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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 ideas!

14 replies

Zil3 · 30/06/2025 13:40

I am hoping to take my three DC (3,7,13) away on my own in September thanks to an extra week of school holiday and would love to go to Italy as we’ve never been before.

We’d need direct flights from Liverpool or Manchester, less than an hour transfer at the other end and would love a mix of a bit of culture/things to do with swimming pool days too. Hoping to go for 5 nights and budget is £2k max for flights, accommodation and meals (all inclusive would be ideal but not sure that’s a thing over there?!)

Does anyone have any advice/suggestions beyond my holiday company searches/Googling please?

OP posts:
Where2GoNext · 30/06/2025 13:56

How about Lake Garda? We stayed at out this Holiday: Gasparina Village at Castelnuovo del Garda, Lake Garda www.jet2holidays.com/beach/italy/lake-garda/castelnuovo-del-garda/gasparina-village?duration%3D7%26airport%3D3%26date%3D01-08-2026%26occupancy%3Dr1c3_7_13%26board%3D4%26oflight%3D1381945%26iflight%3D1381948%26rooms%3D83038%26utm_medium%3Dreferral%26utm_source%3DHD_share_link Gasparina Village and the location was very good. Bit of a walk to the supermarket but could easily get buses to the local towns. It's next to Gardaland Theme Park for the kids, and from Peschiera you can get ferries and do boat tours to other towns. Accommodation there is basic but fine, we had a two bed apartment with a little kitchenette.

Where2GoNext · 30/06/2025 13:56

Sorry for the awful link!!

TiredMummma · 30/06/2025 14:03

Naples would be my top choice. Easy to get along to Pompei, brilliant museums, lovely beaches. Easy to get a flight there, you could stay in Sorrento for water activities, get a boat to Capri. Lake Garda or Pisa (lovely beach clubs there and nice beach) or Rimimi. Italy is great on the train to places.

VegQueen · 30/06/2025 14:22

If you want an all inclusive hotel with a pool then Italy might not be the right place. Your budget is pretty tight. I know there are a few eurocamp type places near Rome that have pools and you can get into Rome in 30-45 min on public transport. You can get pizza slices or sandwiches cheaply for lunch if you’re out in the day and then prepare a simple meal at your accommodation when you’re back in the evening.

Original poster
Zil3 · 30/06/2025 14:37

VegQueen · 30/06/2025 14:22

If you want an all inclusive hotel with a pool then Italy might not be the right place. Your budget is pretty tight. I know there are a few eurocamp type places near Rome that have pools and you can get into Rome in 30-45 min on public transport. You can get pizza slices or sandwiches cheaply for lunch if you’re out in the day and then prepare a simple meal at your accommodation when you’re back in the evening.

I did think that might be the case! I’d looked at Eurocamp but seems that most of them suggest you need a car and I really don’t fancy driving over there. Will take another look though, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Zil3 · 30/06/2025 14:37

TiredMummma · 30/06/2025 14:03

Naples would be my top choice. Easy to get along to Pompei, brilliant museums, lovely beaches. Easy to get a flight there, you could stay in Sorrento for water activities, get a boat to Capri. Lake Garda or Pisa (lovely beach clubs there and nice beach) or Rimimi. Italy is great on the train to places.

Ooh lots of suggestions thank you, will do a bit of searching 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Zil3 · 30/06/2025 14:38

Where2GoNext · 30/06/2025 13:56

How about Lake Garda? We stayed at out this Holiday: Gasparina Village at Castelnuovo del Garda, Lake Garda www.jet2holidays.com/beach/italy/lake-garda/castelnuovo-del-garda/gasparina-village?duration%3D7%26airport%3D3%26date%3D01-08-2026%26occupancy%3Dr1c3_7_13%26board%3D4%26oflight%3D1381945%26iflight%3D1381948%26rooms%3D83038%26utm_medium%3Dreferral%26utm_source%3DHD_share_link Gasparina Village and the location was very good. Bit of a walk to the supermarket but could easily get buses to the local towns. It's next to Gardaland Theme Park for the kids, and from Peschiera you can get ferries and do boat tours to other towns. Accommodation there is basic but fine, we had a two bed apartment with a little kitchenette.

That sounds good, will take a look, thank you!

OP posts:
RedBeech · 30/06/2025 14:59

We went to a Eurocamp (I Pini?) just outside Rome when DC were about 7 and 8. Perfect balance of days by the pool at the campsite and days in Rome looking around the Coliseum, the Forum, eating ice creams and trying local pasta and pizza.

Did similar in Venice when they were older - amazing holiday camp near Lido di Jessolo with a waterpark and beaches, beach volleyball etc. Then day trips around the islands to watch glass blowing and into Venice to sightsee. There was loads to do in Venice - watch masks being made, ride on a gondola or water taxi, try weird ice cream flavours, wander around the amazing markets etc. We went to the art Biennale (more child friendly than you might think as lots of exhibits are interactive) and DC loved it. I had to drag them away.

RedBeech · 30/06/2025 14:59

TiredMummma · 30/06/2025 14:03

Naples would be my top choice. Easy to get along to Pompei, brilliant museums, lovely beaches. Easy to get a flight there, you could stay in Sorrento for water activities, get a boat to Capri. Lake Garda or Pisa (lovely beach clubs there and nice beach) or Rimimi. Italy is great on the train to places.

Thank you for this suggestion. DH wants to go to Italy for a long weekend later this year and that sounds perfect.

Original poster
Zil3 · 30/06/2025 17:22

RedBeech · 30/06/2025 14:59

We went to a Eurocamp (I Pini?) just outside Rome when DC were about 7 and 8. Perfect balance of days by the pool at the campsite and days in Rome looking around the Coliseum, the Forum, eating ice creams and trying local pasta and pizza.

Did similar in Venice when they were older - amazing holiday camp near Lido di Jessolo with a waterpark and beaches, beach volleyball etc. Then day trips around the islands to watch glass blowing and into Venice to sightsee. There was loads to do in Venice - watch masks being made, ride on a gondola or water taxi, try weird ice cream flavours, wander around the amazing markets etc. We went to the art Biennale (more child friendly than you might think as lots of exhibits are interactive) and DC loved it. I had to drag them away.

That sounds perfect! Did you fly or drive?

OP posts:
RedBeech · 30/06/2025 22:03

Zil3 · 30/06/2025 17:22

That sounds perfect! Did you fly or drive?

Show quote history

We flew. Easyjet or Ryanair. Very cheap flights and then easy transfers. I think the Venice transfer was a taxi boat which DC loved.

Deadringer · 30/06/2025 22:19

I love Italy but didn't like Naples much, Dd is there right now and she and her friends can't wait to leave, she says it's absolutely filthy, full of very creepy men and jammed with scammers. If i was planning a trip to Italy i would fly to Verona and visit Juliet's balcony and the amphitheatre, then travel down to lake garda. After a week or so there I would head to Venice for a day or two and fly home from there.

Loz2033 · 01/07/2025 16:35

We also didn't want to drive so stayed in del Garda a euro camp site although it was better prices booking directly. It's close enough to the airport for a taxi. The site is lovely and once there it's an easy walk to the port where you can get ferries all over the lake. Lake Garda is beautiful and tons to see

samarrange · 01/07/2025 21:02

Fly to Bergamo, which is a huge Ryanair hub, and have days out by train from there, to the lakes or Milan or Verona.

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