Last Monday, I had the opportunity to take the kids to a birthday party in Lucheng, a town in Tongzhou District. It is quite far, and it took us an hour to get there and an hour and a half to get back, but I jumped at the opportunity to have a relaxing afternoon at a nice pool villa, where the party was taking place.
The Didi ride was pretty smooth as the kids were entertained by looking out the windows and commenting on the beautiful surroundings and counting people sitting at the side of the road selling cherries and other produce. My 3-month-old was lulled to sleep by the vibration of the car engine, so when we got to our destination at 11 in the morning, we were in a good mood.
The party was already in full swing, with kids in their swimsuits playing in and around the small swimming pool and the adult guests enjoying their drinks on the patio. The sweet smell of BBQ smoke filled the air as we walked towards one of the five rooms to get changed into our swimwear and join the party.
With the pool season officially starting and the kids out of school soon, renting a villa to spend a weekend at or to celebrate a birthday in seems like a great idea.
These villas come equipped with everything you need to enjoy your stay: fully-equipped kitchen, gas stoves, outdoor BBQ, entertainment rooms with KTV, mahjong, bedrooms with private bathrooms, jacuzzis, outdoor swimming pools, and beautiful views. Some even have parent-child rooms that come with slides, little ball pits and other entertainment options for the kiddos.
The place my friend rented for her son’s birthday last week was a five-bedroom villa with a big yard, a separate BBQ area, a small swimming pool for the guests to cool off in, a room with a big projector screen, arcade games and a huge kitchen with a fridge, an ice-machine and everything else one might need to fully enjoy a hot summer day by the pool.
The villa in Tongzhou
It was a truly fun party to be at and was a perfect way to spend a hot day in Beijing.
Here’s Why You Should Consider Renting Out a Villa…
Other than being the perfect venue to throw a birthday party at for kids in summer, it’s also a much more affordable way to do it, as opposed to paying for a play space for 10-15 kids and their parents. Paying for a birthday package at any of the kid places costs anywhere between RMB 10k and RMB 30k for 10-12 people. The food is usually limited to a few dishes, and the kids get bored after a few hours of playing. Having the party at a big house where they can run around in the yard, take a dip in the pool and enjoy the BBQ smell and taste seems like a much better option.
Most of these luxurious villas are located in Miyun, Yanqing and Huairou, so it does take some organizing, but the pros outweigh the cons.
Here’s How To Find The Perfect Villa…
Finding the right villa for you might take some time, but if you have a budget in mind and know what amenities you’re looking for, booking it is a straightforward process. Tell your agent the number of guests, dates, with/without swimming pool (there are heated and non-heated options), entertainment options and any other detail, and they will send you options with pictures and descriptions so you can choose. After you’ve chosen and paid, they’ll put you in contact with the landlord so you can arrange everything.
You can also look for houses on ctrip.com. Enter your preferences and choose. Easy peasy!
We actually chose to celebrate our son’s birthday at a pool villa last year and it was amazing. We chose a four-bedroom house with a rooftop pool at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall. The view was breathtaking, and all the kids (and parents) enjoyed it. All adult guests and older kids were required to show their passports at check-in.
We had the meat, cake and drinks delivered, but there were also a few restaurants nearby. The landlady would come every morning to ask us if we wanted anything from the grocery store (bread, eggs, milk) and she would personally go and buy things for us.
We would spend mornings sitting on the patio, grilling, listening to music and taking turns in the pool. One of the rooms was super kid-friendly with a slide and toys, so when it would get too hot outside, all the kids would go inside and play.
As the villa was walking distance to the Great Wall, we went up on Saturday afternoon. We spent two nights at the villa and the price for one night on weekends was RMB 4,400. A deposit of RMB 500 was required, and it was returned during check-out.
If you’re looking into places to celebrate a birthday or simply spend a day or two far from the crowds, why not rent out a whole villa and enjoy the nice weather with friends and family?
Tip: Share the cost with friends and make it an affordable mini-vacation.
Images: Sanja Stojkov
