Italy Itinerary Draft
 

We are 2 sisters and my 11 year old daughter planning to visit Italy for Spring Break - about 1 week.

We arrive on a Monday morning. We chose Waldorf Astoria Cavalieri Rome for 3 nights. I know it's outside of Rome but they offer the free shuttle and we thought it would be nice to get away and relax at the end of sightseeing. Plus the pictures of the hotels are amazing.

Plan to cover - a thorough Colosseum tour, Forum, historical Rome, Vatican area and enjoy lots of good food. I also would like to do some artsy type activity for my daughter who enjoys that.

Rome4kids has a mosaic class and we may like to do a cooking class.

I have seen good reviews for the Colosseum, Forum and ancient Rome tours for both Rome4kids and Viator. Viator is considerably cheaper. Can anyone recommend a tour for this ??

Also want time to browse around and take the city in. We also would love to check out shopping particularly high quality shoes and purses and nice jewelry. There must be great Italian made brands besides Prada, etc.

Depart on Thursday for Sorrento to use as a base. Plan to stay at Hilton Sorrento Palace. I guess we take high speed train to Naples and then can have a private car to take us to hotel? We will have large suitcases.

Thursday evening - stroll around Sorrento area.
Friday - Pompeii tour
Saturday - Ferry to Capri; grotto tour.

Sunday - Get back to Rome. Stay at Hilton Rome Airport hotel for flight back to USA on Monday.

Any comments? Suggestions? Recommendations?

I've used Viator a few times and have always been satisfied. Some here will tell you to use a "local" travel agent/tour. OK, now how do you know which one is a good one?

Viator is a "middle man" that hires good-quality locals. That works for me.

If it's in your budget, taking a private car from Naples to Sorrento is a good idea. They'll pick you up right at the train station. The alternative is to change trains in Naples to the Sorrento-bound train. That's not awful, but if you have a lot of luggage, it can be a bit of a challenge. Plus, when you arrive in Sorrento by train, you'll have to take a taxi to your hotel.

Are you going to Pompeii on a tour?

It is possible not to stay in American hotels when in Europe ;-)

Spring break dates?

Waldorf Astoria Cavalieri Rome is certainly IN Rome and just a bit out of the way of public transport. I'd be concerned by frequency of shuttles and rush hours but at least it is on the West side of the river which is the same side as the Vatican.

"High quality", unlikely to find much high quality in Rome, but you will find many international brands especially on the streets around the Spanish steps.

"Besides Prada" (give me strength). You'll do fine, just check the magazine in the aircraft as you fly over and anything on tables in the hotels ;-)

Yep catch the train. www.seat61.com explains how Italian trains work, there are two companies that do the Rome to Naples run. You could then catch the train from Naples to Sorrento and then a taxi, or the Hilton probably does a shuttle.

http://www.capri.com/en/s/la-grotta-azzurra gives advice on opening times as winter is often shut.

You might eliminate one hotel change by traveling to Sorrento when you first arrive in Rome. Do Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Sorrento and then travel to Rome for the rest of your week there.

Hi JamilaZ,

I'm afraid that my first thought is that you're going to struggle to fit all you want to do into the less than 3 days you have in Rome!

Although you arrive on Monday morning, you have to get through passport control, collect your bags, and then clear customs, and get to the hotel and check in - all of that is likely to take you until lunchtime at the very least. So even if you are not affected by tiredness and/or jet lag, you are not going to be up and running until early afternoon.

I''ve not done a tour of the Forum or the colosseum but would definitely recommend one of the Forum - 3 visits and it's still a pile of stones to me. Most tours of that area include the colosseum as well - perhaps others can chime in which what they recommend. However, I would not book anything for your first afternoon or evening - there are just too many variables. IMO a much better idea is to aim to see some of the things that are available in central Rome for free - the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Spanish steps, the Trevi fountain, the Campo dei Fiori - then you can bail out and go back to the hotel any time you like, or and eat in the city or in the hotel just as you decide on the day.

I would then suggest breaking up your sightseeing with the activities you mention; one day the Colosseum and Forum followed by an art activity, the next the Vatican and St Peter's in the morning [though I would caution against the Vatican museums, they will be terribly crowded - the Galleria Doria Pamphilij would IMO be much better and your DD would enjoy the audio guide that tells you all about the family and how they lived] and cooking in the afternoon.

