'Perfect for families' Tots to Travel holiday tested out

Travel company, Tots to Travel, was founded after mother Wendy Shand had a frightening incident on her own family holiday. Her two-year-old son fell into an unenclosed swimming pool, making her realise that a traditional self catering holiday did not fit all her needs as a parent.

It is not always possible to load up cars up with electric socket protectors, stair gates and everything else a house needs to keep kids safe. Mums and dads need a holiday cottage that is already fully child-friendly and so Tots to Travel was born.

Bristol family Emma and Chris Law took their two children on a Tots to Travel holiday to Italy. This is how they got on:

“We’d been recommended to Tots to Travel by friends and articles in the press.  This was our first foreign holiday since becoming a family of four and we plumped for Casa Madelaine in the Le Marche region of Italy.

“Sleeping up to nine people, it’s a beautifully restored farmhouse set in a meadow at the bottom of the Sibillini Mountains.  Well furnished, it had everything we needed for a toddler and a seven month old baby, including toys, cot, high chair, blender, children’s bedding, baby monitor, potty and stair gates.  All in all it meant having to carry less luggage, which when you’re in an airport with two young children, suitcases and a buggy, is a real bonus.

“In the huge, private garden there was a lovely shaded veranda for eating out, a trampoline, swing and slide – all of great importance to our toddler!

“There’s also a beautiful pool at the property, with stunning views of the local area.

“The beaches at Porto San Giorgio were fantastic and perfect for families – very sandy, lots of child friendly restaurants, showers, clean toilets and playgrounds.  The lovely town of Penna San Giovanni is also well worth a visit and has some great places for pizza and pasta, as well as gelaterias for ice-creams!  For mums who love their shoes and handbags, the area is home to Tod’s and Prada, and their outlet stores are a must.

“We would definitely use Tots to Travel again, though would book our holiday much earlier. We left it until March to book for September and there was limited availability by then.”

Casa Madelaine costs from £995 in low season rising to £1865 in high season.

For further information on this or other Tots to Travel properties in Italy, France, Portugal, Spain or the UK, please contact Tots to Travel on www.totstotravel.co.uk or call 0845 26 941 26