I’m never not thinking about my next trip. Sure, travelling with two children aged 3 and 5 is not quite the same as it was when it was just the two of us, spontaneously booking adventures with less than a week’s notice, but there’s also something really magical about seeing places through the eyes of your children.
One thing we’ve discovered while travelling with children, is that the accommodation can make or break a trip. Where Steven and I have stayed in some pretty grotty, questionable places and just been happy to be somewhere new, when it comes to the boys, we have a much longer list.
If we’re visiting somewhere sunny for a relaxing trip (as much as anything is relaxing with small balls of energy!), we love a villa. It’s like a home from home, with plenty of space for all the gubbins that come with a family holiday.
Staying in one of the Mallorca villas means you can find something that works for you, without compromising comfort or convenience. For example, sometimes we will go on a holiday with 11 of our close family – cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. A villa means we have the run of the place, without worrying about other noisy guests keeping us awake as they stagger in from the hotel bar. We can have home comforts and even choose somewhere with fun added extras like a pool, games room or cinema.
For us a private pool would be a real bonus. My youngest is a real water baby, so I know he’d love to spend time in the pool with his cousins. Whereas my eldest is pretty anxious in the water and doesn’t like to be splashed – it takes him a little while to warm up to swimming and by the time he’s enjoying himself, it’s time to get out, so I feel like having easy access to a pool would be a dream. I won’t lie, a cheeky hot tub for when the kids are in bed wouldn’t be the worst thing either!
Aircon is another must-have for us. I cannot sleep if I’m too warm and as there is usually a toddler in bed with me too, it can get pretty toasty, even in England! Plenty of outdoor seating (I’m talking a dinning table and chairs, some loungers etc) and plenty of space to play is also a must-have and not having to get up early to put your towel on a sun lounger is another pro for choosing a villa over a hotel!
My husband, the thrifty one of the two of us, loves a villa because it gives us the freedom to self-cater and therefore save a bit of money. I will agree that as a vegan family with allergies, it is a lot more convenient to have your own kitchen and although we will still head out for a meal or two in the local area, it’s nice to have somewhere where you can store some safe snacks or make a decent sandwich.
When you stay in a villa, you can pretend that you’re a local, living in a fancy house. Imagining that your life consists of morning coffee on the patio, siestas in the afternoon and watching the sun set with a jug of sangria. As long as you’re respecting the property, you can just vibe and enjoy the sunshine.
Keeping children who wake up at 5am every morning, quiet in a hotel is kind of a nightmare, but in a villa you have a lot more freedom. The only people who are likely to be affected by your early bird child are the other people staying with you – and chances are they already know what to expect!
For a self-catering, super-chilled, home-from-home holiday, I don’t think you can beat a villa.