The Big Splash: 5 Hotels with Water Parks

“When it’s over 30 degrees outside, nothing cools you off quite like a day of whooshing, splashing, spraying and dunking at a really good water park. And when the water park is part of your hotel, it’s even better – you can get from bedroom to slide in a matter of minutes, and enjoy a splash fix every day of your holiday.

If that sounds good, this is the list for you. As well as classic outdoor parks in hot and sunny destinations, our choices include an amazing indoor paradise in a surprising corner of Europe. Let’s dive in…

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Burj Al-Arab Jumeirah (for Wild Wadi), Dubai
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Wild Wadi isn’t exactly on site at the Burj Al-Arab Jumeirah, but it’s very, very close, and guests get free entry. While it might take you a little longer to get to the slides, it’s worth it, because Wild Wadi is brilliant. Based on the Arabian folk hero Juha, it has 30 attractions that range from adrenaline pumpers (120-metre high Jumeirah Sceirah) to family-friendly fun (the Dhow & Lagoon play area).

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Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort, Greece
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Slides with sea views! The Fodele Beach complex is built into a hillside on the north coast of Crete, with its very own water park right at the top. There are nine rides to choose from, including an enclosed ‘black hole’ and a twisting, turning raft slide. For little ones, there’s a play pool with mini-slides and waterfalls. Head back downhill and you can relax at the hotel’s main leisure pool, which overlooks the beach.

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Aquashow Park Hotel, Portugal
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There’s no shortage of choice at Aquashow Park. Its rides include a huge V-shaped double raft slide, and a covered corkscrew slide shaped like a snake wrapped around a tree. There’s also a lazy river, a large wave pool and a child-friendly play area. Oh, and some funfair rides for good measure. In the unlikely event you get bored, the beaches of Vilamoura, one of the Algarve’s most popular resorts, are a short drive away.

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Tropical Islands Resort, Germany
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A sandy beach, a rainforest and warm tropical water less than 90 minutes’ drive from… Berlin? That can’t be right. But then nothing about Tropical Islands Resort is quite what you expect. The resort’s huge dome – a former airship hangar – houses slides, pools, trees, themed villages and even a real hot air balloon. An outdoor area offers more pools and slides, plus a whitewater river ride, tennis courts and more.

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Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, USA
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Nobody does themed resorts quite like Disney. At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort in Orlando, the six accommodation villages – each with its own leisure pool – are clustered around a fantastic central pool in the style of an old Spanish fortress. There’s an 82-foot slide for grown-ups and a cool galleon play area for little ones to explore. After that, take the fun up a notch with a visit to nearby Typhoon Lagoon, Walt Disney World Resort’s 2.5-acre water park. Hotel guests get free transport to all Walt Disney World Resort parks, so getting there is a breeze.”