Combine holidays with learning in stunning European destinations this summer

With summer beckoning, many parents have already started searching for ways to keep their kids busy once school’s out. For Prague-based families, urban summer camps have always been a big draw. Equally as popular, however, are beach holidays in Croatia and Italy or mountain hiking in Austria.  

This doesn’t have to be an either-or scenario. Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences organizes a wide range of themed children’s academies, camps, excursions and weekend clubs at many of its family hotels located in some of Europe’s prime summer holiday destinations – truly a win-win for both parents and kids. 

The programs – dubbed “edutainment” – go beyond the generic kids clubs offered at big chains that typically have the look and feel of glorified babysitting services. 

At FMTG family hotels, kids can sign up for a masterchef cooking class, ride a horse, join a sports camp, go rock climbing or learn about protecting the environment as certified Falkensteiner rangers, among other things. 

Science camps centered around exciting experiments in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics are a relatively new addition to the group’s Austrian family hotels that dot the Carinthia region.   

The choices are indeed vast. Baby Wonderland and STEM workshops inspired by Montessori principles and mindful parenting at Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora, part of the Resort Punta Skala in Zadar, cater to the very youngest travelers. 

Meanwhile, various daily activities, like sightseeing and shopping in Bruneck organized by the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido and tubing along the Gail River courtesy of Falkensteiner Hotel Sonnenalpe, are designed to give picky teens and preteens plenty of options. Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon, for instance, offers access to the largest slide park in the Golm Forest, while the staff at Hotel Diadora will gamely organize a padel tennis tournament for eager adolescents.  

Families just need to sign up for kid-related activities, classes and excursions at the Falkland Reception – “Falky” being the feathered mascot of Falkensteiner’s family hotels. Once the kids are happily settled, parents can then enjoy some well-deserved adult time. Whether that might be their own sightseeing tour, quiet time by the pool or enjoying their hotel’s spa amenities.  

Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences, a family-run tourism group that operates 27 hotels and residences as well as four campsites in seven countries across Europe, strives to give kids as many options as adults during their holiday stays, each year expanding its activity offers to appeal to guests of all ages.

It’s never too early to start making plans for the summer. Let’s take a closer look at FMTG’s family friendly options in Croatia, Italy and Austria to help narrow your choices.     

This five-star family hotel is located in the exclusive Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort in Zadar – a top holiday spot along Croatia’s Adriatic coast.

The Diadora hosts Happy Kiddos weekend programs from now through June, featuring multiple engaging activities and workshops geared toward families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. “Baby Wonderland” promotes development through singing and music. “STEM Weekends” hosts workshops surrounding science, technology, engineering and math, while “Ranger Weekends” connect children with nature through various adventures. At Survivor Camp, for example, children learn survival basics, including pitching a tent under the stars, while developing skills that will serve them well in the wilderness. 

The Punta Skala Resort itself has a number of activities and clubs that older children will be able to enjoy, including swimming, climbing, gaming, science, football and tennis academies. Kids can also sign up to take a masterchef cooking class or learn to ride a horse.

The careful use of the environment and its resources is a top priority at this five star hotel, which has been open for just over a year. The focus of Montafon’s forward-looking approach is on regionality and sustainability. This is implemented through a wide range of activities and children’s programs with “ecotainment” elements, including hikes with environmental rangers who guide guests through the surrounding area.

Children are introduced to environmental protection in a playful way, both in Falky Land with professional childcare from the age of 3 and with Falky Rangers, an educational program according to four age groups. Children are made aware of how to deal with nature properly and how to recognize biological ecosystems and species. 

The Acquapura Organic SPA, a wellness and water world covering 1,400 sqm with a separate family and adults-only spa, is equipped with indoor and outdoor pools, a wave and speed slide and a water spray installation.

Together with Vorarlberger Illwerken, the hotel offers a special “edutainment” program. Creative, sports and MINT workshops aim to make natural science fun. For example, young explorers can perform experiments in a laboratory on energy generation with the help of water. The program also includes excursions to the nearby reservoir, where kids can slide down old water pipes. 

This four-star hotel in Austria’s Carinthia region offers plenty of outdoor activities suitable for the whole family, from guided hiking tours to biking, climbing gardens, toboggan runs and waterslides. 

This four-star superior “for all” active hotel, geared toward families with older kids, is perched on top of a high valley, making it an ideal spot to explore the area’s mountain biking and hiking trails. Nearby lakes are ideal for swimming and rafting. Located in Nassfeld next to Sonnenalpe, the hotel was recently renovated and includes its own bouldering hall and bowling.    

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Carinzia, along with two other FMTG properties in the region – Falkensteiner Hotel Cristallo and Falkensteiner Club Funimation Katschberg – will be hosting a series of science camps starting in late August. The camps, open to children between the age of 4 and 12, will be tackling science in a playful way. In the “flying egg” experiment, for example, children build a protective structure around an egg and then let it fall to the ground from a height of at least 2 meters. Regardless of whether the result is an intact egg or an egg dish – maximum building fun is guaranteed!  

The camps are hosted in partnership with the Science Pool association, a pioneer in the field of (pre-)science education that offers various formats and programs for science-hungry children. 

This four-star superior hotel in the South Tyrol province of northern Italy is an exclusive family-only property. Located at the gateway to the Dolomites on the shores of its own little lake in a tiny Casteldarne, the hotel’s rooftop offers adventures in the sky. Here, you play basketball, football or take the largest indoor waterslide in the Alps down to the Lido’s newly designed water park that connects to its private lake and infinity pool. The Rooftop Sky Adventure also includes a 150-meter ski slope that can be used year round, a trampoline area and a bobby car race track.