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

Original poster

Any advice on Italian resorts please?

14 replies

Mirage · 18/03/2007 20:41

We are planning a two week holiday in June,with dd's who will be 2 & nearly 4.DH & I are very fond of Italy & would like to take the dd's.We would ideally like somewhere with a good beach,but near a town with some history or other things to do.The Venice Lido sounds the sort of thing that we'd like,but I've heard that the sea is filthy there.

Also,is there still a charge to use the nice beaches? We are on quite a tight budget & don't want to end up paying a fortune just to sit on the beach.

Any advice at all would be really appreciated.I've not really been on beach holidays before,so am a bit lost.

OP posts:
Ellbell · 18/03/2007 20:45

Not the greatest authority on beach-type holidays, as can't 'do' sun (!), but you could also look at Tuscany (e.g. around Grosseto area) which would allow you to visit Pisa, Siena and Florence or the Amalfi coast (so you could go to Pompei, etc.). Either of those might be a bit on the expensive side, though.

We were in Friuli last Easter (too cold for the beach then) and went to Grado, which has a nice beach. It was obviously very geared up for German-speaking visitors. Nothing in English at all. Pretty place, though, and we found Friuli in general very cheap. If you go there, don't miss the mosaics in the basilica at Aquileia!

Rosa5 · 19/03/2007 13:36

Hi Mirage.Venice Lido is a mixture of what you are looking for long beach , shops and culture is Venice a bus / boat ride away. The sea is not filthy but as it is in the top of The Adriatic it has had its problems in the past. It is not your transparent blue sea as you get in other parts but it has few waves and it makes great for paddling.
Most packages / hotels include a deckchair and umbrella but you pay extra if you want a lounger.
Another nice area is Viareggio . Pisa and Florence not too far. I think the beach thing is the same but check the hotel / brochure.
Sardinia in June would be nice ...and there are not so many beaches there with charges. Bit it is a bit quieter than Venice / Tuscany.

webmum · 19/03/2007 16:47

I was in Bibione near Venice Lido last year and the sea was quite nice. Very famil friendly, lots of germans around, but not too crowded.

deckchair umbreallas can be expensive, but some hotels provide them free of charge.

we had a lovely time there.

Skribble · 19/03/2007 21:57

What about one of the Italian lakes.

Original poster
Mirage · 20/03/2007 21:29

Thanks for the advice.We have got a few brochures & a couple of guidebooks from the library with your reccomendations,will see what we can come up with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mirage · 21/03/2007 23:34

Oh pants,found a lovely sounding resort (Cattolica) ,but as there are 3 adults & 2 children,we will be charged nearly £600 under occupancy charge for an apartment!It would actually be cheaper to stay in a hotel half board,but the hotel has no pool.Oh well,back to square one again.

OP posts:
ScottishThistle · 21/03/2007 23:38

I wish I could remember all the places I've been...Sardinia's fabulous & anywhere by the lakes is also wonderful.

Rosa5 · 22/03/2007 13:05

Cattolica is filled with hotels lots with pools. Or try Riccione which is just up the coast from there. Rimmini is a bit more go go and at the other end Gabbice is a bit quieter.

Original poster
Mirage · 22/03/2007 15:27

Rosa5,that is true,what is the best way to find one?The brochures offer a very limited selection,but looking at the local websites,there are loads.Unfortunately I don't speak much Italian & wouldn't know where to start in booking privately.

OP posts:
Rosa5 · 22/03/2007 20:02

Have a look on here ..its in ENglish as well www.cattolicaturismo.com

As for operators I don't know who goes there now. have you tried all the big operators ? Or try linking off the airlines sites they normally have hotels on offer near to where they fly to . I was there years ago so the hotels I remember are probably dives now !!

twotimestrouble · 22/03/2007 20:18

Further south, Puglia has some lovely beaches and so does the Ligurian coast, back up north. As a few people have said, Sardegna/Sardinia has absolutely fantastic beaches and sea.

lory · 08/04/2007 06:58

Hi Mirage, the Adriatic coast is a good idea for a family holiday, Cattolica is nice, but I wouldn?t recommend you rimini neither riccione too busy, too many vespas and motorcycles though your dds will love it when they will be 16!! . You could stretch a little further north to Cervia, Pinarella or Milano Marittima (just in the middle between Rimini and Ravenna) which are really family oriented with parks some with animals you can feed, nice beaches, and pedestrian streets in the evening. And it will be cheaper too. Many hotels have ?kids free? week and you can get there with ryanair landing at the forli airport.
Hope it helps

earlgrey · 08/04/2007 07:22

Elba?

earlgrey · 08/04/2007 07:23

There's a campsite there, though having said that it's the first and only time I've been camping, but I imagine things have changed a bit since then.

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