Italy family holiday ideas for May half term with teens

[Weepingwillows12]

I want to go to Italy next May half term but really struggling to find something that works so hoping someone can help. Will be me, dh and 2 kids (14 and 12).

The kids ideally don't want to share but I don't want them in a hotel room alone so ideally a hotel with villas or 3 bed apartments.

I am not good at just relaxing so somewhere we can do some day trips relatively easily without needing a car or to do an organised tour. I like history.

Kids are pretty active so somewhere with good pools and other activities. Not sure if pools will be freezing at end of may?

Not fussed about flat sandy beaches but like a view. Kids like the sea / big lake for swimming.

My husband hates big crowds or having to fight for a sunbed.

Not too far from an airport.

Was considering Sorrento, lake Garda or Sicily but just don't know enough about them.

Anyone been anywhere that ticks all boxes? Budget is probably up to £5k excluding flights.

Sorrento is great. Easy train into Pompeii. Trip to the crater of Vesuvius. Day trip to Capri. Access to Positano and the Amalfi Coast. Great hiking too if you fancy that (Path of Gods). Also an easy train into Naples.

it’s a lovely town itself with enough activities in the vicinity, yet a nice place to chill and potter. Good restaurants.

its a nice time of year to go.

Sorrento - top choice!
Viareggio - large beach
Lake Garda - maybe too quiet?

I love Sicily but you do really need a car to maximise your opportunities, we stayed Taormina b&b we drove up Etna to the cable car station, went to Syracuse down the cost and drove across to agrigento for 3 nights too.

I think a 12 and 14 year old should be ok sleeping in a separate room to you, as long as it’s nearby. We always used to ask for interconnecting rooms and that worked well.

We did a mix of Venice and Lake Garda one May half term and it was great. No car needed, there is a train from Venice to Lake Garda via Verona (so can also do a day in Verona if you want). Plenty of buses and some boats available to visit different bits of Lake Garda.

We stayed in Bardolino, in a hotel called Du Lac et Bellevue - it had some linked apartments down the road, we had one of those and our kids went on Z beds in the living room. In Venice we had a 2 bedroom air bnb.

Sorrento with side trips to Pompeii/Herculaneum and Amalfi coast would also be a good option and is on my list. Not sure how easy amalfi is if not hiring a car.