Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Mestre hotel to airport in Venice?

Hi Sabbin, you might want to start a new thread regarding your trip so you catch of the eye of other Fodorites. maybe title it "Suggestions for 2 Weeks in Italy with teens".

Jim, I think being in Italy with teens is so much fun. They are old enough that you don't have to keep an eye on them every second like you do with little ones, and seeing Italy through their eyes is so special.

When my daughter was a teen Rome and Venice were her two favorite cities (they still are). She liked Florence but not like she loved Rome and Venice. That has been true of the other teens in my family that have been taken to Italy.

I don't know which period of time you are going and there are different schools of thought regarding where to start the trip and where to end the trip.

Personally I think arriving at the Marco Polo Airport at Venice and staying in Venice first is good. Calmer than Rome (except for the Pizza San Marco area)..no auto traffic to worry about etc. A very magical city. And you get feel safe letting your teens wander around on their own which they usually love.

You could than take the train to Florence (that takes about 3 hours) from the Santa Lucia train station in Venice. I am sure you will enjoy Florence and it is a very easy city to walk around in as it is flat and the historical center is not that large.

Than you could take the train to Rome (less than a couple of hours) and enjoy Rome and fly home from Rome.

IMO flying into Venice and home from Rome is the easiest versus flying into Rome and home from Venice as most flights leave Venice really really early in the morning. Getting to the Rome airport is so much easier than getting to the Venice airport, even if your flight from Rome leaves early in the morning too.

Arriving in one city and flying home from another city is called an open jaw flight or multicity flight, as you probably know.

I always take KLM out of SFO. I change planes at the Amsterdam airport (I love that airport..so much to do there and so efficient). I than take the KLM City Hopper to Venice. From Rome via KLM again you change planes at Amsterdam and than take the nonstop flight to SFO. If you want to fly KLM you make the reservations via Northwest Airlines, you are not able to reserve directly with KLM. I always make sure the flights are on KLM planes.

Regarding the number of days for each location I would suggest that you not plan on doing a whole lot the day you arrive in Venice. The time you get to your hotel etc. you will feel some jetlag (long flight from our westcoast to Italy). After settling in it is nice to walk around, get some fresh air etc., a nice dinner and a good nights sleep. Oh, a glass of Prosecco wine is good too..light, crisp and refreshing and from the region of Veneto.

If you want to see a lovely city you could stop at Bologna on your way from Venice to Florence. You could leave the luggage at the left luggage department at the Bologna (they did have one and sure they still do, you could double check at the Venice train station regarding this) and perhaps look around and have lunch there. Bologna is known for its food. It is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe and to this day has so many university students studying there. Think your teens would enjoy Bologna. Beautiful arcades with fantastic shops..your wife would enjoy them! Again, if your teens wanted to wander around on their own for a bit that should be fine (as long as they pay attention to the time so you can catch the train on time).

If while in Venice, you wanted to take a day trip you could all train to Verona for the day. Another beautiful small city.

And Rome, well Rome as everyone says is beautiful, historical, vibrant, chaotic and enchanting. Again, I personally have never known a teen that did not love Rome. And you certainly will not have a lack of sites and sights to enjoy. Most people like to stay in the historical center.

Personally I would probably plan on 2 nights for Florence (one full day without arriving or departing).

If while in Rome you could take in Pompeii, most teens enjoy going there. We did a long but happy day daytrip to visit Pompeii. If everyone in your family is healthy and has a good energy level IMO it is not to much to do in one day. If you don't want to take the time for Pompeii you could visit Ostia Antica which you can also reach by train..it is not far from the Rome airport.

Most teens (not sure if you have boys, girls or a combination) really like to visit the Villa d'Este which has beautiful gardens and fountains. It is in Tivoli, which you can reach by bus. About 4 miles outside of Tivoli is Hadrian's Villa which would be interesting to visit if you do go to Villa d'Este.

If, when in Rome, you want to get away for a day Orvietto (about an hour by train from Rome) is another beautiful small city to visit. The duomo is so beautiful..you could have lunch there also.

Do keep in mind while planning your itinerary that on Monday's most of the museums are closed in Florence.

Hope this helps a little..and of course if you wish you could do this trip in reverse, Rome first and Venice last.

Have fun planning your trip. I assume this is your first time to Italy? I always think the first visit to Italy is the most magical of all. And you all will have a liftime of beautiful family memories. Best wishes.