dcliptak

Not only first time travelers to Italy, but also my first post here. I've been reading these forums since last September and have found your advice incredibly helpful. But I think I have Italy overload, and I can't seem to figure out the last few details. Our trip thus far-

6/6 Arrive Venice 9 AM Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo.
6/9 Early Train to Florence Alloro B&B.
6/12 Early Train to Pisa- 1/2 day trip- pick up car in Pisa, drive to San Gimignano – Hotel Leon Bianco.
6/13 Depart San G. mid morning, Explore Siena; Continue on to Rezidenza Il Poggiolo, San Quirico d'Orcia (agriturismo). Day trips, relax, explore.
6/17 Depart San Quirico, Drop car near a train station and continue by train to Rome Apartment;
6/21 Home

My dilemmas?

1. Which neighborhood in Rome? I’ve found lots of great apartments- primarily near Trevi, Piazza Navonna, and Campo de Fiore. But which area is best for a family, with daughters age 9 and 13? We are evening people- we would like to meander home after dinner, enjoying the nightlife, eating gelato, and practicing our bad Italian on anyone who will listen. I’m leaning toward Campo de Fiore, with Piazza Navona coming in 2nd.

2. Yesterday, my older daughter confronted me with “What do you mean, we’re not going to Pompeii?” Your opinions- can we do a day trip from Rome without giving up too many other must do’s (keeping in mind that I already caved on Pisa) ?

3. After leaving San Quirico d’Orcia, what is a good spot to drop off the car and catch a train into Rome- We don’t mind driving, just don’t want to deal with the city traffic.

Please keep your wonderful advice coming-

Nikki

Those three areas of Rome are all pretty close to each other, and all would meet your requirements. I stayed in an apartment near the Trevi Fountain, which was great, but it is probably a ten minute walk to either the Piazza Navona or Campo de Fiore.

I loved Pompeii, and have done it as a day trip from Rome twice, but you only have three full days in Rome. I would wait till you get to Rome and see how you feel. It does not have to be planned in advance. I suspect you will not want to take time from Rome, but if Pompeii is a true passion, you might want to find a way to get there.

Vttraveler

I would pick an apartment in the Piazza Navonna or Campo de' Fiori neighborhood. I would be careful to check for noise problems especially in the Campo area. Our 16 year old son really enjoyed walking around the Piazza Navonna and Piazza Rotunda area at all times of day/evening

I think a trip to Pompeii is too long/far for your short time in Rome. You could consider Ostia Antica which is a much closer day trip you could do in a half day. My experience is that Rome is much harder to enjoy if you try to cram sightseeing into a few days

cheryllj

Tell your daughter to choose between Pompeii and Pisa.

If you want to visit Pompeii, you need to cut out time from the Pisa-San Quirico portion, not the Rome portion. You don't have enough time in Rome as it is.

If you drop some time in Tuscany to fit in Pompeii, you could do a day trip from Rome, or even better, spend 2 nights in Naples and visit Pompeii from there.

daveesl

I'm one of those that likes doing a lot in a trip, but this seems a bit of overkill.

Ok, you have 14 almost total days, really a bit more than 13. You'll be traveling on the 9th, 12th, 13th and 17th.

2+ days in Venice

2+ days in Florence

I say 2+ because you have to get to the hotel, check in and have you determined if your hotels allow early check-in? If not, then you can maybe arrive early, drop off the bags, do some sites, return and check-in.

3+ days in Pisa and San G.

3 days in Rome.

Now, if you go to Pompei, you lose a day in Rome. You are cutting short the one city that arguably has the most to offer. That also depends on what you are all interested in. Having Venice/Florence/Pisa/Rome I'd have to believe art and architecture with history. Since this is a first trip, do you really want to spend all of that time packing and unpacking, getting to trains, waiting, finding hotel/apts?

I do a lot by trying to find one or two base of operations and then star out from there. Like do Venice for 3 days then go to Rome for 11. You'll get a better rate on the apt and have more time.

From Rome do a day trip to Pompeii. Maybe do a 2 day trip, with an overnight stay in Florence. On the way back from Florence you could go to Pisa. You would still have 7-8 days in Rome, where you could see lots of normal stuff, plus do some other things, like Ostia Antica or Tivoli.

