3 Guilt-Free Wellness Resorts Where Mums Can Truly Recharge (with Kids in Tow)

What if your next family holiday didn’t feel like another job to manage? What if it gave you space to move your body, breathe deeply, and be fully present, without sacrificing your kids’ joy?

If you’ve ever come back from a trip feeling like you need a holiday from your holiday, this one’s for you. Because here’s the truth: mums deserve to feel well on holiday, not just after it. You don’t have to press pause on your movement, your rest, or your identity just because you’re packing for four.

This is your gentle nudge toward a new kind of break. One where wellness, freedom, and family joy can all belong in the same suitcase. Here are three of my favourite wellness-focused, family-friendly resorts in Spain and Portugal where you can move, play, rest, and reconnect, without guilt, grind, or having to "earn it."

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, Spain

Best for: Mums who want sunrise yoga, barefoot kids, and sushi that feels like self-care

You arrive at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay and within minutes, something shifts. The kids are off at their first beachside sushi class, your trainers are unpacked, and you’re sipping a green juice with sea breeze in your hair. It’s not just luxury: it’s liberation.

This five-star hotel is tucked along Talamanca Bay, just a short drive from Ibiza Old Town. Those of you who know me will know how deeply Ibiza has my heart, especially this side of the island which is just perfection for families. Flights from the UK take under three hours, and in August, a family of four can expect to pay around £7,500 for two interconnecting sea-view rooms with breakfast.

What’s on offer?

The wellness here isn’t performative. It’s intuitive. Daily yoga and Pilates classes are included, with rooftop flows and Reformer sessions available to book. The gym is modern and ocean-facing, and the spa offers everything from lymphatic drainage to biohacking recovery.

Meanwhile, your little ones are thriving. The kids' club (ages 4–12) runs from 10am to 6pm and includes beach games, paddleboarding, crafts, and even DJ lessons. There's also a teen lounge and babysitting options for younger ones, so you can enjoy a peaceful moment without a side of mum guilt.

Meals are fresh, beautiful, and wellness-forward. Think sushi rolls, grilled fish, smoothie bowls, and plant-forward bento boxes for the kids. Everything tastes like it belongs on a wellness retreat yet it still feels like a holiday indulgence - just the good kind.

Outside the resort, you’ll find scenic 5K runs along the marina, pine-dotted hiking trails, and plenty of family-friendly adventure. And when the sun sets? You’ll feel that rare and beautiful blend of full heart, happy kids, and a body that feels moved, not just needed.

Club Med Da Balaia, Portugal

Best for: Mums who want to move freely, rest deeply, and never hear "I'm bored"

Set on the dramatic cliffs of the Algarve, Club Med Da Balaia is the kind of resort that makes you feel both held and free. Held by the all-inclusive ease - meals made, activities sorted, childcare sorted- and free to move, breathe, and just be.

Flights from the UK to Faro take around 2.5 hours, and a week in August for a family of four starts at £7,500, with everything from meals and drinks to fitness classes and kids’ clubs included.

Here, movement feels like a gift, not a chore. From yoga by the sea to tennis, archery, golf, and even circus trapeze (yes, really), the resort invites you to try something new. Or reconnect with something you used to love.

The kids? They’re having the time of their lives. From four months to teens, there’s a place for everyone - baby care rooms, circus school, sports coaching, arts and crafts, mini-golf, and pool games. Evenings include shows and quiet chill-out areas, while parents sip wine under pink skies, knowing their kids are safe and smiling. If you know anything about Club Med, you’ll know they are the pioneers of the kids club and are the ultimate dream for your children’s needs. It’s one of their standout features, because they just get that holidays are for the whole family.

Dining is fresh, flexible, and delicious. There’s always something nourishing on offer, and the baby corner ensures even weaning-stage meals are sorted. Whether you're plant-based, gluten-free, or just craving something colourful and crisp—you’ll find it here.

Running routes wind along the coast, boat trips reveal secret coves, and family hikes through pine-scented cliffs give you that special kind of tired that feels earned.

This is the place where movement becomes natural again. Where you remember how strong you are. Where your kids see you prioritising joy and energy, and start to mirror it.

If a Club Med holiday is not on your bucket list, you need to get a bigger bucket.

Vitalclass Lanzarote, Spain

Best for: Mums who want wellness without pressure, family time with freedom, and simple joy that sticks

Sometimes, wellness doesn’t look like perfection. It looks like early laps while the kids sleep in. A sauna session after a full beach day. A slow walk back from dinner, belly full, heart full.

Vitalclass Lanzarote is that kind of place. Tucked in Costa Teguise, just 25 minutes from the airport, it’s peaceful, practical, and purposefully unpretentious. Four-hour flights from London land you in the sunshine, and August prices for a family of four hover around €4,500 to €5,500, including spacious apartments and full board.

The gym is fully equipped, and there’s a semi-olympic pool, indoor spa, and classes in yoga, Pilates, martial arts, and even triathlon prep. Some sessions are included, and others are affordably priced.

Kids aged 4–12 have their own seasonal club with crafts, discos, splash games, and playground time. There’s babysitting if you need it. Food is wholesome and family-friendly, with buffet options that cater to veggie, celiac, and active-eating preferences. It’s wellness without the green-juice snobbery.

Mornings are perfect for jogs along the seafront. Afternoons invite adventures to nearby volcano parks, beaches, or water parks. And evenings? They’re slow, sun-kissed, and soaked in gratitude.

This is where you get to stay consistent, not perfect. Where you move because you love your body, not to fix it. And where holidays start feeling like healing.

Ready to Book a Holiday That Actually Feels Like a Holiday?

