Find your perfect family villa break: from toddlers to teens and multi-gen, discover home-from-home getaways
Travelling with the family and little ones can be challenging – early wake-ups, midday naps, and endless snack requests don't always fit into bog-standard hotel routines, but that's where villa holidays come into their own. With no set meal times and no do-not-disturb signs needed, you can fully embrace and enjoy the unpredictable pace of family life while still feeling like you've had a proper break.
CV Villas have been curating villa holidays for over five decades in destinations including Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal as well as Morocco, the Caribbean and Sri Lanka, and offer a curated, personal approach as part of their service.
Their villas are chosen by travel experts who visit the properties and know all the details, from the villa layout and unique appeals, to how far the nearest beach or taverna is. They also have experts in each destination who can share local knowledge with guests and help arrange restaurant reservations and excursions that are perfect for your family group.
Here we explore why their handpicked villas make for the ideal getaway and highlight just some of the family-friendly properties you could book…
Plenty to keep the kids busy
Villas give you that little bit more space to spread out. Kids can nap in quiet bedrooms while parents enjoy lunch on the terrace, or they can play safely in open living areas without worrying about disturbing the other guests. Mealtimes are also much easier, and having your own kitchen means you can choose when you want to eat while also catering for picky eaters.
Private pools also add a whole new layer of fun to your trip, especially for the little ones who can splish and splash as much as they like without worrying about getting in anyone else's way. Kickstart the day with a sunrise swim where there's nobody else around, or spend sun-soaked afternoons relaxing in the comfort of your own home-from-home before sitting down for a family meal at the large communal dining table.
Villa Spotlight: Villa Lumin
Villa Lumin, on the island of Brač in Croatia, is the perfect base for families after a sunny Mediterranean getaway. With breathtaking Adriatic ocean views and four spacious en-suite bedrooms, there's also a luxurious private pool and a big garden, perfect for children to play in.
Parents will love the well-equipped kitchen, with a sociable dining table that can seat eight people, while children can enjoy table tennis or hop on the two bikes provided to explore the surrounding area. It's close to the quaint village of Sutivan, the highest island in Croatia, which is brimming with pretty beaches and excellent little local restaurants.
Independence and entertainment for teens
Travelling with teens is no mean feat; they want their space and freedom, and you want them to also make the most of quality family time. If anything, a villa holiday is the perfect compromise. Many come equipped with that all-important high-speed WiFi, games rooms, and a private pool, meaning there's no shortage of fun to keep teens off their phones for a little while, at least.
A villa also gives teenagers a sense of independence – they can sleep in, sprawl out in their own room, or enjoy lounging by the pool and getting lost in a book or playlist. And when they're ready to explore, they can head to nearby buzzy beach towns to soak up the local culture and mingle with other like-minded teens.
Villa Yaneleni is a chic hillside retreat in Greece's Kokkokilas, with breathtaking sea views – ideal for TikTok-worthy backgrounds – and lots of space to spread out. Teens can slink away to the media room, float in the private infinity pool, or hang out in the outdoor chill zones, while the villa's four en suite bedrooms (including two twins that can convert into doubles) give everyone room to recharge and relax.
The outside barbecue area is perfect for alfresco mealtimes, while the American fridge means there's loads of space to stock up on snacks for hungry teens. There's also fast WiFi, Bluetooth speakers and smart tech throughout, plus easy access to nearby beaches and villages like Kassiopi for a bit of independent exploring. Kalami is also nearby, where you can get stuck into watersports, like sea cycling, canoeing, sea kayaking, water-skiing, rides, and paragliding.
Time together spent right
Holidaying as a multi-generational group can be really special: think dinner together around the table, sunny poolside catch-ups, and a rare chance to spend proper quality time together. But, of course, travelling as a group often means having to cater for different routines and needs – something villa holidays make easy. Villas come with lots of space for everyone, so you can hang out together whenever you like but also enjoy the space to step away when needed.
Whether it's early bird grandparents enjoying a coffee at sunrise or teenagers still snoozing through lunch, villas let everyone follow their own pace of life. And with no set schedules or meal sittings to wrangle, you can focus on what really matters: spending quality time with your family.
Sharing one base also makes things easier on the wallet, especially when compared to booking multiple hotel rooms or family suites.
Villa Gertrudis is a brilliant Balearic base for multi-generational getaways located near the lively Ibiza Town, with space for everyone to unwind. It has cosy reading corners, shady spots for siestas, a games room for the kids, and a sleek outdoor kitchen perfect for long family lunches surrounded by orange trees and leafy palms.
