Villa holiday but with other kids for ours to play with ... possible?

[minipie]

Looking for our summer holiday, DC age 6 and 4, somewhere in southern Europe (we love Greece but doesn’t have to be). Not hugely keen on massive resorts, prefer peace and quiet and we don’t really need a kids club so we were thinking a villa ... but ... the DC really love meeting other children around their own age on holiday.

Has anyone had a holiday which combined the two? Maybe a villa complex with shared areas that kids run around, or a villa with a very family oriented beach nearby? Prefer somewhere with restaurants within walking distance too as I’d prefer not to cook and wash up every meal...

Ideas most welcome. Budget fairly generous.

We stayed at Pagel in France, it's a gite complex run by an English couple which is very centred on children and them making friends.
Sadly, there were no restaurants to walk to though we did have a lovely communal meal provided one night.
www.pagel-france.com/

We had a bungalow on a site in Italy once, all the activities and facilities you expect (even Olympic size pool!) but a detached bungalow and very quiet.

Thanks!

Pagel looks absolutely lovely and the DC would love it ... I will put it on my list thank you. Ideally I’d rather lose the kids club and have a restaurant available instead, though I suppose cooking is less of a burden if the dc are off my hands...!

Forgot to say I was hoping for somewhere near a beach... (fussy fussy I know)

stucknoe do you remember name/area of Italy by any chance?

www.i-escape.com/eleonas-crete

We stayed here. Small but heated pool. Restaurant on site. Not near a beach but worked well for us (villas have kitchenettes not kitchens but more than enough for me - we ate in the restaurant or in the village mostly )

Check out Tots to Travel

rightreckoner that looks very nice, were there plenty of children there when you went (was it summer hols)? also how hot does it get, I’ve only been to more northern Greek islands and in May/Sep so wondering about Crete in Summer.

Will have a look at Tots to travel thanks

Only a few kids surprisingly. But we went in May half term - so the heated pool was essential. The children did find other kids to play with though. Perhaps because the pool is fairly small it’s not overrun with kids.

I know exactly what you are looking for though. Surprisingly hard to find. i escapes has a few options We also stayed here www.i-escape.com/stazzo-lu-ciaccaru which was stunning but the restaurant was a bit posh for everyday holiday meals! So still looking for the perfect solution !

Maybe try the Algarve Monte Dourado in Carvoeiro and Vila Da Praia in Alvor. Both listed on Holiday Lettings and Home and Away. Look at pictures and look at all the reviews.

Tots to travel almond grove (?) would be great - although a good 40 mins drive from a beach? But a lovely villa, pool, playground on site, and then 2 other villas in same complex so other kids likely to be around

Oasis de Capistrano in Nerja, Spain
We hired a villa/townhouse through Owners Direct. The villas are built around a central pool. My kids quickly made friends with the other children. It was beautiful there. Hth

minipie I have been looking for the same thing although only in France as we have booked the ferry. Did you find anywhere?

Zante with Simpson Travel. We stayed in a small resort, each villa had a pool and there was a communal pool. Kids club run by English nannies. Weekly barbecue to meet the other guestsZ we had a blast, met some lovely friends and we’re still in touch 4 years later!! It was near the Turtle Beach on the south east part of the island but I’ve forgotten the name. Would thoroughly recommend it!

Cafetiere we have been there! It’s called Periyali. Very nice, we have good memories of it.

This time, I was thinking of somewhere a bit more independent (we don’t really need the kids club any more), but where the DC have a chance to meet other children... Villa group with shared pool and/or playground would be ideal, I will follow up the suggestions above thank you.

Tbh given I’m looking for August I suspect many places will be booked solid anyway ...

Have a look at Pefkos, Rhodes. A small resort where practically everything is walkable, very family friendly. There are shops, restaurants, bars, a lovely beach. There are quite a few apartment complexes with shared pool where you can self cater/eat out. Hotels offer B&B, half board or all inc. They will be busy with wedding parties in August though.The only downside is it’s a 4 hr flight, and quite a long transfer time from the airport.

Rocha Brava village resort in the Algarve, (outside Carvoeiro) lovely beach within easy walk and nice restaurants in the area. Feels very safe and always kids around, the playground is next to the pool area so all very central.

My budget doesn't allow but I would love to go here! www.country-kids.fr/

My friends have been going for years and they and their children all love it.

I'm interested in similar but for 12 years olds

Have a look at Pine Cliffs in Portugal. Scott Dunn do an excellent kids club there, but you can also book with Pine Cliffs direct and just have a villa and make use of the pool, beach etc. Loads of Brit families to make friends with.

@hollowvictory Try Monte Dourado in Carvoeiro holiday Lettings about 5 or 6 small pools lots of kids around all ages and lovely restaurants. Although the first year was absolutely brilliant out two had a ton of friends. The first year our two were 10 and 11 when we visited and the second year most of the kids were under 11 or over 15.

Or try Falesia Mar or Falesia Garden both share same facilities (but different views) in Olhos De Agua with Jet2. It’s great for older kids. Decent sized family rooms, fab views from the Mar accommodation, activities around the pool to dip in and out of for all ages including adults, fab beach down some steps, big buffet breakfast lots of choice for everyone, small games room for them to hang about in close to bar and lots of nice restaurants nearby.

Thanks v much daddylonglegs will have a look