The school holidays are fast approaching but all is not lost for those who haven’t yet booked their family getaway. And while the ease of a hotel may appeal, with no guarantee of adjoining rooms, the likelihood of having to fight tooth and nail for the last sun loungers, and/or getting turfed out at the crack of down by housekeeping, you may want to think twice. This year, why not swap heat-lamped scrambled eggs for sun-soaked tomatoes and a private pool by opting for a family villa holiday?
Sam Willan, family travel expert at SPL Villas, the family villa holiday specialists, says: “Put simply those who aren’t considering a family villacation this summer are missing out, big time.
“For most families a summer holiday is a chance to spend quality time together and create core memories, warts and all. Heading to an all-inclusive, being slave to their strict mealtimes and dress codes, dropping the kids off at an activity club for the day – is this really what a family holiday is about?
“A villacation allows families to be completely and uniquely themselves, enabling them to holiday in a way that works for them. Your oldest wants to spend all day in the pool? No problem. Your youngest has decided they only eat cucumber and ketchup sandwiches? Fair play. The grandparents want to come to? There’s a spare room they’ll love.
“And while a villacation may not be the first choice for bargain hunters, the benefits villas can offer compared to large resort complexes – especially when split across different family members or even multiple groups as we have seen more of this year – a villacation can be a surprisingly great-value option.
“And, as a bonus, this year’s trend for last-minute holiday bookings means there is still availability in most major holiday hotspots.”
Sam’s ultimate guide for those considering their first villa holiday below…
Know your budget
There are several considerations and adjustments families can make in order to bring down price per head. To bring about some serious savings, team up with extended family and/or friends and their kids to hire out a larger villa. For example, when we compared a 12-person villa and a 6-person villa in Croatia, we found the price per person drops by 35% when the larger villa is fully occupied.
It’s also worth exploring alternative destinations. For example, Croatia has a similar Mediterranean climate to Greece, but weekly villa rates can be almost half, and sacrificing on characteristics like proximity to a beach or other conveniences is also something to consider. Remember though, while a more remote villa may have lower weekly rates and look cheaper on paper, you’ll need to consider the added cost of car hire to access the beach, supermarkets and local restaurants. Your family may benefit from allocating more budget to the property itself to save on the stress and mental admin of keeping a rental car in good shape.
Amenities and facilities
Although villas are undoubtedly more flexible than hotels, you do have to consider that unless you’ve got a dedicated property manager or pay extra for a concierge service, you’re going to be fairly self-sufficient.
Ensuring all your fellow villacationers – from the youngest to the oldest – are fully entertained and relaxed doesn’t have to be a challenge. Simply keep an eye out for villas with dedicated entertainment rooms featuring smart TVs and games consoles, sporting facilities, gyms and even separate annexes for those who want a little breathing space.
Accessibility need not be an issue either with features like wheelchair-adapted bedrooms, shower rooms, bathrooms and pools readily available.
Most booking platforms also allow users to search properties on existing lists so the lead booker can easily pinpoint the accommodations which meet their group’s exact requirements from the get-go. Safety-conscious parents will be reassured by ready-made lists of villas with child-friendly pools with fences, gating, locks and alarms. Likewise, a luxury-loving family might only be satisfied by a selection with heated pools or hot tubs. And a list of beachfront villas can be made location-specific, for the travellers that have a clear idea on destination.
Your time is your own
Forget standardised mealtimes and activity schedules, on a villa holiday you control what you do and when. Ideal for modern families with their own unique needs, likes and dislikes.
Taking it in turns to sleep in until midday vs watching the kids because you’re on holiday and you deserve a lie in? Go for it. Mid-afternoon BBQ complete with wet swimmers and a child who refuses to get out of the pool? No problem.
For those who want to completely forget about food shopping, cooking and planning excursions for a week or two, consider a dedicated concierge service who can arrange for chefs and caterers to come in and make sure your family is fed and watered, and arrange personalised day trips. What more could you want from a family holiday?
With every villa being unique, once they’re gone they’re gone – especially in busy school holiday periods. Right now, many properties are available but to not miss out on your 2026 villacation, visit www.splvillas.com and for support organising your next villacation, reach out to their team of dedicated travel specialists via the website or on 0204 580 1178.
-Ends-
For further press information, please contact:
Callum McManus | Will Challis | Elsa Findlay
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)203 440 8930
E: [email protected]
About SPL Villas:
Founded in 2017, by Sandra and Peter Linnell, SPL Villas is the package villa holiday specialist for modern families. Offering ATOL and ABTOT protected villa and flight packages with a wide range of carriers and flights from UK airports, SPL Villas provides tailored, flexible villa experiences across a portfolio of 1,500 handpicked, premium properties across Southern Europe and the United States.
A seamless online booking process allows travellers full autonomy when organising their holiday, with expert advice from the SPL Villas team just a phone call away if required.
Committed to guest experience, SPL Villas offers a concierge service for continued support post-transaction with airport transfers, airport experience enhancements, and even in-destination private chefs and guides.
For more information, visit: splvillas.com
