Club Family Hotel Palace Lido

The gray concrete exterior of the Lido leaves something to be desired, but the surrounding grounds -- full of fresh flowers and green foliage, not to mention the expansive private beach -- offset the architectural blah-ness. The spacious lobby has padded benches and metal-legged chairs, and is connected to a TV room where movies and videos are played. The latter looks and feels much like a classroom -- an example of the hotel's focus on being kid-friendly. The beach is lined with perfectly straight rows of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Back inside, the hallways and stairways are almost completely devoid of decoration, but the glass elevator looks out to the beach and sea. The main restaurant also follows the no-frills decoration plan, but has awesome views of the beach from its glass window. Because it is a hotel geared toward families, there are toys and activities for kids everywhere, from the large bouncy play area on the beach, to the foosball and games near the beach bar, to the dedicated nursery of colorful tables, to the baby food specialty area at the restaurant buffet.

Located right on the beach of Lido di Savio, the hotel is surrounded by open space, forests, and beach. The only attractions within walking distance are other hotels, but a bus stops around the corner -- about five minutes away -- and goes to Mirabilandia theme park, about a 15-minute drive away. The shops, restaurants, and nightlife of Milano Marittima are about 10 minutes away by car. The Ravenna Railway Station is about 30 minutes away by car, and the small La Spreta Airport is 20 minutes away. Coming from Bologna proves to be a bit of a longer trip. Driving from the center of Bologna takes about an hour and 20 minutes’ drive, while the Bologna airport is about an hour and 15 minutes away.

After walking through the rest of the hotel, it will not come as much of a surprise that the rooms are not especially colorful or character-endowed. Barebones as they are, though, each of the Lido’s 80 rooms does in fact have a balcony with a great view, an LCD satellite TV mounted on the wall, a well-functioning air conditioner, safe, and hairdryer. There's even the ability to check in on the early side. The furniture is otherwise basic. The bathrooms are rather cramped, each equipped with just a stand-up shower, toilet, small sink, and mirror. Families can get interconnected rooms that comfortably sleep up to six people.

The all-inclusive hotel package has some adult bonuses. In addition to free access to the private beach and buffet meals with ample, mountainous offerings of salads, pasta, baby food specialty items, and meat-cooking stations, there are unlimited drinks that include wine and beer. The hotel’s bar also offers free drinks around the clock, which means free coffee, cappuccino, and tea for guests to enjoy at their leisure. Each room is assigned an umbrella and two lounge chairs on the beach, and kids have free access to the enormous inflatable playground. The list of amenities for families is exhaustive: there is a kids' club with activities all day, baby “parking” services, an indoor nursery/play area, and a pediatrician on-site. Another highlight is that the hotel holds weekly theme nights featuring chocolate fountains and local cuisine. Parking is also free, and bicycles are available to rent -- with child seats, of course.