When travelling with everyone from toddlers to grandparents, a sure way to win everyone over is a villa holiday that includes everything from flights and car-hire to airport transfers and entertainment – and let the holiday provider deal with the details. Here are a few great choices for 2017.
1/5 Aphrodite Hills, Paphos, South West Cyprus
Private villa with pool, return London flights, free car hire and travel insurance
With an 18-hole golf course, spa, tennis courts and long, lovely views over the Mediterranean, Aphrodite Hills is a perfect resort for grown-ups. But, throw a kid’s club with its own Dream Team Soccer School and activity programme into the mix, then add a crèche for under threes, plus a fun waterpark, and this is probably as close as you’ll get to idyllic for a multi-gen holiday this year.
Ancient Paphos, European Capital of Culture 2017, is 20 minutes away. Limassol is under half-an-hour and the culture-rich city of Larnaca is less than an hour’s drive. Sunny, south west coast beaches are nearby and the villa also has a private pool and gardens.
Four bedroom, three bathroom villa with private pool, terrace and garden. Car hire’s included and the resort has its own shopping village.
Where
Paphos, south west Cyprus. One hour from Larnaca Airport
When
26 July 2017 for 14-nights (other dates available)
Cost
£1,355pp. Total holiday cost £10,796 based on four adults and four children, includes return London flights, car hire, private villa and full use of resort facilities
Find out more about Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus with James Villa Holidays
Check out the best things to do and see on a family holiday in Cyprus
2/5 Villa Ajabo, Callao Salvaje, South West Tenerife
Four bedroom private villa with pool, 20 minutes from Costa Adeje
A bright, modern villa on Tenerife’s sunny south west coast just about guarantees all-round contentment for even the pickiest families. Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos are 15 minutes away for waterparks and theme parks. Rock climbing, walking, stargazing and cable-car riding in Mount Teide National Park is a short drive inland. If you want to see dolphins or surf, swim and browse a bit of local heritage, just head a little north and you’ve got Los Gigantes, the Masca Valley and Garachico.
Four bedroom, two bathroom villa with private pool, terrace and garden, just 5 minutes from local beach and walking distance to the centre of Callao Salvaje for restaurants and shopping.
Where
Callao Salvaje, south west Tenerife. 20 minutes from Tenerife South Airport.
When
28 July for 14 nights (other dates available)
Cost
£602pp. Total holiday cost £4,816 based on four adults and four children, includes return London flights, private villa with pool
Find out more about Villa Ajabo with Villa Plus
Have a look at what to see and do on a family holiday in Tenerife
3/5 Villa Myrto, Kalami, South East Corfu
Three bedroom private villa with pool and open sea views
Arguably the prettiest Greek island, Corfu is certainly the greenest. Known as the Garden of Greece, it’s almost as famous for olive groves and rampant wildflowers as gorgeous white sands and World Heritage Corfu Old Town.
Outdoor adventure is fairly endless for kids here, whether they’re up for horse riding, mountain biking, water sports or meeting local wild and marine life. Grown up walkers, hikers and history buffs have plenty to keep them amused. And Kalami’s sea views are a hint at how close the villa is to beaches.
Three bedroom, three bathroom villa with private pool, terraces, mature gardens and open sea views. Close to the town of Kalami for local shopping and 40 minutes drive from Corfu Old Town.
Where
Kalami, south east Corfu. 45 minutes from Corfu International Airport
When
24 July for 14 nights (other dates available)
Cost
£1,015pp. Total holiday cost £8,120 based on four adults and four children, includes return London flights, private villa with pool
Find out more about Villa Myrto on Corfu with Villa Plus
Discover cool things to see and do on a family holiday in Corfu
4/5 Lakeside Village Country Club, Quinta do Lago, Algarve
Four bedroom private villa, lakeside setting, five minutes from beaches
Quinta do Lago is between Faro and Albufeiro, so pretty much kid-perfect with its waterparks, theme parks and outdoor activity centres in either direction. But since Lakeside Village sits on the edge of Ria Formosa Natural Park and only 700m from the lake, hanging around closer to home’s just as entertaining.
Keen golfers have several of the Algarve’s iconic, ocean-view courses nearby. If it’s Atlantic beaches you desire most of all, Praia de Falésia of the soaring rainbow cliffs is less than 10 minutes drive from the villa.
Four bedroom, three bathroom villa in exclusive lakeside estate, close to Quinta de Lago town and Ria Formosa Natural Park, half an hour east of Albufeira and 20 minutes west of Faro.
Where
Quinta do Lago, Central Algarve. 20 minutes from Faro Airport
When
27 July for 14 nights (other dates available)
Cost
£1,082pp. Total holiday cost £8,695 based on four adults and four children, includes return London flights and full use of resort facilities.
Find out more about Lakeside Village Country in the Algarve with British Airways
Have a look at what to see and do on a family holiday in Portugal
5/5 Villa Mandarine, Bitez, Aegean Coast, Turkey
Four bedroom villa with free car hire and travel insurance
The little holiday village of Bitez is on Turkey’s beautiful Aegean Coast just 45 minutes from Bodrum. Sounds too peaceful for kids? Day trips to Marmaris tick all boxes for waterparks, theme parks and big resort action. Dalyan and Iztuzu Turtle Beach are a sailing trip away. And, if you hop on a ferry at Bodrum Harbour, you can even visit the Greek island of Kos for the afternoon.
This coastline is scattered with historic monuments and natural wonders, so there’s plenty to keep adults occupied from the cloud castles at Pammukale to the Lycian Way or boat trips round Byzantine rock-tombs, Roman ruins and Ottoman palaces.
Four bedroom, four bathroom villa with private pool and gardens. Close to Bitez village and beaches, 40 minutes from Bodrum Airport.
Where
Bitez, Turkey’s Aegean Coast. 40 minutes from Bodrum Airport
When
31 July for 14 nights (other dates available)
Cost
£995pp. Total holiday cost £7,965 based on four adults and four children, includes return London flights, free car hire and free travel insurance