Old River Lignano Sabbiadoro

We had our best seaside holiday so far with a child, especially considering the value for money. There was plenty of very good food, and the staff were nice and diligent, speaking English, Italian, German, Slovak and Czech. Tomasso, the owner and manager, takes good care of the hotel.

Dinner was good, usually pasta, a main course and ice cream, with dessert or fruit if you wanted. Drinks weren’t free. There’s private parking as well as free spaces along the street, but the hotel lot was often full, so I had to drive around nearby streets to find an open spot. Breakfast was the same every day. I was told by a waitress that dinner drinks were free, then got charged for them at checkout. There was no written dinner menu either. The waitress had to come to the table and say the options out loud, which made it hard to understand what I wanted to order.

For €45 per person per night, this hotel gave us good value, especially with young kids and a plan to spend most of the day out. It’s in a quiet area about 200m from the beach, with a small playground outside beside the pool. Most guests seemed to be Czech or Italian families with little children. Breakfast and dinner were included. The menu felt much the same each day, with Italian-style pasta and risotto at dinner and a good choice of fruit and vegetables. There’s free ice cream during the day, though it wasn’t as good as what you’d get at private Gelaterias. The service, food, and cleanliness felt in line with the price. Our room was well kept, and the sheets and towels were changed daily. The hotel has around 50 rooms. I’d recommend it if you’re on a tight budget and travelling with small children, as long as you’re not expecting luxury.

The staff were great, and breakfast was good. It’s about a five-minute walk to the beach, and the rooms were okay.