Going on holiday with an only child

[adifferentwoman]

Our DD is 4 and a half and we're looking for a week's holiday in Europe where she has a good chance of meeting and playing with other kids. However, we much prefer villa holidays to a hotel, just for the space. We had a brilliant time last year in Pollensa as we just happened to meet families on the beach and in restaurants in the old town who happened to have daughters also wanting playmates! Grouped villas also sound great - Periyalli in Zante has been recommended, but the villas do sound basic for the cost. I'm not aware of anything similar. Suggestions all round much appreciated - thank you!

What about going with friends who have children and getting a nice fancy villa between you all. Ready made friends and split the cost so you don't have to be too basic?

As an only child daughter of an only child and with an only child don't over think it. Honestly. Just go where you fancy going. (eg I remember going to Spain with my cousin's family but spending more time with the other kids you automatically "meet" at that age. )

have a look at www.padre-aviles.com/ self catering with other families close by and great pool and great location.

otherwise the top 5 at www.mumsnet.com/Reviews/short-haul

www.mumsnet.com/Reviews/short-haul

I agree with Bucharest. We took DD to Lanzarote and, later on, Sark when she was 5. She made friends with some children at the airport while we queued for ages to check in to the Lanzarote flight and with the children at the hotel we stayed in on Sark.

We hate places with kids clubs/nightly entertainment, but DD has always hooked up with other children on holiday - on the beach, while crab fishing, in the swimming pool etc.

If the appeal of the villa is the space rather than the luxury you could look at Eurocamp and similar - probably "downmarket" from a villa, but I find those holidays perfect with young kids, there are kids everywhere and mine always make friends. We've done at least one and sometimes 2 of those types of holidays a year for the last few years (I have 3 kids but even though they play together making friends with other kids is still important to the older 2).

We have an only and have stayed in some great places www.sunshine.co.uk/hotels/Regency_Country_Club-2766.html has appartments ( I would go two rather than one bedroom) and has a lovely little childrens club where DS ended up being friends with another boy and being inseparable from him all week - you can probably go cheaper than that but just to show you where it is.

Or in France this place is great but books up really fast www.lepavillondestagnan.com/index.php/en/ you are probably too late for this summer, but you stay in a little cottage which has shared use of a heated pool, playbarn, outside play area and free pony rides for the children. You might be able to find similar arrangements searching the chez nous website.

Another place to look is to check out the leisure resorts on the James villa website. I'd probably not book through them as you should be able to price it up less expensively but gives you some good options for accomodation with shared pools/facilities.

Also beware it may not work out. This year I paid very handsomely for accomodation linked to hotels so we had access to a kids club but also had a bit of our own space. DS point blank refused to go to the kids clubs (don't blame him to be honest as they were full on gated ones removed from everything else whereas the one from the previous year at the Regency is tiny and we were on the sun beds beside it so he kept dotting back to see us.

Let us know when you get your options list narrowed down. I love planning holidays.

I agree with Bucharest, I am an only child too and we went on all kinds of holidays. I was happy anywhere really. I'm sure your DD will have a greta time wherever you go

Thanks so much for all your advice. I agree, it can be overthought - we just had a 4 day break in Cornwall and whilst we booked at The Valley cottage complex, she didn't meet any other kids but still had a great time. I'll let you know what we decide this time around.....

As a sociable only child I think it's great you're thinking about it. Even tho I have two I won't do villas yet as I want them to meet other children (6 and 4) as I remember how I was always desperate to find friends when I was little on holiday.

Am going to look into those french villas, sounds good. For the last few years we have done all inclusive hotels like thomson which me and dh do not really like but the kids adore! Hopefully this could be the next stage til we can get back to proper travelling :)

Well, we've decided to stick with the tried and tested and head back to the Pollensa region. Have booked a villa in Cala San Vincente and hope that it'll all happen rather naturally like before! Hope there's good sunshine too....am in need of it after all this rain!

We've had good experiences with villas / small apartment complexes with a shared pool - we always do self-catering and last time DS made a friend the same age on day 1 and by the end of the fortnight they had had reciprocal sleepovers in our respective apartments!

We've just booked a holiday through TripFinders.net. They were great. Why don't you contact them, they have lots of ideas for exactly what you are looking for.