Our group was 29 plus the two guides. It was a nice size!
For kayaking, you could rent the water shoes there. None of my family brought any. My memory is a little foggy on this, but I'm almost sure they were required not just suggested.
I would definitely wear a bathing suit under your clothes on the kayaking day. You WILL get wet. If it's done the same way this year, there's a lovely place to eat after kayaking and there's a place to change into dry clothes.
The Aix hotel was just fine -- clean and comfortable but more like a Hilton than a Westin (which isn't a complaint!). The location was wonderful and close to the town center, and the outside pool area, where we spent a lot of time socializing in the evening, was really pretty.
I do love traveling with my family, thanks! This is a funny video of my 21-year-old from the wine tasting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugXQDe-s040 I'm not posting the link to the Bella Italia videos because it gives away a little bit of the surprise.
On our recent Bella Italia trip, I was able to have a date exclusively for me and invited folks who had traveled with us in the past (or who were my clients and who I knew would fit right in!). I'm hoping we can do that again next year -- I know most of us are ready and we just have to decide when and where!
Dotti