Smith & Family Top Three Half Term Escapes
If you still haven’t booked a half term getaway and need to get some last minute sunshine before the cold bite of winter creeps in, don’t despair. I spoke to travel consultant, Gemma Miles, from boutique hotel experts Smith & Family and asked for her top three family-friendly half-term escapes…
Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas
Powder-blue skies, azure seas, sunshine on tap – Crete’s Daios Cove is blessed with a holiday-perfect backdrop. The resort’s not so bad either, with its inviting spa, plethora of pools, private beach and trio of restaurants serving Med-fresh fare. In the spacious clifftop villas you’ll find every parental necessity – from potty to pushchair – and a private pool suitable for every swimmer. If you’re eating en famille, Pangea’s decadent buffets are varied enough to please the fussiest of diners, and there’s a babysitting service for €10 an hour (€14 for two children; €15 for three) if grown-ups want an evening to indulge in Ocean restaurant’s Italian-inspired, Michelin-starred-chef prepared menu.
Doubles from £225 per night
Like sugar cubes clustered on the Aegean coast, Anemi Hotel on the island of Folegandros is as stylish as it is soothing, striking a balance between minimalist retreat and family fun zone. Children will be torn between splashing in the freshwater pools and tearing round the mini playground, and the tennis courts are ideal for an all-ages knockabout. At the first given opportunity, parents will want to head for the grownups-only infinity pool overlooking the turquoise sea to sip some fresh mint mojitos, expertly mixed by the hotel’s barman, George.
Doubles from £137 per night, including breakfast
For a family holiday with more than a touch of grandeur, Vidago Palace in Portugal’s Douro Valley will not disappoint. If young ones tire of the pools, the trampoline and the endless grounds (and sprintable corridors) they can go on supervised nature walks in the surrounding woodland. Back at the palace, adults can hit a the fairway for a round or two or opt for some pitch-perfect pampering at the spa. Come dinner time, you can gather in the gilded ballroom for a fresh local feast – grown-ups and kids alike are suckers for the octopus carpaccio. Families tempted by this salmon-pink palace can get 10 per cent off stays between now and 31 December, as long as it’s booked 30 days in advance.
Doubles from £136 per night
Book with Smith & Family for a price match guarantee, loyalty money back and a free extra on arrival. Book online at Smithandfamily.co.uk or through the travel team on 0330 100 3180