Italy trip with kids - planning help?
Mar 23rd, 2017, 12:47 PM
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Italy trip with kids - planning help?
Hi,
We are a family with kids ages 3 and 9 traveling to Italy the first week of July. We will be there 11 nights and flying into and out of MXP/Milan.
We love offbeat things, beautiful views, lush, green countryside, mountains-to-sea views, turquoise waters, castles, forts, boats, snorkeling, swimming, caves, rafts, etc.. Of course casual good food, too, playgrounds, gelato, you get the picture.
I've sketched out a rough itinirary and would love to hear thoughts on it.
Day one (don't want to go to Milan on both ends of the trip so the easiest place to head from MXP appears to be Lake Maggiore). We will rent a car here because we will need it later.
Stay #1:
Deciding between Luna nel Porto in Stresa (http://www.lalunanelporto.it/indexuk.html) and Hotel Cannero (http://www.hotelcannero.com/) in Cannero Riveria. I like the Cannero Riveria hotel better but I realize Stresa will be easier to get to.
We will spend 3 nights at Lake Maggiore.
Get in the car and head for the coast!
2. Planning to spend 3 nights on the Ligurian coast. Trying to decide between Camogli, Sestri Levante, and Santa Margherita Ligure. We want to be able swim, take a boat ride to the abbey and so some shorter, easier hikes/walks. If anyone has accomodations they can recommend would appreciate it as many are booked and very $$$. We don't want to spend more than $200 and would prefer to have a suite or one- or two-bedroom place. The places I'm finding don't have AC and I'm not sure whether that would be a poor decision - to book a place without AC in July.
3. Get back in car and head for Tuscany! Trying to decide between the Chianti and Pienza areas. The area around Pienza looks more beautiful but it's farther and if we decide to day-trip to Florence or Siena (we will do at least one of these cities) it would be harder so leaning toward Chianti.
Here are some of the agriturismos we are looking at. I'm leaning toward the second. Only the last has AC but I'm less worried about heat here because we will have a pool.
http://www.foresteria.com/about-us/
http://www.montalto.it/
http://www.villailpozzo.com/
http://www.fattorialaloggia.com/index.html
http://www.santamariaaponeta.com/
4. Dump the car at Florence airport or somewhere else nearby and take the fast train to Milan. Spend last night there and fly out 4 p.m the next day.
Thoughts on the hotel options? If anyone has recommendations for these areas would love to hear them. Are we doing too much? We could skip the coast and add a night at Maggiore and a couple nights to Tuscany.....
We are a family with kids ages 3 and 9 traveling to Italy the first week of July. We will be there 11 nights and flying into and out of MXP/Milan.
We love offbeat things, beautiful views, lush, green countryside, mountains-to-sea views, turquoise waters, castles, forts, boats, snorkeling, swimming, caves, rafts, etc.. Of course casual good food, too, playgrounds, gelato, you get the picture.
I've sketched out a rough itinirary and would love to hear thoughts on it.
Day one (don't want to go to Milan on both ends of the trip so the easiest place to head from MXP appears to be Lake Maggiore). We will rent a car here because we will need it later.
Stay #1:
Deciding between Luna nel Porto in Stresa (http://www.lalunanelporto.it/indexuk.html) and Hotel Cannero (http://www.hotelcannero.com/) in Cannero Riveria. I like the Cannero Riveria hotel better but I realize Stresa will be easier to get to.
We will spend 3 nights at Lake Maggiore.
Get in the car and head for the coast!
2. Planning to spend 3 nights on the Ligurian coast. Trying to decide between Camogli, Sestri Levante, and Santa Margherita Ligure. We want to be able swim, take a boat ride to the abbey and so some shorter, easier hikes/walks. If anyone has accomodations they can recommend would appreciate it as many are booked and very $$$. We don't want to spend more than $200 and would prefer to have a suite or one- or two-bedroom place. The places I'm finding don't have AC and I'm not sure whether that would be a poor decision - to book a place without AC in July.
3. Get back in car and head for Tuscany! Trying to decide between the Chianti and Pienza areas. The area around Pienza looks more beautiful but it's farther and if we decide to day-trip to Florence or Siena (we will do at least one of these cities) it would be harder so leaning toward Chianti.
Here are some of the agriturismos we are looking at. I'm leaning toward the second. Only the last has AC but I'm less worried about heat here because we will have a pool.
http://www.foresteria.com/about-us/
http://www.montalto.it/
http://www.villailpozzo.com/
http://www.fattorialaloggia.com/index.html
http://www.santamariaaponeta.com/
4. Dump the car at Florence airport or somewhere else nearby and take the fast train to Milan. Spend last night there and fly out 4 p.m the next day.
Thoughts on the hotel options? If anyone has recommendations for these areas would love to hear them. Are we doing too much? We could skip the coast and add a night at Maggiore and a couple nights to Tuscany.....
Mar 24th, 2017, 02:38 AM
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Lago Maggiore:
Good idea to go there after a overnight flight, congratulations!
As Mike says, you don't need a car for the MXP - Stresa transfer. But thngs change if you go to Cannero: bus or train MXP - Gallarate - train - Verbania - bus Intra - other bus - Cannero (rather frequent), resp train MXP - Luino - ferry - Cannero (only a few times per day). A car will give you more freedom for trips to mountain villages along the lake and to the Swiss neighbourhood (your kids may love Tamaro Park or Swissminiatur, both around Lugano, the medieval castles of Belllinzona, the cog wheel railway to viewpoint Monte Generoso or the cableway (gondolas) from Macugnaga to Monte Rosa Glacier (Wengwald) or to Monte Moro Pass (Swiss/Italian border).