For shops I like the area around Via Coronari and Via del Governo Vecchio [both in the area of the piazza Navona] not because they have any high end shops but I love the little independent shops; IMO much more fun for an 11 year old than the big names or the chain shops.

Of course you can take a train to Naples and then a taxi to Sorrento - and with large bags that's probably a good idea but perhaps booking a car service that has a mini-van would be better. but why the large suitcases? you surely don't need much for a week or so. if you buy a lot of things buy a cheap suitcase to bring it home in.

By having your own transport you could perhaps visit Pompeii en route to Sorrento - it seems silly to be going back north to Pompeii the day after you arrive. So you could go to Capri that day, and perhaps schedule a tour of the Amalfi the next.

BTW - your itinerary would be more efficient if you put all your nights in Rome at the end, and used your arrival day to go to Sorrento; it also puts you in the right place for flying home. [you could see Pompeii on the way back from Sorrento to Naples]

that would give you this

Day 1 - arrive am. Transfer to Rome Termini and catch train to Naples. Private transfer to Sorrento.
Day 2 - boat trip to Capri. [check time tables to ensure boats are running]
Day 3 - tour of Amalfi
Day 4 - private transfer back to Naples via Pompeii; train to Rome. Sightseeing evening/night time.
Day 5 - St Peters and...
Day 6 - Colosseum and ..
Day 7 - shopping and sightseeing
Day 8 - go home.

Hope that helps..have fun.

I understand the temptation of an amazing hotel, but from what I've seen of Rome, I would pick the most central, amazing hotel possible. You'll do an unbelievable amount of walking here, and seeing the monuments lit up at night has been a highlight for me. And a very short walk home at nighttime will be a major factor in picking a hotel when I return. (Currently staying on the west side of Tiber as well, but very close to bridge). I would not want to depend on a shuttle or taxis to go to and from hotel. Just my opinion.

And since you specifically want a kid friendly tour, I'd go with rome4kids. Unless you're sure that it's the same tour offered in both places.

Thank you thank you for such detailed replies. I really appreciate these comments and suggestions.

Arrival in Rome is March 27 and departure is April 3.

I think this idea of landing in Rome and going straight to Sorrento is a good idea. I kind of liked the idea of landing in Rome and then settling into a Rome hotel but it certainly looks more efficient doing it the other way. I really do not want to check out of a hotel and move to another one but the private tour to take us down there and return same day is 10 hours and about 800 Euros so I thought best to move there and take it easy enjoying the sites instead of rushing around.

We definitely want to visit Pompeii.

As I am writing this,it does make sense to go straight to Sorrento and see that part of the country and then move to Rome for a more relaxed departure plus weekend spent in Rome.

A bunch of seconds:

I agree a hotel in Rome's historic center would be better. It's part of the Rome experience. As you walk to sights you stumble across the odd Roman ruin or interesting shop. And you can split up, maybe you take your daughter back to the hotel while your sister continues to sightsee or shop. Or vice versa. Or drop off your bulky purchases before going on a tour.

And I agree with everything annhig said: that going to Sorrento first makes for more sightseeing time. Though maybe stopping at Pompeii en route to Sorrento on your first day in Italy would be a bit much. Instead you could stop in Pompeii on the way back to Naples.

And do get a guide to the Forum. It's indecipherable otherwise.

Many people have recommended the Context Rome tours. I've made a note for my upcoming visit to Rome.

marvel and others make a good point: a centrally located hotel is a real plus, for lots of reasons.

I think you're right about staying in central Roman stumbling across things and we are able to split up. I had spent some time looking for other hotels have similar caliber. I want something central but I little bit away from the high traffic touristy areas because of security reasons. Everything I'm booking is the refundable rate because I want to make sure we can cancel the trip if we for some reason feel there is a travel warning.

Maybe Boscolo Exedra Rome? It looks like a very nice property a little bit away from things yet still easy to get to central area attractions.

The issue with seeing Pompeii on our way back to Naples will be difficult because we will have our suitcases.

If you use a private transfer from Sorrento to Naples which includes a stop at Pompeii, you can leave your luggage with the driver in the car. If you travel from Sorretno to Naples by train, you can leave your luggage in the Baggage Deposit room at the entrance to Pompeii.

