We have three children aged six, four and two and would like a mix of culture, sun and activity within three hours' flight. We are aware of the sports-centric firms such as Club Med, which cater well for children. However, ours would prefer a mix of art, crafts and music as well as sport. Does anyone offer this? Budget is not a major issue.Paul Ashley, via e-mailA. It is true that sports whether on land or in the water are the main focus at activity-based summer resorts and hotels such as those run by Club Med (0700 2582 633, www.clubmed ) and Mark Warner (08708 480480, www.markwarner.co.uk).
But both these companies also offer a range of other activities for young children though, indoors and out, so it might be worth a second look.However, I have two other suggestions bearing in mind budget not being an issue. First is the Forte Village near Cagliari on the southern tip of Sardinia. This is a complex of hotels and bungalows scattered around 60 acres of luxuriant shrubs under a shady canopy of pine and palm trees. Brick paths lead through the foliage down to a long beach which shelves very gently into the sea. Lots of international glitterati hide from the limelight here.
"The Caribbean in the Mediterranean", Forte likes to style it. When I visited with my youngsters, we found that you are treated like somebody special even if you are only knee-high to a grasshopper.My three took with alacrity to the children's club where they rushed around in a babble of Italian, French, German and English, playing beach games and tennis; or in the heat of the afternoon clay modelling in an air-conditioned playroom. I seem to remember quite a lot of singing.For your dose of culture, there are some extensive Roman ruins at Nora on a nearby headland. A little further afield you'll find the swamps of Giara de Gesturi where you can spot moufflons and wild ponies galloping across expanses of shallow water. If you are feeling energetic, you can tramp through the heady perfumed tangle of wild shrubs, herbs and flowers that blanket the southern slopes of Sardinia. This is the macchia, which emigrant Sards from New York to Sydney reminisce about.Booked through Magic of Italy (08700 270500, www.magictravelgroup.co.uk), a week's stay in late August would cost £3,762.50, including flights from Gatwick to Cagliari, transfers, accommodation in a family bungalow, half-board meal plan and all facilities in the children's club.Second, if you are really willing to splash out, consider Powder Byrne (020 8246 5300, www.powderbyrne ), which specialises in luxury family beach holidays.
