How to Pick the Perfect Villa for a Family Holiday

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will probably already know that we love to travel and we are also a big fan of self-catering because with children being able to cook for yourself whenever you want is a major plus as it's less restrictive and more flexible for kids which is what you want when you're on a break away from the day to day routine and hustle bustle of daily life. What we also love about a Villa property is that you can opt for ones that accommodated extended family members as well or even friends, that way you can travel and stay together as a group and also share the cost between more people but not compromise on facilities and location.

Why a Villa?

So I have already shared a few good reasons above but personally, the major pluses of a Villa is that it's self-catering and the perfect option for larger groups but it also makes a great home base when you're traveling somewhere new and provides a level of privacy you dont get in a hotel as you are not sharing the space with anyone you don't know. Children (as well as adults) can often feel homesick so staying in a Villa style property creates that home away from home which can be key if your traveling to a place very culturally different such as Thailand, India or Sir Lanka to name a few. Also if you are planning to travel with extended family or as part of a friends group sharing the cost of a Villa among a few people often means being able to have a luxury property for less than a hotel and most come with their own pools so no sharing a communal pool at a hotel which is great when you have kids who are still learning to swim. Also don't be hesitant to combine luxury and family-friendly together, in fact, I have written a post about how to achieve both in a holiday.

Location Location Location

It all depends on how you are planning to get there and if you want something close or a more far-flung destination. There are plenty of driveable Villas in Europe and France but the current top destinations that are becoming more popular with families are places like Bali, Sri Lanka and Mauritius as they offer great weather, good exchange rates, luxury properties and a high-level of service if anything from these fantasitc family villas in Galle go by. The great thing about a villa especially if your heading further afield is that you can often book them for not only just a couple of days but up to a few weeks, making it a real home away from home option.

 Check Facilities

When picking a villa-style property you really want to make sure it is suitable for you and your families needs as remember each villa is a unique space and experience. You firstly want to double check the villa accepts children under 12 because not all do and look for reviews from families who have stayed there before. If you are travelling with a toddler or baby you may want to email first and double check they have all the required safety standards in place such as optional stair gates and cots and highchairs are on hand. You may also want to be aware of if there is a pool, if it's communal or not and whether there are safety gates around it or any external steep stairs.

Access to Amenities

When you travel with children there needs to be a focus on making things easy, while a 2-mile walk to the closest town or village may be fine for an adult it probably won't go down well with young kids so if this is the case hiring a car would be a good idea. Also knowing how far you are from the beach, water sports, local restaurants and also importantly a hospital or Doctor just in case of emergencies. It will also be worth viewing a map of the area beforehand so you have a real idea of where it's situation and how close local activities are.

Check that your staff contact is an English Speaker

Whenever you book into a villa wether is it staffed or not you will have a point of contact should anything go wrong during your stay or if you need assistance with something. You may want to double check that your point of contact has a decent understanding of English (unless of course you can converse in the native language) so that there isn't a language barrier especially in an emergency.

Use a reputable company

This is really important, do as much research beforehand because this can really make or break your holiday and a companies reputation is key. Important factors you want to take into account is that the company has strict standards and personally selects and inspects the properties they offer and that they are well maintained. You also want to know there is a human touch to the break and that there will be a point of contact to meet you at the property and run through everything with you. Also investing in a company that has good ethics is also something worth looking into, Villa-finders plant a tree in Sumatra, Indonesia for every Villa stay in an attempt to contribute towards deforestation, they have so far planted more than 2000 trees.

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