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?

[Sgtmajormummy]

Thinking of you today, OP, and hoping you haven't been put off by the bad weather reports from Florence.
Italy is often struck by Acts of God (earthquakes, floods...) and not helped by crumbling ancient architecture and bad civil engineering.
Hwever, the people are very good at bouncing back. You should still have a good holiday.

[Reubs15]

Your kids aren't babies so you'll be fine. Regular lotion, loads of water and avoiding hottest part of the day. Would be silly to cancel imo. Tuscany+August=hot!

[Inkspellme]

we did a week in Prague last week. dd and ds with us aged 17 and 12. tempretures of 37 degrees most days. we had no pool.

you get used to it. drink lots of water and seek out shade.

you are being plain daft to consider cancelling. What did you think the temps were going to be like?

[LIZS]

We're due there in a couple of weeks time. Also went last year when the temperatures were not nearly as high as anticipated. If you plan a trip go out early, not only do you benefit from the cooler temperatures you also beat the queues. Lucca, Pisa et al have narrow streets which are shady and you can pretty much cover them in a few hours. Take insect repellant (plug ins if you can) as mossies were everywhere last year.

[afterthought2]

I'm terrible in heat but like to go abroad. I tend to stick to beach / pool holidays which I know aren't everyone's idea of fun but it suits me and I find it very relaxing. If I tried to go sightseeing I'd be a grumpy mess. It was almost 40 degrees where I was last year and it was fine. I laid in the sun or shade reading and went in the water whenever I got too hot. I also like to listen to music in the sun but it was too hot for my iPod to work, although my Kindle was fine (aside from the silicon cover melting!).

I took plenty of sun cream and kept myself well hydrated. I also took a rash vest (UV T shirt) and wore that during the hottest part of the day to prevent burning. I'm incredibly fair and the precautions I took were more than adequate.

[grapejuicerocks]

We've just got back. Even waiters were complaining about the freak heatwave.
We like sightseeing but we had to adapt out holiday as it was much too hot to do as we normally would. We stayed up late and went out more than usual in the evenings. Daytime was either in the pool with lots of lotion on face and arms, or was spent in the shade. Came back much whiter than normal as did no sunbathing whatsoever.

It'll be fine as long as you are prepared to adapt your holiday a bit. Is there shade outside your mobile home? If not then you will have to be prepared to find some somewhere, spend time in more cafe type places or just hang around indoors during the hottest hours. You can still have a nice time. We did, despite the horrible heat.

You can also buy cans of cooling spray in chemists. Boots sell them definitely.

[Branleuse]

Thats exactly the sort of temperature id expect in august in italy tbh.If you want it high twenties/low 30s then you need to go in may or june.

I wouldnt cancel, not a chance. Wear suncream, hats and avoid between 2&4pm

[Morloth]

I love the heat.

Drink lots of water, do things early in the day, swim and snooze between 12-3pm and then head out again in the evenings.

Can't wait until summer comes back.

[bringonyourwreckingball]

Wombat44 it sounds like you're going to the same place we just came back from in which case you'll have a fab time. We're already thinking of booking for next year.

[kewtogetin]

You're right to be worried, we are just back from Verona/lake Garda, it was unbearable. We go 2/3 times a year and have done for years but i have never known it this hot. Admittedly, it depends how well you can handle the heat, I struggled.....a lot and will admit the intensity of the heat spoilt it for me. Children were fine but fractious and irritable (not as much as me!) the hotel staff also mentioned it was unusually hot this year.
Not worth cancelling your trip for but just be prepared!

[Sgtmajormummy]

Hi OP, we're in Puglia at the moment and even the locals are wilting in the 40+ degree heat. I go from one place to another with air conditioning and do about half we were hoping to do. One day sightseeing or the beach, not both.
But I wouldn't have cancelled for the world! here are my tips.

Take it easy on the first day so you get used to the temperatures.
Cotton clothes (not even 5% other fibres), the flappier the better. "70% off" sales are on at the moment, so you can buy suitable clothes cheaply over here.
Hats for everybody
High factor suncream
Breaks in the shade. Avoid 12 to 2 outdoors
At least 2 litres of water a day per person. Sweating as fast as you drink is not pleasant but it's better than heat stroke. If you feel irritable or dizzy stop immediately.
Salads and watermelon, not meat and chocolate!
Regular dips in the sea/pool and cool showers.

It's commonly thought that after 15th August (Beware! Nothing is open except restaurants on that day) the temperatures start to fall, so you might not be so hot.
Buon Viaggio!

