A vast, busy resort, mostly originating from the early 1960s, Jesolo provides holidaymakers with an opportunity to relax in a relatively spacious coastal location with pools, beach and comfortable accommodation. The development is dense and rather notorious, providing a basic package for tourists and seemingly beginning to lose its appeal. Three roads follow the coast with 4-star hotels usually sited on the beach and the lower-rated properties behind. Overcrowding has become less of a problem in recent years although the popular central area is subject to some noise and closed to traffic at peak times. At the E end of Jesolo is the Pineta district, where hotels occupy large expanses of partly wooded grounds and where extra sporting facilities, including tennis and volleyball, are usually offered; the area is served by buses but has few shops and is 2 mls from the E-end parade of bars and restaurants. Own transport is recommended if staying in this part of the resort.

Mainly package tours, but some 4-star hotels provide reasonable middlemarket facilities and many make good provision for families.

Broad range of standard, mostly 2- to 4-star hotels, the majority providing full or half board. Watch out for extra charges for using loungers by hotel pools and for air conditioning.

Jesolo Beach stretches the full length of the resort and more, with broader stretches of fine, clean sand towards the E end. Most of the beach is segmented into private sections owned by adjacent hotels, which offer free sunbeds, deck chairs and sun umbrellas; small public slices are available at 50-yd intervals. The full stretch is well covered by lifeguards, has mobile refreshment stalls and offers safe swimming. The locals take over the beach after 4pm and at weekends, when parking is very difficult.

Some supermarkets, but mostly tourist shops selling low-quality mementoes. A few designer boutiques.

Daytime: mostly beach orientated, with water-sports facilities; tennis; horse riding; go-karting. Nightlife: many bars, restaurants, cafes and discos, open late.

Several cafes, ice-cream parlours and bars; fewer restaurants as most guests eat in the hotels. Towards the W end, around Piazza Marina, a few quality restaurants serve the local community.

Bus service from the shops along the resort; a minitrain runs in peak season. Direct bus to Venice and Punta Sabbioni. At weekends, the journey to Venice can take hours and it is better to take the bus to Punta Sabbioni, then the water bus to Lido and St Mark's Square.

Half day: Venetian lagoon by boat; Jesolo village market; Venice by night. Full day: Venice; islands of the lagoon; Padua and Venetian villas; boats to Croatia in peak season. One/two days: Florence; Lake Garda and Verona; Republic of San Marino.

In NE Italy, at the top end of the Adriatic coast. 20 mls NE of Venice; 15 mls SE of Venice airport.

A narrow strip of hotels, restaurants and shops stretching for 5 mls along a straight, sandy beach on a flat expanse of SE-facing coastline.

Website: www.jesolo.it

Airport : Marco Polo
Airport Code: VCE
Flight time from ther U.K.: 2 hrs