THE CELTIC MANOR RESORT Newport, south Wales

MEGAN ARCHER-FOX DISCOVERS THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR A RELAXING FAMILY HOLIDAY

WHERE AND WHY: Adored by golf fans all over the world, it’s not hard to see why the Celtic Manor Resort is regarded as the perfect venue for a getaway.

The five-star resort, which has three world-class championship courses, lies just off the M4, four miles from Newport, in the beautiful Usk Valley – and the view from my signature room on the sixth floor was spectacular.

My spacious, bright double for adults only, had a calming and modern feel. It featured a kingsize double bed, a sitting area, a marble bathroom and a balcony.

There are plenty of dining options, but I headed to the AA Rosette-awarded Rafters, which required a trip on a shuttle bus.

ON THE MENU: Set within the prestigious Twenty Ten Clubhouse, Rafters has stunning views. The food on offer is simple and elegant, with a true flavour of Wales. From locallyreared beef and lamb to fresh fish and seafood, there is plenty to choose from.

I opted for the Pembrokeshire leek and potato veloute (£7) as a starter, followed by the 8oz Welsh sirloin steak, which comes with chunky chips, roasted tomato and watercress (£33) and a side of cognac peppercorn sauce (£3.50). There was just enough room for coffee creme brulée (£8.50) for dessert.

THERE’S usually a compromise to be made when it comes to family resorts abroad. Maybe it’s lacking in luxury, the food’s bland, or the location feels like it could be anywhere.

But not at the Fodele Beach & Water Park Resort on the Greek island of Crete – this place excels on all levels.

It’s the position of this all-inclusive, five-star paradise which first pulls you in. Carved into a hillside overlooking a perfect arc of private sandy beach, the Aegean glittering and mountains framing the scene, these views dazzle with their brochure-perfect Greekness.

And they’re everywhere. Rising up over several levels, you’ll get to take in those vistas from the restaurants, the pools, the balconies and terrace bars, even from its very own water park set right at the top of the resort.

Fodele Beach Resort was our first holiday abroad as a family of four, with our two sons, aged three and 10 months, and the bar has now been set rather high.

The accommodation is key when travelling with children – space being top priority.

Stacked like sugar cubes on the side of the hill, our apartment was right at the top, which had me panicking at first – there were so many steps to get there.

However, a fun and convenient solution is at hand, in the form of a brightly coloured train that trundles between the various levels all around the resort.

The kids loved it and so did we as it meant we could have a quick sit down and another opportunity to gaze out at those wonderful views.

And if you don’t feel like waiting for the train, you can just call reception and they’ll send a buggy to give you a lift, which added to the fun.

Our apartment was brightly decorated and well proportioned with a living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms, all with those sea views.

It was a welcoming space to return to after a busy morning on the beach or in the pool. Afternoon naps became restful downtime for us, before getting ready for dinner, drinks and dancing at the mini disco.

Food on family holidays is another make-or-break area. How do you balance the needs of kids who want to eat their favourite dinners at regimented times with your desire to be let loose on the local specialities?

Dining at Fodele offers a feast of options round the clock. Breakfast is a banquet you could graze over for hours, and we took lazy lunches at the poolside restaurant, enjoying burgers, pizza, chips and pasta.

For dinner we loved the main buffet restaurant Basilikos, where the options differed every evening with themed nights featuring Greek, Spanish, Mexican and Asian cuisine, as well as crowd-pleasers such as lasagne and rice dishes.

At the kids’ buffet, little ones can help themselves to familiar dinners such as spaghetti bolognese, then do a pick-andmix of desserts such as fruit and ice cream.

There’s elegant fine-dining in Ambrosia Italian, but a highlight for us was our visit to the resort’s Greek a la carte restaurant, Elia. With sweeping views from floor-to-ceiling windows, this dining experience is really special, featuring Greek mezes, kebabs and fresh salads with paired wines.

But if you want to just pick up a snack when you please, restaurant F is open from 10am to 6pm, for local delicacies, fruit, wraps, salads and artisan coffees on the large terrace overlooking the sea, gardens and pool.

The bars here are beautiful too. We enjoyed trying cocktails in the main Breeze bar overlooking the bay. You can also enjoy chilled drinks and views from Starlight bar, or if you fancy a mojito on the shore, head to Frankie Beach Club where there are Balinese beds and furnished gazebos.

For families, Fodele’s enormous appeal has to be its very own water park, just for hotel guests.