1 March 2012 — travelweekly.co.uk • 49

travelweekly.co.uk/destinations

DESTINATIONS — ITALY

CIAO, BAMBINO

ITALY

As families flock back to their favourite places in the

Med, Katie McGonagle checks out

some of Italy’s most

child-friendly options

It’s easy to think of Italy as the home of romantic escapes

and city breaks, but it has plenty to offer the lucrative family market too.

Although it can’t compete on price with the likes of Spain or Cyprus, the combination of cultural highlights, beautiful beaches and exciting activities makes it well worth considering for a fun family break.

After a slight dip in UK visitor numbers to Italy, a better euro exchange rate and political unrest in other popular destinations saw the number of British arrivals surge

by 9.8% in the first six months of last year – and that trend shows no sign of slowing. Italy is easily accessible, with a two or three-hour flight and dozens of departures from regional airports.

Here, we look at some of the options for families with children of different ages, with sample packages from the operators that feature the hotels, villas and holiday camps we recommend.

l PERFECT FOR . . .

TINY TOTS

Parents with very young children are often concerned about the

50 • travelweekly.co.uk — 1 March 2012

clubs for older siblings. Cots, high chairs, baby baths and changing mats are all included, plus free extras such as toddler cutlery, booster seats and plug socket covers to give parents peace of mind. There are plenty of watersports on the picturesque lake, while Italy’s largest theme park, Gardaland, is nearby.

It’s also just a mile from the pretty town of Peschiera del Garda and within easy reach of Verona for a day trip. Keycamp offers a week for two adults and up to four children in a two-bedroom Villanova mobile home in April for £371, accommodation-only.

Or families can enjoy the privacy of a villa just a couple of miles outside the historic ‘white town’ of Ostuni, in Puglia. Meon Villas offers Trullo Serra Sessana, a charming two-bedroom villa with private swimming pool, walled garden

and original architectural features for £2,709 for a family of four, including flights from Gatwick and free car hire in May.

l PERFECT FOR . . .

UNDER-12s

This is the ideal time for kids to build their best memories of family holidays. While the basic family formula of beach, pool and kids’ club is bound to be a winner, it’s worth thinking outside the box to make it a unique break.

Sorrento isn’t the first destination that springs to mind for families, but the Hilton Sorrento Palace has plenty of child-friendly options. The complimentary kids’ club is for four to 12-year-olds, plus there’s a playground, tennis court and mini football pitch to keep them occupied. Kids will be fascinated by a day trip to historic Pompeii to see Vesuvius, the only active volcano in mainland Europe.

TOP TIP

Active holiday

specialist Utracks

is offering a new

eight-day self-guided

walking tour

in Puglia

Hotel Castello di Casole

in Tuscany, a converted

castle, will open in May

Bella Italia is a camping

property in Lake Garda

Forte Village Resort in

Sardinia has a wealth of

facilities for children

facilities they will find at their chosen hotel, as seemingly simple extras such as high chairs and changing mats can make a huge difference to a holiday.

And with little ones demanding their attention 24/7, mum and dad are sure to need a break too, so it’s worth finding resorts that give them a chance to relax.

The crèche and babysitting service at the Chia Laguna Resort in southern Sardinia make it perfect for toddlers, while older brothers or sisters can have fun at the kids’ or teenagers’ club. A mini-train to the beach will be a novelty for youngsters, while parents can try the 18-hole golf course and driving range, tennis courts or nearby horse riding.

Families with one child can share a room; those with two children can get an interconnecting room, with the second room 25% cheaper. A week’s half-board for a family of four in two interconnecting rooms starts from £1,780 including transfers but not flights through Western & Oriental Travel.

Budget-conscious families could try Bella Italia on the shores of Lake Garda, where the mini fun station caters for kids aged six months to three years, plus other

1 March 2012 — travelweekly.co.uk • 51

DESTINATIONS — ITALY

Chia Laguna Resort

in southern Sardinia

WHAT’S neW In ITALY

Insight Vacations is offering a new 11-day Treasures of Italy

itinerary for 2012. The tour visits Rome, Capri, Florence, Cinque

Terre, Portofino, Lake Maggiore, Verona and Venice, and is

priced from £2,499. onestoptouringshop.co.uk

Attraction World has added seven walking tours in Rome,

with prices from £36 per adult and £31 per child. Options

include tours of Roman obelisks and baroque masterpieces as well as the Vatican museums and Trastevere area of Rome.

attractionworld.com

Abercrombie & Kent Villas has expanded its Italy portfolio to include the Amalfi coast. The

operator has added six luxury private homes in the area,

sleeping between nine and 22 people, and including a restored

1892 country house with a sauna, pool bar and solarium.

akvillas.com

Hotel Castello di Casole will open in Tuscany in May.

