Resort Hotel or Villa – It’s a Tough Choice!

There are so many beautiful places in the world that planning where to go on a family vacation can be a tough decision to make. Adults generally have their own ideas about what constitutes the perfect vacation whereas kids often have different wants and needs. As an adult, you might fancy the idea of spending a couple of weeks relaxing on a beach somewhere hot and tropical while your kids are clamoring to go to Disney in Florida. But wherever you decide to go, be it a Costa Rica luxury villa or New York City break, what type of accommodation is best suited to families?

Budget Considerations

For most families, the overriding consideration will be their budget. Unless you have money to burn, you will probably be constrained by how much cash you can afford to spend on the accommodation component of your family vacation. Staying in a resort hotel or renting a villa or condo is going to be enjoyable, but if you have young children, and lots of them, it might be wiser to look at alternatives such as camping or budget motels.

All-Inclusive Vacations

Who doesn’t love an all-inclusive vacation deal in a luxurious resort hotel somewhere hot and tropical? If you can afford it, this type of vacation really is top of the must-do list. Once you have checked into a luxury resort hotel on an all-inclusive deal, everything is free: food, drinks, snacks, cocktails, and anything else you want. All-inclusive deals are also useful if you are on a limited budget – once you have paid for the vacation, you won’t need to worry about running out of cash while you are away as everything is paid for.

Flexible Living

When it comes to flexible living, a villa really comes its own. Staying in a private villa means you are free to come and go as you please, without upsetting other guests in the next room. If you want to stay in bed until noon, that’s okay. Or, if you have children, you can prepare their meals at times to suit them, not the hotel staff.

Relaxing Family Time

Resort hotels and villas can be equally relaxing, but when it comes to privacy, a villa is a better choice. The main problem with staying in a resort hotel is that you are always surrounded by other guests, many of whom might snap up the prime positions around the swimming pool. Renting a villa means you don’t have to worry about noisy guests, other people’s annoying children and a lack of sun beds. You will have to make your own cocktails, however, so bear this in mind.

The More the Merrier!

Staying in a self-catering villa is more economical if you have a larger family. There is usually a limit on the number of people per room in a resort hotel, so you may be forced to pay for more than one room, which can be expensive.

If you are not sure which accommodation option is the right one for you, make a list and weigh up the pros and cons before you decide.