Pros and cons of a villa holiday

[DanceMumTaxi]

Just thinking ahead to next year and we’re considering hiring a villa. For a good while now we’re done big AI resorts in Turkey, usually 10 days. We’ve always had a great time (including this year) but more and more we’re noticing that we’re not really making much used of all that AI offers. DC are 12 and 9 neither are bothered by kids clubs and we don’t watch the entertainment. They like the water slides but went less as the holiday went on. We’ll have a drink but certainly not big drinkers. This year we felt like the room was a bit on the small side, and we got fed up with the buffet even though the food was good. Sick of hearing kids iPads, crying children, people smoking outside, the queues. Also fed up with getting up at the crack of dawn to get a sunbed. This is one of our main reasons for getting a villa. One family secured 7 beds on the first day and left all their stuff on overnight for their whole holiday. This was by a quieter pool not the main activity pool so no staff moved them. Next year we’re considering renting a villa, but the main thing putting me off is that we don’t want to be driving and they all seem quite far away from amenities. I’m also a bit concerned about having to food shop, clean, cook etc. I do want a break, which AI provides. We would eat out but definitely not all the time. We’d be happy to use Taxis to/from a town but I’m a bit concerned that this might be tricky to organise? We wouldn’t want a big lively resort. Also not sure if we’d afford it. Budget is around 6.5K for everything (including spending money). Also considered SC apartment but then that doesn’t solve the sun bed situation. Happy to hear any thoughts or experiences anyone has. Thanks

Hire a villa with.a pool. Do a big shop when you get there for basics and booze
Get a villa thats in walking distance of bars and restaurants for the evenings. I much prefer the privacy of a villa. Pool to ourselves. We usually go to lanzarote and have a fantastic time

We use Vintage villas with pool. You can get some within a taxi from airport and near to tavernas and small shops.

Which resort to you like? I don’t know lanzerote at all. Also a lot of villas don’t seem to be walking distance to a town as far as I can see, or if they are they’re really expensive, I’m new to this so could just be looking in the wrong places.

I would look at this kind of thing - nice villa- but near a nice town too with facilities - this is the old James villas and you will get in budget - I searched mid August so maximum price

https://www.novasol.co.uk/holidayhome/makarska-cdc632

Once we had holidayed in a private villa, we never went back to the hell of a hotel.
Our dc were similar ages to yours, and loved having a pool to ourselves, as well as swimming in the evening with the pool lighs on. The villa also had a outdoor kitchen which was great.
We'd go and buy fresh bread every morning, then have sandwiches and snacks around the pool. The peace and quiet was bliss!!!
Most evenings we would eat out, but it was nice to have a walk around and stop for a drink or ice cream.
I confess I used to take cheese/ ham/ M&S potted meat, as one of the dc was fussy and he liked what he liked in his sandwiches!

Cyprus is reasonably priced for villas and they have a lot within walking distance to resorts as they’ve sort of been built for that.
I stayed in a specific villa in Majorca last year that would fit the bill, PM me if you want a link.
Soller in Majorca is where we are going next year and I found lots of villas that say within walking distance of the town.
You can start on Airbnb, find the town and then see what’s available nearby on the map feature. Hours of fun if you like looking at villas!

Thanks everyone, yes, should have said it and must be school holidays because we both work in schools. Otherwise I’d be very tempted to take the children out.

Pros - not paying for things you don't use, space, bedrooms for everyone, no race for sunbeds, opportunity to spend time in local markets/supermarkets, everyone sits down and eats a meal together instead of doing the 'buffet relay', fridge of snacks and drinks that you've chosen, only your own DC to listen to...

Cons - you need to have a plan for food or you end up shopping every day, nobody makes the bed for you or cleans the bathroom every day, some DC might miss the big pool, activities or having other children around. You may need a car.

I'd look for a villa within reach of a local town/restaurants - check on Uber what the cost of taxis is likely to be so you can avoid driving. Do a big shop at the start of the holiday including easy breakfast stuff and cheese/meat/bread that you can have for lunch/dinners and that doesn't need much cooking.

Set some ground rules before you go away so that everyone knows that they will have to muck in and that you're not the holiday slave.

It takes a bit more planning but you can still have a relaxing holiday.

Alternatively - stay here
https://www.booking.com/hotel/si/lake-bled-apartments.en-gb.html
absolutely stunning location, cannot get better
walking distance to main town and three different beach areas
swim in the beautiful clear warm lake
paddle boards, boats, kayaks all hireable
loads of restaurants to walk to
lovely clean apartment
NOT AN AD just one of the best family holidays we’ve ever had with similar aged kids

I know a few people who’ve been here. They’ve all said how beautiful it is.