I agree with everyone else. Stay in a more central Rome hotel. Go to Sorrento on your first day and return to Rome which will give you more time in Rome. You have no where near enough time to do all you want with the time you have. Rome will likely be quite crowded.Consider stopping in Pompeii on your first day. This depends of course on how you feel after a transatlantic journey. If the your door to touching down in Rome time is reasonable as in ~ 18 or so hours you may be ok for an hour+ tour of Pompeii on your first day. Your private car/driver will keep your luggage and you can get a guide at the entrance. Weather may be an issue for you however as the chance of rain in March/April will be about 40-50%.
Use the same car/driver to tour Amalfi. What is your budget for a hotel in Rome?

Bilbo ;-)
I agree with above.
Just a few things.
I don't see the need of a tour in Rome but it may be just me.
I don't understand the cooking class but nobody outside U.S. Does I guess.
I would save that time for more visit and highly recommend the Hadrian therms/villa. It was the highlight of all I ever saw in Rome.
But it is your trip and looks great anyway !

<<The issue with seeing Pompeii on our way back to Naples will be difficult because we will have our suitcases.>>

Well then, cut down on your stuff. It's a very short vacation - how much stuff do you need?

Or just forget Pompeii and visit Ostia Antica.

And if you want to visit the main sites in Rome, how are you planning to avoid the "high traffic touristy areas?"

<<If we for some reason feel there is a travel warning.>>

How will you "feel" there is a travel warning?

You are really pushing it, which I think you'll find out by Day 2.

a. Bring as many suitcases as you like.
b. Stay in a hotel that you like.
c. Take whatever security precautions make you comfortable.
d. Apply a fine filter to the comments here.

I think the central hotels actually have excellent security because they are central. So I would choose one of those for that exact reason. (That said, the police and (would it be the national guard?) are really visible, and Rome is the kind of town where the natives are constantly outside, so I've felt safer here than many North American cities.

I agree with stcirq...I mean, the main sites are popular for a reason, but boy are they crowded. Think Boston, Chicago, NYC. (I have been to Boston only in high season if that gives you an idea) My favorite "view" so far has been the ruins from the terrace of the tabularium in the capitoline museum, so that would be on my "must see" list. It's the closest I've gotten to 19th century grand tour Rome:) Great interactive audio guide for your 11 year old, too.

Woin, not just those outside of the US that don't understand cooking classes, lol. Cooking classes are for when I'm home and can't travel. So I don't get it either. And you've added Hadrian to my list, so thanks for that!!

Mimar mentioned context tours...I am not a tour person, usually, but I took one of their tours and it was fantastic. So if they offer a kid friendly tour in Rome (I know they do in Venice) that would be my pick. Lively, personal, and educational.

Mjs - Rome Hotel budget up to $300/night. I was very interested in Waldorf Astoria because the standard room is over 500 square feet plus I have good chance of being upgraded there due to Hilton status. I'm looking for a spacious room (over 300 square feet with some luxury. We do like to relax in our hotel room after a long day of being out plus feel pampered on vacation.

The cooking class is more of a fun activity for my daughter. She enjoys it so it would be fun for her to make pizza or pasta there.

Large bags for a one week vacation is overkill. One carry-on per person will carry everything one could need. Even if you are taking a car instead of switching trains, small bags means better travel.

By the way, you could start in Rome, travel to Sorrento, and fly home from Naples (change planes in Rome) and save a travel day. Reversing: fly to Naples via Rome or Milan and home from Rome also works.

I have already got the airplane tickets so can't change now due to fees. I had thought about flying from Naples back home but the connections were not good.

Check Booking.com and cross reference with TripAdvisor. There are a lot of nice possibilities for your price range. We usually stay in apartments so I do not have any specific hotel advice. Do some research and others may have more specific advise once you have narrowed down your possibilities. We did a cooking class in Rome last year and it was fun although quite basic.

And ... there is luggage storage at Pompeii.

My daughter sometimes stays at the Boscola Exedra. It's very near Termini Station, and built over a small part of the ruins of the enormous ancient Diocletian bath complex. She says that if you ask the concierge, you'll be taken down to see some of the ruins. The bath complex (terme=baths in Italian) gave the name to Termini station. The name "exedra" is an ancient Greek name for a circular entry, and you'll see the front of the hotel and the Piazza della Repubblica in front of it follow the lines of the ancient exedra of the baths.

