DebitNM

Seriously, the mobs in Florence last week were quite off putting - I can't imagine subjecting a 4 and 6 year old to that kind of experience. And again, Naples was also not the place I'd want to have my young children.

Stay the entire time in Rome and deal as best as you can with crowds and kids. Do not take the metro from Spagna to Coloseum or Termini. It was really jam packed this weekend and unpleasant.

Have you traveled to Europe before? It sounds like you are not being realistic with travel that distance and with 2 little ones.

fly2europe

Thanks so much for the tips, had no idea about the mobs in Florence, really want to definitely go to Florence.
Looks like Naples in also not going to make to my final list.

I have traveled to Europe before, did 2 weeks in Spain 2 yrs ago which was also totally unplanned and had only 1st 2 days reservations in Valencia and did everything on the way catching trains to Ronda Granada Seville and Barcelona, had a blast..bit of spontaneous and bit of busy work schedule don't get a lot of time to plan.
Also have been to Paris and Venice 4 days each which we enjoyed without kids.

As I said we are flexible on everything right now...I know will have to take last minute train tkts a little expensive..

Let's see how it goes. So far looks like most realistic is Rome and Florence but will have to read up on the mobs, had no idea.

fly2europe

@sandralist, thanks for your input. Yah I mentioned that I usually "love the ambiance" of a place ( live was a typing error). For me just spending a couple hours at a cafe on a cobbled street is just fine..but will do sown sightseeing as well.
So Naples is out, what small town around Rome would you suggest to add if I do cancel Florence due to the mobs activity?
Sorrento looks great to me as a base in Amalfi for 3 days but would the weather be good enough to just drive around and enjoy the beauty?
No need for beach weather..

DebitNM

We did a drive last week from Sorrento down to Ravello and it was beautiful wether.

Your kids must be angels if you can simply sit at a cafe for several hours with them, mine wouldn't have lasted a fraction of the time?

fly2europe

Lol, I do carry a few small table games/color and puzzle books with me, keeps them busy, also throw in iPhone if that doesn't. Sometimes of course this doesn't work..we can just get up and do something they like, we just go with the flow trying to make the best out of the vacation.

fly2europe

@DebitNM, glad to hear that the weather was good.. Where did you stay?

DebitNM

We stayed in Naples for 3 nights on this part of trip. We went to Naples just to be convenient to the drive on Amalfi coast and to see Pompeii. If I had it to do over, we would have stayed in Sorrento.

WWK

If your heart's set on Sorrento, look at Hotel Tramontano or Bellevue Syrene, both close to the old part of town. We had lovely stays there when our kids were younger. Tramontano has a pool in front of the hotel, and a stone pier beach below the hotel accessed through a cement tunnel, but don't know if either of those will be open in April. Both hotels have gorgeous views of The Bay of Naples.

The good thing about Sorrento is that it's relatively flat, so the kids will not tire as easily as they might with the zillions of stairs in Positano. It has a really lively old town with tons of little shops, trattorias, pizzerias,gelaterias (!!) etc.

There's also a beautiful walk accessed by a long staircase near Bellevue Syrene that takes you down to an area frequented by artists who set up for the day along the water.

Also Sorrento is known as a great transportation hub, because it's very easy to reach: Pompeii ( by local train about 20+ minutes), Capri ( by ferry or hydrofoil though I don't know the April schedule), and the towns of the Amalfi Coast ( by dreaded SITA bus or better yet, boat).

I guess if you don't' care about beach weather, it might be worth a look since no doubt it's a very pleasant location to stay in for a few days, especially w/ kids.

cathies

If your heart is set on Florence, then it can easily be done as a day trip from Rome. 90 mins each way on a fast train.

sandralist

If you want beach I suggest Sperlonga and if you want Renaissance town then check out Arezzo (stay in the historic center, not the fringes)

http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome....way-from-rome/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...n-Tuscany.html

fly2europe

Arezzo looks wonderful, will definitely plan to go there. Thanks

sandralist

I think Arezzo is a better bet than the beach, so glad you liked it. There is more to do and enjoy. You will need to dress the kids for spring weather in Tuscany, especially since night time temps drop fairly dramatically.

Be sure to book in the historic center of Arezzo. Check out with the tourist office easy bus rides and train rides to other places if you want to see a bit more. Using the trains to move around, Chiusi might be fun for the kids (there are underground Etruscan passages) and of course there is Florence. There is also the small town of Lucignano reachable by bus, but it is not all that different from Arezzo in terms of character. You can also go take walks up in the hills above Arezzo.

If you use the trains you might need to take a taxi from the train station to get to the center of Chiusi or Cortona (or even Florence if your kids are balking at too much walking).

Remember if you "daytrips" that most small towns in Italy pretty much close during the middle of the day, and buses stop for lunch. (Florence is an exception.) So if you decide to go to someplace like Chiusi or Lucignano, either go sufficiently early in the morning or head out after lunch. Things will start re-opening around 3,30 and stay open until 7pm or so.

sandralist

PS: Warm pajamas are good, even for Rome this time of year.

fly2europe

I like that the small towns close down for Siesta.. This is what we had done with kids in the past, coming back to hotel room for a 2 hr nap after lunch and then go back at 4 and then kids won't have problem staying on for a nice dinner and stroll afterwards...they are lil older now so don't know about naps, will see.
Thanks for the top about warm PJs..
@WWK, Sorrento sounds so great, in fact one of my colleagues told me yesterday that he is going to bike the coast of Amalfi with base in Sorrento in May, much better than Naples as you said.

Thanks everyone for the help..

fly2europe

Hi everyone,

We are in Rome at present, had good 3 days here, got a nice apartment right next to Pantheon ,checked in 12th morning and checking out today.
We had planned to take train to Naples and then stay on amalfi coast for next 5 days before coming back to Rome for return flight on 21st but it looks like weather there is rainy next few days
We can still change itinerary as not is or hotels reserved yet.
Please advice any place which would have better weather around.
Thanks

fly2europe

We are on the train to Napoli..so far had good weather in Rome...hopefully Rains won't bother much in Amalfi.....anyone with tips on must do list in Amalfi coast

We will reach Naples at 3:30 pm and have 4 full days in Amalfi,..should we stay in Naples tonight and go to Sorrento in the morning or just go straight to Sorrento from Naples.

Please help me plan the next 4 day itinerary.
Thanks