Hotels in Bol

Lifestyle Hotel Vitar is adults-only, so families travelling with children cannot stay here and should look at other hotels in Bol. For adult groups and couples, it is one of the highest-rated places in town, with 9.7 from more than 800 reviews. The rooftop pool and hot tub, the sauna and the sun terrace make it a calm base, and the kitesurfing school is a short walk away. I would recommend it to adults combining wind sports with quiet evenings.

Villa Amorena is adults-only, so it is not an option for families travelling with children; other hotels in Bol suit them better. For couples and adult friends, it is small and calm, rated 9.5 from more than 700 reviews. The seasonal outdoor pool and bar keep afternoons simple, rooms have balconies and air-conditioning, and Zlatni Rat beach is about a kilometre away. Bol bus station and Stina Winery are close by. I would book it for a quiet couple's week on Brač.

Villa Dalmatina is an adults-only apart-hotel in Bol on Brač, so I would not suggest it for a family with children. For couples and adult friends it offers air-conditioned apartments with free Wi-Fi and a balcony, a private swimming pool and an on-site bar. The famous Zlatni Rat beach is 1.2 km away, with shops and restaurants nearby. It was renovated in 2013, and the guest rating is excellent.

Boutique Hotel Bol is family-run, and that personal touch is what I would sell to parents who dislike big resorts. The outdoor pool with its sun deck is the centre of the day, rooms have private balconies, and the seaside promenade is a short walk away for evening strolls. There is a small wellness area with a sauna and a gym for the adults, pets are welcome, and a score of 9.3 from 968 reviews is excellent.

Zlatni Rat Beach Resort is just steps from Zlatni Rat, the pebble spit that made Bol famous, and that is the main reason I would book it for a family. Rooms are air-conditioned with balconies over the sea or the garden, the restaurant looks out to sea, and pets are accepted. Older children keen on watersports will be close to the beach where it all happens. Bol's historic centre is a short drive away, and a score of 9.2 from 572 reviews is reassuring.

SOL works well for families who cook some of their own meals. Every room has a kitchen, family rooms are available, and balconies look over the sea or the pool, so small children can nap while parents sit outside. Zadruga beach is about 300 metres away and the long promenade leads to Zlatni Rat, a fine-pebble spit that is a protected nature reserve. The seasonal outdoor pool and garden fill the hottest afternoons. The drawbacks: breakfast is charged separately, and the channel wind that draws windsurfers to Bol also roughens the water on breezy days. I would choose it for a week in July or September.

Full board is the main argument of Bluesun Holiday Village Bonaca for a family in Bol: no hunting for a table in town with tired children. Family rooms have balconies and air conditioning, the seasonal outdoor pool and the tennis court keep older children busy, and the restaurant covers Italian, Mediterranean and Croatian cooking, which helps with picky eaters. I would book it for a simple week on Brač, and a score of 9 from more than 1,300 reviews is reassuring.

I would choose Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa for a family that wants Zlatni Rat within walking distance. The hotel is 50 metres from the sea in Bol, a short walk from the famous beach and from the town centre. There is a paddling pool for small children, indoor and outdoor pools for everyone else, and a tennis centre for older children and parents. The wellness and fitness facilities are extensive, rooms are air-conditioned, and pets are accepted. A guest score of 8.9 backs it up.

Bretanide Sport & Wellness Resort in Bol works on an all-inclusive basis, which I like for families who do not want to plan meals. It sits on the beachfront, with a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness centre, a spa and entertainment for different ages, so the days fill themselves. Rooms are air-conditioned. Active children will find plenty of sport, and parents get the wellness centre. A score of 8.7 from 110 reviews is a solid signal.

Bluesun Hotel Borak sits among Mediterranean greenery in Bol, 50 metres from a pebble beach, and I would recommend it to families who want the sea close. There is an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant, and the rooms have free Wi-Fi and satellite TV. A cocktail bar and a sun deck suit the evenings and the afternoons, and pets are welcome. Spa and wellness facilities are listed too, making this a rounded four-star holiday base.

Villa Daniela is a family-run villa near Bol on Brač, a relaxed island base for families. The swimming pool keeps children busy between beach outings, the restaurant spares parents the evening search for a table, and parking and internet are free. Rooms are air-conditioned and some have terraces, which helps with naps in the heat. A rating of 8.7 from more than 500 reviews is steady. I would book a terrace room for a simple island holiday with children.

I would suggest Hotel Kastil to a family that wants to stay right in Bol, steps from the sea, inside a building with real history. The hotel occupies a baroque fortress in the centre of the town on Brač, and many of its air-conditioned rooms look out to sea. Children tend to enjoy the pizzeria, while parents can choose the à la carte restaurant or the cocktail bar. Evenings with live music can be lively. A guest score of 8.5 backs it.