Help planning an Italy itinerary for wide range of ages!
 

I'm trying to plan a 7-8 day visit to Italy with my boys (ages 8 and 12) and my parents (ages 78 and 80). The boys will want some adventure and my mom has had some recent knee problems so can't do a lot of walking. She'll be happy to sit in a centrally-located, charming hotel/B&B/apt with a book while we explore. Grandpa has lots of energy and will love the adventure as much as the boys.

We're based in Geneva. Ideally would love to see Venice, Pompeii, Rome. Can do any combination of air/train/rental car that would make sense. I would greatly appreciate suggestions about an itinerary, hotels, and/or tour guides that would help bring the places to life for the kids.

We're hoping to go at the end of October so I need to get going on the planning!!

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

I do not envy that task.
You have so little time I would pick 2 destinations---I would prefer Venice and Rome--air connections would dictate sequence.
You can train between them. Look at context/rome.com for the best tours in Rome.

Thank you for this website. I understand that this is not an enviable task...that's why I've been procrastinating! I guess I need to first identify the cities/sequence and then find the accommodations that will suit this wide range of travelers!

If your mother has knee problems I would not take her to Venice or Pompeii. Venice has lots of bridges to cross and the walking in Pompeii is tough, even without knee problems.

Venice is hard on the knees not only because of all the bridges but because most of the walkways are made of stone so there is zero give. However, if your mother is quite happy to stay basically in one place then I suggest you choose one of the hotels along the Riva dei Schiavoni so that one can people watch and see the world go by.

I would also consider just doing two destinations.

Great info - thank you for taking the time! I will check out the Riva dei Schiavoni for a hotel. Any suggestions for a great people watching, charming hotel in Rome?