Forte Village is, without a doubt, a children’s paradise. So much so that a whole area of the resort has been transformed into ‘Wonderland’ – a brightly coloured, creative oasis brimming with activities, rides, miniature themed houses and enthusiastic staff gifted in the art of entertaining children for hours on end.
And yet, as I discovered on my recent visit, Forte Village hasn’t just been designed with children in mind – it has successfully created a haven-like space for us adults too. In order to really get to know the vast resort – which is self-contained within 116 acres and features an impressive 21 restaurants alongside an unrivalled range of sporting and children’s facilities – I was offered the opportunity to explore four of the eight accommodation options within the village: Il Castelo, Le Dune, Villa del Parco & Spa, and The Waterfront Suites.
In my opinion, Villa del Parco & Spa is definitely the better option for couples as it is located adjacent to the Acquaforte spa, famous for its range of treatments. That’s not to say families are not welcome however, as there are interconnecting rooms available here too. Offering a mix of hotel rooms and bungalows, all accessibility needs and preferences can be catered to. I was given a tour of a Luxury Room (pictured) which is furnished with very plush furniture and lots of velvet and mirrored glass – so luxurious!
I also had a gourmet dinner at the Belvedere restaurant (pictured) within the Villa del Parco grounds, and the staff were beyond lovely – I was truly treated like royalty. I can highly recommend the mussels to start followed by a fillet steak. It was one of the most exceptional meals I have ever eaten, served in a beautiful setting. If I had to describe this hotel in three words, I would pick opulent, fresh, and peaceful.
Of course, while here, I had to sample the spa and all its offerings. The Thalassotherapy centre at the spa, based on the principle of sea water at different temperatures and different saline densities, is huge and I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting. There are six different pools to float effortless between: the first three sit at a high temperature and contain a high concentration of saline in order to aid detoxification; the final three feature a lower saline concentration and are lower temperatures, and complete the regeneration programme. One of my top three highlights from this trip was my mud bath experience at the spa, which I was informed by the staff complemented the benefits of thalassotherapy by toning and working therapeutically on the skin.
An all-bungalow property in close proximity to Children’s Wonderland and the Mini Club, as well as Piazza Luisa...
Read more about my time hereIl Castello is definitely one of the most upmarket hotels within the village, offering unrivalled views out towards the Mediterranean...
Read more about my time here