JeanineMR

One more option to share:

Instead of Amsterdam, another idea was to go to northern England to see the
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland and then into Edinburgh - and flying to Italy from there.
Either into Pisa, Milan or Rome - depending on what our itinerary was for the rest of our vacation.

Thanks again!

PalenQ

I enjoyed Ischia as much as Capri - Hadrian's palace on a cliff was great - lots of nice walks and a less of a tourist mob. But I guess to see the Blue Grotto is neat though if tides are high you may not be able to go into it by boat.

JeanineMR

I think we'd like to choose the least crowded places, if possible. I know August is very busy - but I am thinking Ischia might be a better choice. Did you go out on a boat while you were there? We aren't planning on hanging out on the beach all day (crowds are ok, but crowded beaches is not something that my husband and I like) - we'd rather walk around, see the sites, go on a boat ride, maybe snorkel.

WWK

You're going to find crowded beaches almost anywhere you go in Europe during August. Doesn't matter whether it's Capri or Ischia. Cities will be less crowded, but broiling hot.

Think about the three ( and yes, I would limit it to three!) places you most want to go, and look for accommodations FIRST. Then plan your itinerary.

August is prime vacation time for all of Europe, and you may find very limited availability.

Ozarksbill

I can see option # 2 as my choice and most doable (given time frame and two kids). Certainly lots in London...incl. Tower, Trafalger Square, maybe out to Hampton Court, Kew Gardens.

And in Amsterdam...incl. boat ride, view of Little Mermaid, Ann Frank house.

And in Rome...ancient ruins, Coliseum, Last Supper mural in Sistine Chapel, also I'd add lighted fountains at night at Villa d'Este.

And in Sorrento...boat to Isle of Capri, Amalfi coast drive, ruins in Pompeii (Naples a big noisy city though does have wonderful Pompeii artifacts museum).

And then back home to Boston...we are older retirees fairly new in Watertown.

P.S. Having traveled with kids though camping in U. S. I know how they wear down yet I still wonder if they shouldn't also be exposed to several of the wonderful European museums and cathedrals.

Christina

I really don't understand your priorities from your new options. Why go all the way to London and then only spend 2-1/2 days there? And it isn't as if you couldn't make more time because you want to spend the rest in Italy, because you have other options spending extra days in other places.

Throwing France in for no reason except to drive from the northern coast of France through the Alps to Italy in a couple days doesn't make any sense to me, not to mention the impossibility of car rental. Well, you can do it, but I bet it will be very expensive to rent in France and drop off in Italy. Have you looked into the cost of that? I don't think you can drive that fast through the Alps, anyway.

Cathinjoetown

Why 3 nights in Cinque Terre? Pretty but other than hiking there's not much for kids, to my knowledge. With an 11 and 12 year old, I would not give it priority over London.

Option 2, in terms of cutting back on locations, makes the most sense. Time, imo, has value. Price flights to Amsterdam from London City airport vs the ferry. Better, add time to London then fly to Pisa or Rome from London.

The British Museum's major special exhibit through September is "Life and Death in Pompeii and Heraculaneum," excellent intro I would think.

Upthread it was suggested you check availability of accommodations before you book travel within Europe. The cities shouldn't be a problem but Sorrento may be a challenge in August.

Italy in August of course equals hot. Live like the Italians, get to Pompeii EARLY and get out of there by noon. Beaches--there are some on the Amalfi coast but it is not what it's noted for.

JeanineMR

Cathinjoetown, your post is very helpful. I was starting to think the same thing about Cinque Terre.

I think they would prefer exploring around Naples area instead - staying on the Sorrento Coast (possibly in Vico Equense) and traveling around from there: Capri, Ischia, Pompeii etc.

My son read about the Poseidon Water Park on Ischia and would really like to go - does anyone recommend it? We'd also like to take a boat trip around Capri (preferably sail boat) for the day that includes swimming from boat, lunch, tour. I am having a hard time finding anything but a chartered boat for a few days.

Would it make sense to spend 2 nights on either Capri or Ischia and 2 nights in Vico?

However, that said, the main reason for us to fly out of Naples is Pompeii. The beaches are not a focus - but we'd still like to take in the views and take a boat trip.

Maybe it might be better for us to spend more time up north and take in Tuscany before we head into Rome. We could fly into Pisa, rent a car and travel through Tuscany, returning our car in Rome.

If anyone has taken children around these ages (11+12) to Italy and have any suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

The reason for the overnight ferry was the experience of the journey. It sounds like fun and we are interested in seeing Amsterdam.

Thanks for your tip on the British Museum - I had also read that- great timing.

Hez

I would spend 4 nights in London, 4 nights in the Junfrau region, 4 nights in Rome and the remaining 3 on Pompeii/Capri/Amalfi Coast. Look at some of the discount airlines like EasyJet or RyanAir to fly around. Sometime stupendously cheap (just check which airport out of London as there are several and not all are convenient).

We've traveled with nieces and nephews of those ages and they never really enjoy the travel part. A six hour scenic train ride sounds lovely to me, but to them it's six hours that they'll spend playing on their ipads or reading a book - stuff they can do at home. They also tend to enjoy more 'doing' than 'looking' at things, although that varies somewhat from kid to kid.

I haven't done the Fat Tire bike tour in London - but have in Paris and Munich - and they were an excellent way to see the city, learn some history - and recover from jetlag - http://london.fattirebiketours.com/

The girls always enjoy high tea and shopping at Fortnum & Mason (many good options for high tea - this is just where we go because I love their tea and buy mountains of it to bring home). http://www.fortnumandmason.com/

H.

Grindeldoo

If you want to get to the Pompeii exhibition in London I'd strongly recommend booking tickets in advance - these special exhibitions get booked up, and if you haven't got tickets in advance, you may not be able to get in as it is the peak holiday season.

annhig

Hi Jeanine, I'm joining this thread late, but I saw what nyt posted upthread and I agree with it ie 3 places will be quite enough on a first trip.

when you think that you lose a day to jetlag then another getting to your next destination, and at least 1/2 a day getting to Rome, you're already down to 11 1/2 days. also London is a pretty big and tiring place to get around so you need to plan well to make sure that you make the most of it. so 5 nights in london would be a minimum, then 5 in Sorrento, and finally 4 in Rome is the least you'll want in any of those places.

another time you can do Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Paris and the Berner Oberland, Berlin and ....

indy_dad

Some specifics and tips for your London & Rome portions based on our travels with kids a similar age:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...andparents.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-with-kids.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...log-photos.cfm

I've got a few more depending on how your trips settles out. ;-)