Italy first trip with kids...NEED ADVICE!
 

Hello!

This will be our first trip to Italy and we will be taking our 6 yr old and 10 yr old children. Here is what we have planned so far....I am really at a loss for what will be most convenient and efficient so we can enjoy our experience!

Fly into Rome
-3 nights in Rome
-Private transfer to Positano
-4 nights in Positano
-Taxi to rental car in Sorrento
- Drive from Sorrento to our villa in Tuscany (approx. 5 hours)
- 5 nights in Tuscany going to various towns and day trip to Florence
- Drive to Venice and drop car at airport, water taxi to hotel
- 2 nights in Venice then fly home

Thoughts? Any recommendations are much appreciated!!!

Thank you - Nicole

I'm not sure what sort of recommendations you're looking for. Do you want practical advice, or do you want information about activities for kids? Or something else? What sorts of activities interest your family?

What time of year will this be?

I should be more specific. Going in early October and I hoping I have chosen a good plan...worried about driving 5 hours from Sorrento! we just want to avoid trains with kids and luggage and all that.

If you have not checked flights, look into both the way you planned so far:
In Rome, out Venice
and the other direction
In Venice, out Rome.

Depending on where you are coming from, the return from Venice might require insanely early and expensive morning departure. Also, if you arrival in Rome is early in the morning, you will be limbo until you can check in. Many people who can fly directly to Rome automatically fly into Rome, For those staying in an apartment, there is a long gap between when they land and when they can even drop their luggage.

In Venice and out Rome usually solves both problems. If you require a layover to get to Venice, which you might have thought as negative, would puts you in Venice in the afternoon. Then you are multiple ways to get to Venice, arriving at the time you can walk right into your accommodation. VCE airport to most places in Venice requires a slow or expensive water transport. You can put this at the beginning where you have time vs. at the end where you cannot miss your flight.

Our flights are set ...in to Rome and out of Venice. Do you think our days are spaced well? Time in each area?

Thank you!

http://www.fodors.com/community/profile/bvlenci/
Definitley practical advice :)

Where are you planning to base in the Tuscan countryside?

Also, 2 nights in Venice is only one full day. You may just have to plan on a return visit for more days!

Are you absolutely wed to the idea of <B>driving</B> to Venice simply to drop off a car there? IMO it might be a bit easier and perhaps even more convenient to reach your hotel from Santa Lucia station as opposed to the airport.

Where are you staying in Tuscany?

I wouldn't use the car for the whole trip. I'd take the train from Naples to Florence or whatever town is closest and has a car rental station. The train trip is ~3 hours, no changes. Then pick up the rental car for the duration of your time in Tuscany. Drop the car in Tuscany, take another train to Venice.

The kids will enjoy the train trip.

Do you mean October of this year or next? If this year, have you bought tickets already? If so, it will be too late for some of the best advice you have received so far - to start in Venice and end in Rome. I would start in Venice if I could, then Tuscany, then the AC and end in Rome, which, BTW, is getting very short changed in your itinerary, as is Venice.

If you must fly into Rome and out of Venice and it cannot be changed, then look at re-allocating time. Except for time in Tuscany, it is IMHO, too rushed, especially with kids, and considering all the lovely things they could do in Venice and Rome. I would do a minimum of 3 nights in Venice and 4 in Rome. That gives you still only 2 days in Venice and 3 days in Rome.

My kids at that age absolutely loved, loved Venice and boating to some of the islands. With your kids, Venice absolutely needs at least full 2 days.

I love the AC and the hill towns of Tuscany, and usually say go for it, but not on this trip. I would cut one or the other.

Considering the trek to get there, less than 4 nights (3 days) on the AC does not make sense, so you would either keep the AC in your itinerary or cut it altogether,
The AC will start to wind down in October. There will be fewer people and it will be cooler, so nice in that way, but do check on ferry schedules and when they cut back, and make sure your hotel is situated for little ones, especially the 6 year old. Positano is beautiful, but more difficult to visit Pompeii from there. Did you have an interest in doing that with your kids? Do not expect good swimming or beach?

