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

Original poster

Italy with 13 year old - complicated

55 replies

puppydustbin · 29/01/2022 17:09

We want to go to Italy this year.

Without going into detail, we've had a rough couple of years. Our eldest son died, leaving us with our younger son, who is now 13.

This will be our first holiday with just the three of us. We haven't been on holiday since 2017 when DS1 was with us.

I'm worried for DS2 being on holiday by himself. We can't do the holidays we used to do because he doesn't have anyone to play in the pool/do activities with.

We don't really want to take one of his friends because we can't afford an extra person and he doesn't have any friends we know well enough to take away.

We were looking at Amalfi Coast but worry he wil be bored. Where can we go that he will enjoy, but will also be resful for us. We've been to Lake Garda on a family holiday in the past so probably don't want to go back there.

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 29/01/2022 17:12

I'm sorry for your loss. Would a city break be entertaining for him? Barcelona for the Nou Camp if he likes football, Rome for the history if he likes that kind if thing. Or maybe a family activity holiday? Could you all learn to ski together?

nowtygaffer · 29/01/2022 17:13

Hi, puppydustbin,

I am so sorry for your loss...

We went to Viareggio a couple of years ago. It's on the train line so can have days out to Pisa, Florence etc. We stayed at the Best Western. It was mostly grown ups there. There is bike hire from the hotel and a cycle path across the road.

nowtygaffer · 29/01/2022 17:14

We've also done Sorrento, lots going on but might feel a bit too busy. Again there are day trips that might appeal to your DS.

Hoppinggreen · 29/01/2022 17:15

I am very sorry for your loss
Would it be a better idea to go somewhere your son is likely to meet more English teens?
I know I would much prefer Italy over say Tenerife but given the circumstances it might be better for there to be organised activities and English kids around

nowtygaffer · 29/01/2022 17:17

We stayed at the Holton in Sorrento, they had a kind of casual kids club basically a kick around with a football!

Krakenchorus · 29/01/2022 17:20

What does he enjoy doing?

Sorrento has easy access to Pompeii , Naples for authentic pizza (maybe take a class?) and plenty of hiking/swimming/beach activities. You could organise diving lessons or sailing, depending on the season.

But if he hates walking up hills/sand at the beach/anything cultural - maybe not the best choice!

nowtygaffer · 29/01/2022 17:22

Sorry that should say the Hilton!

sweepthenmop · 29/01/2022 17:27

Sorry for your loss OP.

Would you consider a beach club? Neilson are fantastic for teens and they have a resort in Sardinia.

LesLavandes · 29/01/2022 17:28

I'm sorry for your loss.

In your position, I would do a package holiday to somewhere like Greece or Turkey. Nice hotel with activities for your son and nice rest for you.

I don't think Italy will tick all the boxes.

Crete has some lovely hotels.

LesLavandes · 29/01/2022 17:29

I have been on Neilsen holidays with my young teenager. He had a great time.

onepieceoflollipop · 29/01/2022 17:32

So sorry for your loss OP.

For completely different reasons (we allowed older sibling to go on holiday with a friend’s family) we took early teen dc on holiday to a similar location. Just me, dh and one younger dc. We did worry a little that she would be lonely but actually she had enough company round the pool with similar aged kids (we go all inclusive and mainly we have found that the dcs tend to find temporary friends). Plus we went on a couple of trips. She had some quieter time (but not loads) on her phone and the holiday had a different dynamic but was fine.

onepieceoflollipop · 29/01/2022 17:34

Just one thought, if you haven’t already considered this could your ds be involved in the holiday planning. For example he may be really keen on going somewhere near a water park if he could do that for a couple of days (or whatever his interests are)

alorslanon · 29/01/2022 17:35

Are you wedded to Italy? I ask because I also think some sort of beach club holiday might be more fun for your son (and more relaxing for you?) All through my teens, we used to do Sunsail, brilliant fun, always fun young people to befriend and do activities with. Also Mark Warner, Nielsen as suggested above.

I’m sorry for your loss, and I hope you can find something that suits you all Flowers

jowly · 29/01/2022 17:38

We did Pisa, Tuscany, Florence with teenage boys who I thought might be bored but they loved it. We had a pool so alternated sight seeing with pool days

Both loved the food too..😉

Original poster
puppydustbin · 29/01/2022 17:39

I think you're right. I'll have a look at beach clubs.

It's hard as that kind of thing is the sort of holiday DS1 would have loved, so it feels strange that DS2 would do that by himself. But better than being bored and alone in lots of ways.

