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Holidays

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

Italy with only child

10 replies

DearOccupant · 23/08/2024 15:27

We would like to go to Italy on holiday next year (either May half term or summer holiday). Our daughter will be 10 by then. She is really keen to go to Italy. She fancies Sicily, my husband Puglia, and I fancy Lake Garda. Or maybe the Dolomites. The main problem is that the main thing our daughter wants out of a holiday is to make friends - this year we have just got back from a campsite in the Dordogne and she spends a lot of time eyeing up potential victims before approaching, and can't relax until she has found a friend. And then doesn't want to come on outings as she just wants to hang out with the friends. This year we got really lucky as there was another only child (girl) of the same age there who was equally desperate for friends. My husband and I like holidays with a mixture of sightseeing/ activities and relaxing. Our daughter would spend the entire time in the pool with friends. Anyway, it is all quite stressful until she has found a friend, and then again when the friend leaves. I am trying to rack my brain to think of somewhere we can go in Italy that is likely to have other English children of a similar age (though last year she made friends with a french girl - she speaks a it of french but no italian). The only place I can think of are eurocamp type places like Bella Italia, or maybe a Kinderhotel in the Dolomites/ South Tyrol (but would this be mainly Germans??). So I wondered if anyone has any other ideas or any suggestions for Sicily or Puglia or recommendations of likely options? Thankyou!

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Dartmoorcheffy · 23/08/2024 15:32

Is it possible for one of her friends from home to come either you.

I can sort of understand your daughter as I was an only child and found holidays quite lonely.

Forgottenmyphone · 23/08/2024 15:32

Was going to suggest Marina di Venezia until I saw that you wanted Sicily or Puglia. It's great for sightseeing though.

tealsea · 23/08/2024 15:36

Sardinia might be worth a look? There’s a Neilson resort there if you like watersports- we did
Neilson between 8 and 11 with an only child as they were fantastic for him (would have kept going for at least another couple of years but Covid intervened).
there’s also resort hotels with Tui etc so more likely to have UK kids.

DearOccupant · 23/08/2024 16:38

Dartmoorcheffy · 23/08/2024 15:32

Is it possible for one of her friends from home to come either you.

I can sort of understand your daughter as I was an only child and found holidays quite lonely.

I think we will try to do this when she is older, but I don't think any of her friends would cope at the moment.

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DearOccupant · 23/08/2024 16:39

tealsea · 23/08/2024 15:36

Sardinia might be worth a look? There’s a Neilson resort there if you like watersports- we did
Neilson between 8 and 11 with an only child as they were fantastic for him (would have kept going for at least another couple of years but Covid intervened).
there’s also resort hotels with Tui etc so more likely to have UK kids.

Thankyou - I had been wondering about Neilsons. We (adults) aren't keen on watersports, but she would be. I think this might have to be the route we take for a few years until we can invite a friend.

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DearOccupant · 23/08/2024 16:40

Forgottenmyphone · 23/08/2024 15:32

Was going to suggest Marina di Venezia until I saw that you wanted Sicily or Puglia. It's great for sightseeing though.

Open to anywhere, really, if we can't find anything suitable in Sicily or Puglia - so thankyou, will look into it.

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LIZS · 23/08/2024 16:53

Try dulacetduparc.com/en/ on lake Garda near Riva which has a kids programme including watersports. TO like TUI offer it as part of their lakes and mountains programme.

KnittedCardi · 23/08/2024 17:15

There's a Forte Village in South Sardinia. Flights always packed with families on their way there. Fly into Cagliari with BA or Easy Jet.

DearOccupant · 23/08/2024 17:27

LIZS · 23/08/2024 16:53

Try dulacetduparc.com/en/ on lake Garda near Riva which has a kids programme including watersports. TO like TUI offer it as part of their lakes and mountains programme.

Thankyou - sounds great!

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DearOccupant · 23/08/2024 17:28

KnittedCardi · 23/08/2024 17:15

There's a Forte Village in South Sardinia. Flights always packed with families on their way there. Fly into Cagliari with BA or Easy Jet.

Thankyou - will have a look!

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