On the other side of the piazza, the beautiful basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e de Martiri, designed by Michelangelo, is in another part of the bath complex. There is a meridian line inside, which might interest your daughter. The days of the year are marked on the line at the exact spot where the light which enters through a small hole high on the wall will fall at noon. For centuries, the bells of the basilica were rung when the light crossed the meridian line, to mark the official noon hour, so that Romans could adjust their timepieces. Since sometime in the 19th century, noon is marked instead by a cannon fired from the Janiculum Hill.

The Exedra Hotel is in a busy part of town, but it's not Tourist Central, and it's very convenient for transportation.

You arrive in Rome, exhausted and jet-lagged, and leave for Sorrento on a Thursday morning. You have two full days in Rome, which isn't enough time for the things you want to see and do. I find that when traveling with children, it's best not to have many fixed appointments.

Why don't you sign your daughter up for some Italian cooking classes near home as a prelude to the trip? The half-day cooking classes for tourists in Rome don't give you enough time to learn anything about making pizza or pasta. And, really, you just don't have time for major sightseeing, shopping, and classes in two full days. On your first (half) day, you shouldn't have any plans carved in stone.

I agree with the advice to skip the Vatican Museums, and I agree that the Doria Pamphilj Gallery is a good substitute.

You have only 2 days to see Rome. Arrival day is not counted. Travel day to Sorrento doesn't count either (when Mrs. P and I did that travel day, we ended up having pizza for "lunch" at 3 pm in Sorrento.) You then have two days to see things near Sorrento, then a travel day to Rome, then a travel day home. I don't want to be a wet blanket, but you are giving yourself only half a vacation and half just coming and going. If you are efficient, you will do maybe four things in Rome and two days of interest near Sorrento, unless, of course, the weather is too windy or rainy for Capri, or too hot for Pompeii.

Also, you are assuming everything goes correctly. Our one day on Capri was restricted due to a strike, closing the Grotto and most of the destinations on Capri, as well as restricting the number of ferries. One day in Rome we were not able to gain entry to the Vatican due to overwhelming crowding. But we were flexible and had 12 days, not 7, for our trip.

For you, Rome is locked in. Consider using only Rome as your base and you could then do everything you want to see there. Consider either a long day trip paid tour to Pompeii or see the nearby ruins of Ostia Antica. Visit Tivoli to get out of town. Go to the Doria Pamphilj on a Saturday when there is a musical tour. See the Palazzo Massimo, where there are the insides of ancient rooms, not just the rock walls of the places the frescoes were removed from. Schedule a visit to the Borghese. Do a gelato crawl around Rome. And more. You will only lose the first and last day to travel, avoiding two lost days you have added by attempting Sorrento.

And, if you are wise, you will get a hotel in the center of the historic district. Luxury American style hotel and shuttles are for insulated tourists, and you could be much better than that. And you 11 year old could decide to be a traveller in her future.

Lots to think about. I think we're going to scratch the pizza class. There's something local in town called Sur La table which offers classes.

Honestly, the thought of landing in Rome and then taking the train all the way to Naples and then on from there exhausts me just thinking about it. I'm thinking maybe we should just stay in Rome the whole seven days. It's our first trip. Maybe we can go back again and focus on other parts of the country. That way I don't need to be changing hotels and wasting travel time. I did not even think about strikes or bad weather. I really just want to go to a very nice hotel and enjoy a city, relax, and not be rushed. Learn some history.

A good decision. Now, just find a nice hotel in historic Rome. There a several recommended on this site that will enhance your experience rather than provide logistical barriers every day. The center is best. And, since this is a first trip, ignore the recommendations for renting an apartment that will inevitably crop up here. A hotel has helpful staff, will clean up the bathroom every day and handle any other problem with the room itself should one arise. You want a degree of pampering, not responsibilities.

WoinParis, I'm not sure what you mean by the "Hadrian villa/therms" in Rome. Are you thinking of Hadrian's villa in Tivoli?

<<Honestly, the thought of landing in Rome and then taking the train all the way to Naples and then on from there exhausts me just thinking about it. I'm thinking maybe we should just stay in Rome the whole seven days.>>

now you're talking.

