Finding a family holiday where they could relax with their three and four year old boys was not as difficult as Suzanne and Lewis Cohen had imagined.
Read on to find out how it is possible to chill out with little ones in tow.
Planning our trip 
We knew we wanted to go somewhere that was a short flight away and where the weather was going to be nice. We also wanted a hotel that had facilities for children so we knew they would be entertained. Vila Vita Park, in Portugal, has an excellent reputation for catering for families and after researching it online we booked a week’s holiday in the Algarve resort.
Journey
Travelling anywhere with the kids involves a lot of planning as both
my son’s are so restless. The two and a half hour flight from Gatwick
to Faro though was perfect as it is a short enough distance to manage.
Faro airport has a good play area that kept the kids entertained whilst
we waited for our luggage.
The commute to the hotel was also very easy as it was only about 25 minutes
away and we enjoyed the air-conditioned hotel bus sent to collect us.
The Hotel
Despite reservations that my childrens’ behaviour would show me up in
this stunning five-star hotel, they proved me wrong. This probably has
a lot to do with the fact that Vila Vita Park has so much on offer for
children that even on arrival their needs are catered for.
The resort is so vast that hotel ‘golf’ buggies are needed to ferry guests
to and from their rooms. Our suite, that contained a separate living and
kitchen area, as well as a marble bathroom, was superb. As well as two
main swimming pools, the hotel has its own private beach, gym, golf course
and tennis courts.
The spa is one of the most beautiful I have ever visited.
Kid’s facilities 
There are so many to mention! Our boys loved the hotel’s mini-sized towelling robes, slippers and sun hats, that were provided for them. The children’s area was by far the best we have seen, consisting of climbing frames, a trampoline and a sandpit, most of which is thoughtfully situated a shaded area.
Adjacent to the play ground is the children’s crèche and playroom, both
of which are well stocked with games, activities and toys for children
of all ages. Within the two main pool areas there is a kids’ pool and
even on the private beach we found a basket full of toys, including balls
and buckets and spades.
Vila Vita offers a club for kids aged 6 months up to four years and also
for 5 to eleven year-olds. Hours are 10am to 6 pm. The hotel offers a
babysitting service but if you want to dine out with the kids the children’s
menu’s are very good.
Price Guide
Approx cost for a family of four visiting in the summer for 1 week is
£3,400.
Overall
Although Vila Vita Park is very expensive it is the best family hotel I
have ever visited and I can’t recommend it highly enough. For families with
young children it is ideal as it has every facility you would want to cater
for both yourselves and your kids, so everyone is happy.
Find out more:
http://www.ecruise.co.uk/
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