DESTINATIONS FAMILY HOLIDAYS | EFTELING


TRIED & TESTED


Efteling Grand Hotel


This 140-room property opened to much fanfare last August as the first hotel within the park. Our Premium Deluxe Room overlooked the park entrance and had a double bed, bunk bed and trundle, suitable for a


family of five. The bathroom had a double sink, rainfall shower and amenities from luxury


brand Zenology. Breakfast at Brasserie 7 is included, with


buffet and à la carte dishes, but catering to food intolerances was limited, with a long wait for my dairy-free breakfast.


From €1,525 for two nights in a Premium Deluxe Room.


SEVENTH HEAVEN We return to the Efteling Grand Hotel for dinner at Brasserie 7, which has a menu of seven starters, mains and desserts. The number is linked to fairytales including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Tom Thumb, one of seven sons – so it’s no coincidence the hotel’s 140 rooms and suites are set across seven floors. Noah is excited to learn there is a pool in the hotel


Efteling Wonder Hotel


Just beyond the park entrance, this impressive building appears to float. Guests enter through the ground-floor ‘engine room’, where ‘dream steam’ lifts the castle into the sky each night.


There are 124 rooms and suites, including themed options. At


Restaurant Saga, park folklore inspires a tapas-style menu served in ‘chapters’ rather than


courses. From €1,197 for a two- night stay in a Premium Room. Both prices are based on a


family of four sharing, including breakfast and park entry.


and requests a visit after dinner. Even at 9pm, it’s busier than I expected, but there’s space to splash around and flit between the whirlpool, steam bath and sauna. We take advantage of early park entry the next morning – hotel guests can enter half an hour before the public – and head for the Gondoletta boat ride around the lake. While Noah marvels at the huge koi carp, I appreciate the calm surroundings, albeit punctuated by shrieks coming from the rollercoasters in the Adventure Realm. These include Baron 1898 with its 37m vertical free-fall drop; double-loop steel rollercoaster Python; and duelling wooden ride Joris en de Draak (George and the Dragon). New 50mph suspended ‘launch coaster’ Missie Luminar will also be added in 2029. While in Reizenrijk (Travel Realm), we try dark


rollercoaster Vogel Rock – terrifying! – then ‘flying’ Thai temple Pagode, where we get a bird’s-eye view of the park and Noah excitedly points out all the rides and hotels we can see. But our standout favourite is river rapids ride Piraña, full of twists, turns, swirling rapids and waterfalls. In the heat of the day, a water ride is just the ticket and it doesn’t disappoint.


FAIRYTALE FUN


On our final morning, we enter Marerijk via the private entrance for hotel guests, to explore the place where Efteling began more than 70 years ago. We follow a winding woodland path to find 30 classic fairytales brought to life with animatronics, lighting and music, from familiar tales of Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty and The Emperor’s New Clothes to some that are new to us. The biggest highlight for Noah is the coin-pooping


donkey from a lesser-known Brothers Grimm tale. For a nominal 50 cents, the animatronic donkey brays, lifts its tail and shoots out a gold coin – testing Noah’s goalkeeping skills as he tries to catch the flying coins. There is something new to uncover at every turn in


Efteling, with numerous places to eat, attractions, shows and rides for old and young alike. So, was it a hit? I ask Noah and get a resounding: “Yes”. The answer is short and sweet, but that’s about the best you can hope for from a tween. TW


BOOK IT


Fred Holidays offers a short break to Efteling for two adults and two children, from £2,899 in total. The price includes three nights with breakfast at Efteling Grand Hotel, return Eurostar from London to Rotterdam with onward rail travel to Tilburg and transfers to Efteling theme park, plus four days’ unlimited park entry, departing February 16, 2027. fredholidays.co.uk


36 16 JULY 2026 travelweekly.co.uk


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The entrance at Efteling and Efteling Grand Hotel; writer Stephanie, with partner Martin and Noah in front of Symbolica; water ride Piraña PICTURES: Efteling; Stephanie Krahn


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