Stylist’s Felicity Thistlethwaite packed up her two young kids for a luxury, child-friendly Adriatic escape (yes, that really does exist). Think calm waters and soft shores mixed with beach play areas and an award-winning kids club. Here, she shares her verdict on the Venetian coastline and the newly launched Cavallino Bianco resort in Caorle.
If a warm sea breeze, world-class play areas and effortless coastal elegance appeal to your holiday-booking brain then you need to type ‘Cavallino Bianco Caorle’ into your notes app immediately. It would be safe to say most of us picture Venice solely through lagoon eyes: yes, the postcard-perfect canals and historic gondolas are spectacular. But think of this as an invitation to visit a brand-new hotel that reveals an entirely different side of this north-eastern Italian region.
The hotel
I googled this hotel more times than I am willing to admit to – in quiet moments on the train, while eating dinner on the sofa and first thing in the morning with my five-year-old in tow. So before touching down in Venice, I felt confident I knew what the hotel looked and felt like and how my week in Italy with two small kids would go. Reader, let me tell you: I had completely underestimated every part of the trip.
When we touched down at Marco Polo airport, it was notable that we peeled off from the crowds – most of whom were headed to the river taxis on the famous waterways of Venice. Heading out into the arrivals lobby, it was comforting to see our pre-arranged private transfer waiting with my name on a board.
The air-conditioned van came equipped with two properly fitted child seats, and within moments we were watching the lagoon give way to glorious green countryside expanses as we travelled north away from the airport. After just under an hour travelling along the coast, we pulled up to Cavallino Bianco Caorle – a striking, contemporary architectural retreat sitting right on the water’s edge. (“It’s pink, mummy!” my daughter shrieked as we pulled in. She’s not wrong.)
From that moment on the hotel staff handled everything: our luggage was whisked inside (two Trunkis in tow), we were escorted into the atrium lobby where chilled refreshments waited for us while check-in was sorted and registration was streamlined; the concierge already had all our information on file, leaving us just to sign the paperwork and collect the keys to our quarters.
The staff didn’t just say hi to me (and my husband) on arrival; every single person addressed the kids too. And while some of our accommodation was provided on a complimentary basis, this review remains entirely impartial and rooted in our actual stay.
Credit: Stylist
Credit: Stylist
We made our way up to a family suite on level three. As we stepped out of the lift we noticed every door had a different animal pictured on the wall beside it – later that day, while on a tour with manager Gianluca, he explained they had done this to help the kids identify their own rooms.
It would be safe to say our suite was nothing less than perfect: a huge private balcony gave way to panoramic vistas stretching out across the sea; the main bedroom had a view out across the coast with an adjacent open-plan shower room and toilet; and the kids had their own room. There were three wardrobes and four TVs, all already connected up to streaming services, so Tractor Ted could blare out to entertain my toddler while the rest of us lobbed our cases down and ran around gasping about how wonderful the place was.
The hotel is built around kids: in our suite we had two single beds in a separate room off the living area complete with hotel-branded teddies, colouring books and pencils, and black-out blinds. For my two-year-old, the bed was set up with a guardrail too. They each had a TV at the foot of their bed (although we were too mean to let them watch it outside of the witching hour when everyone needed 90 minutes of Ariana and Cynthia’s Wicked and a lie-down). There were other thoughtful child-friendly touches, like the main bathroom featuring a giant bath and a low child-size toilet and sink to boot.
The hotel is large but not overwhelming; on arrival the staff explain which lift is the fastest route to your room, and despite there being plenty of rooms (and us staying over the August bank holiday, traditionally a busy time in Italy), it never felt too full. Yes, at dinner time it was busy, but the staff handled it brilliantly, and there was always a happy vibe in the air.
There is an adult-only spa if you can carve out time to go, with a relaxation zone, steam room, sauna and a private pool too. At the spa entrance is the Princess Room too: for €80, your child can have the hour-long experience of being turned into a princess of their choice, including picking out a dress (yes, you get to keep it), having their hair done, nails painted and full glam make-up. We treated our girl to a session, and the smile on her face as she walked around the hotel dressed as the most beautiful Elsa you’ve ever seen made it all worthwhile.
Credit: Stylist
Credit: Stylist
For the kids
If Cavallino Bianco is a sanctuary for adults then it’s an absolute utopia for the children. The dedicated kids’ club is a sprawling expanse of rooms where creative workshops and energetic games grant parents a rare window to actually finish a book by the water or slip away to the treatment rooms. There is a teens’ room complete with all sorts of gaming equipment, an indoor sports room and a ‘chill zone’, where I image they spend most of their time ignoring each other and watching TikToks quite happily.
Separated from the big kids is the area for the younger ones: with a reception logging people in and out it was secure and organised (just what you want when you’re leaving your little ones with people you don’t know). As my son is only two, he was just shy of the age requirement for independent drop-off sessions; my daughter, five, however, was cock-a-hoop at the prospect of mingling with other kids. There were several rooms for her to explore, including a whole imaginative play village – a petrol station, a fancy dress zone and a pretend beauty salon. Every five-year-old’s dream.
