Glow getter
Get off that sunlounger and get active on a sporty break to a new hotel in the heel of Italy
For most people, a summer holiday means heading somewhere warm with a decent stretch of beach, breaking out the sunglasses and slapping on the sun lotion. And little else.
But if you’re like me and you start fidgeting on a sunlounger after a few minutes, an activity holiday is perfect for the restless.
With the motto “relax as hard as you like”, Neilson is renowned for exactly this type of getaway, so we headed to its new resort in Calabria, in the arch of Italy’s boot.
I kicked off my first morning with a yoga session led by Josie on the roof deck. After finishing the class with a sun salutation, Josie explained that most morning’s fitness would begin with HIIT (high intensity interval training) followed on alternate days by either yoga or Pilates.
For hardier souls who fancy a more intensive workout, boot camp, cardio blast, Zumba and boxercise are also on offer, with personal training available for a small additional cost.
Afterwards we gathered at the Piazza bar to find out the colour-coded schedule for the week’s activities split into beach, bike, tennis, fitness and watersports. You take your pick much like an a la carte dinner menu.
The bike runs are rated in levels of difficulty – green, blue, red, and black – just like in skiing. The black run is a gruelling 67km ride in four hours... my group opted for a more sedate cycle on mountain bikes through the idyllic Southern Italian countryside.
The resort has 120 rooms (most with balconies) as well as eight smaller villas around the main hotel itself. Surrounded by citrus farms, it has stunning views of fields, pine forest and the distant mountain range beyond.
For those looking to escape the confines of the hotel, both road and mountain bikes are available and the surrounding countryside has spectacular views with a variety of routes to choose from, some through the Foce del Crati nature reserve.
Each day, poolside, a number of brave souls would congregate for aquarobics, gentle exercise using the resistance of the water. Against my better judgment I took the plunge. It was a surprisingly intense workout – enough to feel I had earned an evening drink at the Piazza.
The following morning, feeling both self-righteous and famished after the morning Pilates, I decided a hearty cooked breakfast was in order. For late risers (or those less hungry), a continental choice is available until 11am.
The dining at Airone Beachclub is “Club Board” which means breakfast and lunch every day plus four evening meals per week. On non-inclusive evenings, there’s a barbecue or you can try one of the local restaurants.
Unfortunately, the inclusive lunch and evening meals fell somewhat short of what we’d expected for a four-star property. Having raised this with rep Sonia, she pointed to the fact that the hotel was in its trial week during our stay and that they were seeking to address these issues.
On our non-inclusive days we tried a local beach restaurant, Lido Aurora, just a short stroll from the hotel. Great food and I can highly recommend their signature chocolate tart. Be warned: on non-
inclusive days you may need to book in advance.
If you are looking to go further afield, a trip to Rossano is worthwhile. With an 11th century cathedral to visit and a smattering of restaurants to choose from, we had a great evening out.
Back at Airone Beachclub watersports are exceptionally well catered for and include sailing, wind surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking.
Royal Yacht Association certified courses from beginner up are included as part of the package.
I tried my hand at one of the sailing taster courses on offer throughout the week with patient instructor Catherine, and it’s easy to see just how addictive this could become.
If kayaking or SUP is your thing, it’s as simple as helping yourself to safety equipment, grabbing a
kayak or paddleboard and hitting the waves. You can even take a paddle down to a local beach bar. Tennis is the order of the day for many and the hotel has four courts plus a multi-use court. Once again, instruction is on offer from professional coaches and tournaments for all levels run throughout the week and culminate in an awards ceremony at the end of the holiday. The Airone Beachclub opened just last month. The closest airport is Lamezia Terme, newly serviced by a three-hour British Airways charter flight, and the transfer to the hotel took around another hour and 40 minutes. Whether it be tennis, sailing, cycling, water-sports or tackling the climbing wall, Airone Beachclub has something for everyone. Or you could simply lounge by the pool. But with so much to do here, you’d only start to fidget.