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3 week Italy trip with 12 and 14 year old - 2017

3 week Italy trip with 12 and 14 year old - 2017

Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:22 PM
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3 week Italy trip with 12 and 14 year old - 2017

I am planning on a July 2017 3 week trip to Italy with my family of 4, which includes a 12 and 14 year old.

I have learned, though rough vacations in the past, that my family enjoys staying in one place for more than just a few days. So I feel that my 3 week itinerary should include just 3 stays, minus those travel days, of course. So my trip could be 21-24 days.

I have been focusing on Rome, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast as my three stops. I am not that interested in Venice or Cinque Terre, but you might convince me.

What we are looking for:
- beach (swimming) time: I understand most beaches aren't sandy, but swimming is important
- small town time: I would like my kids to feel somewhat comfortable, enough that they might be able to roam a bit on their own.
- local time: Along with above, we would like to visit markets and not eat much in restaurants
- airbnb options: Would like to stay in town, or near the water
- Rome time: Not my kids speaking here, but my wife and I would like to see the sights
- some quiet time: I know that summer in Italy is far from quiet, but can we stay in a small town that is somewhat quiet at times?


Questions:
1. Are there other areas that we should visit/replace?
2. What is the best flow for these three areas?
3. Where to fly in and out of?
4. What are the best towns to stay in in Tuscany and Amalfi?

Okay, that's it for now. Thanks for your advice!
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 04:26 AM
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I can only reccomand you a little town along the Amalfitan coast, Albori, it is a car free town, realy quiet, only 5 minutes from Vietri sul Mare, where you can go to the sea, take the bus into the amalfitan coast, to Pompeii or to Salerno which is nice to visit and where you can take the boat to Capri or to Amalfi. You can visit two big markets in Salerno (along the amalfitan coast it's difficult to find big markets!) And the town is car free, so your kids and you can walk around or go into the mountains..

For the amalfitan coast I would say fly to Neaples, from the airport you need about 1 hour to get to Albori (by car) there are some direct busses to Salerno from the airport or you can go by train.

If you realy stay in the amalfitan coast it is more difficult to reach for example Pompeii or Naples, Albori is very central with busses, trains and highway. The beach is the biggest from the amalfitan coast and you can take for few money a boat which you will bring to some private beaches where you only can come by boat, these are realy beautiful and I am sure your children love them!
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 06:14 AM
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Hi. We just returned from a 3 week France trip with kids the same ages. We started in Paris because that would be the most tiring and ended in Provence bc that would be the most relaxing. This worked out perfectly. WE stayed in 3 places also for the same reason you said. I loved the 3 weeks but my kids did get homesick at about 2 1/2 weeks.

Our second and third destination had pools-a necessity for all of us. We also played petanque and ping pong. Some days kids refused to move so DH and I would do activities on our own and that worked out well.

Have a great trip.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 07:35 AM
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If you want a quiet time in Rome it is possible but you need to stay in a more residential area away from the main sites but along the train system. I recommend the Vatican. You can find appartments or even small hotels .

So either in the streets near Ottaviano metro stop or Roma St Pietro station. Both are close to but not in the action, the St Pietro is especially close but it is quiet.

In Tuscany you need to decide, public transport or cars? Need a pool.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 08:46 AM
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There is a very nice beach at Sperlonga, taking 1:10 from the Roma Termini Station [Fondi-Sperlonga]. You could head there directly upon landing in Rome. Trains to Firenze SM Novella 3 hours, 1.5 hours back to Rome.

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

Quickest way to the Amalfi Coast from Sperlonga would be Napoli Centrale by train [1.5 hours] and a private transfer.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 10:40 AM
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I think that mixing it up is a good idea.

Rome first also seems like a good idea to me because it's full on excitement and then you can slow it down a bit.

A pool in Tuscany and a house or apartment where you can cook shouldn't be that hard. A small villa or agriturismo with apartments ought to work. Unless there are specific things you want to see in some part of Tuscany, you could also consider Umbria.

Amalfi Coast: really have not beached here. I've stayed in the bigger towns, Sorrento, Salerno (neither on the AC), Positano and Amalfi and on Capri. I think a week on Capri would be about the most heavenly thing possible, but I don't know about a rental with a pool. You could spend more time at the beaches, but they are more like platforms than beaches.

You might think of trading the Amalfi Coast for the Italian Riviera. A town like Santa Margherita Ligure (weekly markets) or smaller Camogli will provide beach time and lots of opportunities for day trips. I would let me kids wander there in the day for a few hours.

Flying, land in Rome, stay there, proceed either north or south to your coastal town, then on to Tuscany or Umbria and fly out of Rome.

I assume you are from North America and you can't get direct flights to NA from many airports in Italy (Rome, Venice, Milan I think. There used to be one to Pisa but not sure if it has been cut).
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 02:44 PM
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I am crazy about Venice. But it is hard to "convince" you when I don't know why you are "not that interested" in the first place!
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 03:07 PM
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I am interested in both of those places, but have read and heard from folks that:

Cinque Terre is overrun with tourists, more so that the normal crush of crowds. Also that people often choose between CT and Amalfi - so I chose Amalfi.

Venice sounds nice, but have also heard people say it is also very crowded. Also it is another site - I don't want to travel from city-to-city every three days. I know there is a sector of travellers who say "if you go there you HAVE to see xyz" - I am not that traveller.

So those reasons don't sound so ironclad, but I just don't want to go everywhere. Of the three places I have talked about (Amalfi, Rome and Tuscany) - Florence seems to be the new site to add.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 05:42 PM
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To make the trip most enjoyable for everyone be sure the kids are involved from the very beginning. Out first trip to London and Paris with DDs, then 11 and 14, they were very involved in picking sights, activities, restaurants and shopping. (We are not beach people in europe since we have such great ones here we use many weekends.)