The large bedrooms and multiple living rooms mean grandparents, teens, and toddlers can all find their own holiday pace without stepping on each other's toes, while the pool area, games room, and putting green keep the kids more than busy. There's even a private orchard where you can enjoy different fruits fresh off the trees depending on the season.
For the evenings when you fancy mixing it up and heading out for dinner, some of the island's best restaurants are within a five-minute drive, such as Amalur, La Masia, and Can Pau, while most beaches, all with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, can be reached within 15 minutes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
The Greece trip that made me a Neilson holiday convert
I lost count of the number of fellow guests at the Neilson Messini Beach Club who told us this trip was not their first visit to the sprawling fitness resort which sits on a private beach near Kalamata in the Peloponnese region of mainland Greece. One couple we made friends with on the first evening, while our toddlers played (in the excellent playground), sheepishly told us they had visited twice the previous year alone. This conversation repeated many times in several forms over the first day or so. I remember thinking that it was a nice hotel, but that there was nothing particularly distinctive about it. We appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farmland and olive groves, meaning no popping to the shops to waste money on European crisps and olives. Initially, there was no wow factor and I struggled to understand what all the fuss was about. But after a few days, the penny dropped. Very simply, it's just no-nonsense, wholesome fun. It's a haven of unassuming and limitless have-a-go opportunities which attract Brits who like doing lots of different activities on holiday. You don't need to leave the complex per se, but if you wanted to hire a bike and take yourself off, you could. Equally, Kalamata, famed for its olives, is just a 30-minute taxi drive away, and home to pretty tiled streets and gorgeous tavernas. The influx from our London Stansted flight seemed to be a mix of families with very young children, or older couples; I suspect the demographic changes somewhat during school holidays to more families. Out of school holidays, I considered the price point to be something of a steal compared to other similar trips – all in, with most of our food included, it was £2,077 for three of us, including flights. Prices rise during the school holidays but, even then, factoring in childcare, food, flights, accommodation and the facilities, I can see why these trips are so popular. They are absolutely value for money. In May, the crowd seem to be cyclists, racquet sports enthusiasts, or simply sun-chasers who want to do yoga and aqua-aerobics (the latter being a very entertaining daily staple in the freezing but beautiful 50m pool). I had to adjust my mindset to enjoy the holiday – I'm not one for group organised fun as a general rule. I enjoy being left alone to swim, train or ride my bike with no interaction. But Neilson attracts a really nice crowd and despite being very happy alone, I discovered I enjoyed the group vibe. During the organised 1.5km sea swim, I met some lovely people, and surprised myself by happily chatting both pre and post-swim. It was a similar scenario during the organised bike rides. You could choose to keep your head down and simply enjoy the sights, but I thoroughly enjoyed chatting away to a man I met who was from the same part of Devon as I am. He was there with his adult children and grandchild, celebrating his and his wife's 30th wedding anniversary. Another aspect I appreciated was the sense of calm that permeates the resort. Despite the array of activities and enthusiasm of many of the guests, it's a non-competitive space. You're not fighting for lane space with an Olympian, but swimming alongside Alex who is taking tentative steps to train for an ironman and seeking support with his technique. Other resorts aimed at fitness fanatics can sometimes seem a little elitist. While there's certainly space for some healthy competition at Neilson Messini, the vibe is more have-a-go and have fun in a judgement-free environment, whether it's trying windsurfing, sailing or Hyrox – it's all there. Equally if you don't wish to engage in coaching or lessons, all of the equipment is available to simply hire out, while the excellent facilities are free to use solo when classes are not taking place. I found plenty of time around the timetable to swim lengths in the pool (go between 8am-9.30am), or use the excellent functional gym area (I found early afternoon best, and it was nice to be in the aircon). Beyond the activities, there is room to simply chill out and relax. My happiest times at the resort were playing with our daughter in the pool, or splashing in the shallows on the beach. If you want to catch up with a book on a lounger, you can. And if you want to do so away from younger guests, there is an adults-only pool at the Buca part of the complex. Similarly, there are adults-only parts of the restaurants where you can dine in peace, if you wish. What's on offer Guests can take part in everything from pickleball and tennis, various gym-based classes, cycling and watersports – from windsurfing and sailing, to open water swimming. If you are a keen cyclist and want to get out on the road, take your own pedals and shoes, and – sorry Neilson – I would suggest your own helmet. I found the