TheWallaces

We've just moved to Brussels from the U.S. Ryanair has excellent airfare from here to Italy - Rome, Milan, Pisa. We're thinking of going during the next school break - 1st week of November. We'll be with our two sons - aged 6 and 9. As I'm just getting started on planning, I have a general question. Everyone I know has always taken a tour in Italy. I've not heard of anyone renting a car and driving around. My husband and I prefer driving around, but have only done this in Ireland and Belgium.

Have I just got a bad pre-conceived notion of travelling in Italy for the non-Italian speaker? What do you think is better for this country - tour or self-driven? Thanks in advance for any advice.

CheBird

Each time we were in Italy, we never even considered hiring a tour guide to get from place to place. When in Rome, we walked up to random tour groups, led by English speaking students, outside the Colosseum, Vatican, Forum, etc., and the night walking tour with a guide is a good idea for your first time there. But in general, we would much rather drive around the country on our own and explore. The most fun is the unexpected - the charming villages and "hole in the wall" restaurants that you stumble upon. And we don't speak Italian, which wasn't even a little bit of an obstacle anywhere we went. We're going back again in one month.

mnapoli

I agree with CheBird, Italy is a great country to drive around. The roads are generally well maintained, and the countryside is beautiful! Do a little research on places you might like to visit, and just go!

TobieT

If you're reading travel forums then likely you are the type of person who enjoys planning your own holiday and being open to those unexpected and usually delightful surprises.

We've had the same experience as CheBird with driving around the countryside, not speaking more than a few words of Italian, and loved every minute of it.

We did do a tour of the Uffizi and Accademia in Florence, as well as the Vatican in Rome, but that was for convenience and timing as much as anything else. With schoolage children, I'd recommend the tour guides at the Colosseum to help make history come alive.

Otherwise, it will all be a great family adventure in which you can all share.

tower

Have driven many thousands of miles over every conceivable type of terrain and region of Italy..a pleasure..I agree wholeheartedly with CheBird...do it on your own..the kids can be given tasks like reading maps, cleaning the windshields and outside rear views, etc etc ..they'll love every minute of it.
Language is no longer a barrier as it was , say, forty years ago, when I first traveled Europe, etc. There's always "finger pointing" when all else fails.
Enjoy!
Stu

TheWallaces

Thanks so much to everyone! We do enjoy driving around ourselves, so I think we'll just go for it!

Now, off to decide where to go first. . .

Nikki

The one thing I would say to disagree with driving around yourself is that you really don't want to be doing that in most cities. If you are spending several days in Rome, for instance, you might want to pick up your car when you leave Rome for the countryside.