autier17

My wife and I have been to Europe several times, and now we have decided the kids are old enough to join us. We will be traveling next summer with an 11 and 15 year old. We are taking two weeks, and we are definitely staying in Paris and then in Italy. My wife and I prefer apartments to hotels when we go to Europe. My question is should we do one week in Paris and then one week in one place in Italy? If we want to get an apartment in each place, then I think that is the only way to do it. With kids in tow, I dont want to be train-hopping and staying in a different place every night. That said, I'd like the kids to see more of Italy than just one place. They love the ocean, so I want them to see something on the coast like Amalfi or Italian Riviera, but I want them to see some place like Florence as well. What to do? I thought about renting a house or agri-turismo in Tuscany with a car so that we could do easy day trips to the coast for swimming or to Florence for sight-seeing. Is that possible and realistic?

All input and advice is greatly appreciated.

bilboburgler

Yes get an agrotourismo, or stay in a country hotel with a pool. Italian's love kids even if they are obnoxious.

Alternatively find an appartment in Florence.

Like the idea of one week in each. Could take the train between (even a sleeper)

annhig

hi autier,

i definitely think that with kids of this age, restricting the number of moves you do is very sensible. DH and I were very comfortable touring round but our kids hated it, especially as they got older. The things they liked best were being able to got out in the morning and get breakfast at the local cafe, and wander around a city/town in the evening. we therefore adapted our travelling style, staying in a succession of Italian cities, which they [and we!] loved.

of course it's possible to rent an apartment in an agriturismo and use it to tour, but even with a swimming pool, you may find that they are pretty bored in the evenings. Somewhere like siena, Pisa, or Lucca might work, where you have easy access to the countryside for day-trips, you can get to florence for the day, AND there are things to do and see in the evening.

that said, one of the best family hols we did when the kids were about this age was to Lake Garda. We spent a week in a family hotel, with a swimming pool, and used the boats and buses to get around. There was loads to do in the town [we stayed in Garda itself] in the evenings and we all had a great time. so much so, that we kept going back to Italy with the kids for the next few years till they got fed up with us.

hope this helps!

autier17

great advice from both of you. we will definitely do a sleeper between Paris and Italy. Our kids are not yet to the point where they will be seeking evening entertainment sans parents, so I think we can still do someplace to use as a homebase. I was wondering what area of Tuscany would be close enough to a good beach area but also Florence, etc (knowing that close is a relative term).

autier17

ok, I just looked at annhig's recommendation of Lucca and it appears to fit the bill. Of course, now Lago Garda is looking good too. decisions, decisions . . .'

nytraveler

Kids that age are definitely old enough to help with planning. head them towards the student guide books and web sites and let them makes lists of what they really want to see and do. It will make the trip much more enjoyable for everybody.

annhig

Garda is of course too far from Florence for day trips, but it is close enough to Verona, Padua and Venice for them to be possible.

but as you want the beach and florence, Lucca would seem to fit the bill. and of course you can do an evening trip to Pisa when all the buses have gone.

book your slot to climb the tower at www.opapisa.it