[Mrsfrumble]

I agree with the previous posters who say to get up and out of the house as early as you can every day. You can always return to your accomodation in the middle of the day when it gets really hot for a siesta, then head out again in the early evening.

It's very hot where we live at the moment (high 30s most days) but I can still take the children to the park as long as we go early in the morning and stay in the shade.

[WankerDeAsalWipe]

Honestly you will be fine if you are sensible - it is often cooler if you get out of the camp and down by the shore where you get a bit of sea breeze - get in the pool and the sea and trips if you are booked on them usually feature an air conditioned coach and cool cafes and restaurants etc.

We were in Turkey with 11 and 13 year old DSs a couple of years ago and it was in the 40's every day - it was a bit warm :)

[RonaldosAbs]

You'll be absolutely fine. I'm part middle eastern but my children have been raised in the UK, DH is Irish. We normally go over at Christmas but last year we had to go in August (40+ ish temps) they were all absolutely fine. It would be crazy to cancel your holiday over this. Have a lovely time and take all the normal precautions.

[Charley50]

Hi OP,
I've just got back from heatwave in Spain. I was panicking just like you beforehand as my DS doesn't like it too hot. We did just as others have suggested above and it was fine. Actually it was brilliant, as long as there was a slight breeze, which there usually was. Pool, sea or aircon siesta when no breeze. The warm evenings that go on forever are so lovely.

[alrayyan]

Its too hot in Tuscany and my diamond necklace needs cleaning and the maid didn't polish the curtains...

[HabitualHobbyist]

We're going to Tuscany on Sunday too. The predicted temperature is hotter than I personally like (and the hotter than when I went there last), but I'm not too concerned (and I'm taking an 18 month old). They're used to it and are well equipped to deal with it. As others have said, just make sure you're well prepared with SPF50, hats etc and are willing to fall in line with their pace.

Hope you have a fab time.

[Agrestic]

I think you're right. It would be foolish to go, the heat will be unbearable and you'll all be miserable.

Send me your tickets, I'll dispose of them for you...



Have a great time!

[whois]

It will be fine!

Get up early and do things in the morning.
Make sure you stay in the shade and the cool and have a sleep after lunch and hide it the hottest part of the day.
Factor 50.
Loose clothing.
Pool, sea.
Stay up later and enjoy the warm evenings.

[Wombat44]

Thanks to all for the reassurance and tips. Seems to be a clear consensus.

We are pretty well equipped with factor 50, sun hats etc and there are the pools and the all-important gelateria on site, so I guess we should look on the bright side ????

[Marmitelover55]

We went to Tuscany in August on honeymoon and it was very hot. We did the siesta thing and went out sight seeing in the late afternoon/early evening which worked very well. Very jealous as I live Tuscany.

[angemorange]

We were in Spain a couple of weeks ago and the heatwave was on - 35-40 and higher at times!
Best thing to do is not over plan - you will probably need a bit of pool time during the day, take siestas and when on day trips have plenty of drinks etc in shady cafes/bars to get you through.
I'm really fair and burn easily so me and DS use Factor 50 so we had no burns at all and really enjoyed ourselves.
As long as you have air conditioning you should sleep OK.

When we came back it was raining and 12 degrees at home so make the most of the sun while you can. Enjoy :)

[RufusTheReindeer]

We are off to Portugal for a week on Saturday

Mid to late 30's temperature wise, the children hate the heat but last time we went there was a lovely sea breeze

Ds1 burns just thinking about the sun but he will wear a rash vest and factor 50

Burning is a concern as they love the pool and bearing in mind how fucking cold it is here (except today) we haven't had a chance to acclimatise or build up a bit if colour

[googoodolly]

I'll go if you don't want to!

You'll find much of Italy shuts down at lunchtime over the summer - the shops and cafes will close so you won't feel like you're missing out if you have a nap indoors or lie by the pool all afternoon!

Lots of water, plenty of sunscreen and be prepared to cancel trips and spend most of your time in the swimming pool!

[TwistedReality]

You'd be silly to cancel, its August the hottest month in most naturally sunny countries. The average temps are just that, the average and IME always find it hotter than the average for any given month.

As long as you follow all the tips above you will be fine. I also find that I can cope with high temps abroad far better than I can here.

We always go abroad in August and have just checked temps for next week when we go. Mid 30's for the whole time we are there...and I cant bloody wait. I had the heating on today and feel so bloody cold!!!