In all shapes and sizes

The apartments at Caserio del Mirador are the complete antithesis of the classic family hotel room squeeze. There’s no camping out in the bathroom once the kids are asleep, thanks to properly separate spaces, and they score big bonus points after a recent easy-breezy glow up – think light spaces with billowing linens, warm rattan and terracotta tiles

There are just six accommodations in total, ranging from suites sleeping two adults and a baby, through to two-bedroom apartments and a cottage, all with kitchenettes, private outdoor areas and living rooms. They feel bright and airy while still keeping all of that gorgeous, authentic Spanish character, with not a whiff of beige-box chain hotel energy. What really stayed with me though were the family-friendly touches. Everything we needed was already there, from cots, kids’ towels and little steps to toy boxes and children’s bookshelves, plus a well-stocked fridge on arrival with milk, yoghurt, bananas, juice and Weetabix, meaning no instant panicked shop dash. Host Sarah’s immediate “just tell me what’s missing and I’ll order it” philosophy was pure parental peace of mind, although needless to say, we couldn’t spot any gaps

The apartment setup gave us the perfect balance: space to retreat for quiet family time, while never being more than a few steps from the sociable, communal buzz, whether we were craving adult company or our daughter was desperate to seek out her little pals

Fun around every corner

I challenge you – find me a child (under the age of about 8) that could go to Caserio del Mirador and not declare it their ‘favourite place ever’ (I’m speaking from experience!). It’s not that everything revolves around tiny travellers, it’s that everything is so well planned, there’s little pockets of fun everywhere they look (which is also the ultimate unlock to parental relaxation). There’s no pressure to constantly entertain or plan, for within a few minutes’ wander, they can bounce on a huge trampoline, dig in a sandpit (surely one with the world’s best view), splash in a glistening pool, raid an entire toy den, pet upteen animals, collect chicken’s eggs, build a train track all around the terrace… all with newfound play mates

Mealtimes designed to pamper parents

Dining at Caserio del Mirador – what an unexpected delight! It isn’t until you are sat there, glass of wine in hand, fairy lights above, gazing across the valley that you realise – the team really pour their hearts into pampering parents through food

But I’ll go back to the beginning. Every morning starts with what fast became my daughter’s favourite ritual: Host Sarah gently knocks as she delivers a little basket full of warm croissants, bread rolls, and sun ripened fruit, which Maggie (my daughter) would proudly carry through to our balcony for a lingering breakfast with a seriously epic view. There’s also an open invite to go down and collect fresh eggs – we could hear the children giggling as they walked past – but as a family we aren’t known to be early risers!

In evenings throughout the week, Caserio del Mirador carve out ample opportunities to give dining a special sense of ‘occasion’ – whether your personal preference is a private date night on your terrace (where homecooked feasts are hand delivered to you), or you build up the bravery to join the wider parent gang (it isn’t as scary as it sounds, promise!) chatting, sipping and savouring whilst the sun sets

You can chop and change day to day, picking whether to eat tête-à-tête or join the revelry – it’s all part of the beauty. From tapas tasting menus to gourmet 4 course ‘Chef’s table’ spreads, decadent adults-only dinners are on offer 5 nights a week – where host Johnny expertly pairs dishes with bottles of wine from his collection (and conversation and laughs quickly flow as easily as the drinks)

All of this is made possible by ingenious ‘kids teatimes’. Earlier in the evenings, kids gather for a relaxed, riotously fun supper on the terrace. Here, you’ll spy familiar favourites like sausages, pasta and carrot sticks alongside tapas-style prawns, meatballs, tortilla and paella, for the more adventurous eaters. And all with plenty of hidden veggies! Served at a large shared table in the open air, it’s a low pressure, sociable alternative to noisy resort dining rooms (with plenty of toys strewn around as well), giving children the chance to eat together while parents enjoy a drink or two. And much to our delight, we experienced what I’ll call the ‘nursery effect’ – namely less battles trying to make Maggie eat, as instead she seemed to follow suit and copy all of the other kids. Then, after the little ones retreat to bed, their grown ups resurface refreshed and ready (with either baby monitor in hand, or babysitter in room) to tuck into that night’s glorious homecooked menu

With the exception of Sunday’s ‘Welcome Paella’, a class kick off act to officially hail the holiday’s start,  lunch tends to be enjoyed out and about (having lived in the area for over 20 years, there’s no shortage of local recommendations)

And one final word – with everything made from scratch, these guys are pros at catering for specific dietary requirements

From waterfalls to the best beaches

One of the biggest surprises for me was the setting itself. I don’t know if it was pure naivety on my part, but I genuinely hadn’t realised Spain looked like this. The diversity of the landscape completely blew me away. One minute you’re surrounded by dramatic mountains and rolling vineyards, the next you’re heading towards waterfalls, turquoise water and golden beaches with laid-back little chiringuitos dotted along the coast (my favourite beach bar has to be Olala at Cala Baladrar). The former backpacker in me was quietly delighted, but it’s just as perfect for exploring with tiny travellers too

Thanks to Sarah and Johnny’s encyclopedic local expertise, our days out felt effortlessly curated. Highlights included Moraira, a beautiful stretch of sandy beach with calm, shallow water, perfect for splashing, ice creams and a relaxed lunch in town. We also loved Javea, again on their recommendation, which has a gorgeous beach bar with sweeping sea views and the kind of coast that’s ideal for gentle wave-jumping

For something completely different, we visited Fonts d’Algar, a series of waterfalls hidden in the mountains. There’s a small entry fee and a few steps, but even with a four-year-old and a very pregnant me, it was totally manageable. You can actually wade under the waterfall, which feels very much like an ‘achievable adventure’ moment to remember. The drive there alone was epic, winding through vineyards and mountain scenery that feels worlds away from the coast

Our final day was spent in Altea, a quintessential whitewashed Spanish town full of boutique shops, pretty streets and excellent restaurants – the kind of place you wander without a plan and accidentally spend your life savings on gorgeous straw baskets. Honestly, whatever you’re craving – beaches, mountains or authentic towns, it’s all right there – and unbelievably beautiful

We didn’t make it to Valencia this time, but at just over an hour away, the city is another option for a colourful change of scene. Think elegant palm lined streets, open parks & gardens and a historic medieval centre. The world class Bioparc, an immersive experience where animals roam natural environments freely, gives tiny travellers the chance to get up close and personal with all different species. Other hits include the Old City dry riverbed, now a recreational space with play parks and kids activities, and the world class aquarium. Not forgetting, there’s tonnes of great tapas bars crying out to be explored!

 

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