Recommendations needed...

[winterland]

A friend has asked for some planning a holiday. Her husband has a life limiting illness and her friends have raised £4000 to pay for a much needed holiday... Needs to be short haul, June/ early July, 2 adults, 2 children, beautiful location and excellent service. Either a hotel or villa with pool.. No car preferred. Any bright ideas??

Tuscany is very nice but they'd need a car.

I'm thinking a villa holiday - anyone??
Thank you Mumblechum but I just double checked and they'd like no car....

www.ownersdirect.co.uk/italy/it2158.htm

I know they want one where they can manage without a car, but I'm just posting this as this is one we're going to later in the year, and once you're on the website you may find something in one of the towns.

Public transport in Tuscany is not very good, so if they totally refuse to get a hire car they'd have to stay in one of the towns; Arezzo, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Cortona are all lovely hilltop towns with lots of restaurants etc but not the peace and quiet they'd get in a villa on its own.

I think Arezzo is on a rail line, as is Perugia iirc.

How old are the kids?

goitaly.about.com/od/cortonatuscany/p/cortona.htm

Cortona is reachable by rail lfrom the big cities. I honestly think it would be pretty stressful managing an ill person and luggage on the trains if there are a lot of changes, tho' you can prebook first class which is quite comfy.

What about klosters in the Swiss alps? A chalet or a 4* hotel should be within budget. You can take the train or a combo of plane and train. Spas, restaurants, beautiful scenery and the mountain air is very healthy. It's an official family friendly resort and loads to do for kids and also kids clubs if need be.

I think a hotel would be better as the kids would be entertained - kids club and evening stuff. In a villa with no car they might get a bit bored (mine would anyway).

Do they want a beach holiday - if they do Alcudia Bay in Majorca is a gorgeous, safe bay- nice hotels line the beach , just make sure you get one on the sand. If they are beach people and go AI they can stay on the beach, get drinks and ice creams when they want from the beach bar, have a beach BBQ lunch and then siesta then dinner and evening stuff. We did this with our kids, did the odd trip to Alcudia old town and Puerto Pollensa in bus, taxi and had a truly fantastic holiday. Was very relaxing. Iberostar have some nice properties on the bay (sometimes called Playa Muro rather than Alcudia) and they do 1 bed apartments so parents can have own bedroom and kids sleep in lounge. Trip Advisor will list the good hotels too - search for Playa Muro.

The children are 8 and 6, looking for beachy I reckon, must be very relaxing as he is pretty ill. Somewhere with guaranteed sun...

Thank you all so far..

Have they looked at any of the Club Med resorts? They have great facillities for them including on site nurse and a doctor visits everyday which is reasuring even if just travelling with children. There are kids clubs etc and most resorts are easy to get around. Its a trouble free holiday x

Actually, Puerto Pollensa is very flat and wheelchair friendly if one is needed. Easily accessible beach.