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Original poster

Villa holiday for extended family 2026

35 replies

Trotula · 19/07/2025 13:00

I’m planning a family holiday for August next year and would love to hear from anyone who has done similar or knows of any travel companies etc. We will fly from regional airports and probably hire a car or mini bus, but not necessarily to accommodate everyone at the same time so also needs to be accessible for airport transfers.

The plan would be to have breakfast/light meal/snacks at the villa and one meal out each day. It’s unlikely we would go sightseeing unless it’s accessible by bus or train.

There will be 4/5 adults and 5/6 children, 3 will be aged 4-6 and 3 teenagers so tricky to find something to suit everyone!

It needs:

  • swimming pool
  • activities for teenagers like a pool table.
  • 3 shower rooms/en suites
  • local amenities like a shop/cafe within walking distance
  • relatively accessible beach or lake, preferably within walking distance/bus *minimum of 6 bedrooms

As it’s August I was thinking west coast of France might be suitable and would consider any location if the villa is right, maybe Majorca or the Algarve, northern Spain.

Haven’t set a budget as it depends on a number of factors so open to everything.

Thankyou!

OP posts:
Namechangedasouting987 · 21/07/2025 18:02

It was hot but bearable when we were there.

HorrorFan81 · 21/07/2025 18:07

I cant help OP but ignore the people making barbed comments about this kind of holiday. Ive been on 3 holidays now with groups of up to 26 (the biggest group we had was 12 adults, 14 kids ranging from 2 to 14) and always had a brilliant time other than the odd debate about splitting costs etc (which you should definitely all make sure you're on the same page about 😀).
Hope you find somewhere suitable

Lastnightofhol · 21/07/2025 18:07

This looks exactly what I’m looking for!

walking distance to town? Will I need to hire a car? Is there any dining option ie breakfast included?

tia!

Lastnightofhol · 21/07/2025 18:07

Namechangedasouting987 · 21/07/2025 18:02

It was hot but bearable when we were there.

Sorry to bombard
where did you fly in to? I hate driving abroad… necessary?

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 21/07/2025 18:08

I've just booked a huge house with a pool just outside Alicante for next summer, 3 generations. We plan to use the excellent public transport and local restaurants. Might hire a minivan if we want to travel further afield but going on past holidays the kids will want to stay in the swimming pool all day.

Original poster
Trotula · 22/07/2025 19:53

TheM55 · 20/07/2025 23:18

We have stayed in Can Pastilla in Majorca twice as a large family requiring 6 bedrooms, it has a fab beach, it is family friendly with plenty of places to eat, safe and regular bus to Palma etc. The main benefit, however, is being 10 mins from the airport, bus is 5e and take 15 mins, Uber is about 20e, and because so many flights come in from all regional airports, you can, to an extent, time things so that everyone is at least arriving and departing at the same time zone-ish. The downside is getting that "dream villa" with 6-7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private pool in August that is close enough to what you need, at anything like a comfortable price. France is definitely cheaper, but not easier. It might be worth considering your overall wants and needs - i.e. could you hire a cheaper, slightly smaller private villa where you can congregate and have full family time, but also book a few rooms in the hotel 2 mins down the road. This can work really for 3 reasons a) if you book the villa for the longest duration, nobody has to put up with that "we've got a really late flight and nowhere to go" thing b) being in a big villa with everyone can get on your nerves - everyone is different, some people like to have their own quiet place to go, but still like to meet up and enjoy family time c) although there is an element of everyone having to "chip in" a proportion for the main villa, people at least can pay for what they are getting, and it therefore suits all budgets. Just a thought. Some of my 5 now have families, so the thought of us all being together is really lovely, but at the same time, it would do everyone's nut in if it was continuous, not to mention ridiculously and disproportionately expensive for some. Hope this helps xx

Thanks that’s really helpful and sounds like it might work well for us it does tick a lot of boxes and is exactly why I posted on Mumsnet! Will have a look at this.
I agree that France might be more difficult logistically and was mainly thinking the climate might be cooler than Spain etc.
The budget can stretch for the right accommodation.
AI does have its appeal but if it’s a large complex we could be in different sections.
Thanks again for the helpful suggestions.

