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Holidays

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

Italy - has anyone been on a beach holiday with teens?

38 replies

Icystars · 08/02/2024 16:18

And can recommend. We haven’t been to Italy before and been told it’s not really a beach type holiday. Having a browse now but does anyone have any refs? Two early teens will be with us too

OP posts:
Icystars · 10/02/2024 14:34

theresnolimits · 10/02/2024 13:33

There are all the obvious ones like Rome and Florence but I loved Verona (bus to Lake Garda, amphitheatre, Roman theatre, river walks, piazzas).

Thanks. I’ve been looking at Rome but don’t know if I want to go somewhere else. Verona sounds lovely. Will look into it

OP posts:
LIZS · 10/02/2024 14:39

Bologna is compact with great food. Porticos, towers and archaelogical ruins.

fluffycatkins · 10/02/2024 14:41

LIZS · 09/02/2024 08:28

Sardinia might be worth looking at. Iirc Neilson or Mark Warner operate a beachclub resort there with lots of watersports and activities.

I thought of Sardinia as well, there is a nice mix of stuff to do there and a lovely coast.

Kingsx1 · 10/02/2024 22:19

Our kids loved Pisa and Florence (you can easily get the train between both) . One year we did Malta- Pisa-Florence-home - we often do multi destination holidays.
Our kids also loved Catania and Palermo in Sicily (and good beaches too)

Squiillionaire · 11/02/2024 00:49

Do not go to Verona. Your teenagers will be bored stiff. Really bored.You might be bored as well. Verona is lovely and I have many happy memories of it for a couple of days to see the opera. But a week away there with teenagers no. Firenze at a push depending on what they like doing. I think the islands are the best bet for you.

Squiillionaire · 11/02/2024 01:02

I'm not trying to be confrontational. I say this as someone who loved in Italy with a 4 to 11 year old and frequent trips back there after. I wouldn't want you to spend your money in a disastrous trip. Italy with teens is somewhere you really have to pick carefully. They can maybe do a day or two in somewhere like Firenze but after that no.Rome is different but you have to plan it. It depends on what they like doing. Beach and some history Elba or Sicily. Visiting diverse towns with other things to do ,with a bit of beach and swimming the lakes and Gardaland.

Ursulla · 11/02/2024 01:10

If you're thinking of a city any of the big ones are great. So much to see and do. There's a reason why they're so popular!

Venice is my favourite. The first time I went I was not expecting to love it, thought it would be corny, and hey we've all been to Amsterdam right, so what's the big deal? Omg I couldn't have been more wrong. I've been back three times since, just for short breaks, and can honestly say there is nowhere else like it. It is truly unique. It literally rises up out of the water - they hammered thousands of tree trunks into swamp and built on top of them and when you're there you totally get just how impossible a place it is.

In addition it means that getting around isn't like getting around anywhere else. So there are no roads. There's land you can walk on and then there's water and that's it. If you want to go somewhere you can't walk to you get a boat. It also means that because everyone is either walking or getting boats people just behave differently. There's more space than you think when everything isn't taken up by vehicles and all sorts of corners and nooks and even in the peak season you can turn a corner and walk down a street that is suddenly quiet.

Outside of peak season and actually even within it (summer storms!) weather roils at you unhindered - I mean, you're there, on the flat, surrounded by water, on land that it doesn't make sense to build on. You get it all, separate to the rest of the world.

And then there's the art. Venetians spent a long time invading and plundering everywhere they could, killing each other to get their hands on what they brought back, and stashing it all over the place in a mad mishmash culture frenzy. Plus they grew their own world class painters and put the works they created everywhere. So you'll be walking down the street and see a wee museum sign for a building that charges you two dollars entry, and when you go in it's all fucking gold leafed up to the hilt and stuffed with Tintorettos.

... Anyway. Venice is ace ...

merrymelodies · 11/02/2024 02:28

We went to Donoratico with two teens about 20 years ago. It was basic but we all enjoyed ourselves.

LemonLemur · 09/05/2024 07:23

We are looking for a holiday - 2 adults and 4 teens (13/13/15/15), thinking of Italy. We usually go for a private Villa with a pool in rural Spain. Would love somewhere traditional, not looking for tonnes of activities / entertainment just a nice quiet location with options for day trips out. Have enjoyed eurocamp in France before but much preferred the quieter sites than the big ones with huge water parks.

AndCallMeNancy · 09/05/2024 10:45

We went to Italy last summer as it was somewhere as a family we were all keen to try. We flew to Pisa and stayed inland in an Airbnb with a pool in a lovely village. Quiet but nice food, fab weather, felt very authentic. Had a week there and then moved in to Viareggio by the coast for a few days to get a beach fix. Really liked it there, beautiful art deco architecture, wide pavements for evening strolls and midnight ice creams, lots of people old and young but not hideously heaving. It was a lovely holiday - not your typical resort hol but that’s not our thing really anyway. Yes you have to pay to use the beach clubs (book online asap, way before you arrive!) but very Italian - barely heard any other Brits, and certainly nowhere selling full English breakfasts!! Just great food, weather and a great experience. I’d go back. It was a 3 generation holiday - 5 adults, 2 teens and a 9 year old. We all enjoyed. However I agree with PPs that Greece, Spain etc much more straightforward for a summer beach holiday in many ways.

EwwSprouts · 09/05/2024 14:26

Sardinia has gorgeous beaches and great food.

MissAmbrosia · 09/05/2024 18:49

As mentioned above somewhere like Pra del Torri or Ca Savio or Union Lido might meet beach and activity needs. For pure beach - Sardinia. Would avoid Rome at Easter. I'd see where you could get best flights. and decide/ask for specific advice. I loved Naples though many hate it. Venice, Cinque Terre via Genoa or Pisa, Italian Lakes from Milan - all pretty lovely if different. Sicily with Taormina, Siracusa, Cefalu, Sorrento and Amalfi coast - though these seem to be rammed these days. https://www.ischiabluresort.com/en/ stayed here last year which was marvellous!

5 Star Resort in Ischia | Ischia Blu Resort

Ischia Blu Resort is a 5 star residence in Ischia Porto, located on the sea with private bay and beach. Book your luxury apartment in Ischia

https://www.ischiabluresort.com/en

Oriunda · 09/05/2024 20:39

If you're discounting Rome, then I second Bologna for a city break. Small, manageable and great food. Or do a Milano/Lake Como combo. Teens will enjoy Milan's shopping plus the Duomo, then get the train to the lakes.

We're in Salento during the summer. The beaches are great but, yes, you'll need to book your sunbed and umbrella. There are some stunning resorts like the Maldives and Punto Prosciutto. Gallipoli is the Lido di Jesolo of the south; many young Italians go there.

There are also some fabulous rock swimming places that are free; I adore Porto Selvaggio and the sea is just stunning.

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