What the grown ups thought: 'An enchanting holiday house in a fantastic scenic spot that helped make a brilliant break. Great to be able to take the train to Pisa, which surpassed our expectations, and just as quick a train journey to Lucca, a beautiful old city whose walls you can cycle round.

The children have loved the proximity of the beach and it's amazing seeing the snow-capped mountains whilst paddling in the sea. Wonderful wild flowers, birds, lizards and butterflies.'

From the children: 'It has been really great staying here and we don't want to leave. Swimming in early April is pretty cold - but fun. We also picked a lot of oranges from the tree. Reg the cat has been a great companion and doesn't seem to mind when we constantly pick him up and cuddle him!’

La Lucertola is a gem in the Tuscan mountainside overlooking Pisa. The farmhouse is beautifully equipped and we had a truly relaxing break there. The farmhouse views were so stunning we did not feel the need to go visit other places! The pizza oven was a big hit with the children. The local restaurants were very reasonably priced and served delicious Tuscan food. Luisa and Colin, the owners of the farmhouse, were on hand for any advice.