3 weeks in Italy - Family of 4

Old Dec 5th, 2016, 02:51 AM
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3 weeks in Italy - Family of 4

This will be our first o/s trip with kids, and a long time since we parents have traveled. Our children are aged 11 & 9. We are after some input around our rough itinerary.
Key considerations
- quality over quantity;
- children friendly options;
- intend to travel predominantly by train.
Rough itinerary March / April 2017,
15/03 - Leave Melbourne, Austalia
16/03 - Day 1: Venice arrive at 1:20pm – Water taxi to accommodation 30 minutes
17/03 - Day 2: Venice
18/03 - Day 3: Venice
19/03 - Day 4: Venice
20/03 - Day 5: Lucca - train
21/03 - Day 6: Lucca – Day trip to Pisa
22/03 - Day 7: Lucca – Day trip to Cinque Terre ? Depending on weather.
23/03 - Day 8: Lucca –
24/03 - Day 9: To Florence – train
25/03 - Day 10: Florence – Tuscany Bike Tour
26/03 - Day 12: Florence –
27/03 - Day 13: Florence –
28/03 - Day 14: To Sorrento (or Positano?) – train
29/03 - Day 15: Sorrento –
30/03 - Day 16: Sorrento –
31/03 - Day 17: Sorrento – Day trip to Naples and Pompeii
01/04 - Day 18: Train to Rome –
02/04 - Day 19: Rome –
03/04 - Day 20: Rome –
04/03 - Day 21: Rome –
05/03 - Day 22: Rome –
06/03 - Day 23: Rome departure for journey home.

We are planning on staying in apartments, Venice already booked. Any feedback / suggestions, including things to do, places to stay, eateries, booking tours and trains appreciated.
hubbs05 is offline  
Old Dec 5th, 2016, 03:57 AM
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Ok, I like the basic structure ... but

March on the CT has in the past been very wet including mud slides etc. Certainy when I've been in Tuscany in March I've watched the rain pour down the car windows.

So, I would not plan on these ooutdoor trips, but if I could do the Tuscany booking with a weather drop-out deal I might do that.

Lucca, you can normally hire bikes to ride around the (very thick) walls, not sure about March though.

Trains, start by reading the man at seat61.com overview of Italian trains. Then Trenitalia website is now pretty good but you have to spell the name of each station correctly (in Italian) and many start with Saint or varients of Saint.

I think you need some fun stuff in there. There are some good books I've seen for finding stuff in old churches, otherwise it is just Dad dragging us around another musty place.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 04:51 AM
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Check out the official websites of each of your destinations. They almost always have a section devoted to family-friendly activities.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 07:53 AM
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Expect rain. It can still be fun, but umbrellas and waterproof shoes or boots may be needed - at least part of many days every place you are going. Twice in early Spring, we have been in Florence or Lucca and cancelled plans for Cinque Terre because of heavy rain.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 08:10 AM
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DH and I traveled to Italy many times in March and were rarely rained on. We did need coats at times though. We always packed those funny plastic ponchos but never needed them. We also took silk underwear and needed those the one time we forgot em. For us, a rain coat with zip-in liner was fine. Sassafras, maybe we had better weather karma!

I think your schedule looks good. Not hectic as many trips seem to be. In the Lucca/Pisa/Florence area, you will find many things in reasonable distance by train or bus. We have based in Pisa and taken trips to San Gimingnano, Florence, Siena, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Fiesole, and Livorno from there.

As StCirq suggests, check out sites online for lots of info. So much easier to plan these days, eh?

Have a great time, hubbs05. Please report back.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 08:58 AM
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TDudette, Right about the weather karma. Venice, once with a small group, we all felt like ducks and another time in Rome, our walking tour was cancelled because of a thunderstorm. The biggest, nicest umbrella I own, I bought in Lucca during a downpour. I decided if I had to buy one anyway, to spend more and get a nice one. It was really too big for traveling, but I like it now. We still had fun all of those times, but it is good to know what to expect.

