Villa des Pins, Grand Cru

Villa des Pins has a tranquil location but is just 10-minutes from Bordeaux Airport and just a few minutes further to the heart of the centre of this elegant and cultural city, often called 'Little Paris' by the French. Apart from the architecture, great shopping and dining found in the city, visitors will not want to miss the excellent contemporary art museum and botanical gardens, which often holds events and workshops for kids on weekends.

For wine lovers, the house is situated in one of the most prestigious appellation of the Bordeaux region: Pessac-Léognan and between the famous Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château Carbonnieux and Château Bouscault. The very famous “Caudalie” Spa & Cosmetic – wine therapy- is just 5minute drive from the house and the perfect tonic for frazzled parents.

Just 40 minutes drive away is the charming medieval town of St. Emilion with its cobbled streets crammed with its wineries, boutiques, bistros and gourmet shops. The entire area is filled with charming little market towns. Make the most of the babysitting available and head out to one of the many fabulous restaurants nearby or enjoy food French—style with long leisurely lunches en famille.

For a day by the beach, the family-friendly resort of Arcachon is just 40 minutes away and highly recommended for families as it has calmer waters than nearby Cap Ferret but similarly long sandy beaches, and kids beach clubs for little ones from 2-12. A little closer to home, there's the Aqualand Waterpark, which has a dedicated area for little ones and the zoo at Royan .

Getting There: The house is just 10-minutes drive from Bordeaux airport, which is served by low cost airlines from many of the UK’s regional airports. See www.skyscanner.net to help locate airports/flight options. The closest ferry ports are Bilbao (4.5hrs), St Malo (6hrs) and Calais (10hrs).