SPAIN | CASERIO DEL MIRADOR

By Nadine Mellor, I Escape Kids Collection Editor.Relaxing holidays and energetic toddlers don’t always go hand in hand. But we genuinely felt like we’d had a proper break after a week in the sunshine with our 2.5 year old at Caserio del Mirador, a farmhouse-villa, set on a peaceful Spanish hillside with seemingly endless views.Sarah and Johnny are wonderful hosts and have created a haven for under-5s and their parents alike. Children are kept constantly occupied, whether it’s playing with the age-appropriate toys and books in each apartment, petting the fluffy rabbits, splashing in the pool, sitting on the big red tractor, playing on the swings, digging in the sand pit or delivering food scraps to Beryl the (huge) pig and the chickens.For days out, there are plenty of good sandy beach options around a 30-40 minute drive away (a car is essential for exploring the area). We loved building sandcastles at tiny La Fustier, and La Moraira was a favourite among all of the families staying at the Caserio at the same time as us: it has a little stream running alongside the sand where the children loved to splash.Sarah puts on a fantastic kids’ tea (meals are available 5 nights out of 7) where the children sit around the big family table together. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with the other families over a glass of wine (or two). The meal is full of firm favourites like pasta and sausages as well as more unusual offerings like octopus and squid rings (which our toddler valiantly tried). Sarah has a wonderful way of encouraging reluctant children to eat their vegetables too!We stayed in a one-bed apartment which had a huge comfy bed for us and a little wooden toddler bed for our young son (a big plus for us as travel cots and roll-out beds don’t always produce a good night’s sleep!). We also had a big open-plan living area with a simple kitchen, a dining table and seating area with a TV.After the little ones are all tucked up and snoring, the adults have the option to escape – monitor in hand – for a truly delicious spread and superbly selected drinks with the other parents. Our favourite meal was the Friday tapas made with lots of homegrown produce like fiery padrón peppers. We found the atmosphere so relaxed and the other guests so easy-going that the conversation flowed easily.We’d return in a heartbeat (next time I would definitely have a massage by the pool – apparently they were fantastic).Little Voyageurs loves:❤ The kids’ tea.❤ The huge selection of toys and games.❤ The peaceful (and safe) location.❤ Hosts Johnny and Sarah, who have thought of everything to make your stay run smoothly.❤ The pool.❤ The nearby beaches.❤ The delicious adults-only dinners.

 

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