I know it is romantic to stay in a villa in Tuscany, but if you are going to be sightseeing every day anyway, it might not be the best choice. If you decide to just relax there, make sure there are things for the kids to do. Otherwise, could be boring for the kids. IME, Florence won't be nearly so hot or crowded by October. There are actually tons and tons of interesting things for kids there (my kids loved Florence when they were exactly that age). It is very easy to take days trips by train or bus (no luggage to lug along, no car needed) to Pisa, Lucca, or Sienna, all places kids will enjoy. You don't need a villa in the countryside if you are going to be touring every day.

It is also easier to depart for Rome or Venice or Sorrento from Florence if you do take a train, and if you cut the AC, I suggest you do use the trains. Take less luggage and it will easier and fun. No parking issues, and relaxing.

We are staying near about 1.5 hrs south of Florence. Why wouldn't you use the car? Hard to get around?

Maybe we should go Naples to Florence, stay 1 night and then rent car in Florence to tour Tuscany?

we really want to have a water taxi into Venice...so i thought keep the car and drop at the airport where we can taxi in. by the time we took a train it would be same timing.

Just saw you are wedded to flights into Rome and out of Venice.
No, do not think your time is as well allocated as could be.

You are doing a private transfer to the AC from Rome - costly - but if you are doing that anyway, then do it as soon as you land, right from the airport. At least, you can relax and let the driver do the work.

Positano is beautiful, but consider staying in Sorrento on the Bay of Naples. It is nice if you choose a hotel with a view, will not be so crowded by October and you can take a ferry during the day down to Positano or over to Capri. Check times. Sorrento is convenient for Pompeii and you could take a train easily back to Rome,

Still say, cut a day from Tuscany area and add it to Venice! I would even cut another and add it to Rome.

Arrive Rome, transfer directly to Sorrento, 4 nights
Train to Rome, 3 nights (or 4 nights)
Train to Florence, 4 nights (or 3 nights)
Train to Venice, 3 nights

@SASSAFRASS THANK YOU! Appreciate all of your advice. I have been going back and forth thinking to maybe go directly to Positano when we land by private car. That is just a lot of traveling in one day. So we could then travel up and be more efficient. Def want to see Positano and we are going to do a private boat one day and see Capri and just relax. First week of October and fingers crossed for good weather.

Villa is really Borgo Argenina in Tuscany so i guess that is more like a bed and breakfast.

So what would your schedule look like if you did it keeping the flights into Rome and out of Venice? 14 nights. I rather spend more for a convenient and relaxing trip. we are not very touristy although i know Italy is all about be a tourist! :)

I agree with Mimar. The train is a lot less stressful than driving. You can get up to go to the bathroom, or get a snack from the bar. However, Positano doesn't have a train station. You might want to get a private transfer to Naples to catch a train from there. There are direct trains to Florence from both cities. The fastest trains from Naples to Florence, the new Frecciarossa 1000 trains, take only 2 1/2 hours and make only one stop.

The same is true for the trip to Positano from Rome. I would take the train to Naples, and get a private transfer from there. The drive from Rome will be long and tedious.

I myself wouldn't consider driving from Florence to Venice. It's an unpleasant drive with endless tunnels. Again, I would much prefer the train.

This trip doesn't sound like a barrel of fun for the kids. You will have only two full days in Rome, which is very little time for that city. At least I hope you're not planning to see the "major attractions", which are unpleasantly crowded except in the dead of winter.

I can't imagine that Positano or rural Tuscany will have a lot of appeal to the kids, either. In October, there is always the possibility of rain and wind, and neither location has much to do indoors. And you have two long transfers involved, which even at best are tiring and stressful. I'm not even counting the drive to Venice.

If you really want a driving holiday, I would spend the time in two central locations, not too far apart. Maybe a week in Tuscany, and a week somewhere in Lazio or Umbria. From both places you could take day trips by car, and be flexible about indoor or outdoor activities, depending on the weather.

