Is a villa holiday a real break or just same shit, different place?

[longnavyskirt]

Idly browsing 2021 holidays (they are so dear, I thought I'd get a bargain).

I love the idea of having our own space, especially in the heat. The kids are also good swimmers so it would be lovely to have a run at a pool of our own.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Depends how old your DC are, primarily. With tinies it is literally 'same thing, different place' but that can be enough, especially if there's a pool.

Then, whether you like cooking, your DP/DH pulls their weight, or if you eat out most of the time.

I love having more space to spread out, freedom, quiet surroundings, privacy, affordability. I find the idea of a hotel holiday with DC quite claustrophobic and expensive but haven't actually tried it. I can imagine a 'family resort' with activities could be amazing (but expensive).

[sueelleker]

Not had a villa, but we did timeshare for years. Breakfast in the apartment of rolls etc, then ate out for lunch and dinner. I loved not being tied to dining room schedules, and we could eat whatever we fancied.

[yikesanotherbooboo]

We have had lots of villa holidays. There is a lot more freedom than in a hotel imo so it is more restful. We tend to breakfast in the villa, have some sort of day trip, light lunch and eat out or DH will BBQ. There are no crowds or queues and no feeling you have to conform to the culture. We wouldn't have pools with tiny children but make use of a shared pool, the beach or a municipal pool. I like a dishwasher and an open fire or wood burner just in case. I wouldn't choose on the basis of a washing machine but it is nice to have . We don't tend to pay extra for a maid but they are a great luxury when they do come imo although DH finds them intrusive. There tends to be very little housework or n any case as you are outside all the time.

[RosesAndHellebores]

Everyone's idea of the perfect holiday is different and that's a good thing. We found our own little slice of heaven on the Cotes Vermeille many years ago - an unfashionable part of France, nestling against the Pyrenees, adjacent to Spain and with a fabulous coastline peppered with little ports.

We work like stink all year under huge pressure and 4-6 weeks of utter scruff, doing a bit of light gardening, reading by the pool, having a wander into the village for coffee, drinks, lunch is just perfect.

There is something about the light and the air that changes with subtlety and incrementally as one passes beyond Limoges but it was captured by Matisse and Dufy and brings its own quiet magic.

[MrsAvocet]

Depends what you like. Generally I prefer self catering as we are fairly antisocial so if we stay in hotels we are effectively paying for loads of stuff that we won't do anyway. Most organised activities are my idea of hell and I hate busy pools as without my glasses on I'm half blind. A villa with its own pool is much better. I always insist on a kitchen at least as good as mine at home though - I don't want to be trying to cook on something akin to a camping stove. Most days we will eat out once and eat at home for the other meal.

[lalafafa]

the initial shop is a pita, although Eroski in Mallorca will deliver to your door now. We goto a serviced villa, housekeeping come in each day to make beds and change towels etc, strip beds and full clean once a week.love going to the huge supermarkets, always get fresh fish etc.we usually go exploring every other day, no fighting over sunbeams either.

[OhToBeASeahorse]

Oh lord, this thread has made me sad!

Frankly after this year I'd take anything!

I've never hired a villa but we've done self catering in the UK and AI abroad since we've had children. Neither felt like a massive holiday frankly but i found the SC really quite hard with a toddler - basically we packed up our house and unpacked it somewhere else.

I could see it working when the children are a little older and the routine can be more flexible and when you do at least one meal a day out.

I did love the AI, we dont go in for organised fun but what there was was very unobtrusive and you could take it or leave it. Having someone else clean up the highchair etc was amazing.

[Petitmum]

Villa for me!! DS has special needs and it is more relaxing for us to have plenty of space. Next year we have booked a detached villa in Spain, a short drive from the coast with a huge pool and water slide, table tennis table and table football.
I like to cook and don't mind at all - we eat lot's of salads/pasta/grills/pizza and everyone is happy. Dishwasher and washing machine are essential!!!
We like to play board games and cards in the shade when it's too hot, wifi is a must and we enjoy watching films together. We are not ones for group organised activities and all inclusive hotel buffets, we like our own space and a chance to relax. A villa suits us but our holiday would be some peoples idea of hell!!!

[Fizbosshoes]

We do caravan/camping in uk or France or self catering in uk, occassionally abroad. After a couple of times booking somewhere that was miles from anywhere, (not all were disastrous but I prefer not to be reliant on a car) I now check for all accomodation how far it is to a town/shop/,beach/pub etc.

My DC are quite shy and not that sociable and have never wanted to join an organised kids club on holiday.(They didnt really enjoy holiday clubs during school holidays either but they were a neccesity if I was working)
However occasionally they have just naturally hooked up with kids of a similar age at campsites, and played together.

[SimonJT]

I much prefer a villa, I enjoy the privacy and not having to share a poolside with other people.

We do a big shop when we arrive, but we also go out for meals and sometimes hire a chef for the day, you can also get catered villas if you don’t want to cook.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Just because you go to a villa doesn’t mean you have to cook at all.

We like the space and privacy.
We like that we all have our own bedrooms and sometimes bathrooms is fantastic.
The expense just to provide that in a hotel would be prohibitive and then you still have to sit around a pool with other people and if you want a few drinks the cost again would be extortionate.