spk

Going to Italy with my 16 year old daughter for a week in June. We are thinking of Rome and Florence. Any suggestions? Where to stay, etc. Looking for really nice accommodations! Need some suggestions!

Amart

WE stayed in an apartment, but I wouldn't think that is necessary for 2 people. Our 2-18 year olds enjoyed private guides. We used Vatican Tours and Beyond, but I understand that Context Rome is great also. On the days we didn't have at least something planned, they got a bit "bored". However, we all needed down days occasionally or at least a half day. So, for advice: splurge on guided tours.

dutyfree

I have traveled alot with my daughter when she was that age including Florence and Rome. You do not need a guided tour company-just read this internet site for tips along with some travel guides like Lonely Planet, Frommers,Rick Steves and Eyewitness Guides for ideas and make up a plan for each day. Since you only have a week for travel for two cities-decide what the two of you would like to see in each city plus allowing some shopping and eating togetherness. When we first did Rome-we did a day of the ancient Rome(Forum,Palatine Hill,Colosseum.etc.) then a half day at the Vatican and Vatican Museum.The other part of that day was seeing Piazza Navona and the Pantheon area with Campo Fiori.Another day was training from Termini station down to Pompeii.Florence would include seeing the Uffizi,David,walking to the top of the Duomo,20 minute bus trip up to Fiesole to see all of Florence while having a lunch and of course, leather shops and lots of gelato.The best part of being together in Italy is the stopping for a coffee,gelato,"those shoes in that shop" along with evenings of being in the hotel together after a long day and just chatting.My most recent stay in Florence was at the La Residenza which was very nice and reasonable AND close to alot of things. In Rome,I love the Hotel Aberdeen near Piazza Repubblica because it is so close to all of the public transportation and is in a reasonable shopping area too.Check out tripadvisor.com and venere.com for hotels to chose from. I usually look at alot of the travel books and start crossreferencing expecially when you see a hotel in more than one book.Enjoy-I still love being with my daughter alone on trips.Ironically,we just met last weekend in Rome to celebrate her 21st birthday as she is studying this semester in Sicily.Trust me when I say-you can never get bored in Rome!

Cicerone

Do you have 7 days not including the day you arrive and the day you have to fly out to the US? Do you have an air ticket that allows you to fly out of Florence (or Pisa) and so you don't have to come back to Rome? If the answer is no to one of both of these, you might want to spend them all your time in Rome, hard to say. If you only have like 5 actual days on the ground, you might feel rushed trying to "do" both, and you might give short shrift to the Tuscan countryside which is so beautiful. I have to say that I am not one for day trips, or for rushing to see a jumble of places just to say I was there and not have any real recollection of what I saw. There is certainly enough to keep one busy and amused in Rome for 5-6 days. For close-in day trips to the countryside you could go to Ostia Antica, the Tivoli Gardens, the catacombs or Orvieto.

Look at your actual flight days, read about the sites in each place and think about it. I think you are being wise to limit yourself to 2 places, so maybe it is doable. Train time to Florence from Rome is about 3 hours, but getting to the train, then to the hotel on he other end, etc you will have to set aside a whole morning or afternoon for the trip, IMO, so bear that in mind. If you have to get back to Rome for a flight out, that will add more time. (If you have to fly out of Pisa, that will also add time, as that is about 2 hours from Florence; note that the Florence airport is going to be closed for some months, check with airlines.)

For hotels, not sure what you mean by "really nice", if you mean luxury, then you are talking about US$500-600 a night or more in June, is that OK with you? I can certainly recco several in that price range. If you want more in lower ranges that would be perfectly fine, then let us know a budget. Europe is quite expensive for hotel rooms and you are picking two of the more expensive cities if you want "really nice" hotels.

spk

Thank you all for your posts. I have not booked the trip yet, so I can add a day or two if necessary. I would really like a whole week in Florence but since we cannot fly directly there from NYC, we thought we would add Rome to the trip! I would like a really nice hotel, but it would have to be very well located and under $500/night. Hopefully it will include breakfast. Any suggestions?

dutyfree

I personally would rethink a week in Florence with a "few days" in Rome and do it the other way around especially with a 16 year old daughter.You can find really nice hotels in both places for under 200 euros in high season so I quess that I was in shock with your "under 500 Euros" reply.You definitely travel in a better circle than myself so I am somewhat hesitant to recommend activites now?

spk

Now I am thinking of maybe just doing Rome for the week. I need suggestions of where to stay. I want a great location, near good shopping and sites, etc. Please help!!!!

3mkids

We loved the Majestic Hotel in Rome. Location is fabulous, and the suites lovely.