Holiday homes for all the family
Properties where two more generations of the same family, extended and blended families, or groups of friends can holiday together have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Sharing rental and food costs, having family members on hand to baby-sit and share the chores, or simply be together in a sociable unit all contribute to the growth in popularity of larger properties, and those with annexed and `separate but together' accommodation. CV Travel has come up with its top choice of `Multi-generation' holiday houses, from large Italian country houses, to a cluster of Welsh farm buildings.
Three Tuscan houses for ‘together but private’ family harmony
For family harmony, providing each generation with their own separate accommodation, Casa Simona, near Siena, is a beautifully restored collection of three adjacent 16th century farm buildings, creating a holiday venue for extended families who each want to retain some sense of independence. The houses are located conveniently close to each other, with several entertaining areas to eat, drink and relax in comfort and 60 hectares of land, with olive and walnut groves, vineyards and gardens to wander in, or relax by the magnificent pool. A group of 10 can share Casa Simona for £2140 to £3610 / week or 14 sharing costs £2920 to £4785 per week, excluding flights.
Three houses, one eco-farm
With a private beach, five acres of grounds and a stone circle and fire pit Beach Farm, on the Welsh Lleyn Peninsula, is a property in its own private nature reserve suited for outdoor loving families, looking for old fashioned English seaside adventures. The property is actually made up of three individual buildings, a restored farm cottage, barn and dairy, which means grandparents, friends, or family groups can share the fun and cost of a holiday, while still having their own home to return to, within yards of each other and with a large enough table for all in the main cottage. A week’s stay at Beach Farm costs from £1750 in May 2011 to £2650 in August 2011, based on 14 sharing.
Village people - hire a hamlet for up to 20
Why rent a house when you can hire an entire hilltop hamlet? The rustic stone houses at the Borgo san Biagio on the Umbrian / Tuscan border have been lovingly restored by its Italian owner, Renato. Tiny cobbled streets are lined with houses that sleep between 2 and 6 people, with a total occupancy at any one time of 16 or 20 guests, which makes it fabulous for an extended family get together. There's a turreted medieval tower (Renato's Tower) which would suit teenagers or a young couple, with its roof-top hot tub and the entire hamlet can be rented from £3600 to £6215 for 16 guests, or £4340 to £7270 for 20 guests. The `together but separate' arrangement allows privacy, but ensures everyone can get together by the large swimming pool, in the chapel - converted into a vaulted drawing room - at the pool-side club house, or on the lawns, perhaps around the pizza ovens where the owner will arrange garden parties and events.
Tuscan country villa with vast spaces for family entertaining
The magnificent reception room at Villa Il Cerretello, with a large Tuscan fireplace and piano, runs the full width of the house, while a smaller living room can be used as a playroom, providing places for generations of extended families to gather together. When not enjoying the classically styled interiors, there’s a large infinity pool, shady terraces and spacious loggia to relax together, before retiring to separate accommodation for up to 21 guests on the ground and first floor of the main house, in two bedroom suites and in the pool cottage, each of which has its own separate access. As well as for informal family holidays the house can be used for weddings, parties and celebrations, when the estate manager can organise catering, cook service and staffing as required. A week’s stay at Il Cerretello costs from £6895 to £11445 for up to 21 sharing.
Family finca in Mallorca
La Felucca is a charming stone built, air-conditioned finca in the Bay of Pollensa, Mallorca, that accommodates six people in the main house with three bedrooms opening onto a tiled terrace with stunning views across the groves to the mountains and the monastery on Puig de Maria. A separate guest cottage for four has its own sitting room and covered terrace and makes a suitable hideaway for teenagers or grandparents. This family friendly house has lovely terraces for communal dining, and is set amid lawned gardens with a fenced pool, table tennis and a children’s play area and is close enough to Pollensa for family strolls in the safe and friendly old town, and to the Puerto Pollensa for teenager nightlife. A week’s stay can be booked through CV Travel from £2025 to £4375 for up to 10 sharing.
Beachside family villa in Corfu
Kalokairi Beach House is set right beside a long, flat and gently shelving golden sandy beach on Corfu’s sought after north east coast, creating the perfect beachside home for an extended family holiday. This lovely contemporary villa has direct access to the beach; perfect for relaxing by the pool or a day on the beach, yet is close enough to the harbour town of Kassiopi, with its lively nightlife, to keep teenagers happy. However, for those that don’t want to go too far, there are tavernas within walking distance from the villa. Accommodation on the lower ground floor of the villa includes a large activity room with table tennis and a pool table and a ‘dormitory’ style room for children. A week’s stay thorugh CV Travel costs from £3150 to £6800 for ten sharing, including car hire, maid service and a welcome hamper. Flights are available on request at an extra charge.
Two holidays in one
Rather than sharing the same property, Villa Dimitris and Villa Manolis on Corfu’s sought after north east coast, offer the opportunity for families to become neighbours in adjoining villas. These two newly built, contemporary, semi-detached villas together sleep up to 14 guests and have direct access to Coyevinas Beach through the garden. The two houses are ideal for large families or groups of friends when rented together and will especially appeal to those for whom a day on the beach or by the pool is the ultimate in relaxation, with water sports and tavernas only 300m walk and the nightlife, shops and bars of Kassiopi just 1.2km away. The two houses can be rented through CV Travel from £4120 - £7070, per week based on 14 sharing, including car hire, maid service and a welcome hamper. Excluding flights.
Staffed Moroccan Riad for relaxing family holidays
If taking grandparents on holiday to help with the child-care and housework doesn’t cut the mustard, then the full-time maid, cook and butler come in handy at Dar el Riad in the Palmeraie, an exclusive residential area of Marrakech. The main house accommodates up to eight guests in beautifully furnished, elegant style, and there are two guest cottages in the grounds, each sleeping two, which are ideal for teenagers, nannies and grannies. Lawned gardens with space for children to run around and a lovely pool, rose gardens and shady terraces are complemented by a lovely Moroccan patio at the heart of the living areas. A week’s stay through CV Travel costs from £6047 to £9020, including staff and breakfast each day, excluding flights.
Luxury family beach house with private beach, staff, pool and grounds
Noble House in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has its own 500m of sandy beach, a 17m x 11m swimming pool, a vast wrap-around veranda, sunken baths, walled gardens, glorious sea views, two kayaks, table tennis and is set in five acres of grounds, with plenty of space for every family member to holiday in their own space. Accommodation enables private but together living, with three double bedrooms in the main house and additional accommodation in the pool cottage, for up to eight guests in total, cared for by staff that includes a butler, chef, maids, laundress and a night watchman. The house can be booked through CV Travel (020 7401 1050, www.cvtravel.co.uk) from £5237 to £7339 / week, excluding flights.
For more information and bookings, visit: cvtravel.co.uk