s also exhausting, so I couldn’t resist carving out a little time to experience the spa at Hotel & Spa Iadera, just a gentle stroll along the Punta Skala promenade. Walking there alone, breathing in the salty sea air without little hands to hold or snack requests to negotiate, felt like a holiday in itself.
I’d booked a full-body massage and arrived early enough to make the most of the spa facilities, including Croatia’s largest wellness centre. Before my treatment, I drifted between the indoor pools, saunas and relaxation areas, and explored the impressive hammam—the first of its kind in Croatia—as well as the adults-only naturist spa zone for those who prefer the traditional spa experience.
A couple of blissful hours later, I emerged feeling as though I’d been away on a restorative weekend rather than simply across the peninsula. My shoulders had dropped, my mind had quietened, and I walked back to Diadora with that rare holiday glow.
Up for some Sports?
There is an average of 200 sunny days a year in Croatia, which makes it ideal for outdoor activities. As well as messing about in the hotel pools, don’t miss a wander over to Fortis Club, where you can play tennis, padel, football, beach volleyball and basketball, as well as hire bikes. There’s also a top-spec gym and classes such as Pilates, yoga and HIIT. For summer 2026, there is also an Arsenal Football Academy for children.
A highlight of the week for our girls was a beachfront sunset horse ride. Talk about the stuff dreams are made of. They had a blast brushing the horses, helping with the tack, riding down to the beach and off into that blazing sunset. Everyone on the beach turned and smiled, the girls gained confidence, and I was proud, happy and, quietly, more than just a little envious.
One of our favourite ways to escape the sunshine for a couple of hours as a family was booking a disco bowling lane at Fortis. The host added our children’s ages to their names on the screen, so the alley bumpers came up automatically just for them, leading to me being defeated by all three members of my family! I was keen to try stand-up paddleboarding too, but time was not on my side. Then again, leaving Diadora with a solid reason to return is no bad thing.
Beyond the resort: What is there to do in Zadar?
Just a 20-minute taxi ride away, the ancient city of Zadar is wonderfully laid-back, especially in comparison to its Dubrovnik coastal counterpart. It is still popular in summer and certainly not crowd-free, just not in a claustrophobic way. You will feel the pull of the tourist trail, marked by overpriced gift shops selling squishy dumplings and toy mermaids, alongside local spirits and bags of lavender. However, the pine tree-lined promenade along the Blue Flag-awarded Kolovare Beach has a much more local feel. There is a very tall diving board there too, should you be daring enough to plunge into the sea. We loved exploring the pedestrianised cobbled streets of Zadar and found that one night, with an afternoon and a full day, was plenty of time to spend there with young children.
Don’t Miss in Zadar…
- Sunset on Zadar Seafront: Described by filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock as “the most beautiful sunset in the world”, this is an unmissable sight. Stroll along the seafront from around 7.30pm, when there is plenty of light entertainment, from giant bubble blowing (which makes for excellent photographs) to performers dressed as mermaids. The waterfront is just as lovely by day, when holidaymakers jump into the sea for a swim.
- The Sea Organ: Built into the steps along the seafront are a series of pipes that sing unique melodies as the rolling waves push air through them. No two performances are ever the same. It gets busy at sunset, but it is absolutely worth experiencing.
- Greeting to the Sun: Located next to the Sea Organ, this 22-metre circular solar-powered glass installation creates a dazzling light display as the last rays of the sun disappear below the horizon.
- Architecture: Enter the city through the Land Gate, built in 1543, and you’ll find beautiful buildings and fascinating, sometimes crumbling, ruins around every corner, including the impressive Roman Forum.
- Bell Tower of St. Anastasia’s Cathedral: Standing 56 metres tall, the Bell Tower of the Cathedral of St. Anastasia is the highest point in Zadar’s historic old town. Climb the 183 steps and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular 360-degree views across the city, the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding islands. I tackled it with my four-year-old, who diligently climbed every step before immediately asking to go straight back down.
Food Top Tips:
Zadar doesn’t yet have quite the food scene of some other Croatian cities, but we recommend Bob Rocks for ice cream, Kavè for excellent coffee, and 4 Kantuna for dinner.
Boat Trip:
We spent a memorable day on a boat trip from Zadar, stopping at the island of Preko before swimming in the crystal-clear waters of a beautiful blue lagoon.
From our camera roll...
Zadar Bell Tower
Zadar Beachfront
Zadar Ruins
Junior Fact File
Prices: A superior room to sleep four costs from £458 for half board during summer 2026, and from £264 from October 2026. Seasonal closure in effect from November 2026.
