Sicily with 4 year old

[lapsedrunner]

Thinking of going to Sicily in Sep with dh & ds (4). Would love to go somewhere with kids club but not sure I can face Club Med. Any recommendations for Italian version of "kinderhotels" or villa complex with play area etc. Also considering Agriturismo. Which is best area for good beaches (I am thinking unspoilt, not comercial variety)? All ideas welcome......

what is it about club med you can't face - we went to kamarina sicily last year with DS1 & 2 who were 2 & 3 at the time and i thought it was fantastic. Obviously everyone has different preferences but it might just be that you could like it? ps i won't be offended if you just think the whole club med thing is unappealing!

yumymummy - I've never been anti Club Med until I Googled Club Med Kamarina today and found stories (not negative I hasten to add) of the GOs lining up & doing a welcome dance beside the coach, themed nights at dinner (i.e dressing up in red etc), GOs playing practical jokes at the bar etc)...all things that just make me cringe. Horses for courses I know.

I've never been an all inclusive fan but with ds I can see massive advantages . However what I don't want is someone trying to pursuade me to join in or trying to entertain me during a peaceful diner etc......please tell otherwise .

I'm not a joiner inner either, but have been club med and the key thing is that you don't get hassled, and somehow it kinda works. It is all quite elegant.

There is some kind of Italian holiday village with kids' stuff near Taormina, I think it is in Giardini Naxos.

We are going to Sicily this Summer and there seem to be some lovely agriturismos. However virtaully all of them are inland, and very few have pools, so it depends what you are after. We have found one that is close to a beach and are keeping our fingers crossed. But we have no idea how child-friendly it is!

Good guides to Sicily are The Rough Guide, Alastair Sawdhay, and also there is an organic agriturismo guide on the net in English.

We went to a place in Santa Maria del castabiate (sp??) when our DD was 4 and it was great for her - v small place and lots of italians who were really happy to make friends with her - place was clean and everyone was sooo friendly I thought maybe it was some sort of dodgy wife swap place to begin with. Beach was lovely and clean and water v shallow out for a long way so ace for kids and you had your own loungers all week - v italian and not british place to go but we will deffo go agaion when DS is a bit older just cause clean, friendly and so untouristy in the british sense - also food good, wholesome and not 2 expensive.

(Down side no nightlife but I was pregnant at the time so half a glass of wine and a good book was enough for me!!)

Had dodgy name of Cub Paradiso though I think!!!!

sorry to take so long to reply. Well we travelled there independently so we didn;t get that welcome but that is true as when we left we saw them welcoming a coach. it is also true about the themed nights but that's only the go's not the guests. However i was never asked to join in anything and i have to say although i chose kamarina partly as they had all the aerobics classes available, all i did whilst the boys were happily at the kids club was lie by the pool. I can imagine those other things being off putting and it is of course a matter of personal choice and just weighing up what appeals and what doesn;t. For me personally, the facilities for children from kids restaurant to buggies to borrow to kids club to massive family 'appartment' style accomodation just won it for me.
If you've got any specific questions you can cat me no problem.

Thanks for all your replies.

meysey - agree with you onnthe agriturismos being inland. Which one have you found near the beach?

yumyummymummy - I agree the kids club at club med has great appeal, I could easily be swayed