How to get childcare on holidays outside of the big chains?

[WoolyMammoth55]

Pre-kids DH and I were into independent travel, slightly off the beaten track, not huge budgets but self-catering, locally-owned, etc.

We are currently debating next year's holiday with the kids who will be 7 and 3. DH says he doesn't want to consider any options where there's no chance of childcare to give us a few hours 'off'.

Due to Covid and subsequent travels to catch up with family overseas, we haven't really done anything like this with our kids yet... All I can find online is Tui Blue or Mr & Mrs Smith type options - the big chains look pretty tacky and the boutique hotels are £££££s!

Has anyone got any alternative solutions for how to find a holiday with childcare without either remortgaging the house or going on an AI resort break we don't much fancy?

The kind of thing I'd love is a small villa or farm-stay in Europe with a nice beach or a pool and some childcare offered by the owners... It will need to be during school holidays so I'm not expecting bargain basement, just not £10K for 2 weeks!

Thanks in advance :)

I don’t know what the prices are like now as we haven’t been in a few years, but you could look at Mas de Thau, La Grange du Moulin and Emerald Coast Gites in France.

Plenty of self catering camp sites ( with mobile homes, log cabins etc) have kids clubs though most won't take 3 year olds, usually it's 5-12 in my experience.

When my youngest was 3 we did a cruise that had excellent childcare.

Most places won't take 3 yos anyway, you have to stay with them.

I was dead against AI but it is popular with people with kids for a reason.

Martinhal might be worth a look but it is ££££

We've stayed here before.

https://www.country-kids.fr/

this also came up on a search

https://www.holidaytots.co.uk/holiday-ideas/4-kids-club/

Kinderhotels in Austria - independent hotels, often next to farms or as part of a farm complex - that are marketed under a common banner.

An example is the Ellmauhof in Hinterglemm - there are dozens of others.

The benefit of AI companies like Tui is their staff are vetted and trained to UK standards. I suppose it'll take a fair bit of research and trust to have that level of assurance elsewhere.

We did Tui and they took 3 year olds, this was in 2017 though.