Futura Club La Praya

“Not the definitive guide to the Pizzo Calabro Resort”

All in all, what you might expect for the money you pay. If you were expecting more, then pay more for a richer experience elsewhere. It met our budget requirements; the kids were very happy (4 and 7); no complaints from them. The animation was exclusively in Italian - what you might expect from … more

All in all, what you might expect for the money you pay. If you were expecting more, then pay more for a richer experience elsewhere. It met our budget requirements; the kids were very happy (4 and 7); no complaints from them. The animation was exclusively in Italian - what you might expect from a hotel with 95% Italian occupancy. By north European standards, the restaurant would benefit from a staggered dining schedule to avoid waiting for a table or in long queues at the self-service buffet. Although among the throngs of people and ensuing chaos, there is a certain order, and if you don't mind the jostling, you can adapt to the system quite successfully by nicking in when you can, resulting in being seated and ready to eat your three course meal with your family in mere minutes. 'When in Rome....' The swimming pool was boring for older kids, but jazzed up in the afternoon by the presence of the animation bods. The high point of your baking in the sun experience though is the forest walk-through to get to the sea: about ten minutes and worth every step of the journey through an amazing array of fully canopied pine trees and the occasional eucalyptus, to the accompaniment of chattering grasshoppers, (full string orchestra) Never actually saw any but they must have been whoppers! When you actually get to the beach, just bypass all the neatly arranged loungers and go straight for the sea option. When we were there, the kids rode the waves one day, and the next enjoyed the tranquillity of the gentler waves. Every day is slightly different. Blaring music at the beach hut and a DJ who persisted in singing along to the 80s hits in monotones gave us continuous doses of laughter mixed with derision. Rooms - blah de blah....! Important thing is that the beds were comfy, if not entirely fit for a king. We had no complaints, and the best thing was the chirpiness of the cleaning staff every day, like a fully deployed army, but with smiles and Buongiornos! Cabaret was, brace yourself..., not for the serious theatre goer: very much kid centric. Having two sprogs ourselves, we really got into the nightly performances on offer. The stage sets were interactively composed of animators and a million jammy faced kids, all jigging to some unspeakable euro pop. Put your best face on, and don't go on a downer, with the dawning realisation that it is much of the same every night. Go with it! If you want Mantovani, take a look at the faces around you: they clearly don't. Gardens - Absolutely beautiful, 'twas a pity we missed Mandarin season. Francesco, the mini bus driver was happy to take you to the surrounding fishing villages, for a fee; chatty and full of good tips, if you understand Italian. Pizzo was actually quite nice, and the breakwaters made the sea calm. After which, we had a mooch around town, and took in the views and the ice-cream - of which a small discount at Dante's gelateria for guests of the resort was gratefully received. Not much else to say, other than I fully recommend it to those of you who like something of the Fred Pontin/ Billy Butlin spirit minus the 7am hi-de-hi's and the tannoy, but yes, applause does accompany every crockery mishap!

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“Memories of our wedding 3years ago”

Wedding of our friends daughter. POPILIA resort just out side Pizzo The whole area is lovely.picturesque and historic buildings.Beaches are excellent.I is built on a hillside so lots of streets winding and cobbled down to beach .Well worth exploring.

“Great pizza”

Visited lunchtime, 2 enormous pizza exceptional value, good service, friendly English speaking waitress Two pizzas two beers, 1 large 21 euros Mixed meat and cheese platter came past 9 euros was also exceptional large, excellent value