Israel’s seaside hotspot, Eilat, has been scrubbing up nicely recently with a new gleaming waterfront and wonderful beach promenades. And now that there are direct flights from London this is a good time to consider a seaside jaunt en-famille.

The gargantuan 375-room Dan Eilat hotel with its pink-hued tapering architecture designed by Israeli architect Adam Tihani, lords it over the Red Sea beach front on the child-friendly North Beach (no sea urchins around here) yet it’s only a short walk into the city’s vibrant centre.

It features a spacious two-storey U-shaped lobby connected with a winding glass staircase with rock formations complete with a cascading waterfall and sculptures on the ground floor.

The rock theme continues outside with lush vegetation around the two shapely blue pools, one of which is for swimming, the other with its flumes is for playing. There’s a separate whirlpool elsewhere in a quiet corner. A casual poolside restaurant, the Grotto, and a juice bar serves the area and children can play in the large supervised children’s playroom “Danyland” or in the toddler’s pool.

All rooms have the mod cons you’d expect from a luxury resort as well as having 24-hour room service, free Wi Fi and spacious balconies. Some have lovely views over the pools and the sea and sipping an early morning cuppa on the terrace and watching the changing light on the water as the sun takes its position is almost meditative.

Israeli breakfasts are legendary and the Dan Eilat doesn’t disappoint. Buffet dinners served at the Food Fair are plentiful, various and delicious but the Middle Eastern cuisine served in the Shipudei Habustan restaurant is most definitely something to write home about.

As well as a spa, Turkish bath and a gym, there are two squash courts and table tennis room and if you don’t fancy any of that, the palm fringed beach beckons just steps away.