Just a thought

dave

jgg

I agree with others who suggest you may be trying to fit too much in. I definitely think it is unnecessary to stay overnight in Florence, San G and San Quirico. Too much moving around and packing/unpacking.

Our favorite area in Rome is near the Pantheon (Piazza della rotunda) but next would be near the Piazza Navona and then Campo De Fiore.

About Pompeii. Our kids were the same age the first time we went to Italy and my daughter said the same thing when I told her I didn't think we could fit in Pompeii. We have now taken 2 trips to Italy and still haven't been to Pisa or Pompeii. We still want to go, but have no regrets that we didn't squeeze those in as we had an incredible time seeing what we did see.

Our kids were 12 and 9 the first time we went (now 15 and 12). Here is a link to our trip report you may find helpful: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34599242

SusanP

In Rome, I would choose the Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori area.

I agree that you might have too many hotels but wouldn't go past Florence to Rome, only to come back to Florence for an overnight. That really doesn't make sense. Maybe extend the stay in Florence by a night and do Pisa as a daytrip from there (actually 1/2 day). Then pick up your car in Florence and see either San Gimignano or Siena on your way to Il Poggiolo.

I also don't think you have time to go to Pompeii from Rome. You barely have enough time there as it is. I would probably take a night from Il Poggiolo and add it to Rome (which still really doesn't give enough time to go to Pompeii).

suziem

Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori are practically 'next door' to each other. Our family of 4 (with two teen boys) and another family of 8 (with 3 teens & 3 grade schoolers) stayed in two apartments in Palazzo Olivia, which is right between the two piazzas. Absolutely perfect location. We loved our stay there.

On a prior trip with just our family, we did a day trip to Pompeii with a private guide. It was a full day, 8am-6pm. Our boys who were then 10 & 12 yrs old, still talk about how much they enjoyed it. If you have a day to spare away from Rome, I'd recommend it, specially if you can afford a private guide. We used one we booked through initaly.com. The guide handled everything from the train tickets to lunch and was great with our kids.

Let me say though, our teenage boys agree after 4 trips to Italy, their favorite city by far is ROME. They'd be content there for a week.

nini

Another vote for Campo de Fiori. Lots of good restaurants in that area also.

abynrml2106

Another vote for Palazzo Olivia. My husband and I stayed there for 2 weeks. It is not far from many sites and very near a bus stop for others. In 2 weeks we were never bored, walked to almost everywhere and the woman who manages the apts. is very helpful. There is a fresh food and flower market in Campo de Fiore and a supermarket nearby. Daily shopping gave me a sense of how the Romans live. Enjoy!

swisshiker

Hello dcliptak, and welcome to Fodor's

We find that the Pantheon area works best for us. It's amazing how close this area is to so many of the historical sights, plus all the restaurants nearby. And it's a great place to meander after dinner, as you say, with your nightly gelato!

Happy travels!

palatino82

I vote for Campo dei Fiori area. While my family enjoys Piazza Navona at night, sometimes there are more unsavory characters hanging around there. Campo dei Fiori doesn't have as many of those, and you will enjoy being near the market too. Also Campo dei Fiori bars & restaurants are more reasonably priced and less touristy than the Piazza Navona ones.

dcliptak

Wow- I knew I was coming to the right place!

So I have informed the daughter she can throw some coins in Trevi Fountain on this trip and see Pompeii when she comes back; my husband and girls will day trip to Pisa to hang off the tower while I (with the art degree) stay in Florence and enjoy the museums and churches.(Of course, they will see the biggies!) Then we'll leave directly from Florence.

I'm still having trouble with giving up San Gimignano; does it really take that long to check into a hotel in Italy? I can see the wisdom in dropping that night and adding it to Rome...I guess I just have to think about how that will work with the things we want to see in Tuscany and Umbria. (Assisi and horsebackriding being non-negotiable requirements.)

I have made sure that we can check in early or at least leave our bags everywhere we are staying, and we are carryon travelers, so we will not be schlepping luggage. If we can't carry it, we don't pack it.

As for Rome-given your feedback, I think we will aim for Campo di Fiore or Pantheon; Suziem and abynrml2106, thanks for the tip on Palazzo Olivia; I hadn't seen that one and it looks perfect, and perfectly central, which is most important.

