Want to Get Away?
As a mom of three young children who loves nature and exploration, one of my favorite things to do on long weekends or school breaks is to find a beautiful and unique location outside of Beirut where we can stay a few nights and spend time together. When I visited Lebanon for the first time in 2018, I was in awe at how much beauty and diversity was packed into this relatively small piece of land. Even though I've visited nearly 30 countries, Lebanon remains at the top of my list, and I'm grateful to call this small but mighty country my home. The beauty, the food, and the people make it an enchanting place that you don't want to leave. And if you must, it always calls you back.
In no particular order, keep reading to learn about some of our family's favorite places we've stayed in Lebanon.
My youngest son exploring a beautiful river
Al Haush
Okay, I know I said there was no particular order, but I'd be lying if I didn't say this is one of my absolute favorite places I've stayed not only in Lebanon, but anywhere. Located in the Bekaa, we spent a couple nights here on my husband's birthday last year and it could not have been more perfect. Our room was cozy, clean, and comfortable. The grounds are stunning and so immaculate, I would have been happy to just sit in the sun and read a book the whole time. My kids loved the crystal clear pool, the farm animals, and the playground. For meal times, there's an open air farm to table restaurant on-site with excellent, fresh local food and beautiful views. What really made this experience special was the warmth and personable nature of the owner and staff. We felt so taken care of during our stay, and loved hearing the story behind Al Haush. One of my favorite memories from our time there was making fresh manakish with our kids. As a working farm, Al Haush has so many other great activities and offerings perfect for families of all kinds, and I highly recommend putting this on your list of places to visit in Lebanon - you will be glad you do!
More info: https://www.instagram.com/alhaush/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Abdelli Terraces
Tucked into the mountains above Batroun, we spent a weekend here a couple of years ago for our daughter's birthday and Easter. Aside from our family and our friends (a family of 4) who went with us, we almost had the place to ourselves, as the weather was just beginning to warm up. We experienced warm and attentive service from the staff, gorgeous mountain views, a huge (though a little cold for mid-April) pool, and a spacious open dining area with local Lebanese cuisine that didn't disappoint. The kids loved running around the well-kept grounds, playing hide and seek in the garden, and doing an Easter egg hunt. We celebrated our daughter's birthday with gifts on the green lawn, and then took the quick and pretty drive down to the beach in Batroun where the kids played in the sea, we strolled through the charming town, indulged in a wonderful meal at Mariolino, and of course made a stop at Hilmi's Lemonade before returning to Abdelli in the evening for a lovely meal and birthday cake.
Book your stay: https://www.abdelliterraces.net/
Ito's Crib
Some of my favorite memories are from Ito's Crib, where we spent one of our last weekends together with an Australian family who had become some of our closest friends in Lebanon. Both foreigners, we bonded in our early days of arriving to Lebanon, adventuring with our little ones together over the course of 3 years before our friends were assigned back to their home country. Our days at Ito's Crib consisted of soaking in the fresh autumn air and sunshine, enjoying leisurely outdoor meals, cards and board games while the kids romped around the stunning garden and natural pool. Set on a hill in Tannourine, the home itself is a gorgeous stone villa big enough for a very large family, group of friends, or multiple families. The owner is friendly, responsive, and helpful - he actually owns multiple properties in the area, along with the Laze Fountain Eco Hotel & Restaurant.
More info: https://www.instagram.com/itoscrib/?hl=en
Book through Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/43832023?check_in=2025-03-18&check_out=2025-03-23&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=e55a67c8-d583-4e51-8c3c-eba37d281986
O Fleur de Sel
I've only spent a little bit of time in Anfeh, and I can't wait to go back to explore more. We stayed here for one night with a friend who was visiting from the U.S. and wanted to experience a new area of Lebanon with us. We left Beirut in the morning for Tripoli, boarded a small boat and ventured out to Rabbit Island where we soaked up the sun and played in the sea. Coming to O Fleur de Sel to rest after a full day of play was perfect. We walked to a seaside restaurant for pizza as the sun set, and then settled into our cozy beds for the night. In the morning, we were greeted with a beautiful view of the sea and a fresh Lebanese breakfast, followed by a splash in the pool by our kids while we did some reading. We took a scenic route on the way back to Beirut, and I'm dreaming of going back there for a photo session.
Book your stay at: https://ofleurdesel.com/
Guita Bed & Bloom
I didn't do this on purpose, but I may have saved the best for last. This bed and breakfast is stunning, nestled into the mountains of Akoura, and has an especially charming, cozy atmosphere. It was the place we spent our first getaway with our sweet aforementioned Aussie friends. We went for my middle child's 3rd birthday (how can he be 6 now?!) and it truly could not have been a more perfect place for our Fall getaway. The home has a family feel, rich with history, and thoughtfully decorated. There are plenty of areas around the guesthouse and property to play, relax, and explore. We especially loved hanging out (literally) in the hammocks in the garden, and roasting s'mores around the fire in the evening.
Book your stay at: https://www.guita.co/
I hope you found this helpful for the dreaming and planning of your next family getaway! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. I'd love to hear about your favorite places in Lebanon, too. For more articles like this one, subscribe to my email list. In my next post, I'll be sharing about family-friendly day trip outings in Lebanon.
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