Holiday complexes with villa or apartment style accommodation

[BeatrixPottery]

Sorry to the thread police but I posted this on chat and didn’t get replies.

My parents confirmed to us over Xmas that they would like to take us all away in the summer for my 40th and DF’s 70th.

I did ask about this on here when they originally mooted in the summer and had a few answers but none quite right and I thought with everything going on parents might have changed mind!

We’re trying to find a 4 or 5* (big birthdays and not been abroad since pre cov so would like it to feel special) family friendly resort that has children’s amenities but, which has apartment or villa style accommodation, so with a kitchen separate bedrooms, outdoor seating area etc.

I cannot cope with having to do a hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner with the DC (the waste, the stress the noise 😫) or have them sleeping in the same room as us, that would not be a holiday. It would also be nice to put them to bed at a sensible time some nights and have somewhere which the grown ups could convene and relax.

Previously we’ve done villas/air bnb which were perfect but DC need the company of other children and options for activities now. We did a cottage break in UK in the summer and they were just bored.

I’ve had a look at few places and the properties aren’t quite right or there’s nothing much else for miles around - this is a deal breaker for DM.

As long as it’s warm in late May early June and is a single flight from UK and safe for kids we’re all pretty open on destination.

Sounds as if you need to talk to a travel agent - they do still exist.

Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus is lovely but very expensive. It’s a little bit isolated but driving over there is really easy and there is a good bus service.

kassandra-palace.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnsqdBhCGARIsAAyjYjTHtbROCco240LR53jIqyJIekJXJI8N0f4AIQlO8QX1TS-fzPrVDfgaAn0uEALw_wcB

a friend went here with her family for her 40th last summer. She said it was amazing. Her DC’s are aged 6 and 4.

@Iheartmysmart I’ll take a look, I’m not sure my DM would go for that though. I showed her the Martinhal in Portugal which is the same but she wasn’t keen for that reason.

There are a couple of resorts in the algarve that could fit the bill. Rocha Brava and Quinta do Paraíso in Carvoeiro both have activities and self catering apartments and villas with a restaurant on site.

I live in carvoeiro so happy to answer any questions

Mauritius - we did similar for my dad's 65th.

Try the Canary Islands they do a lot of aparthotels and apartments.

Pine Cliffs in Portugal is lovely.

Would a European CenterParcs work? I haven't been to one but a friend highly recommended one in the Netherlands. It's something DH and I are considering for sometime in the next year or two because we also like a resort vibe but also can't stand hotel food constantly/one room shared etc for more than a few nights.

I would highly recommend talking to Baby Friendly Boltholes. They seem to really know their stuff, and will be able to suggest 2 or 3 places for you to show your mum.

IKOS resorts are amazing but expensive. You can get apartments with separate bedrooms and gardens but you wouldn't get a kitchen I don't think. It's fully all inclusive with unlimited room service included though so you could get your meals delivered to your apartment. Very child friendly too.

Sani, Borgo pignarno resort in Tuscany, forte village in Sardinia, cove suites in Blue waters, Antigua,

Martinhal Sagres

Mitsis have a small number of hotels in Greece. I have been to the mitsis Blue Domes amongst others (Kos island I think) and it was lovely and I think hit all your requirements. Villas on a complex, stuff going on, reasonably luxurious.

There's the Ikos resorts as mentioned above which are incredible for families wanting something very nice. But very pricy.

The Royal Son Bou in Menorca, beautiful hotel with large two bedroom apartments which have kitchens and lovely large balconies. The focus is the kids and the kids clubs are amazing. Walkway from the hotel to the longest beach on Menorca.
We did go all inclusive and the food was lovely but there's plenty of restaurants in Son Bou if you don't fancy eating in the hotel.

Have a look at Eden in Portugal. Two - three bedroom villas but in a complex with lots of activities. You can do self catering, half board or all inclusive. It's a bit away from the main town but there is a free minibus to the old town/beach once an hour. We stayed a few years ago and loved the of space (the kids had their own bathroom too) but there was the convenience of all the amenities of a hotel if you wanted.

couple of options in Tenerife - Baobab Suites and Hotel Suites Villa Maria. Or Bahia Del Duque has villas but they will cost an arm and a leg.

Also look at Mousses (booked via Simpson Travel).

Martinhal resorts have mini houses/apartments

Aphrodite as mentioned above - but a lot of the nicer accommodation is a drive away from the facilities

All of these have kids clubs - if you don’t need a kids club there will be lots of other options

Oh also quite a few places in France that are set up as a complex of gites/cottages with a central restaurant and sometimes kids club. Check details as some have more facilities in school hols than in term time:

Country Kids
Chateau Les Carrasses
St Pierre de Serjac
Longeveau
Les Gites Noyers
La Ferme du Cayla

Agree with Baby Friendly Boltholes. Also I-escape with Kids and Tots Too.

Thank you so much for all these! I’ve looked at Ikos and Sani but discounted previously but discounted due to the room set ups, book unlimited room service could be game changing, just need to look at the rooms and see if there’s actually space to eat. Also worried we’d find it too restrictive as we do like to eat out occasionally.

so many others I’ve not heard of! Will work my way through this weekend!

It is so frustrating that websites have not clocked the fact that not everyone to sleep in the same room as their kids on holiday, there should be an easier way to search for 2 bedrooms!

My ex-DP's mum took us here for a family holiday. Really lovely villas. In a quiet place, but a short cab ride away from bars and restaurants.

www.bahiazul.com/en/

Pine cliffs in Portugal - lots of room types, the apartments are lovely.