OK...new plan...

Arrive at FCO airport
-Private transfer to Positano
-4 nights Positano (hopefully we can change hotel dates)
-Transfer to Naples and then train to Rome
-3 nights in Rome
-Rental Car from Rome to Tuscany (stop for lunch in Orvieto)
-Tuscany 4 nights
-drop car in Florence
-Train from Florence to Venice

wish i knew the weather in advance! I know it might be cooler but still hoping to go boating in Positano.

and which train station in Venice takes you to the best location? our hotel near San marco. thank you again...you have all opened my eyes!

Santa Lucia station in Venice is the best for lodging in San Marco. From the station, you can get a vaporetto up the Grand Canal that's a wonderful introduction to the city.

The plan looks better now, although I'd still probably prefer to take the train to Naples and get a private transfer from there to Positano.

I don't know anything about boating in Positano. We used to have our own boat, sailed only in the Adriatic, but we sold it.

Maybe Blueeyedcod, an expert in the area, will see this and answer.

Thank you so much!

Hi, nenglish,

Just popping in with one suggestion. We did a similar trip with our two boys when they were a bit older, and they both loved the train rides. You might consider taking the train from Rome to Florence, then pick up your car in Florence. Also,if you really want to see Orvieto, you could hop off the train there.

We've rented cars to drive in Italy before (and did make the long trek from Florence to Venice, which was a mistake as it's not particularly scenic, just long). We've never picked up a car in Rome, though. The trains are so convenient and much more relaxing.

You're visiting some beautiful places--have a great trip!

Would you pick up the car in Florence and then at the end of your Tuscany stay drop it to same place and take train to Venice?

Thinking maybe get hotel for one night in Florence to store bags, spend a quality day and night...then drive out the next morning. Is the car drop close to the train station?

Thank you! That was great to hear you went with your boys.

The train or private care out of Rome is a toss-up when you throw two jet-lagged kids into the mix. With the train, you'll have to herd them and your luggage onto a train at the airport, then do the same at the Rome station. That can be a bit much on you and them, after a long plane ride. At least with the private car, you can just walk out the terminal and plop yourselves into the car and relax.

Check with your hotel in Positano about boating. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that term. Rent your own boat? Rent a boat with a driver? Join a group?

I have looked up a few companies that rent for the day, they sail you around and make coastal stops for lunch and few hours to walk around Capri, swim if its warm enough. Its pricey but seems dreamy

Also, for those of you who took children...any great activities not to miss?

Nenglish,

I'd probably drop the car in Florence or wherever I stayed last that has a train station.

Where in Tuscany are you staying? We loved Siena as a base for driving. You stay at the Palazzo Ravissa hotel just inside the walls, they have private parking and it's an easy drive in and out of town. Also, Siena itself is a wonderful city. It Is very ancient, and you will often see people from the different contrades (basically, neighborhood groups: very loyal and competitive) in their traditional dress just marching through the streets. My boys loved this city, and we've visited with them twice. I'm not sure that they have a train station, but it's a short trip by car from Florence.

The private transfer to Positano will be nice after your flight. Even though train travel is easy once you get the routine, the first time on jet lag with two tired children might be stressful.

I hope this is helpful--have a wonderful trip!

You don't have to drop the car at the airport, you should be able to drop at Piazzale Roma (end of the causeway to Venice and next to Santa Lucia) and then take a water taxi from there.

We have done it several times, as long as your rental company will take it there.

I don't know what it's like in Oct., but in season in Positano, there are companies on the beach that do water tours to Capri and back. You might consider one of the rubber boats. We did it with six people. The driver takes you around the island into some of the coves that mimic the Blue Grotto. Then you can get off at Capri, tour town, and go back. Don't know what the swimming will be like in Oct.

We are staying at Borgo Argenina http://www.borgoargenina.it/
about 20 min from Siena :)