Terme Čatež Sonce

As with much of Slovenia, you’re never very far away from some stunning landscapes to explore – places near to Terme Čatež Sonce include Jovsi (15 minutes’ drive), a natural park with endangered species and traditional farming techniques, and the alpine area around the Žumberak and Samobor Mountains (half an hour), where you can hike among the karsts and look out for wolves, bears and birds. There are some fabulous buildings to visit nearby too, including 16th-century Brežice Castle (five minutes), the dramatic hilltop ruins of Samobor Castle (20 minutes) and baroque Lužnica Manor (half an hour). If that’s not getting the kids enthused, try a trip over the border to Park Znanosti (45 minutes), where the fun science-based exhibits mean they might not even notice they’re quietly learning stuff too… While you’re in Croatia, it’s also worth spending some time in Zagreb (50 minutes), exploring the two parts of the Old Town, visiting the cathedral and wandering around the surprisingly evocative Museum of Broken Relationships.