Family holiday in Austria or Italy

[babybouncer]

Family of 4, kids are 7 and 10 and I have no idea where to go for our summer holiday. We usually get a self catering house and have had great holidays in Spain (kids LOVED the beach, but I got stressed with their picky eating and a bit bored) and the New Forest (easy to cater and loads to do, especially bike rides).
I’m wondering about somewhere near Salzburg as it was recommended by a friend, but also toying with the idea of Italy - kids would love the food and there’s a possibility of beaches - but I wouldn’t know where to start!
What’s your experience? Where would you go?

I was going to suggest Lake Garda until I saw the word beaches. I will still recommend Lake Garda. One of my favourite places ever.

Italy is lovely but can be pricey. They love kids though. The ice cream shops are amazing. Been to Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Sorrento, Isola Arabella and Sicily and Lake Como. Only one not keen on was Lake Como but that may have been our trip, we were bored and full of old people (was first and last Shearings trip!). Driving can be a bit crazy so make sure you take full insurance if hiring a car, my Ialian friend says traffic lights are optional in Italy. We had a car go into us there, we were stationary and the hire car company seemed totally used to it. Didn't even check car for damage.

Venice has a small beach but not really 2 week destination. Isola Arabella had a beach and was a bit like Italian Centreparcs, quite good value for accomodation but food was crazy prices. Sorrento and that area was amazing, went to Capri from there. Rome / Pisa lovely more City breaks. In Sicily Taormina is favourite place, less keen on Palermo. Sardinia supposed to be nice too. Austria very nice but pricey. Went to Hintertux where you can ski all year round, amazing but more few days place than 2 weeks. I'ld probably go to around Sorrento area. Unless you can do tour by train, amazing train service - we did Florence - Pisa - Rome by train and Rome and Leaning Tower are amazing - pre book though.

If you are not tied to those 2 particular places then I went to Lake Annecy in France for 2 weeks in the summer and completely fell in love with it. So beautiful and so much outdoors stuff to do close by. Not far from Italy and Switzerland either

In Austria Saalbach/Hinterglemm is a great family summer destination. Loads to do.
www.saalbach.com/en/summer/family

Salzberg itself is lovely as well but probably not for 2 weeks.

For a completely different suggestion Dunriell in the Netherlands is only 5km (easy cycle on off road paths) from a sandy beach and has a theme park and brilliant waterpark on site. We went when my two were 7 and 10 and they loved it, they want to go back! The town of Wassenaar has lovely restaurants and a brilliant ice cream parlor.

Go to Marche in Italy. Utterly unspoilt, and unlike the Lakes, Tuscany, Umbria, Puglia etc. really quite cheap. In addition to wonderful beaches like Senigalia, Sirolo and Numana there are these amazing water parks or "aqua verde" which are fabulous.