Summer holiday June 2007. Where to go? Puglia or Calabria?

[PippiLangstrump]

I have been to both as a kid. Now I'd like to go back WITH a 2yo.
does anyone have any suggestions? I am not too keen on Valtur-style places as they seem too secluded and removed and we like to explore but the old self-catering is not so appealing now that it is always me who has to do the dishes (NOT ON HOLIDAY PLEASE!!!!!)

thanks

Calabria!!! Worked there as an au-pair about a hundred years ago - went back in 2005 with DS 1 & 2 (who were 7 and 5) - it hasn't changed a bit - no Mac Burgers or St*rbks yet. Food was so good DS2 even ate courgetttes - which made the whole exopensive trip worthwhile. Had a nightmare journey on Alitalia, and would not recommnend the company we went with (on my own with DS did not feel confident making own arrangements. The connections the company assured me were adequate were wholly not so - and they claim to be the 'experts' on Southern Italy)
We went again to the same hotel (recommended!)- Costa Azzurra at Capo Vaticano again this May also with DH - infinitely better journey & much cheaper -with Thomson now go there - you can fly with them to Lamezia (also Ryan**R)
We went to puglia about 5 years agao - then it seemed like a barren wasteland compared to my lovely Calabria!!

thanks a lot Kookaburra. I was pending for calabria myself - now I'll definitely go there. Is the hotel called costa azzurra?

uuuhh I can't wait. where are you going this year?

Sadly not Italy this year as DH is opening an office in Tunisia, and he tempted me to go for a holiday there on the basis it is just south of Sicily....!

Sorry, forgot to day - yes hotel is called Costa Azzurra - just on Capo Vaticano about a mile from the lighthouse. Very small family run hotels, beautiful gardens, swimming pool and toddler pool. (Kids disappointed that by our second trip 8 months later the diving board had been removed from the pool.) It is on a hill, not the beach and there is a shuttle bus to their beach, tho' we used a car because I also wanted to do nostalgic trips to Pizzo where I was an au-pair, and Tropea. We also took the train a few times (about 2 miles from the hotel), very scenic journeys along spectacular coastline.

I've seen it, it is really really nice.
Exactly what I had in mind. Would you think it'd be okay with a 2y.o. and the beach not so close?

mind you most places in italy are like this anyway.

Maybe not - there were hotels actually on the beach, but they were more isolated - ie you would definitely need a car.

I know its not exactly what you are looking for, but isnt this villa in Puglia AMAZING?

belongs to a friends family-

where I want to go next!!

Wow that place looks so lovely! I really need my premium bonds to come up and then I'm there! have added it to My favourites just in case!

I know! I keep telling myself that for 8 people its good value for money! - need to win lottery!!

WOW!!! It's fab!!! I almost booked the flight yesterday to Calabria and now I'm pending towards puglia again...

However I would never get a place with a swimmig pool. Not only to me it doesn't make sense (what's the point to go all the way to a sea side place) - it's an italian thing I am sure - but also it would mean that DH would not move from there and we'd never be at the beach.

Can I just butt in to ask if the beaches are good in Calabria? Do they do that Lido thing like they do in other parts of Italy, where it's all laid out with sunbeds?

pippi - where did you decide to go in the end and how was it?