Toulon Family Hotels with a Swimming Pool

A pool earns its place in Toulon because summer afternoons are hot and the city's beaches, in the Mourillon district, fill up quickly in July and August. A swim at the hotel after a morning on Mont Faron or at the market gives children a cool break without crossing town, and an evening dip after the beach rinses off the salt before dinner.

L'Eautel Toulon Centre Port is the most complete of the three. The four-star sits near the harbour and offers an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre and tennis facilities, so children have something to do between sightseeing outings. Family rooms, a restaurant and a bar make evenings easy, and room service and a 24-hour front desk help with late arrivals or tired children. Private parking on site is a real advantage in central Toulon, where street parking is tight, and the hotel accepts pets. From here, the port, the National Navy Museum and the boat-bus pier are a short walk.

The Holiday Inn Toulon City Centre combines an outdoor swimming pool with a furnished terrace, giving parents a place to sit in the shade while children swim. The four-star has air-conditioned rooms with a minibar stocked with complimentary bottled water, family suites, a bar and a restaurant, and a spa and wellness area, and it is pet-friendly. Its city-centre address puts the Cours Lafayette market and the old town within walking distance, so a morning of shopping for fruit and picnic food can be followed by an afternoon by the pool. It suits families who want an international chain standard with a central location.

The Grand Hôtel Dauphiné, Boutique Hôtel & Suites, is a three-star in central Toulon with modern, soundproofed and air-conditioned rooms and original artworks displayed throughout the building. It has a swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre, family suites and bike rental, with secure parking available nearby, and it welcomes pets. The soundproofing helps children sleep in a busy city centre, and the bikes make it easy to ride along the waterfront towards the Mourillon coves. It is a good choice for families who want a characterful hotel with a pool at a lower price than the four-stars.

Toulon's family outings pair well with an afternoon at the pool. The Mont Faron cable car climbs above the city to wide views over the harbour and a small zoo, best visited in the morning before the heat. The Mourillon district has sheltered sandy coves with gentle entry and lawns behind them, popular with local families. Boat-buses cross the harbour to La Seyne-sur-Mer and Saint-Mandrier, a cheap and fun way to see warships and the coast from the water, and the National Navy Museum by the port suits children who like ships. Plan these for the cooler hours and keep the pool for mid-afternoon.