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

Original poster

Self-catering in Italy

24 replies

Freckle · 17/01/2007 08:59

Does anyone have any recommendations for self-catering cottages in Italy? I'm looking for a company that does the whole package, i.e. cottage, flights, car hire, etc.

Rather puzzled as to why self-catering appears to cost more per week than half-board in an hotel.

If there isn't a company which does the whole deal, how do you sort out cottage and arrange flights to match? I'm worried that I'll book a cottage and then not be able to get relevant flights.

OP posts:
Original poster
Freckle · 17/01/2007 19:13

Shameless bump.

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spoogs · 17/01/2007 19:20

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Original poster
Freckle · 19/01/2007 13:48

Thanks, spoogs. Still currently looking at Italy (DS2 is determined to eat pasta and pizza!), but France is a close second as we've all been there before, I speak French (DS1 is learning it at school too) and we know there is food that all 3 boys will eat - oh the joys of a picky eater......

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Rosa5 · 19/01/2007 14:28

HI ,
There are loads of companies out there Thomson Villas took all of Magic of Italys products so there are some nice ones in there. Citalia is another Italian specialist that does the all in . Simply Travel but a a bit costly usually pretty reliable though. AM sure that there are a few more but none spring to mind. These are more sort of off the beaten track kind of thing rather than in towns etc .
What kind of area are you looking at?

Original poster
Freckle · 19/01/2007 14:42

Not sure. The boys want a cottage/villa with its own pool, although dh is after being near a beach. He's also announced (dh that is) that he doesn't want to fly! I've told him that he's placing impossible demands and to just go with the flow.

Thanks for the tips.

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spoogs · 19/01/2007 16:03

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Original poster
Freckle · 19/01/2007 17:41

Unfortunately it's all booked up for July and August (well the school holiday part of July).

I personally quite fancy France again, but DS2 is rather gung-ho for Italy. Another option I'm considering is Northern Spain as we could get the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander - again means we have our own car, etc.

If you have any recommendations for Languedoc (somewhere I've always fancied visiting - never got there even when I lived in France for 5 years!), I'd be very grateful.

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spoogs · 19/01/2007 18:42

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Original poster
Freckle · 19/01/2007 19:05

Mine don't break up until 25th July .

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auntyquated · 19/01/2007 19:10

\link{http://www.tuscanholidays.co.uk/\have a look here Freckle)

they are a small independent company owned by a Brit couple who also have a UK company

auntyquated · 19/01/2007 19:10

here

spoogs · 20/01/2007 09:11

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spongecake · 20/01/2007 19:27

hi spoogs -is beziers nice? the spa villages look nice too- are they good for hols or just a long w/e, golf etc?

Original poster
Freckle · 20/01/2007 19:36

Actually, you've got me all excited about the south of France now. Have been on the Owners Direct website and found some lovely cottages with pool in the Languedoc region. I have always wanted to visit the Camargue and I may now get my chance.

Just getting dh to decide the mode of transport - either plane or train. He fancies train, but I don't particularly with loads of luggage and 3 children to lose when changing trains!

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spoogs · 21/01/2007 09:52

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PeachesMcLean · 21/01/2007 10:12

Hi Freckle, I couldn't get much advice from MN about Italy either! We're still going though, but to a Keycamp place in Tuscany rather than a villa.
So, everybody, what's so special about France? Isn't it just too much like here, with expensive cost of living and more countryside???? (NB I'm not trying to be controversial - I just havn't worked out why everyone on here's raving about it. My only trip to France (Charente) was a bit bleak - didn't seem to be much to do. Or was that the bloke I went with....???)

spoogs · 21/01/2007 11:15

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SmileysPeople · 21/01/2007 11:17

WE stayed in Marina di Pietrasanta (Nr. Viareggio), last year. It was great with the kids, by the beach, but also accessible to the rest of Tuscany for sightseeing.

We went with a small british company called Bridgewater.

Original poster
Freckle · 21/01/2007 19:50

Ok, I've found a lovely house in Languedoc, sort of equi-distant from Montpellier and Nimes. I've been looking at getting there - don't want to drive all that way as I'm the only driver (well, dh drives but I'm not happy with him driving abroad!).

The cheapest flights I can find are going to cost almost £1,200 for the 5 of us. I can't find anywhere that will give me train fares as they basically only book 2-3 months ahead.

Any suggestions?

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spongecake · 22/01/2007 19:42

Hi freckle, don't know where u are but none of the summer routes from the cheap airlines are bookable yet, can u wait until they start? if you get on their mailing list you'll get an email they are ready to book. hpoe that helps..

anyone know what lamalou les bains is like?

spoogs · 22/01/2007 20:03

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Original poster
Freckle · 22/01/2007 20:49

We've decided on Eurotunnel and driving down. However, we're going a day early and stopping off in Orleans overnight. I've persuaded my parents to come with us, so we're going in two cars (we did this a couple of years ago but not that far south). I've found a lovely little hotel in Orleans which does a quadruple room and a triple room (M&D will have one of the boys in with them), so have booked it for the outward and return journeys.

The boys are getting so excited, I'm not certain they can contain themselves for the next 8 months!

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Helennn · 22/01/2007 21:37

Smileyspeople - I have looked at the web-site you mentioned and it looks just what we were looking for. What was Pietrasanta itself like, or would you definitely stay in Marina di P, (have found a villa that looks nice but it is in Pietrasanta itself)? Have 2 dc's age 7 and 2. Any other comments would be much appreciated, .

SmileysPeople · 23/01/2007 18:03

Pietrasanta is very nice, nicer than the Marina area. It is more an old Italian town with nice piazza etc, whereas the marina is modern with lots of new holiday villas.

We stayed in the marina as we wanted to be near the beach, but if we go again we'd prefer to stay in the old town, as we went there every night. We hired bikes and cyled to the beach every day, which we really enjoyed. You can cycle there from the old town, there is a cycle path, but it may be a little far every day with small children, so I'd hire a car. The beach clubs (which you have to join) have parking.

We found it a really good holiday as it had the beach, beach club had great restaurant for lunch, and the marina has little fairs for small children which we went to almost every day. TBH in the Marina you could have been in any (nice) euro/spanish resort. But the old town in the evening had a lovely italian ambience, with good restuarants.

We also did the cultured day trips to Chianti, Luca, Pisa , Florence and San Giminano (we were there for 3 weeks) so something for everyone.

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