They loved this, had lot of things they wanted to see and do and after a couple of days they would go off for an afternoon to do teen girly things while DH and I did things we preferred. (They were city kids used to subways and both loved the chance to use their school French in Paris.) Also there is no reason for all 4 people to be joined at the hip every day. You can divide in kids and parents or boys and girls or whatever based on your interests.

Just make sure they have read enough (have them check out the Let's Go Student Guides for things young people like) and learn at least the basic polite phrases in Italian.

As for places I love Venice but you won;t get a pool there - much more likely at an agriturismo in Tuscany but then you will need to rent a car to get around to the various villages.

I would not do CT in the summer, esp for a whole week - it's SO crowded and really not that much to do. The AC had much more between the small towns on the coast, Isle of Capri, Naples and the ruins of Pompeii (do this early AM - it's very hot and no shade).
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 07:23 PM
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Well, dammit, I have done a bit more digging into the Italian Riviera and it seems like a place to go. And dammit, Venice seems like a place to go, too.

What do you think of a Venice - Italian Riviera - Tuscany - Rome trip in mid-June? Better to start South and head North?

My original trip was Amalfi Coast - Tuscany - Rome.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 08:16 PM
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After a few days in Rome, you can catch an early train to Chuisi-Chianciano Terme, arriving just after the Hertz office opens. Spend 3 or so nights possibly near Pienza, exploring towns in this very scenic area of Tuscany [look up the Val d'Orcia]. Dump the car at the Florence airport and head to town. Besides what the city has to offer, this is a useful hub for various day trips--Siena, Lucca, Pisa, Montacatini, Bologna and Cortona to name a few. We are very partial to Santa Margherita Ligure, a charming town with various ferry trips. A mid-morning train from Floence takes about 3 hours. Then on to Venice.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 11:33 PM
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Direction is not an issue, I'd decide on flight timings, avoid 6am flights out of Europe etc. It will be hot but not too crowded, however both Rome and Venice will be busy.

For me the trick to Venice is enjoy the main areas before the tripper boats vomit out their passangers and after they go home to eat in the evening, but take "vaps" off to other places during the middle of the day.

I like the change and is a good use of 3 weeks
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 04:43 AM
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G,

Sounds like a wonderful plan next year to Rome, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. I would fly into and out of Rome or into Rome and home from Naples if possible. Spend a week in Rome, rent a car and enjoy Tuscany. Many places in Tuscany have a pool, although I'm less familiar with airbnb. During my stay in Tuscany we drove from Venice (with a stop in Lake Garda). We stayed in san gimignano but not in the center of the town (Hotel La Collegiata, has a pool) and toured around the hill towns. As one of the posters above said, let the kids contribute to planning this to keep them involved and excited. I liked Sienna and the Chianti region. I also stayed in PIenza in this beautiful (but affordable in my opinion) estate with a pool: http://www.lasaracina.it/.

I think the children would love Capri. I think they may enjoy staying in Capri town verses anacapri. Also, Positano is charming. Many hotels have pools as the beach is rocky. Although people still enjoy the beach.

Have a wonderful trip!
Natalie
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 04:57 AM
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Before making any suggestions, where are you from?

You mention the age of your kids but what sex are they? This helps as to what they might be interested in.

Do you and your family have any specific interests apart from those already mentioned?
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 06:09 AM
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We are from Seattle. Girl will be 14, boy 12. Both are very active. We definitely cannot "stroll" and sightsee every day, need some action every few days.
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 06:20 AM
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Venice is the perfect place to get over jet lag and start a trip to Italy. No cars, trucks, vespas. Instead garbage scows, water taxis, water buses (vaporetti), etc. The best sightseeing is wandering around the back "streets." Your kids will love it.

But Venice IS crowded in the summer. You could stay on the Lido, a barrier type island with a long beach lined with hotels. But it's not Venice, has cars and you must take a vaporetto to Venice proper.

I'd push Venice, to me one of if not the most beautiful city in the world, just because global warming is raising the sea level. Who knows how long Venice will be there?
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 01:12 PM
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We just returned from a 15 day trip; we actually started in Lucerne, Switzerland, but then took the train to Venice and worked our way down to Florence, Rome, then Sorrento, and flew home out of Naples (to Minnesota). Our party consisted of 3 moms and 4-18 year old daughters. They enjoyed finishing our trip in Sorrento as there was more beach time, it was more relaxing, and just a nice change from all walking/sightseeing of the other places. We used airbnb for all our accomodation and it was a great experience. All the places were crowded in June, but in Venice, we stayed in the Canareggio district, about a 30 minute walk from the train station and it was wonderful! There weren't the crowds of tourists that the more popular sites had but it was a short walk to all the places we wanted to see. Your kids will enjoy helping plan the trip; have a wonderful time!
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 01:45 PM
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How was the weather? It sounds like we are going to do the exact same trip as you!
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 02:00 PM
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Rome was very hot; it was 97 degrees and humid; I have told people I don't believe I have ever drank so much water in my life! The nice thing about Rome is there are fountains all over to refill your water bottles. Lots of sunscreen is required! Sorrento was warm too, in the 80's, but not muggy and I thought the weather was perfect (for me, anyways)! I'm so excited for you; I just loved Italy and hope your family does, too!
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 02:08 PM
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Well, hot damn, it is official. Just booked our one way tickets to Venice for June 23 next year. Can't wait. Now the serious and intense (and fun!) research begins.

Thanks for all of your help, so far. You will be hearing more from me1
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