Good choice, AJPeabody! :-)

I think it's a good idea to stay in Rome for this trip. There are lots of lesser-known sights and activities that will get you out of the crowds and let you enjoy the magic of Rome. I can suggest:

A visit to the Villa Farnesina in Trastevere. A beautiful villa, set in a lovely garden, with rooms frescoed by Raphael. Also, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, mentioned

A walk on the Janiculum Hill, where there are great views over the city, and usually a cool breeze on a hot day.

The Leonardo Museum on Piazza del Popolo, which has full-size models of some of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, many of which can be manipulated by the visitor.

The National Roman Museum at Palazzo Massimo, near Termini station. My granddaughter loves this museum, which has ancient statues, mosaics, frescoes (very rare), jewelry (my granddaughter's passion), household items, and even a mummy, of a young girl buried with her doll. She was the only one of her family (all in the same tomb) who was mummified; I wondered if she had died shortly after the family arrived from Egypt.

The Villa Borghese Park, where you can rent bicycles, golf carts, go-karts, and bicycle carriages. There's a little lake with boats, a zoo, and great views from the Pincian overlook (above Piazza del Popolo).

Ostia Antica is a must for visitors who have more than a few days. It's an entire ancient Roman city, even bigger than Pompeii. You can go to the upper floors of ancient buildings, stand at (or behind) the bar of an ancient Roman tavern, see an ancient Roman public toilet (with intact seats), sit in an ancient Roman theatre, and wander the ancient streets. You can read all about it, and download a decent guide to the site, at www.ostia-antica.org .

There are some very nice day trips you can make from Rome. One is to Tivoli, which I think maybe WoinParis was referring to above. Apart from Hadrian's (ancient Roman) Villa, you can also visit the Villa D'Este, a Renaissance villa with a fantastic water garden.

Orvieto, a charming Umbrian hill town, is an easy trip from Rome. A funicular railway takes you up to the town from the station. The Duomo of Orvieto is very beautiful, a rare example of Italian Gothic. There is a tour of the underground tunnels and grottoes that have been carved out over the centuries from the soft tufa rock. The Well of St, Patrick (Pozzo di San Patrizio) has a rather ornate double helix stairway to the bottom, so that mules going down to get water wouldn't be distracted by meeting their brother mules on the way up.

You can take a day trip to Pompeii or Herculaneum if Ostia Antica doesn't satisfy your appetite for ancient cities. The last time I was there,this past September, it was unpleasantly crowded. We often had to wait a long time just to walk down certain streets, especially the one leading to the brothel, which seems to be the highlight of the trip for most people. Y9u can take a tour from Rome, or go on your own by train, changing in Naples to the Circumvesuviana.

Florence is not too far away for a day trip. Assisi is another interesting day trip. Both can be reached by direct train.

There are several nice towns in the Castelli Romani area, reachable by train or bus.

Have a great trip!

<<Honestly, the thought of landing in Rome and then taking the train all the way to Naples and then on from there exhausts me just thinking about it. I'm thinking maybe we should just stay in Rome the whole seven days.>>

We are going for 8 nights about a week after you and we decided to stay in Rome the whole time. We were considering spending a couple of nights on the Amalfi Coast but it seemed to be a bit too much back and forth for the time we have. I've been doing a little research on day trips from Rome and posters in here have given me their recommendations. I think you can keep yourself very busy for 7 days just in Rome and surrounding area.

Thank you so much to everyone for all the detailed replies!!! It really helps a lot.

I am just thinking it would be a shame and big letdown if we get all the way to Sorrento and we can't do the Grotto or run into an issue.

I did not know all about Ostia Antic.

I had 6 nights in Rome. Don't even feel like I scratched the surface! I don't even think 7 would give you time for a day trip like Ostia Antica, but it's definitely on the list for next time!

If your guidebook(s) didn't cover Ostia Antica, then please consult or get some others! Having a GOOD guidebook can make an extraordinary difference to one's experience of a destination by providing all sorts of useful information in one place (including things you would never think to ask), offer money-saving tips, and cover options that might be exactly what YOU want even if they aren't among the things most people do or see.

For the train to and from Rome and Naples - www.trenitalia.com -book your own discounted tickets - family rates too I believe ASAP for the limited in number discounted ducats - you could also look into private car transfers to and from Rome.

Lots of good info on Italian trains - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Fodorite bvlenci who posts above is also a real Italian train expert - ask here if you have any problems but do book Rome to Naples Centrale early to get the greatly reduced rates.