Itinerary in Italy
Dec 25th, 2006, 12:18 PM
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Itinerary in Italy
We are planning a trip to Italy in April with our 2 children, ages 12 and 15. We will arrive on a Saturday and leave the following Saturday. The only non-stop flights are into Milan, but we could make a connection if that is better. My favorite city is Florence/Tuscany, but my husband and kids have never been to Italy. Any suggestions on where to go and where to stay would be appreciated. We want something fairly nice. How long would you spend in each place? Thanks.
Dec 25th, 2006, 12:35 PM
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A week is a very short time for a tour of Italy. You could spend a week in Rome, renting an apartment in the center. Or you could fly open jaws, say into Venice and out of Florence/Pisa. In fact, if you intend to go more than one place, definitely do a open jaws ticket. That will keep you from wasting time backtracking.
Dec 26th, 2006, 01:37 PM
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Where from? That sounds like a mighty rush if you come from North America, and I'm with Bob - what a lot of money for so little return!
April with its ever-changing unreliable and often disagreeable weather, and landscapes not green and in full bloom yet, and arriving on Saturday and dragging through the weekend on jetlag - they all speak against this.
Can't you save that money and go next year, for at least two weeks, and in May or later?
April with its ever-changing unreliable and often disagreeable weather, and landscapes not green and in full bloom yet, and arriving on Saturday and dragging through the weekend on jetlag - they all speak against this.
Can't you save that money and go next year, for at least two weeks, and in May or later?
Dec 26th, 2006, 11:42 PM
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If you can only manage one week, pick one destination and make it your base for the week. What is nice about Florence or Tuscany (Lucca would be a good too) is the amount of wonderful things to do & see within a short distance, but I would suggest flying to Florencec or Pisa in this instance.
Dec 27th, 2006, 02:01 AM
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Neglex, we went on a one week trip to Rome four years ago, and have been going back every year since... there is so much to see! We flew in and out of Rome. We did day trips to Pompeii and Florence (although that was not enough time). If we did not take that first short trip we would not be addicted to Italy. My only regret is that my sons could no go with us. We slept on the way over and as soon as we checked into our hotel, we were out to the Colliseum. Rome has so much to keep you busy. We went to the Time Elevator, neat place for your kids to see how Rome was built. You could take a day trip to Ostia Antica (not far from Rome, kind of like Pompeii) Enjoy your time, and email me if you want to discuss further. Not everyone has two weeks to spend on one vacation per year. I say life is short, go for it!
Dec 27th, 2006, 04:07 AM
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While a longer trip would be ideal I can relate to only having a week...We've on family trips to Italy two times (first time for close to three weeks but we had family to stay with and make the trip more economical)- the second time we spent a week in Rome, again staying with family with a day trip to Florence - a favorite place of my teenage daughter. We're heading there in February for another week in Rome but this time renting an apartment through www.sleepinginitaly.com.
I would recommend that you stay in one location (I think Rome is a perfect place for kids because there is so much history and so much to do) and it is an easy place to take day trips from. Have the kids help plan the itinerary and make sure to spend time in the Borghese Gardens, too. I think that Florence is an easy day trip and if you make reservations for the Accadamia, to see David, and the Uffizi, then it can be a good day. Art, shopping and a nice lunch or dinner. We also did a day trip to Naples, Capri, and the blue grotto. It was quite quick and touristy but we actually loved it - and the day we went the weather was beautiful. We did this during an April trip a few years back. The weather in the south was warm (high 60's) but in Rome we had a variety of weather from warm days to cool and rainy. So bring clothing to layer, scarf and gloves and umbrellas. I also suggest carrying a small plastic tote to place your umbrellas in when it is not raining. Other day trips could be to Pompeii or Ostia, Tivoli, Orvieto or Assisi. We're planning on going to Orvieto for the day when we go in February.
Hope this was helpful.
I would recommend that you stay in one location (I think Rome is a perfect place for kids because there is so much history and so much to do) and it is an easy place to take day trips from. Have the kids help plan the itinerary and make sure to spend time in the Borghese Gardens, too. I think that Florence is an easy day trip and if you make reservations for the Accadamia, to see David, and the Uffizi, then it can be a good day. Art, shopping and a nice lunch or dinner. We also did a day trip to Naples, Capri, and the blue grotto. It was quite quick and touristy but we actually loved it - and the day we went the weather was beautiful. We did this during an April trip a few years back. The weather in the south was warm (high 60's) but in Rome we had a variety of weather from warm days to cool and rainy. So bring clothing to layer, scarf and gloves and umbrellas. I also suggest carrying a small plastic tote to place your umbrellas in when it is not raining. Other day trips could be to Pompeii or Ostia, Tivoli, Orvieto or Assisi. We're planning on going to Orvieto for the day when we go in February.
Hope this was helpful.
Dec 27th, 2006, 04:20 PM
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sorry...it is www.sleepinitaly.com.
Dec 30th, 2006, 10:51 AM
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Thank you everyone for your responses. Right now airfares are exhorbitant. If they come down we will go. Unfortunately, we can't take more than a week off. I love Tuscany/Florence, but since I am the only one in my family who's ever been to Italy before it seems like we should go to Rome too. Thanks again.
Jan 11th, 2007, 03:18 PM
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We are definitely foing to Italy in April. Now we just need to decide where to go. We have two children 12 and 15. We can either fly into Venice and fo to Florence and Tuscany or Fly into Rome and go thru TUscany and end in Florence. I have an old friend who lives in Bologna so it would be fun to see her too. ANy suggestions? Where would you stay? Thanks!
Jan 11th, 2007, 04:02 PM
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Well, actually I'd fly into Venice and fly out of Rome, taking the train between with maybe a one night stopover in Bologna. I think Venice and Rome are good cities for kids, more so than Florence. If you had more time, I'd say stay in a agriturismo in Tuscany, but not with just a week.
Jan 11th, 2007, 05:35 PM
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Hi neglex, I agree with Mimar. Flying into Venice is easier than departing from Venice as the depature planes tend so leave so early in the morning.
Flying into Venice, an overnight in Bologna where your friend lives (I love that city) and than onto Rome and flying home from Rome sounds ideal to me. This would be so easy to do by train also.
BTW, all of our family members loved Venice and Rome the best when they went to Italy before they were adults so I "think" your children would enjoy this intinerary also. Have a wonderful trip!
Flying into Venice, an overnight in Bologna where your friend lives (I love that city) and than onto Rome and flying home from Rome sounds ideal to me. This would be so easy to do by train also.
BTW, all of our family members loved Venice and Rome the best when they went to Italy before they were adults so I "think" your children would enjoy this intinerary also. Have a wonderful trip!
Jan 12th, 2007, 01:24 PM
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Hello nglex, if I were doing Venice, Bologna and Rome I would spend 3 nights in Venice so that you had 2 full days without arriving and daparting, 1 night in Bologna and the balance in Rome.
But if you preferred Florence rather than Rome that would cut down on your time on the train so you could use those days for Florence with sidetrips. You could fly home from the Florence airport.
But if you preferred Florence rather than Rome that would cut down on your time on the train so you could use those days for Florence with sidetrips. You could fly home from the Florence airport.
