The Ballenstedter Residence, Berlin
A third floor apartment in the heart of West Berlin, this beautifully decked out pad is perfect for the stylish young family. The building is light and bright and the apartment is well suited for young children with games and toys provided. At the same time it is smartly decorated with plants and original paintings, with a balcony offering sun loungers that look over the communal garden, with its large sand-pit and swings. The Kithen is modern and fully-fitted, with a Nespresso coffee maker, smoothie maker and Stokke high chair. In the near area is the famous shopping street the Kurfustrendamm and various local parks for children. The residence is also 30 minutes from Berlin’s main train station and easy to reach by public transport, which makes it a perfect base from which to explore Berlin.
£51 per night. Sleeps six; kidandcoe.com
The Pineapple, Dunmore, Scotland
Certainly one of the Landmark Trust’s most iconic buildings, this eccentric summer house hosts a central pavilion with a dome the shape of a giant 37-foot pineapple. As the story goes, the 4th Earl of Dunmore originally commissioned the building after his travels in the New World. In Virginia where he was governor, sailors would announce their return home by putting a pineapple on their gate-post. And so, with his return to Scotland, Lord Dunmore followed this tradition – though a little more extravagantly.
Since being lovingly restored by the Landmark Trust, the house serves as a spectacular yet affordable two-bed rental property – the building itself set in glorious grounds over an impressive walled garden owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Near the picturesque village of Dunmore and, a little further afield, Stirling Castle, as well as various medieval battlegrounds and beautiful country walking routes.
£56 a night. Sleeps four but has the option of added cots. Parking is available and dogs allowed; landmarktrust.org.uk
Penfret Lodge Tent, Bot-Conan Lodge, Brittany
This glamping escape was created with the idea of reviving the old abandoned campsight of Bot-Conon where the owner, Arnaud, spent many happy childhood summers. The lodge is simple and open, inspired by South African designs. There is an outdoor kitchen and the lodge is fitted with one double bed and three singles. There are hot showers in the communal shower blocks, fitted with grass roves to blend into the landscape. Outside the lodge is a raised deck with a stunning view of the bay, a dining table, and plenty of space for the family to play and explore.
What’s more, just 10 metres away the property boasts its very own humble private beach, with shallow waters. The hosts also provide craft materials and activities should it be a day too rainy for the beach, and each tent comes with two traditional French postal bikes to borrow, free of charge. In the area, Beg-Meil, the near by village, has a regular market that sells fresh local produce, a lovely beach and lots of restaurants. There are also museums and libraries in the area or for the more active family member, activities your hosts can help you organise include fishing, cycling and sailing.
£81 per night. Sleep five with extra space for kids; canopyandstars.co.uk
Gunes Pansiyon, Cirali, Turkey.
Set in the beautiful coastal hamlet of Cirali, 80km south-west of Antalya, The Gunes is a lovely, unassuming gem. The traditional Turkish guesthouse is family-run and very friendly. It also has its own restaurant serving delicious, traditional local food. Gunes has 15 wooden ‘bungalow rooms’ which line the garden, and can fit a family of up to five people. Healthy Turkish breakfasts are provided daily in the restaurant and the pansiyon also has communal cushioned decking areas where groups or families can relax and read in the shade.
Five minutes away is Cirali’s 4km pebble and sand beach, which is a popular nesting site for loggerhead and green sea turtles. If you don’t spot a turtle you can at least enjoy the benefits of a well protected and looked after beach (a rare find in Turkey’s increasingly built up southern coast), with beautiful clear and calm water which is perfect for swimming. Along the beach are many simple Turkish restaurants offering good food at decent value. At the North end is the ancient city of Olympus, a ruin where visitors can clamber over old amphitheatres and pillars freely, among the rivers and overgrown foliage. You can also visit the famous ‘eternal flames’ of Chimera, the natural phenomenon that lies at the top of a hillside an hour’s walk from the town, which have been burning for thousands of years.
£60 per night for a four-person family room; gunespansiyon.com
Maciera Lodge, Vinha DaManta, Portugal
The Maciera lodge is one of eight stunning canvas lodges in Vinha DaManta, an eco-property situated just outside the small Portuguese town of Faia. The lodges all come with private, stylish kitchens and outdoor bathrooms, soft furnishings and bespoke designs that are inspired by the surrounding landscape, with natural materials and neutral colours creating a peaceful and beautiful environment. The aim is a comfortable and tranquil space, complementing the surrounding nature while creating a sense of luxury. The lodge or ‘Safari Tent’ can host up to five people with one king-size double bed and three single bunks. It has a large raised wooden decking area with a dining table that looks over the dramatic Mondego Valley.
Surrounding the residence are olive and fig trees and just below is a communal eco-filtered natural pool. While Vinha Da Manta is primarily the perfect place to relax and do nothing, there are various activities for the family that can be organised through the owner, including hikes to the surrounding rock pools, wine tasting, horse rides and visits the local old villages. A delicious and breakfast is prepared for guests every morning, made from produce from the owner’s very own vegetable garden – and they also offers dinners for those already too relaxed to think about cooking.
£74 per night. Sleeps five. canopyandstars.co.uk