I don't remember the year, but was in Pompeii in early Spring when Vesuvius was snowcapped. That was actually very nice. So, you never know for sure.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 10:51 AM
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As for trains - book high-speed train tickets as early as possible to get nice discounts for family fares- book your own at www.trenitalia.com- for general info on trains check also www.seat61.com (great info on discounted tickets); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Discounted tickets come in first class too and at times may not be much more than the cheapest available 2nd class fare and first class of course has its benefits.

Lucca to CT and Pisa and Florence are regional trains - no need to book in advance and better to just buy as you go - dirt cheap flat fare- no seat reservations even possible. Again first class is not all that much more on regional trains though not all regional trains have 1st class.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 11:31 AM
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Your only full days in Florence are Sunday and Monday when many of the main sights are not open. You should also have several hours after you arrive from Lucca, but you'll have to plan your sightseeing days carefully to fit in all that interests you.

FYI, the time change occurs March 25/26.

I hope the bike tour can be cancelled without penalty in the event of rain. We've been caught in rain when cycling, and it's not fun, esp. when temps are low. Take cold weather gear and gloves. I hope you're all up for hills. Lots of hills.

Personally, I'd stay in Sorrento rather than Positano unless you can afford to use car services here and there. Public trans will still be on winter timetables. Getting to Positano from Florence could take 6+ hours, depending on how long you have to wait between connections. Visiting Pompeii and Naples from Positano in a single day could be logistically difficult.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 11:50 AM
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This was some years ago, but in Florence our desk clerk booked reservations for us for Uffizi and a couple of restaurants. We bought her a bouquet of flowers as a thank you.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 02:37 PM
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I think it looks like a fine plan.

If you decide on the day against Cinque Terre, then you could visit Garfagnana region instead by bus or train from Lucca.

I would probably take a day from Rome and add to the Amalfi coast (but that's niggling). Check bus and ferry timetables online and if they look okay, then I'd opt for Positano or Amalfi over Sorrento (heaps to do from there, including visiting Ravello and hiking back to Amalfi or Atrani and Sentiero degli Dei walk). Maybe stay in Sorrento one night to visit Naples or Pompeii. If you do decide on Amalfi, train to Salerno then ferry to Amalfi might be your best option.

Sounds like a wonderful holiday!
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Old Dec 6th, 2016, 11:26 AM
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Visiting Pompeii and Naples from Positano in a single day could be logistically difficult.<

Even from Sorrento it may be a push -most folks linger around Pompeii at least a few hours and as Jean says a few hours to get to Pompeii each way. Naples is a large town with lots to see and do - but if you just want to go to the famous archaeological museum fine.

Naples is one of my very favorite cities anywhere - an Italy like 20-30 years ago.
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Old Dec 6th, 2016, 11:45 AM
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Am I misremembering, Pal? I don't think it even took an hour to take the train from Sorrento to Pompeii. And, Pompeii was mesmerizing for DH and me and we stayed most of the day.

Seeing the archeological Museum in Naples was very interesting after the visit to Pompeii--again, not a long train ride but we spent a lot of time there also. Not sure if OP's kids would have the same appreciation or not.
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Old Dec 6th, 2016, 12:32 PM
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Sorrento to Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana takes 30 minutes, but Positano to Pompeii on the bus-train combo takes nearly 2 hours each way when you factor in the connecting time.

There are a few "express" trains between Sorrento and Naples that take 50 minutes. The "local" takes a little over than hour.

There are a few "express" buses between Positano and Sorrento that take 45 minutes. The "local" takes an hour. When searching a bus-train connection, keep in mind that all buses are subject to traffic delays.

Circumvesuviana:
http://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/na...orrento_napoli

Sita Bus:
http://www.positano.com/en/bus-sched...itano_sorrento
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Old Dec 6th, 2016, 01:47 PM
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Am I misremembering, Pal? I don't think it even took an hour to take the train from Sorrento to Pompeii. And, Pompeii was mesmerizing for DH and me and we stayed most of the day.>

No I messed up -was thinking of Positano to Pompeii when I wrote that!

Sorrento to Pompeii yes 30 minutes or so.
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