slightly sweaty one I inherited a little revolting, but between the ick and a head injury, I opted for the ick. I'd also recommend taking a wetsuit if sampling watersports in May. The water temperature in the ocean was 18 degrees, so still quite chilly. We tried everything on offer between us and both thought the cycling and open water swimming were the best activities. If I would offer any feedback it would be for the resort to put on more than two open water swims a week, and increase the number of road bike options – the classes are popular and it was tricky to secure a spot. As newbies, we didn't realise the classes book out in advance, so make sure you book your activities ahead of travel. Families The resort itself seems to be particularly popular with families with children who are keen to participate in activities away from their offspring while they're safely entertained in the popular Kids' Club. Our three-year-old refused to join in, despite the facilities and entertainment looking perfectly good. We frequently saw our friends' three-year-old being taken about the resort by the Kids Club reps, doing everything from swimming lessons to sailing and building sandcastles. The Kids Club itself is run by a noisy gaggle of young graduates, usually in face paint, who keep all ages entertained, from tiny babies to teens. The youngest children are split into year age groups, while the older children have more of a range. All of the staff are first aid trained and the baby carers have early years qualifications. Our daughter did engage in the bi-weekly toddler splash swimming lessons with the resident swimming teacher, Emily, however, and she loved it. The lessons were entirely age-appropriate and we felt her confidence improved in the pool during our stay. We are a same-sex couple and chose Greece because it is known to be gay friendly. We find travelling with our child internationally brings a whole new dimension to being aware of our safety, particularly in airports or when engaging with security staff – it's never fun navigating security with a distressed toddler, trying to explain that you're both her parents. Mercifully, we had no trouble with the Greek officials we encountered. We were, I think, the only gay couple at the resort that week, but the crowd Neilson attracted meant there wasn't a single moment we got the feeling someone had an issue. It was refreshing and relaxing in equal measure. The rooms The rooms are clean and functional with comfortable mattresses. Our room did not have a bath (we were in the sea view pool rooms), but our friends staying in the garden rooms did. I think the garden rooms were slightly nicer than the hotel and pool rooms and being away from the main hotel means they're certainly quieter. We had a double/twin room with a sofa bed that folded out for our daughter. There was more than enough room and storage, and the balcony was sizeable too. You don't end up spending much time in the rooms, but they were perfectly nice, clean and practical. We found the two-hour time difference particularly useful with a little one, as it meant we could enjoy a relatively late meal together before all going to bed at the same time. If parents want a later night to enjoy the entertainment, the Kids Club also offered a sleep club service, where the children all have little beds laid out in the creche. Parents then transport the sleeping baby back to the room using one of the array of Nipper Sport buggies at the resort. And that's another handy thing – if you don't want to bring a buggy, the resort will lend you one of theirs. Food We're vegans, so the idea of a package holiday buffet fills me with trepidation, but I was happily disabused of my prejudice every mealtime. The food is the most wonderful array of Mediterranean wholefood goodness, with plenty of options for us. There was something different every night – and carnivores and pescatarians looked well served too. There was a particularly nice-looking paella that caught my eye and the baked fish looked amazing. For us, the food was genuinely top-notch and a real selling point for the resort – and makes the package seem like a real bargain. There's a separate buffet available for children at 5pm, should they require an earlier snack. Here, expect kid-friendly slices of cheese and ham, pasta with the sauce separately for children who require their food in such a way, and of course every version of a potato a child might need. For three nights of the week, the buffet is closed, however. On these nights, you can chose to eat at the pool bar or venture out. On one such night, we went to Oinopantopoleion in Kalamata, on the recommendation of our new friends, and ate locally-sourced gourmet small plate food in a stunning courtyard, washed down with excellent local wine. It wasn't a particularly child-friendly place, but our daughter was happy eating the hot potato chips for the evening. I'd heartily recommend this restaurant for a special treat away from the resort. Getting there When I learned the flight was a package flight from London Stansted, I immediately tried to find out if there was a Heathrow option. Alas, no dice – it was the first week of May and the flight options were limited to Bristol, Stansted or Manchester. Our flight was with Jet2 and I was assured all other passengers would be Neilson guests, which meant no elbow-jostling with excitable stag and hen parties. Anyone familiar with Stansted will know it's not for the faint of heart, however. Neither is finding a (very narrow) space