Which category to choose, how child seats work under Italian law, which beaches have parking and shade, and how to plan days without rushing.
The first decision is the category, and it is almost always underestimated. With two children, two pushchairs and hold luggage, a compact fills up before you reach the beach. The practical rule: four people with checked bags fit comfortably in a saloon or an SUV; from five upwards you need the seven-seater, which also has the deeper boot.
On child seats Italian law is precise: they are compulsory up to 150 cm in height or 12 years of age, and height matters more than age. You need an infant carrier for the smallest, a child seat for the middle range and a booster for the older ones. With us they are free and in any quantity: tell us each child’s age and weight when you book, so the car is ready with the right ones already fitted.
The second driver, also free, is not a luxury on a family holiday: swapping at the wheel on the way back from a day at the sea changes the tone of the evening. All we need are their details and licence at the time of booking.
On distances, be realistic. In Sardinia a beach "forty minutes away" becomes an hour with one stop, and the last stretch of road is narrow. Better one well-chosen beach a day than three chased. The easiest with small children are those with shallow water and facilities: La Cinta and Cala Brandinchi near San Teodoro, Le Bombarde near Alghero, Poetto in Cagliari, Chia and Tuerredda in the south.
Three practical points worth more than any tourist tip: set off early, because from eleven the car parks near the best-known beaches are full and in high season some accesses are capped; take more water than you think; and remember that natural shade on Sardinian beaches is rare, so the parasol goes in the car.
Finally, the flight. If you land with tired children, what you really need is to skip the queue at the desk: give us your flight number and we will wait for you even if you arrive late, at no extra cost, with the car ready and the child seats already fitted.