Italy (or other country) with a baby

Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 11:49 AM
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Italy (or other country) with a baby

I am looking for suggestions on things to do in certain cities. My husband and I are trying to plan a very last minute trip to Italy or possibly another country in Europe with a 7 month old. I know we're probably crazy, but we figured this would be one of the last times that we'd be able to go for a while and it's our 10 year anniversary. Anyway, we are thinking Italy because we are familiar with it and could enjoy the towns without feeling like we needed to do a ton of sightseeing. On our last trip, we went to Venice, Florence, Siena, Bologna, Rome, Sorrento, Capri and a bit of the Amalfi coast and saw the major tourist attractions. We wouldn't mind returning to Venice, Rome and Sorrento/Amalfi coast or any other recommended area. The trip is probably going to be about 8 days/7 nights, give or take and we are probably in some part basing it on the cheapest flight we can find.

So any recommendations for things to see or do that maybe are not the main attractions, but still great and perhaps not as crowded and would be easier with a baby? It can be Italy or another country that you recommend.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 12:21 PM
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"we're probably crazy"

Absolutely not.

In our experience those were the best times. An immobile child, lots of attention from the locals and a free plane ticket.. The worst times are paying lots for a sear for a 3 year old who is then hell bent on wandering off in the crowds of Rome.

One simple piece of advice.

Make sure you take a very sturdy stroller.

Also : if your flight isn't full then work out where the empty seats are and as soon as the "fasten your seat belt sign" goes off move to the area with lots of space. It comes in handy.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 12:48 PM
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That's a big part of the reason we are going now. We only have one child and his flight is free. He is pretty mobile at this point so we thought somewhere that we could walk a lot with him in the stroller would be better than having him at a beach location where we'd have to chase him around all day and try and prevent him from eating the sand and whatever else he could get in his mouth.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 01:00 PM
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I'd agree, beaches are great for twos and over.

If you are going in summer I would be careful about crowds and hills.

Venice will be very busy but it isn't difficult to find quieter areas of Rome. We stay near Piazza Del Popolo as it is next two the Borghese park and so you can easily find a peaceful corner.

We travelled plenty with our son before his second birthday, again the free seat was an encouragement.

We had very few issues as long as we were very aware of other people's feelings. I will never forget sitting down at an expensive restaurant overlooking the best beach in Europe on Sardinia. Our son was fast asleep until the starters appeared, then he screamed and screamed. I took him half a mile down the beach and we took turns in eating at the table.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 01:18 PM
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If your child is mobile, I would rule out Venice and the Amalfi. I would also be concerned about sunburn on baby skin, and while I might not rule out the seaside entirely, I would pick a place with plenty of shady options and enough flat space to not be hill climbing all the time. Sorrento might appeal under these circumstances.

Most of the time in summer, everybody in Italy expects kids to be out and about and in restaurants, and toddlers get a total pass unless its a Michelin starred eatery. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

To make it easy on yourselves, consider going to someplace you already know and just enjoying the Italian way of life there.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 01:24 PM
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We wouldn't mind returning to Venice, Rome and Sorrento/Amalfi coast or any other recommended area. The trip is probably going to be about 8 days/7 nights, give or take >>

I would make this an easy trip and find an apartment in a nice place, with a pool that you can all cool off in. [preferably one with a nice shallow end or infant pool where your 7 month old can splash around while you keep cool too].

if you're going in the summer, I would think about spending your time on one of the italian lakes - I like lake Garda, mainly because we spent a great week there with our kids. Promenades to wheel the buggy along, boats to take you round the lake so you don't need a car, lots of interesting places to see - you could do a different one every day and not run out of new ones.

We tried a touring holiday with our DD, then 1, and though I have lots of great memories of it, the holidays that we took when DS was the same age, when we had learnt our lesson and stayed in one place, were a lot more restful.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 01:25 PM
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With only a week, I'd keep the geographic area small. You don't say when (although it sounds like soon), so it's hard to comment much on tourist crowds. And suggestions would also vary depending on where you fly in/out.

You mentioned places you've already visited in Italy, but you tagged your thread "France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland." Where would you most like to go?

We've spent a couple of round-number anniversaries at Lake Como. I think the lakes are hard to beat for the combination of great scenery, ease of transportation, relaxed atmosphere, variety of activities, etc., but they don't offer much art, history or outstanding dining.

If you're willing/interested in renting a car, I'd also suggest the Dolomites for truly spectacular scenery.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 03:06 PM
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Oh there are so many great places for you to enjoy your anniversary with your wee one along! Based on the little bit of info, sounds like you are going soon (i.e. this summer) and flight prices/availability are a consideration. Also, for one week so that case I think places convenient to larger airport hubs would be good so you can easily get to your "home base" and have a relaxing week! In my experience, the secret to a wonderful week is not so much the specific location but how you set yourself up for success.

My DH and my most relaxing holidays with our little ones at that age were when we picked one location, gave ourselves permission to not try to "do everything", and stayed within a relatively close range of our home base which was ideally an apartment (usually found through VBRO or similar) so we could come/go as we pleased and have kitchen facilities.

Depending on what month you go, you may want to consider temp (e.g Rome can be pretty hot in August for strolling with a baby). Cities are always good, especially if you get an apartment as you can spend your days strolling around. Since you tagged "France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland" I'll give a few suggestions for those just as food for thought!

