Early trip planning
 

Hi, I am in early stages of trip planning for the summer of 2017. I am looking at July-August trip to Europe, 2 adults (husband and wife) and two kids in tow. The kids will be 10 years old and 1.5 year old.
I would love to rent an apartment and live like a local for 3-4 weeks, with day trips and, perhaps, an occasional hotel stay elsewhere.

I will post in Travel tips and ideas but it doesn't get as much traffic there. Any suggestions?

Not at this point since you haven't narrowed anything down yet. That's the first thing I'd suggest you do -- pick a particular country/region where you want to do this. You say you just want to rent some apt. and stay in one place for 3-4 weeks, fine.

Ideally, it would be a place you knew and liked and spoke the language. Any of those fit? Also, some places are a lot cheaper than others, of course. For July-August, you probalby don't want to do this in a real hot place, of course, so that could narrow it down some.

If you have never been to a place, don't know the language, and have no ties to the culture or area, you are not going to be living like a local, of course.

Also, it is probably going to be easier to rent apts in some places than others. It is now illegal in quite a few big cities, for example. In small towns and rural areas, you shouldn't have that problem, though. But then you'll have to have a car.

First, get some focus on where you want to go, that's what I'd do.

Thanks, Christina. My target area is Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Portugal, or Spain. I understand all those areas are brutally hot in the summer. We've done home exchanges before, so we have experience of living like locals even if we don't speak the language.

Someone suggested Costco Travel to another traveler. They do seem to have a beautiful package for Rome and Sorrento. It might be just what we need. I will research it further. Thanks!

I don't think a packaged tour from Costco is going to get your an local apartments rental for a month? Will it?

<I understand all those areas are brutally hot in the summer>

Not the Northern coast of Spain, the Spanish have gone here for summer vacations for ages because of the milder summer climate. You should take a look at the spectacular Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/

The Basque coast: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/basque-coast/

San Sebastián: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

Recent newspaper and magazine articles about San Sebastián: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...-san-sebastian

Video intro to the Basque Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaLIAGtCjNQ

Video intro to Donostia/San Sebastián: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRWCdjw1C8Q

I was thinking north of Spain the moment i saw your needs. Certainly near the main cities you'll find some English is spoken and between the coast and the picos is pretty good. Going inland or the southern coast is asking for a lot of heat and crowds.

I might also look at Italy right along the north getting into the Alps, so Breccia for example and the ski slopes can be lovely, lots of meadows and a bit cheaper. Get a bit of height and bag a swimming pool with day trips down to the valley.

Rome in July shheesh. I'd not take young kids into Central Rome in July. Why not go all out and try Morocco?

Forget Sorrento, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast in July with a 1 & 1/2 year old! Water, stones, steps that they will not be able to navigate and it will be hard to carry them and a stroller will not be much value, all in broiling heat! Yes, people live there and have children, but it is not like visiting when you want to see things. I have seen local people navigating sets of stones steps with a baby and stroller, carrying the baby down, attaching their little harness to something, racing back up for the stroller, and repeating it for the next set of steps. They did the same with groceries later.

Northern Spain seems OK, but I would look at a place you did not mention - The Netherlands. It has lots to do and see, is easy to get around and is very child friendly. Also, it is much cooler. Germany is great for kids also, and many areas are not so hot as Italy and Spain.

Many parts of Italy are not hot in the summer. It's a mountainous country, and the summer temperatures depend a lot on altitude. We have a summer house in the foothills of the Sibilline mountains, in Le Marche (nowhere near as high as the Alps) and we always need a blanket at night, and a sweater except at midday. The Amalfi Coast may be hot; I've never been there in the summer, but it's on the coast. Rome

accidentally sent that.

I wanted to add that the Amalfi Coast surely has the moderating influence of sea breezes.

Rome has almost the same exact average summer temperatures as Philadelphia, which isn't known as a steaming hot city. Florence is actually hotter than Rome, again because Rome is on the coast.

I think one reason why Americans think that places like Rome are excruciatingly hot is that they're outside a good deal of the time when they're in Rome, whereas at home they spend most of their time in air-conditioned homes, air-conditioned cars, air-conditioned offices, and air-conditioned shopping centers.

Bvlenci, you are exactly right. It is not that temperatures are higher. We stay inside in air-conditioning during the worst of the day. I have been in Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast in July, and actually enjoyed all.

However, I did not do much on the AC, mostly walked a bit mornings and evenings and sat by the pool during the day, and I did not have little kids with me.

In Rome, I did have kids, but did museums during the day and walking in the evening. A couple of afternoons when we were out, they were pretty good, but hot and sweaty. It was a lot easier also because we were living in Europe and did not have air conditioning in our apartment.

We loved Florence, but the kids could not tolerate much walking around in July. It was fine in the morning, but we ended up buying big sun hats and finding places to just sit with drinks in the afternoons, and ended up leaving Florence for day trips.

If something is your big dream, and you are sure you will never be able to do it another time, well, OK, go for it. If it is not the one thing on your dream list, and you know ahead of time that the heat or rain or whatever will affect how you or the littles will do, then pick another great place you can enjoy.

Lots of food for thought. Thank you for sharing your expertise. I will look into Northern Spain and other suggestions. I am abandoning the idea of Amalfi coast based on the recommendations here and elsewhere.

At that time of year avoid the south of Spain - even though IMHO the most interesting part it's just TOO hot in the summer, esp for a toddler. I would stick with the Atlantic Coast - San Sebastian et al - for decent weather.

Portugal is not hot in the summer, exception made for Alentejo region (the part that is not by the sea). Neither is Northern Spain, Galiza for instance is very pleasant during summer.