5-star adults-only hotels

5-star adults-only hotels are worth considering if you want a high hotel rating and a clear minimum age policy. But the best choice for your holiday comes down to practical details: would you like to spend your mornings exploring Palma, your days by the pool, or unwind in the sauna after a walk? The easiest way to narrow down the selection above is to think about how you want to spend your days. Check the minimum age first, followed by the location, room category and meal plan. Five stars alone will not answer these questions.

Start by deciding what adults-only means to you

Adults-only does not automatically mean 18 and over in this selection. Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa welcomes guests from 18, Domes Aulus Elounda on Crete from 16, and La Perla Villas and Suites on Santorini from 13. If you want to holiday exclusively with other adults, this distinction matters more than even the most appealing pool photo. To narrow your search, explore the collection of adults-only hotels for guests aged 18 and over.

Consider the age policy separately from your expectations of peace and quiet. If poolside music, evening entertainment or the location of your room matter to you, ask specific questions about them before booking. The term adults-only does not tell you about any of these things. Nor does it tell you whether you can enjoy your balcony undisturbed or how far apart the sun loungers are.

Agree on two things you both consider essential. These might be a minimum age of 18 and a private pool, or a city location and a restaurant at the hotel. Everything else can help you compare, but should not overshadow what you actually want. This stops a long list of facilities from carrying more weight than the holiday you want to spend together.

Choose a region that suits how you want to spend your days

Mallorca is a good starting point if you want to compare different types of hotel on the same island. Hotel Can Cera occupies a historic palacete in Palma and has a roof terrace overlooking the city. It may suit you if exploring the city will be a central part of your stay. At Fontsanta Hotel Thermal & Spa in Campos, the focus is on thermal waters. Start by deciding between days in the city and a stay where you deliberately set aside time to enjoy the hotel.

The Canary Islands overview helps you narrow your search by island and resort. Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa is by the marina in Puerto Calero and has several restaurants and extensive spa facilities. If you enjoy dining at your hotel and spending plenty of time there, these are useful points to compare. Still, check exactly which meals your chosen booking includes.

On Crete, the minimum age already gives you a way to distinguish between hotels: The Island Hotel accepts guests aged 18 and over and offers spacious suites with sea views. Domes Aulus Elounda welcomes guests from 16 and sits on Mirabello Bay, with a focus on Mediterranean fine dining. Then consider where you would like to be based and how much time you want to spend outside the hotel.

Mykonos and Santorini also feature prominently in this collection. Pay particular attention to what is included with your chosen suite. A pool in a hotel photo does not tell you whether it is yours alone to use. La Perla Villas and Suites in Oia combines an infinity pool with gourmet dining, but has a minimum age of 13. That may matter more to your decision than the view.

If you have not yet chosen an island, continue your search with the country guides to adults-only hotels in Spain and adults-only hotels in Greece. For a mountain break, look at Tyrol: MalisGarten Green Spa Hotel in Zell am Ziller combines cooking centred on herbs with spa facilities and walking trails; the minimum age is 16. Other regions and destinations in this collection include Bavaria, Paphos and the French Riviera.

Compare hotels by the facilities you will actually use

Picture a typical day on holiday, rather than just the moment you arrive. If you head out after breakfast and only return in the evening, your needs will differ from those of someone spending most of their stay at the hotel. The guide below turns your preferences into questions to ask before booking.

If the spa is your main reason for travelling, also compare the spa hotels in the Alps. If a pool of your own matters most, the collection of hotels with private pools for couples will help you narrow your search. Both collections focus on something other than star ratings, so check the hotel category and minimum age again as you browse.

Avoid common mistakes when choosing a luxury holiday

Hotel facilities and room facilities are two different things. An infinity pool is not automatically part of your suite. Similarly, an in-room whirlpool bath is only relevant to your stay if you book the right room category. Read the description of the specific room rather than relying solely on the hotel's photo gallery.

Do not assume that a sea view comes with the beach access you have in mind. If you want to swim every morning, check the actual route to the water. An easily accessible swimming spot may matter more to you than a sweeping view from the terrace. The same applies to the spa: check the facilities you want to use instead of choosing a hotel simply because it has the word spa in its name.

It also pays to be precise about meals. A restaurant at the hotel tells you nothing about which meals your booking includes. Ask about reservations and which facilities or services need to be booked separately. This gives you something concrete to plan your days around.

For a honeymoon, browse the honeymoon hotels collection to compare more options. Be specific about what you want: your own outdoor space, dinners together or as little travel between places as possible. For a closer look at privacy, read the magazine article Adults-only hotels: what privacy really means — and why most hotels get it wrong.

Go through this checklist together before booking

Once you have a shortlist, compare each hotel using the same questions. Note anything that remains unclear and check it with the hotel or booking provider before you book. For a short break in particular, consider your travel arrangements alongside the time you will actually have at the hotel.

• Minimum age: Does the age policy match your idea of a holiday among adults?
• Location: Is this the place you want to stay, and are your planned activities within convenient reach?
• Room: Are the view, terrace, whirlpool bath or private pool included in your chosen room category?
• Privacy: Have you checked whether your outdoor space is overlooked, if that matters to you?
• Spa: Will the facilities you want be available during your stay, and do you need to book appointments?
• Meals: Do you know which meals and restaurants your booking includes?
• Length of stay: Once you allow for arrival and departure, will you have enough time to enjoy what drew you to this hotel?
• Shared priorities: Does the hotel meet the needs that matter most to both of you?