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Original poster

Anybody has been to Sardinia or lake Guarda?

65 replies

humphryscorner · 17/10/2013 15:03

I'm going to ask dh to take me for my birthday next year for my birthday I'm getting old and it's too fucking depressing to suffer it here

I'm going to take dd2 who will be one.

Anybody been loved/hated it. Where's the best place to go for food hot Italian men ect ..

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 17/10/2013 16:05

We stayed in Sorrento last year and was disappointed with the amount of traffic. The coastline is very built up so you can't walk along the coast, but along busy roads. I enjoyed Sorrento, but Lake Garda was so much better.

I just love Italy.

ksrwr · 17/10/2013 16:08

have been to costa smeralda a couple of times, very nice, very pricey though, lots of pools and beaches for kids - but within hotel complexes.

massistar · 17/10/2013 16:14

I've been to both and much preferred Sardinia. We were near San Teodoro and the beaches are absolutely beautiful. Depends what you're after really! I found Garda really busy and full of Dutch and English tourists whereas Sardinia was a more unspoiled and relaxed holiday.

Bunbaker · 17/10/2013 16:22

Most of the holidaymakers in Sirmione were Italian when we were there in August. I think it also depends what part of the lake you are staying in. Further north you get more Germans, English and Dutch, probably because they have driven down.

Original poster
humphryscorner · 17/10/2013 16:39

chops hiring a boat on the lake is exactly what I'd love to do. I would also enjoy camping but DH is a camp hater.

dobedo if I went there I would probably get arrested for stalking...Ive never really got over the old E.R days

bunbaker the food is important as me and DH are foodies that's our excuse as we could do with shedding a few pounds Grin

also had any one seen the two greedy Italians cookery show? Ive hankered at theses two places after seeing them on there also!!

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 17/10/2013 16:52

I wouldn't want to camp in summer because it is too hot at night to sleep without aircon.

We hired a boat and it was brilliant - 65 euros for an hour. The markets are worth visiting. I bought a lovely dress at Peschiera market.

magichamster · 17/10/2013 16:55

I love Lake Garda. We've stayed in Riva. There's loads to do and you can also get out and about to places like Venice and Verona.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 17/10/2013 17:11

Hello

We're afraid YABU to post this in AIBU Grin

We've moved it to Shorthaul now.

Best of luck - hope you find an excellent location.

PortoFiendo · 18/10/2013 09:32

I have been to both - they are very different holidays so hard to compare really. We stayed in Cannigione in Sardinia which was very nice. You need a car to get to the best Costa Smeralda beaches though. It's a small town with a handful of bars and restaurants. I had my best ever meal there. Pics Scroll down past the sad flowers.....

PortoFiendo · 18/10/2013 09:37

And talking of Como, we stayed here a couple of years ago in a Dependance room with dd. Its a small hotel run by a young couple with kids. Views were to die for. Easy walk to the boat stop and bars and restaurants. Nice little park on the lake front. Bellagio and Villa Balbionella (in Star Wars/Casino Royale) close by. Really beautiful area.

roughtyping · 18/10/2013 09:58

Lake Garda is just amazingly beautiful. I've been to Riva twice and Peschiera once (opposite ends of the lake) and both were lovely. I would love to stay in Malcesine though, it's just gorgeous, and has the cable car up to Monte Baldo.

Bunbaker · 18/10/2013 12:22

Wow! That looks lovely PortoFiendo. I shall bookmark that. We were thinking of doing a different lake next time. Which is the nearest airport?

LIZS · 18/10/2013 16:01

We did Lake Como this summer , Milan is the nearest airport , takes just an hour to hour and half depending on traffic and whereabouts you stay on the lake . Lake Como is far quieter and more sedate than Lake Garda, and it is fun villa spotting from the ferries (including GC's). Less accessible walking, not as family friendly and fewer watersports bases though. Como itself was a lovely surprise.

Bunbaker · 18/10/2013 16:50

DD is 13 and isn't interested in children focused activities. She likes to explore, sightsee, shop, swim and lounge about - basically what I like to do on holiday. And we don't do watersports either - I can't see without my glasses on Sad

LIZS · 18/10/2013 17:28

In that case you'd probably find it ideal , our dc are similar and enjoyed the area but a week was plenty unless you hire a car and visit Lugano and beyond.

ErrolTheDragon · 18/10/2013 17:34

And we don't do watersports either - I can't see without my glasses on

neither can my DH (he's seriously shortsighted and can't tolerate contacts)... he uses a spectacle tie just like I do for sunglasses, no problem sailing/windsurfing in glasses at all. Don't let that stop you if you fancy it!

Bunbaker · 18/10/2013 17:43

I want to go to Lake Como.

Sorry for hijacking the thread BTW

ErrolTheDragon · 18/10/2013 17:47

I want to go to Lake Como.

does sound nice - definitely somewhere to go with DH once DD is off our hands if not before. (BTW my comment about watersports - the Italian lakes probably aren't the best place to learn, just didn't want you to be Sad unnecessarily if it's something you like the sound of trying Smile

PortoFiendo · 19/10/2013 01:16

Milan would be the nearest airport. We had the car but I think it is relatively easy to get to the port in Como to get ferries.

NeverTalksToStrangers · 19/10/2013 01:22

Has nobody else mentioned Garda Land? LOVED it. Bit awkward with a baby (we had 2 under 4 there) but still brilliant.

Bunbaker · 19/10/2013 10:51

We're not interested in places like Gardaland. We don't like theme parks.

Chopstheduck · 19/10/2013 13:21

I didn't like como. Bugger all there, horrendous traffic, no where to park, queues for ferries. Very expensive too.

Iwaswatchingthat · 19/10/2013 13:26

I loved lake garda, but be warned we were bitten by flying insects day and night. Take plenty of insect repellant and piriton!!!

NorbertDentressangle · 19/10/2013 13:29

We went to Alghero a couple of years ago and loved it - would definitely go back!

bebopanddoowop · 19/10/2013 13:42

I went to Sardinia as a young teenager with my family and I loved it. I don't have a lot of advice on where to go because I don't remember, and we stayed in a all inc resort cos that was easiest with 4 kids. But I just wanted to say I disagree with PP that said there's nothing to do - there's wonderful little villages and history - beautiful nature and the beaches are gorgeous and I'm not really a beach-lover but I vividly remember being the happiest and most energised I had felt in the sea there! But yes it is quite mountainous there and the roads up there are pretty scary driving along!