Still one question about the car- should we just turn it in in the airport? Seems that I read there are additional taxes involved with that?

Just an aside- we have a method to our travel madness. We each make a list of 1 thing in each city that we MUST see and other things we would like to see if possible. Our philosophy is if we do each person's "must", then everything else is icing on the cake (or sprinkles on the gelato?)

Thanks for curing my overload- I'll get the planning stuff back out on Saturday and take a look at that middle leg of the trip.

swisshiker

Hello again dcliptak

I am always on the prowl for different apartments, so I've been closely following this thread.

I googled the Olivia apartment. It looks lovely but a bit over my general budget.

If you look at the map from the apartment's website, just three streets over is Via Sora. This is where I stayed last year. While we still prefer the Pantheon area, we found this particular area very handy for public transportation. The main city buses are practically at your doorstep (running up and down Vitorrio Emanuele).

If you can locate the intersection of Via Sora and Governo Vechio, that is where the famous DaBaffetto Pizzeria is.

Also, the Vit. Emanuele street is a large, busy street (cars, buses, taxis, lots of people), but the side streets are small, more like alleyways. Mostly pedestrians and scooters, some smaller cars, but nothing like the big street.

charnees

Well,, I don't want to add to your overload, but if you find the prices at Palazzo Olivia a bit high, look at the one we are staying in come May: http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_giulia-gold.html

It's about a quarter of a mile further away from Campo De' Fiori, I think, but probably a lot quieter. And larger, I think. The drawback is it's one bedroom with two daybeds in the living room. But according to a review on Tripadvisor.com it's quite large. The photos I have seen of Via Giulia are quite pretty. the street is 500 years old this year, and there are even tours being given of the street. See http://eternallycool.net/?p=1194

highflyer

If you don't mind steps check out the apt. we stayed at in November. We loved the area (very close to the Pantheon with grocery stores nearby).

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_gesu.html

If anyone is very tall or very large you might find the shower a squeeze! (My husband is 6'4')
The balcony is lovely though.

SusanP

I just have to say that I've spent 38 days in Rome (over 5 trips), always staying very close to Piazza Navona, ending practically every night there with a drink after dinner in one of the cafes, and have certainly not seen very many of unsavory characters!

dcliptak

Well, I have revised the itinerary- Thank you all for making me see reason!

6/6 - arrive Venice 9 am
6/9 - depart early for Florence
6/12- depart Florence early (8 am) - stop at San G?, Siena, arrive late at S. Quirico
6/16- depart S. Quirico very early, Assisi, arrive Rome late
6/21 - depart Rome for home

Fingers crossed that all the adjustments to the reservations go through.

That 3 nights and days in Venice,
3 nights, 2.5 days in Florence,
1 Travel Day- Siena, maybe San Giminagno
4 nights, 3 days San Quirico
1 Travel Day- through Assisi, on to Rome
5 Nights, 4 days in Rome.

We plan to split up on occasion, especially in Florence, so that everyone is seeing the things they want to see, and I'm still working out the Assisi details.

Thank you all for the fantastic recommendations- I've contacted Sleep in Italy about 2 Rome apartments (down from a list of 14!!). With any luck one of them will be available:
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_orso1.html
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_paradisobig.html
After reading some trip reports, I think we will splurge on a guided tour of the Sistine chapel, Vatican Museum, St. Peter's etc. - but perhaps those questions are best saved for a new thread-

Ciao!
PS- can anyone tell me how to get a link to show up correctly?

etruria

Guidebook writer's tips:-
-The central area of Rome or Trastevere for first time visitor so you can walk almost everywhere
-if you do hop on the 64 bus be aware of who is around you, remembr its one of the pickpockets' fave routes, and along with Porta Portese, the flea market, a goldmine for them.
-other tips on www.elegantetruria.com

KellyRome3

You have gotten a lot of great suggestions, and I tend to agree that Pompeii would really rush things for you.

However, if you decide that it is best for your family (only you can make that decision), either hire a driver or go on a bus tour for a day trip. There is a garbage problem in the province where Naples is located, and it is pretty disgusting in places (yes, piles of trash as tall as I am near the main train station). Places like the ruins at Pompeii will not have a problem, but public transportation might be a little gross for your family.