WE’RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY.

Last year I wanted to go away SO badly, we hadn’t had a holiday since 2017 (I know, I know, boohoo poor me). The word I would use to describe myself after having Tess in a lockdown is depleted, in every way possible. Also and I don’t think I realised it at the time but the pandemic really took it out of me - I crave normality and routine and I think I’m really only coming right now, so for most of the early part of last year I just felt we really needed it as a family.

In the end though, we made a financial decision not to go. We also thought Tess was still too young and a bit of a handful. I love her dearly but couldn’t think of anything worse than being on a plane with her last year!. Anyway, we unexpectedly ended up staying in my Aunts mobile home in Tramore and we got the most stunning weather and were pretty smug with our decision in the end. It was so chilled and the kids had a ball. Although we did say that we would defo go away this year, especially after Bobby said one day that he wished he could go on an airplane, that was enough for Shane, the softie.

We said it had to be Easter time because the weather would be a little less intense. I got so many recommendations for places in Lanzarote and Tenerife, I was thinking either of those places would be best given the time of year as we wanted them to be able to use the pool.

I know it’s probably because it’s my first time booking a holiday for a family of 5 but I was taken aback by the prices, we were looking at easily 6k for most places, I must be stupid because I always presumed resorts would be cheaper… I’ve never really done them. Years ago, pre-kids & mortgage, myself and Shane got an unreal deal for Salou, we were there for literally 2 days and packed up and got the bus to Barcelona for the rest of the week lol. It’s a type of holiday that doesn’t massively appeal to me but I really see the benefits when you have children.

Anyway in the heel of the hunt, something came up for us family wise that ruled out Easter and so all of a sudden we were back to going in the Summer.

So again, I started researching resorts with kids clubs and evening entertainment in Spain & Portugal, I found everything quite expensive but I knew it would be an easier and stress free type of holiday with not much walking and moving around and I definitely loved the idea of not leaving the resort in the evening and having the entertainment there with the kids. So I was researching for weeks but just couldn’t bite the bullet. I don’t know why…

Then I started looking at Italy again… I don’t know why, I think I over romanticise it in my head. I had initially ruled it out because it is definitely not as easy to organise with kids.

But I started looking regardless… we’ve been to Rome, Pisa, Florence, Viareggio, Sorrento & Amalfi Coast so I wanted to go somewhere different this time. The only trouble with that is, Italy can be hard work, the research is something else. I’ll give you an example of some of my recent google searches….

“Can you walk around Cinque Terre with a buggy?”

“How much is a coffee in Portofino?”

“Are there any sandy beaches on The Italian Riviera?”

“How much is a Gelato in Manarola?”

“Is Polignano a Mare child friendly?”

“Do you need a car to visit Puglia?”

I’M MAD, and I know it!!! It’s just Italy can be really expensive in places and also really inaccessible in some areas - all the amazing places, FYI.

I was looking at Como, Garda, Monopoli, Ostuni, Poligano De Mare, Sicily and finally landed on Portofino… Seemed like it ticked every box, I mean have you seen the photos?

I found a really affordable Airbnb in Santa Margherita Ligure which is basically minutes outside Portofino and has a stunning coastal walk between the two. I was so excited, it seemed perfect? Then one day, as I was researching and reading LOTS of blogs, I heard a throwaway comment about the food, something to the effect that Southern Italy is much better.. That was enough to make me rethink everything. Then that blog led onto a post about hiring sun loungers on the beach and how one place charged €200 for the day EACH! So I’m starting to panic at this stage... Shweatin... If the sun loungers were that price and the gelato is €7 (x 5) then we’re in trouble hahaha. Now, I’m positive that those are extremes and that once you are there, you will find way more affordable options but it was starting to look risky. Then, the final nail in the coffin was reading that Portofino only has a population of about 400, so in my head I start to think it’s just one big tourist trap. I could be completely wrong and I would def love to visit without the kids sometime just to suss it out because it looks like a postcard.

Anyway, we hadn’t booked flights so I cancelled the Airbnb immediately and got a full refund - back to the drawing board. Better the devil you know maybe? Started looking at Amalfi again. We’ve been there before for nearly a month, We knew the places that were suitable and the places to avoid. Amalfi town was mostly flat and the beach was level with the town, it’s also, just like Sorrento, a transport hub - perfect for day trips. I miraculously found an apartment right in the centre, minutes from the beach with amazing reviews. It’s nothing to look at from the pictures but location is perfect and we don’t need anywhere fancy, we’ll be gone out every day.

Another big plus for me, is flying into Naples. We just adore the city and it’s nothing to do with the deep fried pizza. NOTHING! So we might spend a night there too either coming in or going out! I 100% know it’s not going to be as chilled as lying by the pool with a kids club etc. and I can almost guarantee even before we go that that’s what we’ll want to do next year but we just HAD to try it and see what’s like with 5 of us and get it out of our system.

I managed to get the flights and accommodation, for almost 2 weeks, for about 3.7K which is just brilliant for 5 people.

If you’ve been to Italy with a family before and fell in love with a particular place or would avoid somewhere then please share below, it would be so helpful for everyone ;-)

Have a great day!

Joanne x