To worry about our holiday due to heatwave?

[Wombat44]

We're due to leave on Monday for our ten-day break at a holiday park in Tuscany. But - the forecasts are predicting daily temperatures of 36 -38 C throughout the next fortnight. (much hotter than the average temperature there at this time of year, which I checked before booking).

We've kitted ourselves out as far as possible for the heat, but are still worried about it spoiling the holiday. We had planned to go on some day trips, but are worried that with temperatures that high, it'll be unpleasant to be outdoors. So we could be stuck in our mobile home most of the time (mobile home is air-conditioned but fairly small.) I'm worried we'll end up irritable / sunburnt / getting heat stroke.

DH has even raised the idea of cancelling the holiday. (We wouldn't get any money back at such short notice.)

Other information: we are flying there, we've arranged a hire car. The DDs are 12 and 10.

So, are we being unreasonable to worry / consider cancelling? Would those temperatures spoil the holiday? If you've been on a family holiday in similar temperatures, how did you fare?

[Heels99]

Is there a pool?

[Jewels234]

I just had this in Italy. We cancelled trips, and spend more time in the pool and sea than we expected. Soltan Once factor 50 is your friend! I hate the heat but it was fine.

[lylasmam2012]

We're off to Tuscany on Sunday, we go every year. My In-Laws are over at the moment and it's been fine. It was that hot a few years go when we went and it was fine, yes it's really hot but not totally unbearable and you are in the mountains so there is a bit of a breeze. Everywhere has air conditioning. I found Siena a bit unbearable though when we went for the day as it's a enclosed town and there isn't much air circulating. I'm bringing a 3 year old and am pregnant and I'm not worried about it.

[Pagwatch]

You are being a bit daft tbh.
It's Tuscany in August - always going to be hot.

We are currently in Spain with dc including DD who is 12. The temp is mid 30s. It's fine. Avoid the very hottest part of the day, cool clothes, lots of water.
We had 42 degrees three days ago. We managed.
Just don't sunbathe in it like the twits nearby us.

[Wombat44]

Yes, it's a large holiday village with several pools. I'm not sure how far our accommodation is from the pools; might be a 5 or 10 minute walk.

[bonnenuit]

We live where there have been similar temps recently. Our dd is 18 months and we have coped. Don't cancel your holiday! Lots of pool time and keep indoors when it's too hot. Remember to close all the shutters during the day and don't open the windows - that will keep indoors cool.

Then, enjoy lots of ice cream! Have a nice time.

[scribbles1980]

Don't forget that temp is during the hottest part of the day.
We had this last year. Got up early and when it got really hot around midday went back to our room for a sleep or somewhere with Aircon.
Did trips and things late afternoon/ early evening when it cooled down a bit.

[ilovesooty]

Your children are perfectly old enough to be capable of following instructions about safe behaviour in the heat. Cancelling would be ridiculous.

[ENormaSnob]

It will be fine.

[CharlotteCollins]

I lived in 40+ heat for a few years. Seek out the shade. (Chances are you'll still get beautifully tanned from the short walls from shade to shade!)

And spend lots of time in the pool, of course.

[IslandIsla]

I would still go but be flexible. Choose the cooler days for day trips. Spend most time relaxing and in the pool!
I have an Italian friend says daily life is different there due to heat - you do stay indoors in the hottest part of the day and siesta but then you stay up late enjoying the balmy evenings.

[Gumnast2014]

What did you think Tuscany in August would be?

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

We had a heatwave in Italy while I was fairly pregnant. We survived and still did lots... get up a bit earlier than you otherwise might so you can get out and do things, then either head back to your accommodation or find an air-conditioned cafe or restaurant or museum for a nice long rest break in the middle of the day to cool off. If you plan for this you can make sure to have enough books, games etc to entertain everyone, or just have a siesta. Then you can get out again for a long afternoon/evening. Take fans and maybe some of that cooling spray stuff and plenty of bottles of water!

[PrimalLass]

You would honestly cancel for this? Your kids will be in the pool most of the time I'd imagine.

[RoadRunner123]

If you think it would be helpful, we could swap holidays?

[Marylou2]

We're off to Egypt next week.It'll be 40 plus but we've done it many times so have almost perfected the strategy. Spf swim tops, Decathlon are fab for these, Boden too.Hats for everyone. Loads of water. No direct sun between 11 and 3. Big bottles of Factor 50.Love Ultrasun, La Roche Posay particularly for faces or Ambre Solaire. Remember ears and toes they always get mysteriously missed.Have an amazing time.

[BretzeliBabas]

Where are you going in Tuscany? Piza is very hot, little shade. Lucca is much shadeier (sp?) and there is a lovely wind up on the city walls. Florence is hot, has shade but the heat doesn't seem to leave the city IYKWIM. There is little foliage around the coast so i find little escape from the sun.

[brainwashed]

We were in the south of France a few weeks ago...temps mid 30s, up to 39 one day. We coped just fine, still did plenty of sightseeing, just had loads of water with us, factor 50 and Sun hats, lots of icecream. And our apartment didn't have air con, just fans...we managed to keep it at a reasonable temp by closing all windows and blinds during the day and only opening them to let air circulate at night. Don't cancel....go and enjoy!

[operaha]

high 30s in alicante next week, can't blimmin wait Just water, sun cream, shade and swimming surely? cancelling holiday?!

[BolshierAyraStark]

I'll happily take the holiday for you if you like? Quite helpful like that I am
YABU, it was always going to be warm there in August, just be sensible about it.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

Just adopt to local rhythms rather than try to live on an evening timetable! The heat of the day is 12-4 and stay inside and have a rest for those hours, like the Italians do. Get up early in the morning and do your sightseeing then, when it's lovely and cool. Then have a nice lunch say at 1pm, then a rest and go out again for a leisurely swim in the late afternoon. That way you can stay up late and enjoy the evening passeggiata too!

[SylvanianCaracal]

We've just been and got frazzled to a crisp. But you can now benefit from my tips! As you have A/C and your DC aren't tiny, I think it will be fine.

• you need lots of suncream (waterproof if you are going to swim), sunhats and sunglasses for everyone. Re-apply suncream often.
  
• also take good aftersun that has a cooling effect - it really does feel lovely when you've got a bit hot. Can't recommend a brand as we got some while there, but ask in Boots.
  
• avoid the middle of the day, spend it having a rest with the A/C on.
  
• evenings are lovely for going out for a wander, swimming, cafes etc.
  
• yes avoid too many trips especially in the middle of the day. But if there's A/C (for example you're going to a museum) and you will get a break from the heat, it's OK.
  
• have water constantly available and keep drinking it all the time.
  
• for clothes, floaty, lightweight maxi dresses felt most comfortable in the heat.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

You'll find that shops etc are closed from 12-4 and towns are deserted, so it won't feel a wrench to chill out in those hours.

[WinniethePoohinthePool]

Some of you are being really sneery with OP. She says the temperature is much hotter than usual this time of you. People cope differently in heat. On holiday last year, a woman I met passed out sight seeing in the city in 38 deg heat. I wouldn't have dreamed of doing that but others wouldn't be fazed by it.

OP - I'd advise going; wear hats, seek out shade, enjoy the pools, have a siesta, take books, DVDs and be prepared to skip the trips if needs be. If you have an air-conditioned car you can see Tuscany from the car window

[lylasmam2012]

It's always mid 30's at that time of the year. I've gone every single year for the last 6 years, last year was the only year it wasn't like that. Ask any Italian and they will tell you Tuscany is 40 degrees in August.