Family villa holidays

Dreamy villas in Europe for large family holidays

Last updated 11th March 2024

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.

Aphrodite-Hills-villa-cyprus

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

ajabo-villa-tenerife

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

villa-myrto-corfu

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

Lakeside-Village-Country-algarve-portugal

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

European villa holidays Mandarine-villa-Turkey

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

Find out more about Villa Mandarine in Turkey with James Villa Holidays

Have a look at what to see and do on a family holiday in Turkey

Where else is good to go on a multi-gen family holiday this year? Check out the ultimate sunshine holiday calendar.