europhile

After struggling with our itinerary and allocating days here and there, I'm realizing that our summer trip will involve way too much moving around to be fun if we try to do both of these areas. Our trip begins with 3 nights in Venice (flying in), has 8-10 days in Tuscany, and 3 nights in Rome (flying out). I have 3 more nights to spend on the coast somewhere. We could either put them next to Tuscany in the CT/Riviera area, or we could put them at the end after Rome. DH and I have been to the AC, and I think the kids would love Capri and checking the volcano and such. We haven't been to the CT, but I know the kids also love hiking and I love coastal views. If you have to pick one or the other, which would you choose?

bvlenci

With kids, I'd choose the Amalfi Coast.There's a lot more there that will interest them. Also, all the easier hiking trails in the Cinque Terre are closed, and have been for several years, due to the risk of landslides.

I'd go straight to the Amalfi Coast after your time in Tuscany, and put your Rome nights after the Amalfi Coast. Otherwise, you'll have a logistical nightmare getting back to Rome for your flight.

Blueeyedcod

I would actually choose Sorrento. You say you want to sightsee so Sorrento is a perfect launching pad and has some excellent hotels - the Capodimonte has two pools that are connected by a waterfall - what kid wouldn't love that?
It is also easy to get around using trains and ferries whereas the Amalfi Coast is more isolated.

Fra_Diavolo

Although I detest Sorrento (inundated with down-market Brits hunting for fish and chips) I think it would be a better base than the Amalfi Coast, since you're bringing kids.

kja

I don't think you have a bad choice here, but I'll make the case for the Cinque Terre because, IMO, 3 nights (so really just two days) is not sufficient for the Amalfi Coast. YMMV.

sandralist

How adventurous are your kids when it comes to food? The main dishes of the Italian Riviera are green-sauce pesto pasta, mussels, anchovies and whole fish. Pizza is fairly terrible along the Riviera. The locals eat foccacia (without tomato sauce) and farinata, a chick-pea flat torte instead of pizza.

By contrast, the area of the Amalfi and Sorrento is overflowing with high-quality pizza and red-sauce pasta (although rarely if ever meat in the sauce) and wonderful pastries.

europhile

It sounds like the south is the way to go. I didn't realize the CT trails were still closed. The kids are not very adventurous with food so far, but hopefully that will change in time. Two of them are good with most simple meats, pasta and produce, but one only eats chicken nuggets. I wonder how many days it will take for him try a slice of pizza!

daria

I've been to both destinations and think both would be fun, depending on what the kids like to do, but I guess I would lean towards the AC because there is more to do. Seems like there are more options. Also, I have read that the CT is overrun with tourists in the summer now.

Would love to hear about how your trip goes as we are planning one for next summer that will have some similarities (fly into Venice for 3 nights, 9 nights in Tuscany and then 9 nights on the Cote d'Azur). It will be the first time in Europe for our twins, who will be 9 then.

Have fun!

kja

Perhaps I missed it -- how old are your children?

Blueeyedcod

@ kja - I'm guessing they're under 10 as I would imagine (hope) a tween - teenager's sole diet is not chicken nuggets

bvlenci

Not all the trails in the Cinque are closed, just most of the lower trails, which are also among the easiest. Most of the high trails are open, but some require strenuous climbing.

europhile

They are 4, 6 and 8. The 6 year old is stuck on chicken nuggets.

vincenzo32951

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's safe to say you're not going to do a lot of strenuous hiking with kids that age. So that's one mark against CT, since hiking is a major attraction there. And the beaches there aren't anything to get excited about.

Both places will be flooded with tourists, so that's a wash.

Plenty of coastal views on the AC. You could take the ferry to Capri. Or, if you want to spring for it, you could hire a rubber boat and driver (usually a 20-something male) to take you there and back from Positano. Fun ride for the kids, and you could ask the driver to take you to some of the smaller grottoes, since you may not want to do the Blue Grotto. (Warning: no restroom on the rubber boats, so empty the tanks before embarking or allow the kids to pee into the sea.)

bvlenci

Sorrento actually might be a better base than the Amalfi Coast, but we were asked to make a choice between the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is convenient to the Amalfi Coast, and probably is easier to get to, depending on where on the coast you were planning to go.

I've been to both the Amalfi Coast (once) and the Cinque Terre (twice), and while the former was perhaps awash with tourists, the latter was absolutely sinking under their weight. From the boat, the tourists hiking on the Via d'Amore looked like a column of ants. (That's one the paths now closed.) All of these trips were a bit off season (spring or autumn), and in the Cinque Terre, I remember saying to my husband, "Imagine what this place is like in the summer!" Maybe it's because all five of the Cinque Terre towns are tiny, so there's no place for the tourists to spread out. I didn't do any hiking, but I've read that the high trails are not very crowded, and really that's the only reason I'd go there. But we're more walkers than hikers, and there are some great walking paths near where we live, in Le Marche.

kja

OR you might add some time to Rome or Venice and skip time on the coast. Just a thought.

sandralist

Maybe your 6-year-old can be persuaded to take a bite of some fried calamari. Chicken is rarely seen as a restaurant item in either the Amalfi or le Cinque Terre. One thing to know is that sofgliatelle is historically a lunch food for shepherds, something rich in protein they could pack to eat far from home, along with fresh-picked fruits.

I've had several visits to the Amalfi and found it sinking under the weight of tourists as badly as anything you'll find in le Cinque Terre. What you experience of either place often depends on daily timing, and not just seasons, but whether you arrive at the same moment as large groups.

Sorrento and the Amalfi area and Capri are also just more aggressively "touristy" than le Cinque Terre is, even when not many tourists are in the Amalfi. But what it is tacky touristy to an adult is often very entertaining and amusing for kids, so I'd head south with small kids.

What you do need to watch out for in the south is motion sickness, especially on buses but even in the back seats of cars. Also, seasickness on the boats to the Blue Grotto, because in crowded times it can often be a long wait on the water in a rocking boat in the hot sun.

bvlenci

One of the few times I've been seasick in my life was on a boat to Ischia.

christieCA

Our schedule is almost identical to yours, but we will be spending that extra 3 days in Umbria between Tuscany and Rome. Not sure exactly where yet, but it seems to have plenty of fun for kids (mine will be 7 and 10).

europhile

Thanks so much for all of the information and suggestions! I hadn't really considered Sorrento, but I will. DH and I have stayed several times in Positano, Ravello and Capri and generally love the small town size and general vibe, but with the kids it would definitely be different! I see us visiting all of these towns with the kids, and also the little castle someplace along this coast (but I can't remember which town). I don't think we'll go to Naples or Pompeii this time. Really we just want this to be a relaxing break portion of the trip after all of the sightseeing we'll do in Venice, Rome and Tuscany. Do you think Sorrento would be a better choice for the family, or should be look for something in Positano area?