Family complexes with apartment/villa (sep bedrooms +kitchen) style accommodation

[BeatrixPottery]

Asked about this on aibu got some good responses but nothing quite right

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.

We’re trying to find a 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 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.

A lot of the options are eyewatering, in budget but, yikes, and many I just feel meh about the hotel/location, if we're paying eyewatering we ideally want it to be all in amazing.

We ideally now would like Europe, but not algarve - husband's a keen golfer and done to death pre-kids, canaries (not adverse but for summer holiday I feel why choose an all year round destination, if we can't find anywhere we may switch to october half term and do canaries as there are some nice options). It has to be on or a very, very short drive to beach for DM.

Thinking Portugal's Atlantic coast, smaller greek islands, french or Italian lakes, Ibiza or Menorca, or Sardinia.

Oh yes Ikos and Sani are on the list bt I don't know I just feel a bit meh, very nice and very nice price but somehow a little soulless - sorry if that causes offense as Iknow and understand people love them.

www.delphinahotels.co.uk/sardinia/hotels/caladifalco/ Look at Delphina in Sardinia. We stayed in the residence at Cala di Falco and booked the breakfast option. The also have villas on the same site. The beach is across the road and the town with shops and restaurants is 5 mins walk. We had a cash free card and could book for lunch or dinner etc if we wanted but also had self catering facilites. Le Dune I think is more set up for families in terms of activities etc. We did organised excursions from Cala di Falco to Corsica and the Madalena Islands.

Porto Zante Villas

We stayed at Holiday Hills in Estepona last year which felt really high end despite not being crazy expensive.

www.esteponaholidayhills.com/en/

Apartments were very new and luxe with balconies / terraces for long lunches or drinks when the kids were asleep. There weren't kids club activities as such but the development has a few lovely big pools and was very safe for wandering about.

Estepona is a very pretty town with good shops / restaurants and is walking distance.

Anyway we're going back this year!

I've stayed at ahprodite hills resort in cyprus and i think it might fit your bill. I couldn't fault it, it was beautiful.

@ObsidianBlock i've looked at this it's too far out and away from a beach to be a first choice. But thank you.

will get googling, not heard of some of these thank you.

Club med

I think the Martinhal resort in Portugal would fit your needs - we stayed at the one in Quinto de Lago. They have 2+ bedroom houses but on a bigger restaurant so there’s a restaurant if you want it, kids club etc, but also you have your own space and small pool, and it’s a short drive to the beach.

That should say “on a bigger resort…”

@GailTheFish I'm that part of algarve'd out, but, was really keen on the Sagres one, DM discounted though. Think might be the only option. Anyone done the Sagres one??

So many at what are nice but pretty generic complexes coming out at 10-15k (and this is mid June so not school hols!!) for 9 nights just for the privilege of not having my child sleep in the same room as me or what is essential a dog bed in the living area.....what do people do, how have hotels that have been built/renoed in the last 10-15 years not moved on from this 70's/80's concept of treating children like incidentals. What do people do, how can you consider it holiday with the kids in the same room as you?? Where does all their stuff go if they haven't got their own room???

Baobab Suites on Tenerife fits the bill - except for being Canaries. possibly not quite 5*.

It’s not easy. 5* places will assume you prefer to eat in a restaurant. Even the places with villas on site the villas often don’t have kitchens!

Another idea for you - take one of the villas that sits just above Bella Mare hotel on Corfu. The hotel has a kids club aimed at age 5-11 and villa resident kids can join in.