take a look at www.maisontranquil.com Southern France - gorgeous french country house on a lake

Does it have to be a villa and does it have to be the Med? If not can I suggest you go to a Kinderhotel in Austria? Firstly you'll get fab scenery, second, you'll get childcare for as much or as little of the day as you want, thirdly you get great food which you don't have to cook, fourthly you don't have to move out of your room as your in-laws can just book a room for themselves - you can ask the hotel to be put next to each other. The Kinderhotels often have big family rooms with little rooms off them to house the kids. You get a resort and your bro-in-law gets rural!

Austria is a very child-friendly country - pretty much every mountain hut/restaurant has a kids play area. You'll get fit from beautiful walks, kids love cable cars and gondolas; there's also horseriding, cycling, white water rafting etc. Only downside is the Austrians love nude saunas so that might be a tad embarrassing with your rellies if you're a typical Brit :oops: :lol:

[url]http://www.kinderhotels.co.uk/[/url]

Austria in the summer is absolutely beautiful. Most Brits have only been there for skiing in Winter but the Alps are far lovelier in summer if you ask me.

We have just come back from Caserio del Mirador in the Xalo Valley between Alicante and Valencia. It's a lovely, low key family-friendly place with just seven apartments.

Our kids, aged three and just over one, loved feeding the rabbits and the goats, the donkey and the pig. The owner, Sarah, makes sure that the apartment, or little house, is stocked with a good selection of the right kind of toys for the ages of your kids. Everyone else has kids so they made friends with lots of others whilst driving toy tractors around the pool, or playing in the sandpit. There's a few swings, both for big kids and for babies, dotted around and a great trampoline. And all with fantastic views down the valley.

As an extra, you can have Sarah deliver a basket of croissants and bread, to your flat for breakfast. They also do, five times a week, kids tea in the early evening (whilst the mummies and daddies drink more beer and wine than they should!) and, as another optional extra, adults dinner later on with copious amounts of local wine.

Nearly everyone we met there had been before and we are certainly planning on going again.

Next time, we might go there for a week, then rent a big villa near the beach in Denia or in Moraira for the second week and invite grandparents out. Both beaches are very sandy and shallow - perfect for kids.

Wherever you go, have a great time!

Hello, Please do check out our reviews for guests comments and opinions:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1236657-d1371881-r220071519-Les_Limornieres-Le_Grand_Pressigny_Loire_Valley_Centre.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

However in summary: can I suggest our 3 self-catering cottages in le Grand-Pressigny, Indre-et-Loire, France - Loire Valley.

Here: ([url]https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Les+Limorni%C3%A8res,+37350+Le+Grand-Pressigny/@46.9198512,0.8375752,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47fcf0e7916d8ffd:0x9f8f8e4e813484cf?hl=en[/url])

The self contained, well-equipped cottages share a sunny courtyard garden and a shady dining barn for up to 12 people.

Cottages provide one bedroom for 2 adults and up to 2 under 5's.
2 double bedrooms (for up to 4 adults and 2 children).
1 double and 1 twin bedroom.

We provide lots of equipment, toys and games indoors and out for children and babies enabling our guests to travel light via train or plane.

We are one hours straightforward drive from the airports at Tours (TUF) and Poitiers (PIS) and the TGV (Eurostar linked) train station at Tours (St Pierre-des-Corps). All the above provide pre-booked car hire collection points.

We are within 3km from the village of le Grand-Pressigny with chateau & museum of prehistoric era, 2 family-friendly french-menu restaurants, 2 bars, weekly market, grocers, bakers & butchers.

Within 10km of fine dining restaurant 'la Promenade' in le Petit-Pressigny.

There is a heated outdoor pool in le Grand-Pressigny and another within 15km in Descartes, there is supervised river and lake swimming locally too.

We are within 30 minutes of the medieval town of Loches and a very good range of the headline towns, chateaux, vineyards & gardens of the Loire Valley can be reached within one hours drive - the routes are scenic via quiet country roads and with a little planning circular itineraries can enable you to stop off at places to visit, picnic, swim or enjoy a lazy lunch en-route.

Including: Chinon, Villandry, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Zoo Beauval, Amboise.

We are open to guests each year from the 1st March to the 31st October with group bookings recommended between mid-May & end-September to make the most of the communal outdoor and semi-indoor dining & the gardens.

TIP : School holidays book up quick...if you are not tied to these dates then consider May, June or September in France as it is often a gorgeous time of year.

NVN DEAL: 2015 bookings made before the 1st October will secure a 10% off 2014 rates!! Group bookings will also receive a complimentary arrival night buffet supper to help ease into your stay.

Last minute, late summer 2014 availability dates between 7th September 15th November are now up to 30% off published rates!

chezania@franceholidaycottage.com

I went to Tossa de Mar in Girona (near Barcelona) for my honeymoon and it was marvelous. It's a traditional Spanish town with at lest three beaches to go and different places to see. There's a castle (ruins) right at the top of a cliff where you can walk around and eat some nice food.

We stayed over there for a week and I left with the "I don't want to go home" feeling! Unfortunately, we stayed in a hotel so I can't recommend any places to stay but it is definitely a place to go if you want to escape from the British way of life.

Good luck! :)

I have recommended it before so sorry for repeating myself but Rou estate in Corfu is gorgeous and has several houses of different sizes. It's a former hamlet which has been restored so not at all big and busy. It's on a top of a hill though with lots of steps so better for kids above 4 years old. There is a communal pool but some houses also have their private pools. A taverna and massages on site and all the beautiful scenery of North East Corfu to explore.

http://fromthepoolside.com/rou-estate-review/

More easily accessible is Chateau Les Carasses in langue doc in France. They hVe rooms or separate houses to rent and the service of a hotel. Again big communal pool but some houses have their private pools. There is a tennis court, boules area, and a kids club. Lots of lovely places around to explore too. We stayed there a few years ago but I haven't gotten round to do a write up on my blog yet but a quick google search will show you lots of info.

Hope it helps.

A good choice for you would be Martinhal in Portugal.

It is a very family friendly resort, with a choice of 2 bed houses and even 5 bed houses, so you could stay within the same resort and just change the size of the accommodation.

It is not a farmhouse style set up, but it is set within a beautiful national park. The facilities for children and parents are excellent... have a look here...
[url]http://www.totstoo.com/hotel/martinhal-beach-resort-hotel/[/url]

The benefit of Martinhal is that you have all the extra care that a hotel offers, such as a kids club, creche, sports, spa and activities, but the independence and flexibility of self catering, allowing your family to spread out in the villas.

There are lots of fabulous restaurants on site, or you can visit the nearby historic fishing town of Sagres for a change of scene.

The team at Tots Too know Martinhal very well, having stayed there and experienced the facilities and would be happy to answer your questions. Call 020 7284 3344 or email sales@totstoo.com
:)

Hi

Major forward planning but wondered if anyone can suggest some places for a holiday next year

My husband and I want to do two weeks next summer - one week with just us and our two children and a second week with the inlaws and husbands brother, wife and their two children.

We would rather not split our holiday over two countries or locations. So, ideally we would find a resort with a two bed house for the first week and then we move to a 5/6 bed house for the second week.

Can anyone recommend some places that could cater for that? We would prefer family friendly, easy living resorts and the BIL prefers remote farmhouses in rural areas so we need somewhere that appeals to both. Family friendly but not too built up and great scenery

Thanks