we just returned (kids ages 13 and 11) from a wonderful Italian holiday. thanks for everyones advice
what we did well- our itinerary was perfect for a fazmily holiday venice 3 days, florence one day, capri 2 days, sorrento 1 day, with visit to pompeii, and rome 4 days
3* hotels with quad rooms were all more than adequate, all had breakfast, and were much less expensive than taking 2 rooms
-residenza il villino in florence, wea charming and quiet and well located
-villa orian in sorrento is a bit off the main stripm but the view is fabulous, and the villa is in a gorgeous lemon and orange grove. the breakfast is supurb and freshly made,and it its easy to get a cab into central town or the train to pompeii (some restauraunts pick you up in their vans and bring you home at night! we did this in sorrento and capri
-hitek akunabdu (there are 2m a 3* and a 4* beside each other- we took the 3*) the location was amazing for us it is one street up some stairs to the entrance to the vatican thus when we arrived one afternoon we scooted over to st peters for a couple of hours, and the next morning we went to the vatican museums. the hotel booked us for the 10:30 tour of the vatican museum (ther is another at noon) It was amazing for many reasons. One, you dont have to wait in line- just go to the front. Two, the cost was 21 euro including admission. three our guide was superb. Her name was gabriella, and she had excellent english, a great sense of humour, and had great credentials. she had written a book on mosaics on sale at the vatican. the hotel was very quiet, as the vatican is not so trafficy at night, and it really was only a 6 euro cab ride into piazza navona etc.
capri is gorgeous, and it is a must to take a boat tour around the island and into the grottoes. we agonized over the various hotels, but in the end it probably didnt meatter much. the food was wonderful, capri is far ritzier the anacapri- but you will see both

Thanks for sharing 4bams

Dear 4bams,
Thanks for your report. We're heading to Italy in a month with 2 kids (same ages as yours) and similar itinerary. Did you take the Vatican tour with a particular company, or was it a guide that just your hotel set up? Also, what hotel did you stay in Capri? Would you recommend? Did you hire a guide at Pompeii?
Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the great report. When you went to Pompeii, did you also do Herculaneum and the museum? Did you take a tour or go on your own?

joangk; for the vatican tour; we had booked ahead through enjoy rome, for a tour that met outside the vatican at noon. the tour was to be 3 hours, at a cost of 26 euro- when we arrived in rome though we thought that a tour that started at noon really would eat up most of the day, especially as there was still the time involved to line up etc, so we cancelled it. our hotel was right near the vatican- they booked us in to the 10:30 am english tour, so we knew exactly when to go, there is no line (they let you right in for the tor) the tour is run through the vatican itself, and you can book it when you get to the vatican as well (there is a noon tour also) but this does not give you the bonus of booking ahead and knowing you will get a spot. Mind you, we booked a day ahed and had no problems. The tour was superb, and far less expensive,and included vatican admission fees. It did not include the basilica- we hooked on to the free tour run by some priest at st peters- (I think it was a 1;15 tour, but search this site for the exact time- it too was great, and we explored the cathedral ourselves at our leisure the afternoon before our vatican museum tour- we actually spent longer at the vatican by splitting it up over two days this way, and it was much more enjoyable for the kids as well. In capri we stayed on the anacapri side at hotel bellavista. it was fine- the location was great, and we asked for a sea view room- it was spectacular. they were quite helpful to us. it is a 3* hotel, and suited us. the luxurious hotels are on the capri side, but in may we did not swim, and did not need a pool etc. anacapri is quieter and less posh than capri, but you will go to both anyway, and it probably doesnt matter where you sleep. do take a boat tour from marina grande port that goes all around the island- yes it sound kitchy but it was a real highlight,and you get to see the blue grotto, all the fabululous views, other grottos etc. the kids loved it. we easily found a guide at pompeii- well qualified guides stand out front of the ticket area and approach tourist (in a pleasant way) they offer to put gorups together and so you may share a guide with another family if you wish to cut the cost, or do it on your own. many people form these spontaneous groups of 8-12 people and our guide was very good; I really recommend a guide over doing it on your own. it brought the place alive.

the kids enjoyd the park near villa borghese in rome as a nece break that we hadnt planned on- consider it if things get hectic.
the other tour that we loved was the jewish ghetto tour in venice. (go to the ghetto and book there- check guide book for times) we tried to not book too many things ahead of time, giving us flexibility- worked out great have a great time and let us hear about it, and ask any other questions you may have!

Carol A: no we did not go to hurculaneum, and although I am sure it would have been fascinating I dont know if the kids would have been interested in more of the same? but not having been to both I cant say. we felt that if we spent another day in the area, it was a day taken from a different part of the trip, and we were happy with our choice.