These aren’t just resorts. They’re permission slips. For movement, for rest, for joy. For showing your kids what it looks like when mums choose themselves, without guilt.

I can help you book any of these escapes, hold availability, arrange the best room set-up, and even advise on wellness options and childcare.

Enquire now and let’s craft your next soul-deep, movement-filled family holiday. You’ve earned it. No guilt required.

Movement on Holiday Without the Guilt, Grind or “Bounce Back” Pressure

A real-mum guide to moving your body on holiday without guilt, pressure, or bikini-body nonsense. 5 joyful ways to stay active (because it feels good, not because you “should”).

Let’s talk holidays. Or more specifically — what holidays can do to our brains as mums.

We start with the best intentions: rest, family time, maybe a few wine-fuelled sunsets. But somewhere between “I should be relaxing” and “I haven’t moved in three days and I feel awful,” the guilt creeps in.

It’s sneaky, this kind of guilt.

You’re supposed to switch off… but also not “let yourself go.”

You’re meant to rest… but still keep the kids entertained 24/7.

You pack the swimwear that made you feel amazing last year… only to spend half the trip wondering if you should’ve done a juice cleanse beforehand.

It’s exhausting. And it’s not the point.

So what is the point?

Movement on holiday should feel like a gift — not a guilt trip. Not something you have to earn with salads or burn off with punishment workouts. Just something you get to do… because it feels good. Because it gives you energy. Because it lets you reconnect with yourself, even in the chaos.

So let’s ditch the bikini-body pressure, the all-or-nothing mindset, and the guilt-soaked narratives — and try these 5 gentle, guilt-free ways to move on holiday instead:

1. Move Because It Feels Good. Not Because You “Should”

Here’s the deal: holidays are not a break from your body. They’re a chance to be in your body fully, freely, and without performance pressure.

So if you’re tempted to move, do it because it brings you joy. Not because you feel guilty about the breakfast buffet.

Go for the walk. Dance with your kids. Stretch on the balcony. Jump in the pool. But don’t turn it into a checklist. Let it be something you crave, not something you count.

Try this: Ask yourself, “What kind of movement would feel good today?” Please always remember that ‘none’ is also a totally valid answer to this. You do you, thank you please.

2. Pick Places That Make Moving Easy — And Actually Possible

You don’t need a bootcamp or a silent yoga retreat (unless you want that). But you do deserve a space that supports you moving your body without logistical stress.

When you’re booking, look for spots with:

• Walkable paths and open spaces — somewhere you can just go, without needing to pack a car or bribe small children into shoes

• Hotels with childcare options — so you can get 30 minutes to walk, run, stretch or just breathe without someone needing a snack every 4 seconds

• Wellness programs or group classes — yoga, aqua fitness, morning stretch sessions. You’re not being “extra” by wanting these. You’re being smart.

You deserve a holiday that includes you, too.

PS: it’s a good job I am a travel agent who specialises in exactly that, huh.

3. Think About the 1–1–1 Rhythm

We’re not talking rigid schedules here. No itineraries, no alarms, no laminated timetables stuck to the fridge.

But if you want a gentle rhythm that keeps you feeling grounded without taking over the vibe? Try the 1–1–1 idea:

• One movement moment — a walk, a swim, a wild beach dance party with the kids

• One proper rest window — not scrolling with one eye on the monitor. Actual, intentional rest.

• One wildcard moment — something joyful, unplanned, or just a little silly

It’s not a rule. It’s a rhythm. A gentle way to make sure you’re not stuck in the all-or-nothing loop. This works particularly well if you share it with your family.

4. Build Movement Into the Moments You Already Have

Instead of carving out a whole separate chunk of time for “exercise,” sneak movement into the day. No Lycra required.

• Scoot to the shop instead of driving

• Race your toddler up the hill (and call it cardio)

• Do a 3-minute stretch while everyone’s still brushing sand out of their toes

• Splash around in that pool with the kids. Play games. Do the Lilo challenge. If you know, you know. If you don’t, I think my very first instagram post will show you!

Movement doesn’t have to be formal to count. The body doesn’t care if it came from Pilates or piggybacks.

Reframe it: “I’m not falling off track — I’m finding new ways to move.”

5. Ask for Space and Actually Take It

This one? Might be the hardest.

Because it means stepping away from the myth that mums are meant to do everything, with everyone, all the time.

Because so often we associate holiday with everyone being together all.the.time. All the damn time. And somehow you’re ‘being boring’ if you want time out to do this. But the truth is:

You’re allowed to go for a solo walk while someone else handles breakfast.

You’re allowed to book into that yoga class at the hotel while your partner does pool duty.

You’re allowed to move your body alone — not to be productive or “useful” — but because it helps you reconnect to yourself in a week where most of your energy is still being poured into everyone else. And you wouldn’t change it, we know. We’re definitely not here to suggest that holidays aren’t fun as Mum. More that actually, if there’s something you want to do you need to do it too.

Movement is not selfish.
It’s sanity.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not About “Staying on Track.” It’s About Staying Connected

You don’t owe anyone a “bounce back.” You don’t have to justify movement with calories or guilt or anyone else’s expectations.

What you do deserve? Is to feel good in your body. To carve out moments of calm, joy, strength, and breath — even on holiday.

So whether it’s a sunrise stretch or a splash in the sea, let your movement be yours.

No pressure. No punishment. Just presence.

💌 Want a little travel movement inspo before your next trip? Grab my free The Guilt-Free Holiday Movement Mini Guide: 5-Minute Ideas to Move Your Body on Holiday, Just Because It Feels Good.