Italy four weeks with 7 and 10yo
Mar 9th, 2016, 08:05 PM
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Italy four weeks with 7 and 10yo
Hi
I have been having a lovely time reading a million posts and trip reports here.
Thank you!
We are a family 2A2C who love to travel and are planning a trip to Italy next April/May. We will be gone for 5 weeks but one of those will be spent in Paris.
I can speak Italian (rusty though atm) and DH and I have visited Italy before many times pre-children. We have been building them up with domestic (Australian), Asian and USA travels but now we are ready for the 24 hour flight!!! gulp...
I would love some feedback and comments on the first draft of our itinerary please.
Fly into either Rome/Paris and open jaw out of the opposite. We are not worried about which direction we go but may prefer Rome first as Paris may be warmer at the end of the trip. It will depend on flights/times/points.
Rome 7 nights
pick up hire car from somewhere near where we are going to stay in Umbria, train from Rome to this place.
Umbria (thinking near Montone which is rural or Assisi in an apartment) if we stay rural we can drive around easier. 7 nights
Val d'Orcia 7 nights (will have car)
then I cannot decide (I mean I could easily holiday for 4 years and still not decide!!!) between 3 nights Bologna/4 nights Venice or whether to have 7 nights in Venice, or 3 nights Florence/4 nights Lucca...I am very open to suggestions.
Then we will fly to Paris for 7 nights. (this is the children's request).
We will stay in apartments and like to take our time exploring at our own pace and enjoying a place. We are not travelling to tick things off our lists, but to relish the things we choose to see and experience. Our children love to travel and love the exotic and food.
Thanks
I have been having a lovely time reading a million posts and trip reports here.
Thank you!
We are a family 2A2C who love to travel and are planning a trip to Italy next April/May. We will be gone for 5 weeks but one of those will be spent in Paris.
I can speak Italian (rusty though atm) and DH and I have visited Italy before many times pre-children. We have been building them up with domestic (Australian), Asian and USA travels but now we are ready for the 24 hour flight!!! gulp...
I would love some feedback and comments on the first draft of our itinerary please.
Fly into either Rome/Paris and open jaw out of the opposite. We are not worried about which direction we go but may prefer Rome first as Paris may be warmer at the end of the trip. It will depend on flights/times/points.
Rome 7 nights
pick up hire car from somewhere near where we are going to stay in Umbria, train from Rome to this place.
Umbria (thinking near Montone which is rural or Assisi in an apartment) if we stay rural we can drive around easier. 7 nights
Val d'Orcia 7 nights (will have car)
then I cannot decide (I mean I could easily holiday for 4 years and still not decide!!!) between 3 nights Bologna/4 nights Venice or whether to have 7 nights in Venice, or 3 nights Florence/4 nights Lucca...I am very open to suggestions.
Then we will fly to Paris for 7 nights. (this is the children's request).
We will stay in apartments and like to take our time exploring at our own pace and enjoying a place. We are not travelling to tick things off our lists, but to relish the things we choose to see and experience. Our children love to travel and love the exotic and food.
Thanks
Mar 9th, 2016, 08:14 PM
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More power to you, that's a long plane trip with kids and a long time away from home. It
The decision about which other towns/ cities really comes down to what your family likes to do, what your interests are.
The decision about which other towns/ cities really comes down to what your family likes to do, what your interests are.
Mar 9th, 2016, 08:39 PM
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It's time for a guide book and a family meeting. With a rental car your options are very broad. You could explore Abruzzo, Puglia or Le Marche (very much under-visited spots).
Or maybe the kids will be sick of being in a car and want some beach time - Amalfi Coast maybe?
You could head to the Lakes and take them to Gardaland and combine it with a trip to Venice.
It just comes down to your interests.
Or maybe the kids will be sick of being in a car and want some beach time - Amalfi Coast maybe?
You could head to the Lakes and take them to Gardaland and combine it with a trip to Venice.
It just comes down to your interests.
Mar 10th, 2016, 02:03 AM
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It sounds like a wonderful trip and you are smart to not move accommodation too often.
Of the places you mention for your 4th week, I like Lucca for a family (or anyone) because it's largely traffic free, you can cycle around the city walls and out along the river, and there's quite a bit to see, including several towers to climb. And my experience is that kids of all ages like to climb things. It is also possible to explore the wooded valleys of the Garfagnana area by bus, train or car.
Venice is, of course, utterly unique and it is also possible to do day trips from there, such as to Bassano del Grappa, Treviso, Vicenza and so forth. A close alternative to Venice would be Padova.
I probably wouldn't visit both Lucca and Venice as they are some distance apart. If you choose Venice and want to combine with another city, I have read that Bologna, Ferrara and Mantova are all lovely with a lot to offer but I've never been there myself. Lake Garda would be another possible pairing with Venice, splitting the week.
My kids did not enjoy being in a car and if yours are the same, I'd mix up the car with trains, for novelty if nothing else.
There would be flights to Paris from Pisa and Venice.
Let us know what you decide. Enjoy!
Of the places you mention for your 4th week, I like Lucca for a family (or anyone) because it's largely traffic free, you can cycle around the city walls and out along the river, and there's quite a bit to see, including several towers to climb. And my experience is that kids of all ages like to climb things. It is also possible to explore the wooded valleys of the Garfagnana area by bus, train or car.
Venice is, of course, utterly unique and it is also possible to do day trips from there, such as to Bassano del Grappa, Treviso, Vicenza and so forth. A close alternative to Venice would be Padova.
