Best Hotels: Europe

best way to make your kid insanely happy

If you're going to Lego's motherland, embrace your destination. This hotel has over-the-top princess rooms with turreted bedposts and pirate rooms with ship-style bunk beds—and, of course, plenty of Legos throughout. From 288 euros (approximately $454) a night.

best way to feel normal again

When pregnancy has wreaked havoc on your body, what better place to recover than a sublime spa? This one specializes in Thalasso therapy, which means they wrap you in seaweed and spritz you with seawater (and a registered nurse will look after your baby). From 210 euros (approximately $331) a night.

best backstage access

The African-themed resort has a private entrance to the Kolmården zoo, so kids get to see what the lions, giraffes, and zebras do after hours and don't have to wait in lines during the day. From 140 euros (approximately $220) a night.

best hobbit hole

In the arid countryside north of Granada, you'll find this surreal, magical cave hotel. With their low, rounded ceilings, the whitewashed caves feel very Bilbo-esque, with a touch of Morocco thrown in. The children's cave has a slide and a secret passage to the restaurant. From 55 euros (approximately $86) a night.

best croque madame

The croque may be ubiquitous in Paris, but it's a room-service rarity. The Park Hyatt's version—perfectly gooey, crustless, and served with haricots verts—lets you have the café experience even when you're too exhausted to leave your room. From 650 euros (approximately $1,025) a night.

best full-service family hotel

Families are the focus—not an afterthought—at this hotel in southern Austria. The amenities for parents and kids could fill this page, but here's a start: massages for tots, menus tailored to pregnant mothers, and morning babysitting that lets parents sleep in. From 92 euros (approximately $145) a night.

best retirement fantasy

On this 19th-century estate, your family can live the olive-groved, vineyard-strewn Tuscan dream for a week. Choose between the beamed-ceiling rooms in the farmhouse and one of the villas (all are near the pool). From 100 euros (approximately $157) a night.

best bragging rights

Yes, you actually get to stay in a windmill on the refreshingly nontouristy isle of Milos. This simply decorated home-cum-windmill accommodates up to eight people and is a short bike ride from the beach. From 180 euros (approximately $283) a night.