Does an elegant Mediterranean holiday with toddler and baby exist?

[Nubnut]

Is there a middle ground between gorgeous rustic agriturismo or small crumbling palazzo, and kids club resort with entertainers dressed as bears?

new parents, maybe struggling to adapt to the world we’re now in…

no specific budget, anywhere hot but in Europe. Kids are 5 and 1.

any suggestions?

IKOS resorts?

Looks great, thank you.
I would still dream of something a little more romantic and a little less polished…

Country Kids?

Country Kids

Porto Sani resort in Greece was amazing for little kids. Ofsted nursery, staff on hand to do crafts etc with kids at meal times, excellent babysitting, adult only pool as well as family pool. And all on a marina where beautiful yachts come, a few boutique shops and several lovely restaurants that you can dine around.

The answer is you look the holiday you want and then take a nanny with you.

That is what rich and glamorous people do...
We prefer to slum it on holiday by being under our own steam in a caravan, but it achieves the effect of avoiding that feeling of mass tourism.

Martinhal?

Mousses by Simpsons. https://www.simpsontravel.com/greece/lefkada/mousses-creche-and-kids-clubs
game changer

Is anything elegant with a 1 & 5yr old? Just book the holiday you want and let the two worlds collide. It’ll be fine. The baby won’t know where it is anyway, they’re happy as long as mummy is there at that age

Which one is the toddler?

Anyway, I agree you should just book the holiday you want and work around it. Could you take a nanny / grandparent to help with childcare?

Try Domes of Elounda in Crete.

Pre kids we'd go to crumbling plazzos in Sicily or rooms on vineyards in Corbières. I was very smug and snooty about AIl inclusives and just didn't get that at all.

However most of the good holidays we've had since having kids are in AI, slightly souless hotels! We tried a few in our previous mold but it was EXHAUSING. You want somewhere clean and where there's heaps of choice of food and a 24 hour doctor if someone gets sick. You don't want to be having to find a supermarket the week after Easter in an Andalusian hill town where everything closes after the break and the kids are sobbing beacuse the flight was delayed and they haven't eaten for 10 hours.

Then because it's so easy and you don't have to worry about food etc you can explore the area and find lovely beaches and tavernas and go to galleries or potter round with ice cream in Palma / Corfu town etc.

Sorry for the bad news. Sure it'll change in 10 years by which time you can't even remember who you are or what you want from life.

IKOS are fab. and fairly elegant.

Book the holiday you will enjoy and let the kids tag along ... well I'm not kidding. I've never booked a kids orientated holiday, we did itineraries we wanted to do but adapted as required eg rather than a bar or cafe for lunch we would opt for the McDonald's with play equipment, or sandwiches and go to a park (location and weather dependent!) we went to the same places but had a double buggy for as long as they fitted, perfect for napping in. By 4 they were filling in those kids trail booklets at museums and galleries. We chose outdoorsy places often as they were good walkers from very young, backpacking around Alaska was a favourite trip. If you like rural, choose rural, kids don't mind going on the same little swing and walk every day anyway.

Alternatively save your money, book a week at a British bucket and spade resort, Devon is a good option, a site with kids activities is a bonus but doesn't need to be flashy, they won't care the brand or whether it's cheesy, in fact 5 year olds love a cheesy kids disco.

If you're wanting to go abroad remember most don't have kids provision for under 3/4's

Having done the crumbling palazzo in the early days of internet holiday bookings - it's not all it's cracked up to be! Wish we had gone somewhere on a site with a kids club and a convenient restaurant.

@JoyOdell123 I agree. Martinhal in Portugal is lovely. Great day daycare onsite for kids (my toddler loved it), no one dressed as a bear, pool etc, lovely beach, really chilled.

Thank you for the recommendations and the food for thought, very much appreciated.

Costa Navarino seems to meet your requirement. We were there last year - stayed at the Romanos, but its two hotels linked together with a lovely big square with restaurants, shops, ice cream, open air cinema etc.. Very safe and child friendly (lots of small children). https://www.costanavarino.com/romanos-resort/

Sani resort Halkidiki Greece. Know a few couples with young children go and say they even managed to have a relaxing time!

Another vote for Mousses - if you are ok with more rustic than glam, and value small and quiet over decor.

Also Bella Mare or GK Beach (also by Simpson Travel) but childcare is for 5+.

Agree also with Country Kids and its rivals like Longeveau, St Pierre de Serjac etc.

Costa Navarino looks good if you want a big resort and more swish than the above. Or look at Almyra or Columbia Beach Resort in Cyprus.

In general I would point you to the i-escape with kids website, Mr & Mrs Smith & Family, and Tots Too website.