I would go to Majorca - resorts like soller, pollensa or Puerto pollensa( bus connects them easily) or around Cala d’or , Porto colom or Cala Ratjada or Cala bona areas, also around camp de Mar, Santa ponsa / pagueraareas ( great bus service to Palma very regularly) - seriously have a play with link I sent - I found plenty for around £2.8k that were lovely end of July 2026 . Add on flights and £2k spending money ( you can eat out every night at that plus drinks plus snack lunches out - just have stuff in for breakfast ) and I think you will never go back to AI -

Lots of villas aren't walking distance from things, but there are plenty that are, especially if you are organised and book early.

I think Villa Plus lets you filter by 'car not needed' or similar.

We always do villa holidays (I don't like other people 😂) and are going to Menorca this year. Our villa is about 5 - 10 minute walk from half a dozen restaurants/bars, and the beach. We always get a hire car so we can do a big supermarket shop. We enjoy bbqing in the evenings as well as eating out.

Of course the disadvantages you list are true - it is more like being at home in terms of cooking, tidying up etc, but you have your own swimming pool which is bliss.

We booked with Oliver’s travels last year and got cleaning every other day, full towel change and loads of towels left for us etc. I did no more cleaning than I would in a hotel really. Not sure if that was the villa company or the villa (Oliver’s is like a third party company I think)

@Crikeyalmighty thanks, I’ll definitely have a good look, I’ve never heard of this website before.
do people find their villa and then find flights afterwards? Sorry, this is all new so not sure how to go about it. Not even really sure how much flights are likely to be. Guessing maybe around 1.5K for 4 of us with seats and some bags? When do flights even become available? Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

^^^ This

@Dartmoorcheffy you have described our family holidays to a tee!! This is exactly what we used to do. Faro Park, Playa Blanca. Could also easily get buses and taxis down to the main part of town, and back, for a few nights out. Had some great evenings out, and some equally amazing evenings at the villa.

Having your own space and not having to share the pool with others is bliss! Kids always loved it as they never liked the kids clubs and entertainment anyway. We always made our own. Think playing cards and games in the evenings on those nights we didn't go out.

We also hired a car so we could drive ourselves to the villa, have day trips and days out, and pick up a little extra shopping if we needed anything (we were mainly away for 2 weeks)

Anywhere in the los mojo es area of pueryo del carmen would be great. Get a taxi to Lidl, stock up, then do top up shops from shops on the front. We tend to eat out along the marina. The main drag is not really my thing but we love lanzarote.

@ErlingHaalandsManBun this sounds just like my kids. They love to play cards etc of a night. Not remotely interested in the shows/entertainment. They’re not even bothered about making friends with other kids.

@DanceMumTaxi yes - flights around £1400 for 4 with bags and seats peak season - there are lots of good villa sites out there - where you can see reviews too - unless you are big drinkers and not fussy what you drink , constantly like snacks and ice creams or make use of clubs and entertainment I think AI can work out far more expensive and often without much space - the secret is villas near to nice towns and ideally with good bus routes too - Croatia has quite a lot, Majorca, Ibiza, the bigger Greek islands , Marbella area has some great ones - some good ones in Turkey too . It depends what you like/want to do - and if you are ok with a 20 minute walk into town etc - as many villas /houses are on the edge that have pools. Some of the loveliest ones as you say do really need a car - Arta in Majorca for instance - lovely places, need a car

Playa Blanca in lanzarote as someone mentioned is a good pick too - personally I don’t like the sea in canaries, same with Algarve - but if they would prefer a pool anyway that’s not an issue - honestly you will get something great for around £4.2k for villa and flights - and a couple of nights swim and BBQ at villa can be fun too

We’ve just been to Vilamoura in Portugal to a villa. Could walk to everywhere but Ubers were super cheap. We used clever details to rent the villa. Pros - own space, pool. Cons - thinking about food, less people watching!
I would also look at port de pollensa in Majorca.
look on air BnB and then it’s usually obvious which company are selling the villa and then book direct!

Then book flights separately and transfers. Most companies can sort for you. Or just grab a cab at airport.

Always do villa/Gite/chalet. Depending on where you go, you can find supermarket deliveries. Tbh though, I tend to just make a list and go to the nearest Carrefour/Migros/Lidl/Mercadona and do a trolley dash. We do hire a car most times but have never had an issue finding an uber or taxi when we haven't. If we're somewhere where supermarket is walking distance, we just pop in every couple of days.

Jet2 Villas, everything included then filter down location, dates etc.

My DC outgrew AI resorts and love the peace and privacy of a villa with a private pool.

There are other options.You could always go to a decent hotel that isn't AI.

@DanceMumTaxi honestly my kids always loved doing that. We would sit outside at the villa and just get the cards out. A little music on in the background and we would have such a great evening. We always got on really well and both my daughters were close to each other so we would all have such a laugh.

It is one of the things they always mention now about our family holidays in Lanzarote, when we look back and reminisce (they are adults now) I think it was just because it was really simple and precious and just spending quality time together. It was fun and obviously that family time together created many happy memories for the girls. We always had to get the games and playing cards out on Christmas Day evening too 😂Happy Days. 😊