Thanks a lot.

Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Hello Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

How much spare time would you get if you do all the optional excursions? Also, how much are they?

Thanks

Mark

Hello Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Hello Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Thanks very much for that info Anne. How stoney is it exactly? I have weak ankles and have had trouble on some past holidays, as getting back out of the water on some beaches the stones seem to slip away as you climb up the beach. Do you think I would have that problem here or are the stones pretty solid?

Gina

I can't remember the exact price of the extra trips, Ben on the editors board might be able to help you, or ring the office they might know.

I did not do the Elba trip, not to good on boats and water...so I spent the free time in the local village and on the sun terrace. I did the other trips and they were worth it...

I work on the theory I might not pass that way again so I see and do all the appeals to me...

It really is a nice little tour not to hectic and a fair amount to see..

Have fun

Cindy

Hello Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Thanks very much for that info Anne. How stoney is it exactly? I have weak ankles and have had trouble on some past holidays, as getting back out of the water on some beaches the stones seem to slip away as you climb up the beach. Do you think I would have that problem here or are the stones pretty solid?

Gina

Hi Gina,

I think you might, some people did look to be struggling.To be honest I was very disapointed with the beach but really enjoyed the holiday. I guess it depends how important swimming is to your holiday. My bedroom was REALLY small and rooms at the front are very noisy at night. I'm looking at Cilento Coast for next year, that beach looks nice. I did like Italy so would like to see more. Anne

Hello Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Thanks very much for that info Anne. How stoney is it exactly? I have weak ankles and have had trouble on some past holidays, as getting back out of the water on some beaches the stones seem to slip away as you climb up the beach. Do you think I would have that problem here or are the stones pretty solid?

Gina

Hi Gina,

I think you might, some people did look to be struggling.To be honest I was very disapointed with the beach but really enjoyed the holiday. I guess it depends how important swimming is to your holiday. My bedroom was REALLY small and rooms at the front are very noisy at night. I'm looking at Cilento Coast for next year, that beach looks nice. I did like Italy so would like to see more. Anne

Replying to you Anne. The private beach at the hotel on the Cilento trip is quite small and a bit shingly. Beautifully clear water though. The beach a few minutes walk away from the hotel between the village and Santa Maria di Castellabate is wonderful sand with just a bit of shingle near the waters edge. Just be careful about jelly fish, we had a bit of stormy weather at the beginning of the week and there were some around. They disappeared a bit later on in the week when the weather cleared up.

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Thanks very much for that info Anne. How stoney is it exactly? I have weak ankles and have had trouble on some past holidays, as getting back out of the water on some beaches the stones seem to slip away as you climb up the beach. Do you think I would have that problem here or are the stones pretty solid?

Gina

Hi Gina,

I think you might, some people did look to be struggling.To be honest I was very disapointed with the beach but really enjoyed the holiday. I guess it depends how important swimming is to your holiday. My bedroom was REALLY small and rooms at the front are very noisy at night. I'm looking at Cilento Coast for next year, that beach looks nice. I did like Italy so would like to see more. Anne

Replying to you Anne. The private beach at the hotel on the Cilento trip is quite small and a bit shingly. Beautifully clear water though. The beach a few minutes walk away from the hotel between the village and Santa Maria di Castellabate is wonderful sand with just a bit of shingle near the waters edge. Just be careful about jelly fish, we had a bit of stormy weather at the beginning of the week and there were some around. They disappeared a bit later on in the week when the weather cleared up.

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Thanks very much for that info Anne. How stoney is it exactly? I have weak ankles and have had trouble on some past holidays, as getting back out of the water on some beaches the stones seem to slip away as you climb up the beach. Do you think I would have that problem here or are the stones pretty solid?

Gina

Hi Gina,

I think you might, some people did look to be struggling.To be honest I was very disapointed with the beach but really enjoyed the holiday. I guess it depends how important swimming is to your holiday. My bedroom was REALLY small and rooms at the front are very noisy at night. I'm looking at Cilento Coast for next year, that beach looks nice. I did like Italy so would like to see more. Anne

Replying to you Anne. The private beach at the hotel on the Cilento trip is quite small and a bit shingly. Beautifully clear water though. The beach a few minutes walk away from the hotel between the village and Santa Maria di Castellabate is wonderful sand with just a bit of shingle near the waters edge. Just be careful about jelly fish, we had a bit of stormy weather at the beginning of the week and there were some around. They disappeared a bit later on in the week when the weather cleared up.

Thank you for that bit of information. I believe you can walk a long way along the beach is that correct? I trust you can recomend this holiday, I've kept changing my mind about different places but think I have settled on this one now. The hotel has very good reports on Tripadvisor. What time of year did you go? I'm thinking of going May/June. Anne

Hello Gina

I have been on the Tuscany tour and the hotel is just across the road from the beach.

I do not swim in the sea, nast experience in Kenya years ago, but those that did (there were not many) said it was fine.I went in May. I spent one afternoon on the roof terrace catching some sun which was nice. I am sure if you like sea swimming you will be fine, as far as I know its a public beach. So therefor I can't imagine a payment would be needed I have never paid to go on a beach in all my travels. Hope you have fun

CIndy

Thanks for your comments Cindy. Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I love sea swimming (where its safe). Have watched the Inspector Montalbano series and everytime the opening shots make me envious of him living next to the beach. Happy travelling.

Gina.

Hi Gina,

I swam in the sea in September. The water is lovely temp/clear but the beach is quite stoney so I bought some shoes for swimming in as it was too painful getting in, once in it's OK. There is a bit of public beach but we used the beach belonging to our hotel owners brother who also had a hotel a little further along where you could hire a lounger. If you go on the Elba trip be sure to take your swimwear. It is just lovely there.

Anne

Thanks very much for that info Anne. How stoney is it exactly? I have weak ankles and have had trouble on some past holidays, as getting back out of the water on some beaches the stones seem to slip away as you climb up the beach. Do you think I would have that problem here or are the stones pretty solid?

Gina

Hi Gina,

I think you might, some people did look to be struggling.To be honest I was very disapointed with the beach but really enjoyed the holiday. I guess it depends how important swimming is to your holiday. My bedroom was REALLY small and rooms at the front are very noisy at night. I'm looking at Cilento Coast for next year, that beach looks nice. I did like Italy so would like to see more. Anne

Thanks again Anne for the really useful information. The hotel beach on the Cilento Coast was disappointing, shingly, small and very rocky to get into the sea, although the water is clear. The hotel pool is really nice though. The hotel is great, and very clean. The rooms are large and all have a sea view (those overlooking the port are best), the food is very good with wine included at dinner. It is in a lovely little village with a few shops, restaurants and bars. We found a great bar a short walk up from the hotel which had an outside patio and serves drinks, ice cream and cocktails. This was a nice alternative to staying in the hotel bar every night. (Even some of the hotel staff came up later in the evening) The included trips are interesting and the Amalfi Coast trip very picturesque. If you like swimming in the sea, there is a small local bus which stops just outside the hotel about every hour. For 1.20 euro you can go to local coastal town/villages. Santa Maria di Castellabate has a lovely sandy beach and the sea is fabulous there. I loved this holiday.

Gina

Just to let you know, i have booked September 5th 2013 for Tuscany!

Mark