Converted from a 10th-century castle, the luxury property will

offer 41 suites, 14 with private gardens, all set in a 4,200-acre

private estate with its own

18th-century chapel, perfect for weddings. The surrounding

vineyard produces its own-label wine, and there’s wine-tasting and truffle-hunting on offer as

well as a spa.castellodicasole.com

The Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari opens on March 10 in Modena.

This museum, dedicated to motor racing and the iconic Italian car brand, is housed

in a new complex built over the old house where Enzo Ferrari

was born. museocasaenzoferrari.it

Great Rail Journeys is serving up a new Italian tour for foodies.

The 11-day Gastronomic Italy itinerary visits Florence, Bologna,

Modena and Parma. The tour includes first-class rail travel, 10

nights’ B&B accommodation, six speciality dinners and two

lunches, tours, tastings, a cookery course and the services of a tour

manager. It costs from £1,948.greatrail.com

Kuoni’s new Europe range offers city breaks in Florence, Rome

and Venice, coastal stays on the Neapolitan and Ligurian rivieras and hotels in Sicily and Sardinia.

kuoni.co.uk

52 • travelweekly.co.uk — 1 March 2012

DESTINATIONS — ITALY

ASK THE EXPERT

Stephanie Pritchard, programme director at Italy specialist Citalia

“Family and children are at the heart of Italian culture, making it an extremely child-friendly nation and the perfect place to holiday with a family. Italian culture is all about the family, and eating together is a central part of that. Bars and restaurants are open late at night, with Italian children often seen up to the early hours.”

Golf at Borgo egnazia in

Puglia, southern Italy

Venice is just an hour away

from the family-friendly

resort of Lido di Jesolo

Classic Collection Holidays offers guaranteed interconnecting rooms from £4,412 in August based on two adults and two children on a B&B basis, including flights.

Sardinia’s brilliant mix of beaches and activities such as snorkelling, horse riding and quad biking make it the perfect place for kids. Youngsters have their own private pool and space in which to run around at Casa Querce, a two-bedroom villa in Pula, on the south side of the island. Sardinian Places offers a week from £953 per person based on four sharing, including flights to Cagliari, in August.

Primary school pupils study the Romans so why not suggest parents add a visit to the

restaurants offering traditional fare. Plus, the vast waterpark of Aqualandia is just a stone’s throw away. Thomson’s D’Annunzio Hotel is priced from £453 per person for a week’s half board in July, including flights from Gatwick.

The huge Forte Village in Sardinia has an amazing array of dining venues, with 21 on-site restaurants, including a kids-only cafe, plus a go-karting track, climbing wall, trampoline, bowling alley and disco to keep teens amused. The resort also holds sporting academies including a week-long cricket workshop in April hosted by Michael Vaughan. Seven nights’ half-board at the four-star Le Palme in August starts at £3,861 for a family of four with Cresta Holidays.

Teenagers can enjoy a dedicated club featuring Wii and PlayStation consoles, tennis and golf at the five-star beach resort Borgo Egnazia in Savelletri, Puglia. They can also go horse riding, try sailing or windsurfing, or splash around in one of the hotel’s four swimming pools. A week’s B&B with Citalia starts at £3,275 for a family of three in July. TW

Colosseum or the Pantheon to a beach break? Camping Village Fabulous is halfway between Rome and the coast, offering the best of both worlds. The park has a swimming pool complex, kids’ clubs, animation programme, mini golf and volleyball. Keycamp offers seven nights in August for two adults and up to four children in a two-bedroom mobile home for £918, accommodation-only. Fly-drive packages are available for a supplement.

FAST FACT

Venice’s famous

Bridge of Sighs

has been restored

to its former glory

after three years

of repair work

l PERFECT FOR . . .

TRAVELLING WITH TEENS

Teenagers are always hard to please, but a resort offering plenty of activities is probably the best way to avoid arguments.

Lido di Jesolo is just an hour by ferry from Venice – a perfect day trip – and hosts several free music concerts and entertainment during the summer. The town is right on the coast, boasting incredible beaches including a 10-mile stretch of sand and great local