I probably wouldn't visit both Lucca and Venice as they are some distance apart. If you choose Venice and want to combine with another city, I have read that Bologna, Ferrara and Mantova are all lovely with a lot to offer but I've never been there myself. Lake Garda would be another possible pairing with Venice, splitting the week.
My kids did not enjoy being in a car and if yours are the same, I'd mix up the car with trains, for novelty if nothing else.
There would be flights to Paris from Pisa and Venice.
Let us know what you decide. Enjoy!
Mar 10th, 2016, 02:24 PM
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Misstravelbug,
This may help http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-and-rome.cfm
On another trip the kids loved Lucca.
This may help http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-and-rome.cfm
On another trip the kids loved Lucca.
Mar 10th, 2016, 02:54 PM
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There are some great beach towns for kids on the Adriatic coast (Le Marche and Emilia Romagna.) These are family beach towns, not the cliffs and coves of the Amalfi Coast; one of my favorite towns is Senigallia, which also has nice shops and great restaurants. Maybe a family from Australia would sneer at our beaches, though.
Lake Garda sounds to me like a good possibility. Depending on where you stay on the lake, you could take a day trip to Venice. If you stay on the northern end of the lake, it would probably be too far. Verona is also an easy day trip from Lake Garda.
Lake Garda sounds to me like a good possibility. Depending on where you stay on the lake, you could take a day trip to Venice. If you stay on the northern end of the lake, it would probably be too far. Verona is also an easy day trip from Lake Garda.
Mar 10th, 2016, 06:12 PM
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Thank you all for your ideas.
I am not sure it would be hot enough for a beach component for us in May. We are used to 30*C weather and do live near the beaches here in Australia, we are very spoilt.
We were thinking about a Venice/Como option, but do you think that 4 nights in Venice is enough?
We were also leaning towards Bologna and surrounds to visit some food orientated places.
DD wants to visit a Parmigiano Reggiano establishment and see how it is aged and made. DS is very excited about the Gladiator school in Rome, both are looking forward to Ostia Antica and the old cities, history, museums, art and so many other things that only Italy can offer.
I will do some more research and I am sure I will be back to tap into your experience and wisdom.
Thanks
I am not sure it would be hot enough for a beach component for us in May. We are used to 30*C weather and do live near the beaches here in Australia, we are very spoilt.
We were thinking about a Venice/Como option, but do you think that 4 nights in Venice is enough?
We were also leaning towards Bologna and surrounds to visit some food orientated places.
DD wants to visit a Parmigiano Reggiano establishment and see how it is aged and made. DS is very excited about the Gladiator school in Rome, both are looking forward to Ostia Antica and the old cities, history, museums, art and so many other things that only Italy can offer.
I will do some more research and I am sure I will be back to tap into your experience and wisdom.
Thanks
Mar 11th, 2016, 06:37 AM
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You are right, May and especially April is too early for the beaches. Although basing yourself on the coast off-season would allow you to stay in a nice hotel for much less then what you would spend in places like Bologna.
I'm a big fan of Emilia-Romagna, so my vote goes for Rimini as a base to visit medieval towns like San Leo, Gradara, San Marino, Urbino, etc. by car.
If you like nature, I would also suggest the mountains between Romagna and Tuscany, places like the Foreste Casentinesi, where you can find the springs of the river Tiber:
http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.com/...sentinesi.html
or:
http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.com/...imoncello.html
For the cities it's probably easier by train: Ravenna (50m), Bologna (1h), Modena (1h 30m), etc.
Just one of the hundred possible itineraries in Italy.
I'm a big fan of Emilia-Romagna, so my vote goes for Rimini as a base to visit medieval towns like San Leo, Gradara, San Marino, Urbino, etc. by car.
If you like nature, I would also suggest the mountains between Romagna and Tuscany, places like the Foreste Casentinesi, where you can find the springs of the river Tiber:
http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.com/...sentinesi.html
or:
http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.com/...imoncello.html
For the cities it's probably easier by train: Ravenna (50m), Bologna (1h), Modena (1h 30m), etc.
Just one of the hundred possible itineraries in Italy.
Mar 11th, 2016, 11:33 AM
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Bologna is fantastic. It's streets are beautiful and there are covered porticos, great food as well
http://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/
Venice has so much for kids. This is one quirky place mine love
http://en.venezia.net/2014/02/04/lib...rary-in-venice
Plus visits up both Campaniles - San Marco and over on San Giorggio.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attra...ce_Veneto.html
(Bvlenci - Australian beaches are overrated IMHO. Miles of dangerous pounding surf that is unpatrolled, Sydney's beaches have rip currents that can drag you 1km off shore, there are shark attacks and if you go north there are jellyfish that can kill you. At least the Italian beaches are not deadly.You may get the odd medusa but they're more a nuisance and you won't end up in hospital on life support if they sting you.)
http://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/
Venice has so much for kids. This is one quirky place mine love
http://en.venezia.net/2014/02/04/lib...rary-in-venice
Plus visits up both Campaniles - San Marco and over on San Giorggio.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attra...ce_Veneto.html
(Bvlenci - Australian beaches are overrated IMHO. Miles of dangerous pounding surf that is unpatrolled, Sydney's beaches have rip currents that can drag you 1km off shore, there are shark attacks and if you go north there are jellyfish that can kill you. At least the Italian beaches are not deadly.You may get the odd medusa but they're more a nuisance and you won't end up in hospital on life support if they sting you.)
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