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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Italy

33 replies

AmIthatWintry · 02/03/2013 16:57

This is the first year that I have been in a position to have a holiday abroad and DD has it in her head that she wants to go to Italy.

It's a country I've never been to, and I have no idea where to go.

DD will be 14, she has ASD, so would be happy to be glued to my side no matter what we do.

Someplace with sun and nice food.

I thought Sorrento area, but not sure

Any ideas or recommendations would be most welcome

OP posts:

nextphase · 02/03/2013 20:03

I've had nothing but amazing food in Italy!
Regularly go to Tuscany for work, which is lovely.
Rome has some amazing things to do also - had a lovely November weekend there with the girls.

Is there anything your daughter (or you!) are particularly interested in?

I don't live anywhere near a major airport, so normally start with where I can fly easily and cheaply to from a couple of the closest regional airports.

Be careful with the cites in the English high summer - they can be very close and hot. Rome in November and Tuscany in Dec were teeshirts during the day, and warm coats at night.

Have a lovely holiday

Original poster

AmIthatWintry · 03/03/2013 00:25

Thanks

Limited a bit for flights, but looks like Ischia or Sorrento

Aiming for July, start of the school holidays

Looking forward to it

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Bunbaker · 03/03/2013 17:06

We went to Sorrento last year and were horrified at the amount of traffic. Our hotel was about a mile or so from the centre so we used the train to get into town. Unless you are in the traffic free zone it isn't very nice to walk around and you can't walk by the coast as a lot of the hotels are built right up to the cliff edge.

We went to Lake Garda the previous year (the town of Garda) and it was wonderful. The main road around the lake is busy, but once you have crossed it there are lots of traffic free areas to wander around. You can also get the ferry around the lake and visit different towns. I loved it.

Original poster

AmIthatWintry · 04/03/2013 01:47

Thanks for the tip.

Have been looking at Lake Garda and checking with Trip Adviser. Looks like it might be less hot that further south

OP posts:

Portofino · 04/03/2013 08:57

Ischia is gorgeous! Mind you I love Italy and anywhere would be wonderful. Sirmione and Bardolino on Lake Garda are very nice. It is easy to get about by boat. Also Lake Como. We stayed here though I booked direct with the hotel.

Original poster

AmIthatWintry · 04/03/2013 23:16

That looks lovely porto I hadn't thought of Lake Como - and you get flights from Edinburgh.

Thank you

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makemineapinot · 05/03/2013 00:30

Venice area? Flights from Edinburgh and there are fab campsites (mobile home not tens!) such as www.portofelce.it -we've as some amazing holidays there!!!

ihatethecold · 05/03/2013 21:09

July will be very very hot!
Are you all ok with heat?

Original poster

AmIthatWintry · 05/03/2013 23:40

Hadn't thought of camping, that looks nice too, although I am not very confident and would like to have a total package so everything is taken care of.

Thought the north of Italy might not be as hot as the south.

Definitely leaning towards Lake Garda or Lake Como

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ihatethecold · 06/03/2013 11:20

We stayed in lake Garda in June one year and it was 40c.
The whole of Italy will be very hot during August/July.
Have you thought about the Adriatic coast. Lovely beaches. Some if the campsites have 4or 5 pools so you can cool off.

maisiejoe123 · 06/03/2013 12:01

Try Bellagio in the Italian Lakes. The north of Italy so weather wont be so hot... Stunning scenery and you travel around the lakes on big boats.

Portofino · 06/03/2013 12:34

Yes - Como is stunning. The place I linked to above is in Tremezzo so directly accross the lake from Bellagio (reputed to be one of the loveliest places on earth). Beautiful views of the lake and the mountains from there. The boat stop is a 5 min walk and there are a few bars and restaurants opposite. It is owned by a young couple with 2 kids who fell over themselves to be helpful. The view from the pool terrace was to die for. Just up the road is the Villa Balbianello which featured in Casino Royale and one of the newer Star Wars films. It is truly gorgeous. We walked to Lenno and got a boat, but you can also walk from there. There is a mini tourist train that runs up and down that bit of the lake too - we went to Menaggio in the evening on that. I will definitely be going back.

schnuckums · 06/03/2013 23:20

sorry to hijack but am thinking of booking a week near ancona (the umbria region) at the start of may.any thoughts on how warm it would be then? warm enough to swim in the pool or am i being way too optimistic:)

Original poster

AmIthatWintry · 07/03/2013 22:42

I'm off to google Ancona, but Portofino I'm quite enchanted by the idea of your place

Many Thanks all of you

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Portofino · 08/03/2013 06:43

Ill dig out some photos later......

NotTreadingGrapes · 08/03/2013 06:54

Agree with Portofino, the Lakes far more lovely than Sorrento. Sorrento=Blackpool with nicer scenery, but there are the expat run bars showing Arsenal matches and burger joints nevertheless.

Schnuckums- Ancona at the start of May will be freezing for Italians but lovely for Brits. Warm, but not too much. May is always my favourite month in Italy. (We are a couple of hours south of Ancona) It will probably be warm enough to swim in the pool. (Italians may beg to differ and will probably still have scarves on)

BananaGio · 08/03/2013 07:43

Def avoid the big cities in July. I am in Rome and it is the one month I loathe here, hot, humid and you notice the pollution much more than normal plus the city hasnt evacuated to the coast at that point as that happens in aug. florence is in a valley and is horrendously humid at the height of summer as is Venice. I would go for the lakes. The problem with Sorrento is that it is a good place as a base to see Pompei, The Amalfi coast, Vesuvius etc but in July the heat will mean all you will want to do is sit under an umbrella by a pool. The lakes are lovely. We went to Como a few years ago and I still remember the feeling of relief as we got off the plane there and the air felt fresh and it was about 30 instead of 40. Its a lovely place to hire a car and drive, the town of Como is lovely as well and you can drive up into the mountains easily.

NotTreadingGrapes · 08/03/2013 08:25

worldgonecrazy · 08/03/2013 08:34

I agree about avoiding big cities in July/August. We went to Rome in August one year and it was really hot and sticky - but on the plus side, the pollution was so bad there were no insects.

One thing worth noting is that the Italian's generally do not have inclusive sides with their main order, so if you order steak, that is all that will be on your plate. You may need to order vegetables/salad as an extra so ensure that you are aware of exactly what you are ordering.

Food is great everywhere, can't think I've ever had a bad meal.

But the most important tip is always save room for Gelato. We ate 2 or 3 a day, one in the morning for our elevenses, one about 3.00 p.m. and another one after dinner.

BananaGio · 08/03/2013 08:47

waves discretely back to Grapes - come visit LI!

rubyrubyruby · 08/03/2013 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotTreadingGrapes · 08/03/2013 09:01

I have been having a MN break, came back this week after 3-4 months or so. Will pop in laters!

Portofino · 08/03/2013 23:10

Photos as promised. Of the hotel and general surroundings. I definitely want to go back after have a reminisce over these

goingtobefree · 09/03/2013 11:33

We are off to Lake Garda and combined venice for 3 days at the end on MN recomnendation in August.
Can' t wait ....
We are staying in Garda town, self catering
Move quickly and book as soon as you can as summer holidays do get booked up soon

Portofino · 09/03/2013 17:26

I booked mine last August. I fret a little over those of you that are still looking! I am a bit anal about it. I have wanted to recommend several places which are now fully booked for this summer....

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