The organised fun also seemed quite… fun! My daughter chose to book into a pizza-making session where the restaurant’s head chef joined a gaggle of the kids to show them how to knead dough, stretch out the base and – most importantly – eat pizza like a real Italian. She. Was. Thrilled. (And she ate five slices of her very own hand-stretched pizza, doing us Brits proud.)
Kids club aside, the entire property is welcoming to families; every corridor, dining area and outdoor terrace is built to remove the friction from travelling with small children. When nap time rolled around, pushing my son in the buggy along the peaceful pathways around the grounds of the hotel proved a foolproof way to lull him to sleep as the sea breeze rolled in (and oftentimes I managed all this with a mojito in hand – don’t tell me how to juggle).
I’m going to keep the pool talk brief, because in all honesty I could write a thesis on how brilliant the services were. So here’s the 411: there are multiple pools (we tried out four, there is a fifth adults-only pool in the spa that I can’t vouch for, but it looked tranquil and pleasant).
As a family we chose to start most days around the ‘baby’ pool, ie the most shallow pool that my toddler could walk around but my five-year-old could also swim in. There are slides, fountains, bubbles, shallow parts, splash pads… it’s simply perfect for anyone with young kids. There are beds and loungers everywhere, and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump over to the dining room and bar (although there is also a pool-side service with a QR code to scan).
After nap time we moved over to the ‘big pool’. This is an indoor-outdoor extravaganza. Yes, there is an automatic door with a button to press so you can swim from the indoor pool to the outdoor pool. And yes, there are three slides into another indoor pool (in the same area). There are sprawling beds, an indoor sun spot, hanging cots, a warm toddler pool, a medium-sized pool (with water guns) and occasionally a lifeguard watching over it all.
Credit: Stylist
Credit: Stylist
The food
Mealtimes at Cavallino Bianco trade stress for genuine enjoyment. We took advantage of the all-in package, which meant meals, snacks and soft drinks at meal time were included in the package. (Additional coffees, alcoholic drinks and snacks are subject to additional charges.) The bright, ocean-facing family restaurant completely redefines dining with young children. Breakfast offers a huge spread ranging from fresh cold-pressed juices and seasonal fruits to made-to-order pancakes and a pastry selection that kept my five-year-old completely transfixed. (There is also a giant Lindt chocolate spread pump at the pancake station – you heard it here first.)
If you’re eating at peak times – about 9ish – you will get a visit from the Cavallino Bianco mascot, who does a meet-and-greet with the kids and busts out a dance to the hotel’s very own theme tune.
For lunch and evening meals, the kitchen strikes a helpful equilibrium: sophisticated Mediterranean plates for the grown-ups, eg a locally sourced catch of the day, vibrant risottos and crisp regional whites – in the evenings you can select from three set menus, but I went for ‘From The Sea’ every time. All this runs alongside wholesome, homemade dishes that my children actually devoured. FYI: Yes, they will make your child pasta Bolognese three times a day. Yes, they have Heinz ketchup if you need it. Yes, they have amazing highchairs and provide a bib with every meal.
The afternoon snack offering (think cold meats, cheese, bread rolls and nice salads) is an absolute lifesaver, bridging the gap when post-swimming fatigue sets in (for us all).
Top tip: there is a whole room dedicated to sweets in the lobby (see pic above). It is nothing less than impressive and a great leverage tool for top parents (like me).
Out and about
If you fancy having a recce beyond the resort gates, Caorle’s historic centre is just a short stroll or ride away.
We spent a morning cycling through the vibrant, pastel-hued streets, eating mint-choc-chip gelato and picking up floats for the pool. We borrowed bikes from the hotel at no cost: my husband chose one with a bucket on the front for the kids, while I cycled in a normal bike with a basket on the front for my Diet Coke and Camp Snap camera. Cycling down the road felt super safe and calm with the beach on one side and bars and restaurants along the other.
Another option for a less pool-centric day is to head to the beach. The vast expanse of sandy beach is a real win for this hotel, and they’ve maximised everyone’s enjoyment of the coast by building plenty of cabanas for families to relax in at the water’s edge. Each cabana has two huge sunbeds (literally a bed in the sun) and two sun loungers for those who want to bask in the sunshine. There is a lifeguard on duty watching the sea swimmers and paddlers alike, and if you feel really exuberant, I’d highly recommend paying a little extra for a session of paddleboarding or even a sailing lesson at the Sail&Surf water sports school.
Credit: Stylist
Credit: Stylist
Useful information
The Concept: Cavallino Bianco operates on an all-inclusive family luxury model engineered to streamline parenting while maximizing shared downtime.
Getting there: Venice Marco Polo Airport is the closest, with the option of a smooth private transfer whisking you up the coast in under an hour.
Packing tip: The suites come exceptionally well-stocked with essentials, meaning you can leave bulky travel gear behind and reserve suitcase space for souvenirs. For anything you do forget, the hotel has an impressive shop in-house and the town centre is a 5 minute walk down the beach.
Prices: For further details, room configurations, and reservations at Cavallino Bianco Caorle, visit cavallino-bianco.com. Rooms start from €550/night on an all-inclusive basis.
Images: writer’s own