Italy - special celebrations

[NewName4Moi]

Location ideas please as never been to Italy before. Celebrating a teen, 18th, 50th, 80th birthday, a Silver and Golden anniversary - all taking place in 2028 (unbelievably!) so looking at planning now.

Can go in school hols: Easter, May or Summer - when do you suggest?

Mobility issues so ideally flat terrain.

We also, in an ideal world, would like:

A warm sea.

Less than 90 mins airport transfer.

Low rise building (not self catering)

Choice of more than one pool.

Activities for a 12 year old: water-based or land is fine.

A 5* boutique would be perfect but equally open to larger hotel if it gives us more scope.

All advice welcome! 🙏

Verdure Resort in Sicily would be 90 mins transfer if you can get flights to Trapani. If not, it’s a little over 90 mins from Palermo. The resort is as flat as a pancake, the children’s activities are exceptional and it definitely feels like somewhere for a special occasion.

What time of year? IMO Italy too hot for many people in their 80s in the summer.

Sorry, you say Easter or May are options too. Not ideal if the 18yo will be doing A levels though.

I don't really enjoy the beaches in Italy personally. Anyway I love the lakes, Como, Garda, Maggiore and the slightly hidden gem of Orta.

It might not be for you, since you did specify good beaches, but there are beaches and swimming spots around the lakes too. Anyway, have a root around and see which airport works from your home area. Worth having a look anyway.

I can’t make any recommendations about where to stay as we don’t tend to use hotels, but weather wise, May half term should be perfect for most places in Italy. July/August too hot and Easter too unsettled.

Sardina might be perfect. Tui Blue - Budoni? https://www.delphinahotels.co.uk/index_en.html Or one of the Delphina hotels? They also do villas and apartments but you can book various board options.

You area asking for a beach holiday - I'm not sure Italy would be the first place to come to mind. You're also trying to please a very diverse age group.
Maybe try Lake Garda? Also be prepared to do some things separately, so that the younger members can travel around a bit on some days.

This looks superb, thankyou, exactly the accommodation I was after however I have to admit I didn’t think the price would be this high 😞

Price and location look viable, thankyou - will dig deeper on this.

How wonderful all those celebrations have all lined up. Have a lovely time wherever you choose

Happy for other areas to be suggested. We’ve not visited Italy and fancy it; done most of Europe. Will have a look at Lake Garda, thankyou.

Off to research these lakes too! Thankyou.

We went to. Lake Garda with a mixed age group, 79 down to 8. And one of the elders had very y restricted mobility, was very good, very flat with a pedestrian path right around the lake , but lots of little towns that the more active could walk to/ cycle or get a ferry to.

Agree with this - Peschiera also has a main line train station useful for Verona and doable for a day trip to Venice.

The south of Lake Garda is really flat but you get the views of the mountains.

Tabola Talasso in Tuscany is lovely, you’re given an allocated sunbed, parasol and little table on arrival on the lovely beach,, it’s more like an upmarket peaceful beach club.The sea is lovely and easy to enter.
Meals are taken on various terraces and the pools and spa are fabulous. You can walk along the beach and it’s a nice area for mooching in the evenings with lots of restaurants walkable from the hotel.

Sorrento, Lake Garda or Viareggio. You may struggle to find a hotel in Italy with multiple pools though. Location is key. Great beach at Viareggio!

Rimini

This is all great, thankyou. Will be looking deeper over the next few days.