France - Paris is one of my favorite cities to relax with our kids as there are many apartments available and we would stroll through parks, sit at cafes, visit a few attractions, and just take it easy. Baby supplies readily available so you don't have to pack stuff (and so many adorable clothing boutiques in the 6th). The RER from CDG into central Paris plus the Metro is easy so you don't ever have to deal with taxis/baby seats which was always a hassle and I hated having to deal with car seats. Such wonderful bread, produce, cheese, etc available in street markets and we would make up a simple meal in our apartment some nights with some French wine - perfect relaxation!

Italy - Rome is great as you already know. I love Rome as much as Paris but I never found it quite as relaxing with a baby. Simply because Paris seems to have more green spaces and less hills/steps for strollers! However, as another poster said, you can find quieter areas especially near the parks.

Tuscany or Italian lakes up north - could find a villa and/or agriturismo and relax for a week if you don't mind getting a rental car for outings and getting there. in general not as easy to take strolls with baby as would be in a city but there are other benefits.

Switzerland - have you considered somewhere like Lake Geneva - perhaps staying in place such as Vevey or Montreux? Beautiful lake/mountains views but without having to drive and easy access to Geneva airport. Very kid friendly, relaxing to stroll along promenade and can easily get on a train/boat for excursions around the lake. (Just watch our for timing on events such as the annual Montreux Jazz festival as that would NOT be relaxing).

Ireland - well, Ireland is gorgeous although more chance of rain which is ok but not so conducive with strolling with a baby. We ultimately ended up going elsewhere in the summer with kids for better chances of sun (we lived near London and mostly took our summer holidays outside of UK for the same reason).

happy planning!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 05:20 PM
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Baffles me why people would steer you away from Venice or the Amalfi Coast. People with children *do live there* and they seem to cope.

Use a baby carrier/backpack if stairs are an issue and in Venice, there are loads of piazzas where your baby can run around. for example, the Jewish Ghetto has a huge open space with no water on any side. Positano has a sloping street for the stroller and if you need stairs, fold it up and carry him/her, choose your lodging wisely and you won't have to deal with many stairs at all.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:01 AM
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We've have been having babies over a period of 15 years. If we had waited for the last to grow we would not have traveled.
We simply went wherever we wanted and adjusted with the kid. Not much nightlife though....
Of the countries where locals were nicest with kids, Italy scores pretty high (Cuba was nr 1, US was ok, Turkey was fantastic ...)
In our experience Mediterranean countries were more welcoming towards children.
Enjoy your trip - some good advice above : pay attention to heat, sun, give water etc. Have some medication in case the child doesn't digest well (happened even when breastfeeding - change in my wife's food made change in kid's milk + jetlag etc).
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 04:43 AM
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Pushing a pram through the crowds in the small streets of Venice just wasn't worth the trouble.

I also remember bad days with the pram on the hills in Tuscany. Montepulciano in 35oC was hard.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 07:21 AM
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We've have been having babies over a period of 15 years. If we had waited for the last to grow we would not have traveled.>>

Pariswat - I don't think that anyone's suggesting that the OP doesn't travel until the kid/s are all over 21! But would you not agree that you need to adapt your travel style so that everyone has good time?

A happy child = happy parents, IME.

Dickie - somehow we escaped buggy pushing in Venice or Montepulciano.

I think we were just lucky.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 09:05 AM
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"somehow we escaped buggy pushing in Venice or Montepulciano"

I think the worst was Palma airport, it is probably the largest single terminal in the world.

We left the buggy in Milan.

Unlike David Cameron we get our priorities right, forget buggy, remember baby.

Ps Dickie Greenleaf has gone, our sailing days are probably over.

Now campaigning to keep The Turks and Caicos British. Too many Canadians trying to get thier mucky paws on the islands.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/05/29...ise-for-canada

Cheeky monkeys.

Ps how is summer in Cornwall?

Scotland is doublediabolical until today!
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:39 PM
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Blueyedcod:

Do you travel with children? I've never seen you mention it. Perhaps that is why you are baffled.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 02:51 PM
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Of course I have - although mine are now teenagers but the baby/toddler years were compromise. I don't expect things to be as they are at home. Getting around the Amalfi Coast was a matter of adaptation and developing strong calf muscles. I didn't use a buggy in Venice - just a baby bjorn carrier.

Do you travel with children Sandralist? I haven't heard you mention it either.
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Old Jun 6th, 2015, 12:25 PM
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I've mentioned it a lot, Blueeyedcod, in many posts and threads.
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Old Jun 6th, 2015, 12:26 PM
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Also, no one who comes here asking for advice planning a trip is expecting things to be like they are at home. That's gratuitously insulting to the OP.
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Old Jun 6th, 2015, 01:09 PM
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Ps how is summer in Cornwall?

Scotland is doublediabolical until today!>>

mixed, Dickie. to use your phrase, diabolical at the beginning of the week but by Thursday where I was [Plymouth/Dartmoor] it was truly delightful. cornwall not so good but today was lovely.

our german guests seem happy, anyway.
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Old Jun 6th, 2015, 11:43 PM
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>

Who is insulting the OP? - I am referring to myself. Gosh you take offence to almost everything and make inferences when none exist.

As for your 'many posts and threads' about your own children, I am relatively new to this forum and don't read every single post about Italy - so therefore I have no idea. You apparently have read everything I post as you are firm in your conviction that I have never mentioned my children - one would think you have far better ways to spend your time than to scrutinise posts so closely.
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Old Jun 7th, 2015, 05:12 AM
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Welcome to Fodors.

Sandralist is our local stalker.

At least three psychologists have retired in dispair trying integrate this poster into a social world.
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