Italian farm stay vs package holiday with teen daughter in July

[Bubblesmama]

Hello!
Time is running out and I’m after some holiday help please 🙏

We (me, DH and DD13) have 2 weeks off from 10th July and are trying to book a holiday abroad which ticks some boxes…

• eating some local cuisine
• seeing some sights (happy to do some driving)
• enough entertainment for my teenage daughter - can be scheduled entertainment or just making friends with others
• relaxing pool time without being crammed in
• budget £4.5k

We did France self catering villa/campsite when DD was little and have been on mainly AI package hols with a big family group in the last few years so are open to various options but I think that’s half the problem!
I’ve spent days looking at package vs self catering options but worried DD will get bored if there’s not enough to see or do/make friends. Not sure I want all inclusive as we end up eating too much! 🙈

Ive thought about farm stays in Italy but need one which has a bit of activity going on as well as shared pool so there’s a chance of DD socialising. Have looked on Agriturismo site but the filters aren’t great to help find things.

I know I’m asking for the moon on a stick probably!

Id be really grateful for any recommendations 🙏

Just a few suggestions: booking an hotel in a beach resort in Sardinia and explore the inland (I suggest Santa Teresa di Gallura or Stintino as bases), same in Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, for great swimming and exploring the other villages and day trip to Genova... or the Dolomites for hikes? All areas have great food traditions.

Second to this. Sardinia is stunning. Not a farm stay for a 13 year old. She’ll be bored to tears. And what if there’s a cockerel?!

Don’t inflict agriturismo on your teenager.

I have flashbacks from similar farming holidays (not marketed as such!) as a teen in France but with force fed geese (foie gras) and veal calves in darkened sheds. Or the geese chasing you. Or unfriendly farm dogs. Surprised I didn’t join PETA. Was bored as F apart from when we drove anywhere fun. Was totally uninterested in the wine and food.

It may well be booked up, but this apartment here https://prontocampi.com/en/apartment-in-le-marche/ The campsite caters especially for families with teens.

There’s a nice cross between a hotel and an agriturismo near Lake Como. Stuff to do on the lake, plus a ferry to other villages.

When I stayed at one near Florence, I got bitten more by mosquitoes than I’ve ever been bitten before- in fact we left early because it was so bad. It was beautiful, but ultimately too painful/itchy to enjoy it fully.

I’ll find a link for the Como one.

We had a lovely holiday in Sicily before DD and always fancied here so will take a look, thanks 🙏

lol good point! 😂

😱🙈

Oh this looks absolutely fab….but it’s fully booked up July/Aug! 🙈. Will keep in mind for next year though thank you 👍

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/italy/tuscany-elba/hu-norcenni-girasole-village I have heard good things about this place - but maybe TOO busy? My dd loved Park Albatross nearer the coast but it is vast!

Other faves for when a young teen - Siblu La Carabasse - mobile homes really well spaced out and lots of activities. St Avit Loisirs and Les Peneyrals in the Dordogne. Union Lido.
Last year we went TUI Magic Life Calabria, we stayed in the adults only bit, but they have have activities for teens and adults, shows etc. The food was wonderful.

I think they’ve moved on a bit perhaps (veal calves maybe?!) but Italians are similar to French, we had a young Italian farmer who stayed at my mum’s house as foreign language student and he boasted about killing songbirds with guns as they fly over borders. Plus he was the best at everything from skiing to farming so he said. Twat. At my parents holiday home in SW France the farming neighbours (small farm) suddenly got a cockerel. Luckily I had wax earplugs, my friend when she stayed didn’t have earplugs and was ready to strangle it after it waking her up at an ungodly hour. 🤣

Not in Italy, but some of the rentals at this site have private pools https://www.lapascalinette.com/rentals/premium-mobile-home-quintessence/ There’s loads to do onsite for teens.

Mine would have loved it, still would at 20

I would think a decent Eurocamp type set up would be better for a lone teenager.

Thanks - if you have the name or link, that would be great 🙏

Island hop around the Cyclades!

This is the one. It doesn’t look amazing on that photo, but it’s really nice!

Close to the lake for kayaking, swimming etc., and the food is really good!!

I’ve stayed there twice- the last time being 2018, I think.

And I thought I’d had some shit holidays as a kid… turns out that I didn’t know I was born!

Parents friends mostly who had houses next to farms or on farmland or near a huge house. Typical 70s/80s hippy childhood. Similar in England. We stayed in a farmhouse called Hoads Farm (now famous for their eggs sold in supermarkets). Fond memories as a child of seeing a shot laid out rabbit on kitchen table by the farmer’s son. We did see cute piglets though and the sow. They rented out the farmhouse and sometimes friends of ours (older) did seasonal work there. I’m a city girl (SE/SW London) (we did go to farms and countryside though) really.

Yes.

Looks good.

I have a 13 yo who is generally up for a rural or exotic holiday with no other kids in sight… even she has requested an AI hotel this year 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Provence is stunning (Remember Peter Mayle?). Aix en Provence lovely. Elegant and birthplace of Cezanne.

I did that many years ago 😊. Thanks for the suggestion though 🙏