Booking a Villa holiday
Something my husband and I have long wanted to do is explore Italy as a family. As I’ve written previously, before our children were born, my husband and I did go to Rome twice. Both times were for a short break of three to four nights.
In order to get the best deal possible, I’d usually book our hotel and flights separately. I always found that doing this saved us a lot of money compared to booking a package holiday. I’d usually find the cheapest flights and then spend hours searching Tripadvisor for reviews of hotels before deciding on the best one in terms of reviews and price.
When it comes to booking a hotel I would look for one that was usually within walking distance to the tourist attractions. That way we could make the most of our stay and explore on foot. I find that you tend to see more that way. One day we walked what felt like the length of Rome from the Colosseum to Vatican City. In truth it probably only took us an hour, maybe a tad longer, but there were so many things to see on the way there that we kept stopping to explore and take photographs! It’s one of my all time favourite memories! That’s why I’d love to return to Rome with our children one day, and explore other parts of Italy too such as Sicily.
Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island and is full of rich history such as the Valley of the Temples, the well-preserved ruins of 7 monumental, Doric-style Greek temples, and in the Byzantine mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, a former royal chapel in capital city Palermo. On Sicily’s eastern edge is Mount Etna, one of Europe’s highest active volcanoes. (Source)
I think a family villa in Sicily would be the best way to explore the island. Villas offer up plenty of options for families and are great to use as a base during your stay. Family villas often come with swimming pools and plenty of space for children to run around. They can also accommodate a high number of people so you could even invite your extended family.
When our twins were 11 months old we flew to Spain with my mother-in-law, three step-children and the four of us. It was a fantastic family holiday. That’s why I think a villa would be a great option for families. They also offer plenty of space if you need a breather from one another!
A few of my friends actually have Italian heritage which has made me question my own heritage. Did you know that most people from Italian descent qualify for Italian citizenship by birth. They can claim Italian citizenship through bloodline as long as they can prove their Italian ancestor was an Italian citizen or had the right to claim Italian citizenship when they were born. It’s something definitely worth looking into!
Have you ever been to Sicily or stayed in a Villa? Let us know in the comments below.
