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

This is just not (completely) true. I’ve just had a villa holiday where we were 100m from a lovely beach in one direction and 200m in the other direction to shops and restaurants etc. and 15m pool (unheated!) Some people actively choose remote! The joy of villas is that there is something for everyone with all the advantages previously discussed and typically cheaper than hotels especially if you need more than one room.

Sitting by the pool in our holiday villa at the mo, did a supermarket run for tapas type bits for easy lunches, fruits, salad stuff, beer, wine etc. Breakfast is just some yogurt and fruit. Have an early morning cup of tea outside in your pjs
Peaceful and absolute bliss☀️

Yes of course some people want remote. I just said I wouldn't like it. The OP seemed concerned about that.

Just returned from Nerja using Nerja Paradise Rentals. Villa was lovely, air-con, private pool. We hate the business of hotels and cannot cope with the fight for beds/pool space. Peaceful evenings sipping G&T if we stay in and these villas were within walking distance of Nerja town and beaches.

Cons - as highlighted above and also, you have to be very careful about location - we’ve been caught out way too many times and needed to walk miles or hire a car.

I can cope with 4-7 days in a hotel at a maximum, anything more, its villa all the way. But, be careful about location.

Yes we had an amazing villa in Majorca where we were about 50 m from the beach and 5 min walk from a town with supermarket. The pool wasn't big, but we wanted for cooling down, rather than swimming. That was when DD was a toddler and we went with my parents, and we went in June before school holidays started. we couldn't afford one that good now, but we still make sure you can get to a beach/shop/restaurant on foot (the same as i would if staying somewhere in the uk)

Campsites are generally further from a town/supermarket but we try to get one near the beach

@Idontpostmuch yes, you’re right, we definitely don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere. Wanted to avoid walking miles in the heat or having to drive everywhere.

The smaller pool is a concern. But we’ll give it a go and see how we get on. Places that had a bigger pool, but walking distance to shops/restaurants etc were miles out of our budget. If we don’t like it we’ll go back to AI the year after or think of something else.

At the end of the day, you’ll be sitting by a private pool in Majorca…. How bad could it be, right?
Are you happy to share which town you’re going to?

It’s Sineu, so right in the middle. There’s a train station close by for a few days out. And I think we will have a car for a few days too to see how we get on.

@DanceMumTaxi I do think you will be wanting to drive a fair bit there - it’s not really near anything else - it is Spanish though and not touristy but a fair way to a beach or sea if that bothers you , but I can’t presume, you might be happy pottering about the villa - I like Lucmajor - and that is similar - but I would definitely want a car. At the end of the day though as you say OP it comes down to budgets , just as much with villas as AI

We have not found any cons in having a villa holiday despite doing them for years
They suit us very well

Tbh we’ll definitely have lots of days just pottering about, pop out for pastries or an ice cream, but then we’re happy to read, play games at the villa together etc. and just chill, We’ve got really busy jobs and the kids do far too many clubs/activities so life really is full on. We get very little time together so we’re happy to chill on holiday. But we’ll use the train and will probably hire a car for a while in the middle. Ds would like a day at a water park so we’ll do that too. There’s a big festival on when we’re there so that’ll be interesting. I’m looking forward to it feeling spanish and not too touristy. Dh especially hates commercialised tourist resorts and the British bars etc. with people trying to drag you into bars and shops. We’re not that fussed on the beach. Ds has eczema and the sea water can sting and it makes DD’s prickly heat worse if she spends too much time in the sea. I do wonder if I’ll miss a sea view though. I’ve got free cancellation so could change. But this will be a different sort of holiday which is what we wanted to try. It’s just a holiday so if we don’t like it we just won’t do it again.

@DanceMumTaxi do go to Inca market too - you are very close !!

Villa with a pool every time.
Make sure its walking distance from town centre.
Breakfast & lunch are self serve - bread, pastries, salad, charcuterie, cheese, fruit.
Evenings wander into town & eat out.

I refuse to cook when on holiday so we factor in eating out daily.

This. The holiday described in the OP sounds like hell to me but I love hotels.

This ! For Cyprus !

we went twice and and rented a massive villa literally on the beach!!!

we ve been everywhere but couldn’t beat that! Our boys similar age to yours

Have done both types in the past few years.

pros: cheaper, more privacy from other people, space especially re bedrooms, work to your own timeline, don’t over eat like you would in an AI, more variety around restaurants.

cons: my children get quite ratty with each other and miss other children and a kids club, there is a degree of maintenance/sorting stuff you don’t have to worry about in a hotel, it’s more effort if it’s hot to get into town and you have to plan to not run out of stuff.

As others have said the location point is important. Latest villa holiday was around a 25 minute walk into town which my children just didn’t cope well with in 35 degree heat. We ended up getting a lot of taxis. Previously we’ve had a car and I preferred that much more.

Personally, I feel like I had more of a holiday when I did AI. My actual ideal would be the space of a villa within grounds of a hotel.

@Bunnycat101 I think it’s where a really good aparthotel resort complex comes into its own . Or even something like mark warner if you can run to it

@Bunnycat101 I think it’s where a really good aparthotel resort complex comes into its own . Or even something like mark warner if you can run to it

@Bunnycat101 I think it’s where a really good aparthotel resort complex comes into its own . Or even something like mark warner if you can run to it

We used to do this kind of thing when we were kids (aparthotel in the middle of a resort) but I remember my mum/dad getting up early to get sunbeds. I definitely considered this, but the sun beds put me off. I know people say they get beds easy, but I know I’d be disappointed if this wasn’t the case. We like to be by the pool so we can watch the kids and like a couple of sunshades.

I totally get where you’re coming from! Villa holidays can be a great alternative to AI resorts, especially if you’re looking for more space, privacy, and flexibility. With a villa, you won’t have to queue for sunbeds or deal with crowded pools, and your kids can enjoy private swimming or even water slides in some properties. You also get the freedom to plan your own meals, though yes, grocery shopping and cooking are something to consider if you want a completely stress-free break.
The main downside is often location—villas can be further from shops, restaurants, or attractions, so having a car or arranging taxis is important. Costs can also be higher than a resort, but for families who value space and tranquility, it can be worth it.
If you’re considering something more exclusive, Maldives private villas like RAAYA By Atmosphere offer overwater villas with private pools, full privacy, and staff to help with meals or housekeeping, which can make it feel like a resort without the crowds. It could be a good balance between a holiday escape and convenience.
https://raaya-atmosphere.com

my mum has a beautiful apartment in Tuscany in a lovely little town and not far from Siena and Florence. There is a shared pool. its very affordable.

I’m just about to go. How did you find the weather at this time of year? Any tips for things to do or places to eat?