Liguria:
Sestri and Sta. Margherita/Rapallo have both sandy beaches suitable for kids. Hiking trails are omnipresent in the whole area, the most popular one's being Portofino - San Fruttuoso and Levanto - Monterosso.
Good idea to go there after a overnight flight, congratulations!
As Mike says, you don't need a car for the MXP - Stresa transfer. But thngs change if you go to Cannero: bus or train MXP - Gallarate - train - Verbania - bus Intra - other bus - Cannero (rather frequent), resp train MXP - Luino - ferry - Cannero (only a few times per day). A car will give you more freedom for trips to mountain villages along the lake and to the Swiss neighbourhood (your kids may love Tamaro Park or Swissminiatur, both around Lugano, the medieval castles of Belllinzona, the cog wheel railway to viewpoint Monte Generoso or the cableway (gondolas) from Macugnaga to Monte Rosa Glacier (Wengwald) or to Monte Moro Pass (Swiss/Italian border).
Liguria:
Sestri and Sta. Margherita/Rapallo have both sandy beaches suitable for kids. Hiking trails are omnipresent in the whole area, the most popular one's being Portofino - San Fruttuoso and Levanto - Monterosso.
Mar 24th, 2017, 08:55 AM
#4
You don't "need" a car to get from Malpensa to Stresa, but with two kids and luggage it might be the easier option. The drive takes about an hour (after the time to go through the rental process). You load the luggage and kids and go. The train takes over 2 hours with a change at Milano Centrale. Most connections are 18 minutes which 2 adults could easily manage but which 2+2 in a big, busy train station might feel a bit tight.
For the same reasons, I'd return the car at Malpensa to avoid the multi-step journey on public trans.
What things/towns do you want to see in Tuscany? How many days there? I probably wouldn't do hot, crowded Florence as a day trip in high season, so I'd base my lodging decision on being central to where I want to explore.
I would want A/C if only to sleep well. But that's me.
For the same reasons, I'd return the car at Malpensa to avoid the multi-step journey on public trans.
What things/towns do you want to see in Tuscany? How many days there? I probably wouldn't do hot, crowded Florence as a day trip in high season, so I'd base my lodging decision on being central to where I want to explore.
I would want A/C if only to sleep well. But that's me.
Mar 24th, 2017, 06:08 PM
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We spend a couple weeks in Italy every year with our kiddos (currently 4 and 6, but have been doing it since the oldest was 1.5).
We love Montepulciano which is quite close to Pienza. The Val d'Orcia is just lovely. The kids might enjoy a day trip to nearby Lago Trasimeno. There's a lovely playground and beach area in Castelgione del Lago which is about a 45 minute drive (and they will likely love exploring the castle there too).
We stay at the Politian apartments or next door in the annex (owned by a cousin). The annex has 2 bedrooms plus another room with has a foldout futon in it so it functions as a 3rd bedroom. 2 bathrooms and access to a washing machine too.
Link to Annex apartment -
https://www.politian.com/en/annex
And here's another link to the same apartment -
http://gardenhousemontepulciano.com/photo.en.php
(we've booked it for 2 weeks in June
and another 10 days in December!)
We love Montepulciano which is quite close to Pienza. The Val d'Orcia is just lovely. The kids might enjoy a day trip to nearby Lago Trasimeno. There's a lovely playground and beach area in Castelgione del Lago which is about a 45 minute drive (and they will likely love exploring the castle there too).
We stay at the Politian apartments or next door in the annex (owned by a cousin). The annex has 2 bedrooms plus another room with has a foldout futon in it so it functions as a 3rd bedroom. 2 bathrooms and access to a washing machine too.
Link to Annex apartment -
https://www.politian.com/en/annex
And here's another link to the same apartment -
http://gardenhousemontepulciano.com/photo.en.php
(we've booked it for 2 weeks in June
and another 10 days in December!)
Mar 24th, 2017, 06:15 PM
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P.S. From my notes on Castelgiano del Lago last year. 16th century Palazzo Ducale (Palazzo della Corgna, daily 10am - 1pm, 3:30/4pm-7:30pm).
There were covered ramparts which our boys absolutely LOVED exploring. Our oldest (5 at the time) was convinced he was protecting the castle.
The beach and playground area is on the south side of the promontory. It's a small village - you can't miss it. Cute shops and good restaurants too.
There were covered ramparts which our boys absolutely LOVED exploring. Our oldest (5 at the time) was convinced he was protecting the castle
. The beach and playground area is on the south side of the promontory. It's a small village - you can't miss it. Cute shops and good restaurants too.
Mar 24th, 2017, 10:05 PM
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I think Texasaggie means Castiglione del Lago.
The itinerary looks good. You won't find all the things on your wish list, but a good many of them. The countryside probably won't be very lush and green in July, because the wheat is usually harvested in June.
I would want air conditioning in July, even if you have a pool. It's not always necessary, but a heat wave could ruin your vacation. You probably don't want to take a skinny dip at 3 AM if you're having trouble sleeping.
The itinerary looks good. You won't find all the things on your wish list, but a good many of them. The countryside probably won't be very lush and green in July, because the wheat is usually harvested in June.
I would want air conditioning in July, even if you have a pool. It's not always necessary, but a heat wave could ruin your vacation. You probably don't want to take a skinny dip at 3 AM if you're having trouble sleeping.
Mar 25th, 2017, 09:19 AM
#9
The trick to not needing air con, is close the shutters on the sunny side of the house to keep the heat out during the day.
Still if you have to keep climate change on the march then get air con.
Still if you have to keep climate change on the march then get air con.
