Why Having A Baby Doesn't Have To Mean Saying Goodbye To Boutique

If like me you enjoy the finer things in life - it can get very disheartening when search results churn out a list of adult only bolt holes. Why does having a baby have to mean kids clubs and holiday parks?

For me, any holiday starts with the first Google search for accommodation and quite commonly involves hours of scrolling and clicking my way through 100's of hotels/cottages/villas, reaching as far as Google page 7 or 8. I have often found in my quest for high end luxury at a budget price, that the best hidden gems are located deep in the volts of Googles search results. Now I know not everyone has the time or motivation to spend hours trawling the internet for suitable accommodation so here's how I decide on the perfect place to stay.

Since Orla's arrival we have tended towards DIY (self catering) cottages/villas. This has helped me maintain my budget luxury dream whilst also providing the flexibility of having our own space. It does takes a bit more organising on the food front, but pays off in terms of privacy and freedom. Orla has been able to nap/play/eat as she wants, without the worry of locating food at short notice with a starving child (every parents worst nightmare) or having to sit quietly in a hotel room from a 7pm bedtime. Travelling out of season/school holidays when the prices tend to be lower and deals to be found is also a major plus at this age, but boutique DIY holidays can still be affordable in peak season too.

Kaminia Blue, Kefalonia (2018)

In terms of choosing the perfect place, I have recently come to realise that it is all in the bathroom! In my hours of clicking through quite literally 1000's of pictures of perfectly displayed flowers, place settings and beautifully made beds, what really catches my eye is the bathroom. If it's clean and modern with a walk in glass fronted rainfall shower, I'm sold - the rest usually follows.

Daymer, Trewornan Manor, Cornwall

Another plus to the DIY option is the ability to afford more bedrooms than you really need. In my extensive research, I have come to realise that a week spent camped out together in a hotel room for 2 adults and 1 infant often compares to a weeks rental for a 3 bedroom self catering villa. I suppose the downside is that you have to source and prepare meals for yourself or spend money on going out, but my next point definitely outweighs this slight inconvenience (and lets face it, is it really an inconvenience to have a fridge stocked with wine and chocolate?). If like us, your little one(s) are used to their own room at home, then rooming in while away can be a bit of a disruption. Imagine for a moment that the mood takes you while on the holiday. Nothing is a bigger passion killer than realising you are being watched by your 8 month old daughter. Unfortunately, yes, I am speaking from experience! So if you want to avoid the one thing sure to stop you in your tracks, defiantly go for somewhere where everyone (including you) can have the space they need.

For our artic adventure we have chosen to book accommodation through Air BnB. I love the fact that you can filter your results to as much or as little luxury as you want with their super host and Air BnB Plus filters. And whilst I didn't use Air BnB for our first abroad holiday with Orla, Kaminia Blu in Kefalonia is in fact one of their listed properties. Just remember with any letting platform to read the reviews of where your interested in booking. If the majority say the accommodation is amazing and they want to go back - your probably onto a winner. Likewise, if the reviews aren't so good - i'd keep looking.

One of my other fav sites to book through is i-escapes. They offer boutique hotels, guesthouses, eco-retreats, safari lodges and house rentals across 50 countries. Price brackets vary, so make sure you know your budget (or like me you can get carried away looking at super amazing places to stay only to realise you most definitely cannot afford it). Quite handily, they have an i-escapes kids collection dedicated to child friendly stays.

Our staycations tend to centre around Cornwall being just over the boarder. I've used sites like Cornish Gems, Perfect Stays and Unique Home Stays, but for our mini-break to Herefordshire I actually found a gem of a cottage, The Coach House through Google searching.

By spending a little time and effort planning, it has been more than possible to maintain the luxury of having a stunning place to rest our heads whilst travelling with a young baby and not breaking the bank in doing so.

Kaminia Blu, Kefalonia (2018)

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