OP posts:
TheM55 · 22/07/2025 21:43

There are some great suggestions on here @Trotula, I'm always on the lookout too, so great that you started the thread. Have been having a look at some of those posted, and they look fab - especially the one by @dreamyballoon and I had never heard of Villa plus before so that's one search that is going in my favourites, and lovely that others have posted their go-to searches for this. My other usual go-to places are AIRBNB and VRBO, I am sure you are already looking there (although annoyingly, AIRBNB only go to end of July - maybe if you searched again in August they would go to the end of Aug - but not sure how this is how it works? (I was a bit horrified at the service fee for some of the villas !)). One of the most useful things on these sites is they tell you the bedroom configuration, which you can then work out if it suits you personally. I realise that budget is completely relative, but I think in August, if you manage to get something for 12 people under the £900 a night mark with private pool and the entertaining space you would like to have, you are "punching" as my adult kids would say. And yes, France is generally a bit more bearable weather-wise than the Balearics in August, although it is only a couple of degrees, and it now seems to depend more than ever (did the South of France in May this year, torrential rain and gales, it was warmer at home ! gutted !) Did Palma one week later, and the sun was "cracking the flags" as us Northerners like to say. August at least is a safe bet, if a bit hot !!! Hope you have a lovely time planning, and it would be nice to keep thread going as I am sure many other helpful posters with big family events will post. Good luck with it all x

Original poster
Trotula · 29/07/2025 07:22

JaffavsCookie · 22/07/2025 20:00

This looks fabulous thank you for posting the link!

OP posts:
Original poster
Trotula · 29/07/2025 07:45

TheM55 · 22/07/2025 21:43

There are some great suggestions on here @Trotula, I'm always on the lookout too, so great that you started the thread. Have been having a look at some of those posted, and they look fab - especially the one by @dreamyballoon and I had never heard of Villa plus before so that's one search that is going in my favourites, and lovely that others have posted their go-to searches for this. My other usual go-to places are AIRBNB and VRBO, I am sure you are already looking there (although annoyingly, AIRBNB only go to end of July - maybe if you searched again in August they would go to the end of Aug - but not sure how this is how it works? (I was a bit horrified at the service fee for some of the villas !)). One of the most useful things on these sites is they tell you the bedroom configuration, which you can then work out if it suits you personally. I realise that budget is completely relative, but I think in August, if you manage to get something for 12 people under the £900 a night mark with private pool and the entertaining space you would like to have, you are "punching" as my adult kids would say. And yes, France is generally a bit more bearable weather-wise than the Balearics in August, although it is only a couple of degrees, and it now seems to depend more than ever (did the South of France in May this year, torrential rain and gales, it was warmer at home ! gutted !) Did Palma one week later, and the sun was "cracking the flags" as us Northerners like to say. August at least is a safe bet, if a bit hot !!! Hope you have a lovely time planning, and it would be nice to keep thread going as I am sure many other helpful posters with big family events will post. Good luck with it all x

Thanks the suggestions have been really helpful and I hope other people find it helpful too!

Some of the villas I have initially found are around the £1k per night mark, anything cheaper has less bedrooms, so 3 or 4 beds to a room or nearly 1km to the beach. I think if it’s relatively close a trip to the beach for the younger children in the morning and back for a snack lunch and pool time in the afternoon with the older ones who could also go to the beach or town independently, could work well. We can then all walk somewhere for a drink and food later.

Majorca does seem to have a lot of large villas near the sea front and I guess this is the advantage of an island! One of the villa websites offered airport transfers including mini buses so that would be a huge advantage.

The coast near Palma and the airport has a fair few villas and some located on the bus route to Palma so convenient for day trips.

Will continue with my search!

OP posts:
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