in the vast carpark which appears to be miles from the airport. Not wanting to navigate this with a toddler for the very early flight, we used Holiday Extras to pay £220 to stay the night at the Radisson Blu on the airport site and park as part of the package. It was well worth it and took a lot of stress away from attempting a fraught airport dash in the early hours. Friends we met on the trip stayed nearby with their parents and paid extra for a meet and greet service at the car park – a much more palatable option with a three-year-old in tow. The actual flight is only a little over three hours, but it's worth buying food at the airport before departing, especially with children. Prices Off-peak: Prices for a 7-night stay at Neilson Messini Beach Club start from £692pp which includes flights, transfers, activities, kids' clubs and club board for two adults and one child sharing a hotel double or twin with a sea view departing from London Stansted on 4 May 2025.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Football tourists help Manchester cement place among UK's busiest airports
Football fans flying to Spain for May's all-English Europa League final helped boost the fortunes of the UK's top airports. Some Manchester United fans paid close to £1,000 each way for seats on extra flights to Bilbao, host city for the final. Other supporters used the team's home airport to fly on strange routes – such as via Basel in Switzerland to Biarritz in southwest France, followed by three trains (two of them narrow gauge). Although Ruben Amorim's players lost the match against London team Tottenham Hotspur, United shirts are top sellers at Manchester Airports Group stores; the group also owns Stansted and East Midlands. Spurs shirts are in a distant eighth place. Passenger numbers at Manchester in May rose 5 per cent year on year, cementing its place in the top three UK airports – alongside the main London hubs, Heathrow and Gatwick. Manchester's rolling 12-month passenger total was up 7.7 per cent to 31.5 million – an average of 85,000 travellers passing through each day. The gap with London Stansted, previously third-busiest in the UK, has widened. In the year to May, the Essex airport handled 29.9 million passengers. Heathrow airport has also reported its busiest-ever May, with the record number on 22 May – the day after the Europa League final. Numbers were boosted by victorious Spurs fans returning to London after the match. Despite the UK's busiest airport being almost full to capacity, an extra eight flights operated for football fans. The Heathrow rolling 12-month passenger total rose 3.1 per cent to a record 84 million – averaging 230,000 travellers per day. Announcing the figures, the airport said in a statement: 'As these record numbers become the norm, it's time to start an honest conversation about the challenges this presents for an already space-constrained yet highly efficient hub. Heathrow continues to deliver excellent service, but to sustain this performance and meet future demand, expanding capacity will be essential.' The government is backing Heathrow's plans for a third runway. In the battle over which airport has the shortest queues, Heathrow claims 99 per cent of passengers queued for five minutes or less for security; the Manchester Airports Group says 99 per cent made it through in under 15 minutes.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Is earthquake activity deterring tourists from Santorini?
Santorini may welcome fewer tourists this summer after earthquake activity earlier in the year appears to have deterred visitors from booking holidays to the Greek hotspot. Tourist traffic has reportedly declined on the popular Cycladic island in the wake of thousands of tremors throughout January and February. In February, the whitewashed villages of Santorini were rattled by high seismic activity, and incessant tremors emptied towns of residents and tourists. A state of emergency was declared by Greek authorities for at least a month as the Greek prime minister urged residents to stay calm. Yannis Paraschis, president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) said that available airline seats are down 26 per cent from the beginning of the year, reported Euronews. Although numbers have improved in the build-up to peak summer travel, visitor footfall remains down on previous years. Mr Paraschis added: 'The indications we have in terms of supply of seats are down in the range of 7 to 8 per cent for the summer, so we expect a result with losses of 10 to 15 per cent.' It is the first year Santorini has reported a drop in tourist numbers since the pandemic in 2020. Santorini welcomed an estimated 3.4 million visitors in 2024. Antonis Pagoni, president of the Santorini hoteliers, told Euronews that overall arrivals on the island have fallen between 20 and 30 per cent. 'It's a huge reduction in a destination like Santorini that attracts more than 3 million visitors," said Mr Pagoni. 'You know, it's 10 per cent of Greek tourism. We are not sure if Greece can afford to lose that revenue." The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advise tourists travelling to Greece: 'The area around the Cycladic islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, experienced increased earthquake activity in early 2025. This increase has since subsided and the tourist season is expected to continue as usual.' It warns holidaymakers to familiarise themselves with earthquake safety procedures and follow the advice from local authorities.
