THE POST-COVID FAMILY HOTEL DREAM

Here’s a little baby 1-2-3, sleeps on his (my) hotel bed, what does he dream?

The hotel dream – funny on many levels right now! It’s generally a funny old time and as much as I long to be somewhere that isn’t home, I’m not rushing to book any holidays either. But that doesn’t stop me absentmindedly scrolling through pictures of places that I might one day book. Searching for hidden gems and remote spots.

So in the absence of making any attempts to stay at ‘any’ dream hotel in the short term, I’m pondering the formula for my ‘one-day’ dream hotel, finding places like the gems we’ve stayed at pre-baby that work with a toddler in tow!

In the middle of nowhere

I love peace and quiet and not being around lots of other people. That pre-dates social distancing, I hate being in a crowded place as I just don’t find it relaxing and the natural beauty of a place is always lost on me in a built up place, even when it’s pretty! 4 hours deep into the desert, on a private island, in a remote cottage – all options work for me even when the weather isn’t nice! Such places come with views and that’s essential, so relaxing to look across fields and countryside, across dunes or out to sea.

Have a look at… Qasr al Sarab, Inn at Cuckolds Light

A short flight or a drive

I love flying, but I’m not sure I do right now especially as my toddler won’t want to wear a mask and I’m not sure I could sit on the plane with one whilst he didn’t. I’m also not sure other travellers want an unruly toddler roaming around trying to invade their space with a perpetually runny nose? If and when we fly then 3 hours will be more than enough and can get us some sun. Or we’ll fill the car and drive somewhere in the UK or get a ferry over to Europe.

Have a look at… Cornwall, Norfolk, Portugal, France and Greece

Space to spread out

We travel with a lot of stuff when we travel with a toddler. We need space for all the stuff, as well as to set up a little play den and to not have to sleep in the same rooms and for us to be able to relax (outside) whilst the toddler naps. We’ve always found self-catering to be our favoured option for a longer stay anywhere as it brings space, but that means self-catering for food too. So a villa or a suite in a hotel for a few nights is a nice treat for a shorter stay.

Have a look at… these self-catering gems, Quinta Casa Branca, Timbells Yard

Beautiful at night and day

Who wants to stay somewhere ugly? Views for miles, a lovely garden or pool area, a stunning building, spectacular lighting at night, peacocks walking past, a sunset. I’m very happy somewhere that is aesthetically easy on the eye and mind!

Have a look at… Oberoi Rajvillas, The Pigsty, The Chedi

Family friendly

I’ve always been annoyed by families making a hotel targeted at adults into a family holiday destination and so far I haven’t succumbed to that trait. There is so much choice of family friendly if you know where to look and what you need. Yes, it might not be as fancy as the adult-alternative, but it’s a holiday for everyone when the baby/toddler wants for nothing. And rooms seem to have black out curtains and baths as standard!

Have a look at… The Bedruthan, Rixos Saadiyat Island , Round Hill, Alila Diwa Goa

A private pool or hot tub

It’s nice not to have to go out to swim or paddle and to have our own space and water is a bit dreamy. A balcony hot tub is always a nice treat. A private pool or bit of beach in a hotel is even better. But this is really when a well-picked villa is hard to beat as the pool is large, there’s normally a garden too, plenty of loungers and parasols, an outdoor kitchen and a fridge you can keep stocked with local wine!

Have a look at… Camberley Vineyard, Rixos Saadiyat, Chewton Glen Treehouses

History and charm

Modern has its place for practicality and functionality, but the history and the charm that comes with a quirky place often makes up for so much. It could be a castle or a palace or just the grande dame hotel of the area, but it’s somewhere unique and memorable. We’ve found that newer bits of an old property often give the best of both worlds. And because the properties are small the pools are rarely busy.

Have a look at… The Kinsterna, Palacio Ramalhete, The Norman

A nearby village

Full of little taverns and restaurants and friendly staff. With no picture menus. Staying somewhere with a choice of places to go for lunch and supper is so important. Much as I love a good hotel, eating in the Italian/Chinese/Mexican restaurant in somewhere thousands of miles from that part of the world just isn’t for me. Fish curry on the beach in Goa, mussels and steak in France, set menus in Greek and Algarvian restaurants – food doesn’t get much better. And local beaches are often deserted compared to hotel pool areas!

Have a look at… Vila Campina, The Bedruthan, Alila Diwa Goa

With friends

We normally holiday just by ourselves, as we don’t get enough time to ourselves in between work and life. But as Master P grows up I’m seeing why holidaying with friends with children of a similar age is a really good plan. Villas that sleep 8+ people are often spectacular, have larger pools and the kids are happier too.

Have a look at… a greek villa, a small hotel, Yr Hafan, yachting

It has to be nicer than home

I’m happy to say that I am really fussy on this in particular. Apart from camping, if I’m going away I want to stay somewhere that is nicer than home. And home, thankfully, is very nice. I often struggle to find somewhere because of this. My preference is often to stay self-catering for all of the reasons above, unless I can find a dreamy villa-type set up in a small and family friendly hotel.

Have a look at… Chedi Muscat, Cliveden House

So I think what I am looking for is a luxury historic treehouse, on an island, with a natural pool, shade cast by an orange or olive grove, just off the coast of Greece or Portugal, near a village full of local foodie haunts, supplied by a local winery, linked to a luxury hotel and with plenty of inside space to have a separate bedroom for the toddler, a bath and a kitchen.

Simple! I am sure this place exists in more than just a dream.

Even though I’m now competing with the whole world seeking the same socially distanced thing that I have always coveted…

In the meantime places like Sublime Comporta, Latitude 50, Elmley Nature Reserve, Abaton Island, Domes Chania, Clowance Estate will slowly tempt me back to travel… And there’s always the wishful list too, and a return to absentmindedly scrolling, I’m looking at you: Tots to Travel, Baby Friendly Bolt Holes, Local Hideaways, Little Guest Collection, Kid and Coe, Unique Home Stays and Cool Stays

Written as part of the monthly Travel Linkup. For September, we’re dreaming all about hotels. A blank slate for you to make your own; somewhere you’ve stayed, somewhere you’d like to stay, somewhere that doesn’t exist but has every thing that makes your travel heart sing…  Just pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th August), and add it to the linkup widget found on Binnys Food and TravelDiaries, Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, or Be-Lavie.