OP posts:
bridgetjonesmassivepants · 29/01/2022 17:46

Does it have to be Italy? I've found the most successful holidays have been ones with lots of activities. European Centre Parcs are great for this as everything is right there. I find it restful as I don't have to organise stuff as much. Make sure you book a VIP cabin though. Also, depending on which one you choose, there are options for day trips off base. You could combine 5 days/ a week at a CentreParc with a couple of days in a European capital for the best of both worlds?

I appreciate the Amalfi coast sounds wonderful (I would love this sort of holiday) but my teen would be bored stiff there.

Beeneatingsomemousse · 29/01/2022 17:53

The Amalfi coast is a good shout in the summer, I think (is this a summer holiday?). It is blisteringly hot, though.

Sorrento is a good base for Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius and Naples (but I wouldn’t fancy them in high summer, though). It has the beach, too. Capri is quite dull for a teenager. Ischia has spa water parks that he might enjoy (Negombo / Poseidon).

You might be better finding something with a beach club: sailing, windsurfing etc. We do TUI in Sardinia. You might find similar in Sicily (Cefalù have a Club Med).

Good luck, OP. I really hope that MN can help you get the right thing.

Toanewstart22 · 29/01/2022 17:56

Important to know his character
Ie would he Join in on teen clubs
Does he like exploring
Are you close with him
Or does he enjoy sitting by pool on his gaming device??

caringcarer · 29/01/2022 18:16

If it does not have to be Italy. You could do Brittany in France. Lovely beaches, beach volleyball where anyone can just join in, he could learn to kayak on canal, wind surf lessons at many beaches, body boards to surf on. When my son was teenager we took him alone as older brother did not want to come. He loved swimming in the sea with DH, kayaking along canal, boat ride on canal, playing patanque with us, lying on the beach and Go ape in the trees.

Original poster
puppydustbin · 29/01/2022 18:29

@Toanewstart22

Important to know his character Ie would he Join in on teen clubs Does he like exploring Are you close with him Or does he enjoy sitting by pool on his gaming device??
It's difficult to know because he always had DS1 with him.

In the past neither of them wanted to join the kids clubs and were happy with each other. However DS1 would be the one who made friends and DS2 would follow. DS2 I don't think would want to go to a teen club by himself, although he is getting bolder.

In all honesty he would probably rather stay at home on the XBox.

I think we would all enjoy a more exploring kind of holiday, but also after the past couple of years I really need to sit by a pool with a book for a bit, Maybe I should go by myself!

In the past we always went to Eurocamps with pools and waterparks etc.

OP posts:
Toanewstart22 · 29/01/2022 19:39

One week
Pool sun beach
You flake with a book
He flake with a gaming device on condition that regular breaks. Get him in the pool! Lots of chill out time, relaxed long lunches and dinners
And perhaps one day trip
And maybe another activity

Toanewstart22 · 29/01/2022 19:39

Easy
Relaxed
No big expectations or planning

Hisanimalgrace · 29/01/2022 21:12

Op would you think about a tour through Italy like time,Florence (sienna ) then Venice?
So the activity comes from New places?

Or there is the most beautiful theme park that's a world away from Disney you all might enjoy in the Netherlands called the efterling. You could combine it with a stay in safari park, a water park called duirnell and Amsterdam.

I would do something that keeps the scenery moving

Blossom64265 · 29/01/2022 21:27

We don’t try to do sit by the pool or on the beach types of trips with our single child, now young teen. It just doesn’t work. Our holidays are busy, amusement parks, snorkeling, aquariums, etc.. They tend to be fairly exhausting affairs, but she has a great time.

DH and I really, pretty desperately need a sitting by the pool kind of holiday, but that is going to happen without her.

We have also starting planning a leisurely scenic train tour and the look of horror on her face when we were discussing it at the dinner table was hilarious. We explained that it’s many years away and it’s a bit of post Covid fantasizing for me. It has to be for after she finishes university because if its before we would need at least a month or more of child care and we won’t be able to afford it during.

Frazzled2207 · 29/01/2022 21:33

So sorry for your loss.
Agree with others don’t think amalfi is very teen boy friendly. A beach club with lots of activities on offer would be a good shout though it’s hard on them if they find making new friends difficult

Is he interested in culture, history etc if so perhaps a city break could be good as lots to do. Barcelona is my favourite. Krakow and Rome and great too.

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