Villaggio Ginepri

Villaggio ai Ginepri in Caorle is a calm, affordable place to stay near the lagoon. The rooms and apartments are spacious and have kitchens, which makes it easy to cook for yourself. The air conditioning kept us comfortable in the summer, although the units hadn't been deep cleaned. The outdoor pool was well maintained, and the common areas and rooms looked clean. The strong chlorine smell may bother some people, even if it reflects pool sanitation. There's no internet connection, which is inconvenient if you need to stay online but could also help you disconnect. It's a pleasant, comfortable base with a bit of Italian charm.

A large, pleasant pool with plenty of loungers, plus a mini pool for kids, makes this a good place to relax. Families should find it especially handy, though it isn't only for them. The apartments are furnished and fully equipped, and have air conditioning. Parking is available, and the main buildings each have an elevator. It's under a ten-minute walk to the beach, or you can take the free electric train. Aliper supermarket is about seven minutes away on foot, with a good selection and prices. I recommend the place.

The pool is a strong point, with plenty of sunbeds through the day and a small pool for kids. Our two-storey townhouse had a little unfenced garden. The beach train, the nearby Ali supermarket and the location for trips along the Venetian coast were useful too. Ali has most of what you might need on holiday. The sandy beach works well for toddlers, though the typical Venetian-style beach isn't really my thing. The place is generally not bad, and you get what you pay for, but I won't return because of check-in. We waited two hours for the keys in front of reception, the worst check-in I've had in 20 years of business and leisure travel. The area is a low-cost holiday destination, mostly for Germans and Eastern Europeans, with a few Italians. Lots of people seemed to smoke all day, from dusk until dawn, so airing the room through the windows or doors wasn't an option. There were lots of mosquitoes, and ordinary repellents didn't do much. It's also a purpose-built holiday development on the lagoon in the municipality of Caorle, rather than Caorle itself, so it didn't feel like real Italy to me.

It's a quiet place to relax, about 500 metres from the beach. There's a large pool for adults, a smaller one for children, and a market five minutes away on foot.