Summer is now upon us and so, of course, our minds turn to thoughts of that much-longed for summer holiday we all spend our winters fantasising about...
But when you have young children in tow, traveling can be a daunting prospect. Travelling time, weather & sun concerns for sensitive baby skin, and the overall safety and appeal of holiday destinations are just a few of the many concerns that parents are faced with when trying to select the right destination for a family holiday. Lately I've had the same concerns myself as we try to plan our first real trip with two children . And of course there are then concerns about your style of accomodation - hotel? Caravan? Camping? Personally I like a little luxury on holiday but I don't like the worry of disturbing other hotel guests with a young baby, and so family villa holidays are the perfect choice! All the freedom of a home away from home, with your own private space and that touch of luxury too!
There are so many advantages to choosing a villa holiday - you have all the kitchen & laundry amenities you'd have at home and so there's no need to spend a fortune on dining out, which let's face it can be stressful with young children at the best of times let alone in a foreign country with unfamiliar foods - catering as and when you choose to from the comfort of your own kitchen space can be a real bonus.
You also ensure yourself some privacy - I personally love using the pool facilities on holidays but sharing with other guests can often lessen the experience when you can't find a free poolside sun lounger or find the pool totally overcrowded with noisy kids - having your own private pool or even just your own private space to relax can be priceless and really ensure you get that much-needed quality time to enjoy your holiday as a family, just you.
Villas can also be surprisingly cost effective choices, particularly if you're traveling in a large group.
Here are my Top 3 Holiday Destination Choices for traveling with toddlers & babies. 1) France If you want to travel abroad but don't want a long journey or very hot weather, Northern France could be the perfect choice for you and for those who prefer not to fly the Eurostar or Ferry services are an ideal solution. The pretty streets of Brittany, or the hustle bustle of Paris make lovely holiday destinations for all ages and of course you could even rent a villa a short distance from EuroDisney to really make the kids holiday a dream come true without needing to spend your entire vacation at the park! If you want a better chance at some beautiful weather, you can always head further south. 2) Spain Spain is a great place to visit with children of any age and babies and toddlers, in particular, will be the center of attention! Spanish children tend to stay up late in the summer evenings so it’s very common for them to be running around pavement cafés and public squares after 10 or 11pm, and yours will no doubt enjoy joining in if you allow them to! The Spanish love to dine as a family so your children will be most welcome in the vast majority of eateries. The beautiful beaches and many child-friendly attractions around destinations such as Mallorca or Andalucia make it an ideal choice.
Renting a villa in spain, particularly one with a pool, will give you hours of stress-free family fun in the glorious spanish sunshine - as much as I adore Spain I have found the resorts can be a little over crowded and busy as it's such a popular destination for families, so a private villa gives you all the good points to the country with none of the downsides! 3) The UK!Yep, good old home! If travel time and hot weather are a concern to you, then why not eliminate those worries and have a good old fashioned staycation? The UK has so many beautiful holiday spots and so many of us have yet to discover the many delights our own country has to offer as so often we flee abroad for our holidays - but the UK has everything we could want right within a few hours drive from our doorsteps. From the beautiful sandy beaches of Cornwall & Devon, to the glorious countyside of the Lake District & The Cotswolds and even the beautiful bustling cities of London or the calmer Bath..no matter what your holiday desires, chances are you can cater to them right here in the UK (Unless you want guaranteed hot weather of course....that we sadly can't help you with!)
There are some truly stunning villas available for holiday lets right here in the UK, with some of the most spectacular views on offer anywhere in the world - with everything from castles to picturesque country cottages on offer you can truly escape from the everyday into something extraordinary.
Where are your own top choices for family friendly holiday destinations? As always, I'd love to hear from you.
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