When you are planning a family beach holiday, one of the first decisions is where to stay — and the choice usually comes down to a hotel or a self-catering apartment. Both have their place, but for families especially, a self-catering apartment has some powerful advantages. Having looked after holidaymakers in Paignton for many years, we have seen exactly why so many families choose self-catering and come back to it year after year. Here is an honest look at why an apartment so often wins for a family beach holiday.
Freedom around mealtimes
Anyone who has tried to get small children to a hotel dining room for a fixed breakfast sitting, dressed and presentable, knows the strain it can put on a holiday morning. With self-catering, mealtimes bend to your family rather than the other way around. You can feed hungry toddlers the moment they wake, let teenagers sleep in and graze later, and eat dinner early or late as the day demands. For fussy eaters, you control exactly what is on the plate. That flexibility removes a surprising amount of holiday stress.
More space for your money
A hotel room, however nice, is essentially one room. A self-catering apartment gives you a separate lounge, a kitchen, often more than one bedroom, and room to spread out. For the same money, a family typically gets far more living space self-catering than they would in a hotel — space to relax in the evenings once the children are asleep, somewhere to dry wet swimming things, and the simple luxury of not being on top of one another all week. For larger families and groups, that difference is enormous.
Better value, especially for longer stays
Self-catering is usually kinder on the budget, and the savings grow the longer you stay and the bigger your party. With your own kitchen you can keep food costs down by cooking some meals in, picking up local produce and fresh fish, and packing picnics for days out. You are not paying for hotel services you may not use, and you avoid the eye-watering bills that come from feeding a whole family in restaurants three times a day. A treat meal out becomes a pleasure rather than a necessity.
A real home from home
There is something deeply relaxing about having your own front door, your own space and your own routine on holiday. You can come and go as you please, stay up late or have an early night, do your own thing without negotiating shared hotel spaces. For families it means a calmer, more natural rhythm to the day; for couples it means privacy and the freedom to make the holiday entirely your own. It is the difference between staying somewhere and living somewhere, even if only for a week.
Evenings that actually relax you
One of the underrated joys of self-catering is the evening. Once the children are settled in their own room, you can relax properly in the lounge with a glass of wine and, if your apartment has the view, the lights of the bay reflected on the water. There is no need to sit in a hotel bar or stay within earshot of a baby monitor in a single room. Your holiday evenings become genuinely restful — which, for tired parents, can be the best part of the whole trip.
Room to handle the British weather
A self-catering base with space and amenities makes a wet day far more bearable than a single hotel room ever could. Room to play games, watch a film, do a jigsaw or simply potter means a rainy afternoon is no disaster. And the best self-catering accommodation goes further: at Cranmore Lodge, for example, a shared guest activities room with a pool table, table tennis, darts, table football, board games and a cinema-style screen means there is always something to do, alongside a guest laundry for drying off all that beach and rain gear.
Bring the dog
Self-catering also makes it far easier to bring the family dog. You have the space to settle them comfortably, somewhere to clean off muddy or sandy paws, and the freedom to plan your days around your dog’s needs — something that is rarely possible in a hotel. With Torbay’s dog-friendly beaches in the autumn and winter months and miles of coast path, a self-catering apartment is the natural choice for a holiday with your four-legged friend.
When a hotel might suit better
In fairness, hotels have their advantages — daily housekeeping, meals prepared for you, and on-site facilities like restaurants and bars. For a short, indulgent break where you want to be waited on, a hotel can be lovely. But for a family beach holiday of a week or more, where flexibility, space, value and a relaxed pace matter most, self-catering wins for the majority of families. It is no accident that so many return to it year after year.
What to look for in a self-catering apartment
Not all self-catering is equal, so it pays to know what matters. Location is the big one: somewhere close to the beach and amenities saves time and hassle every single day. A well-equipped kitchen, comfortable beds and a proper lounge make the difference between roughing it and genuinely relaxing. Parking — ideally off-road and on site — removes a perennial seaside headache. And indoor facilities for wet days, from a games room to a guest laundry, turn a good base into a great one. Look, too, for the reassurance of a place that is regularly refurbished and well looked after, and owners who know the area and are happy to help.
Tips for booking the right place
Book early for the best choice, especially for school holidays and peak summer weeks. Be clear about how many people you are, and check the sleeping arrangements carefully — a sofa bed in the lounge can be perfect for children but worth knowing about in advance. Use the online booking system to see live availability and pricing so you can compare dates and apartments at a glance. And do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions before you book; a quick conversation often makes it easy to find the apartment that best suits your group, your budget and your plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is self-catering cheaper than a hotel? Usually yes, especially for families, larger groups and longer stays, since you save on eating out and get more space for your money.
Is self-catering good for families with young children? Very much so — the flexibility around mealtimes and routines, and the extra space, make family holidays far more relaxed.
Do self-catering apartments have everything I need? A good apartment comes fully equipped with a kitchen, comfortable living space and all the essentials. Cranmore Lodge also offers a guest activities room and laundry.
Can I still eat out? Of course — the joy of self-catering is mixing meals in with the odd meal out, exactly as you please.
The best of self-catering in Paignton
Cranmore Lodge offers everything that makes self-catering so appealing for families, in one of the best positions in Paignton: comfortable, well-equipped apartments — two of them with two bedrooms, sleeping up to six — directly opposite Preston Sands beach, with sea views, free off-road parking, a guest activities room and a guest laundry. It is self-catering designed around the realities of a family holiday. Take a look at the apartments to see which suits your family.
Stay at Cranmore Lodge, Paignton
Enjoy the space, freedom and value of self-catering, right beside the beach. View our apartments or check availability and book online.
To enquire, call +44 (0)1803 556278 or email enquiries@cranmorelodge.co.uk. Cranmore Lodge Holiday Apartments, 45 Marine Drive, Paignton TQ3 2NS.