More Rome OR some Rome and Naples/Sorrento
 

We (a family with a 9 year old) are planning our first Italy trip for the last 2 weeks of June. We will be in Italy for 13 nights/14 days.

Our original plan:

Venice – 3 nights
Florence – 4 nights
Rome – 6 nights (with a daytrip to Pompeii and Archaeological Museum; possible daytrip to Ostia)

However, when all the airline tickets are settled, we will fly out Italy from Naples to London STN. The flight will leave Naples at 21:00pm on Sunday July 2 (if Sunday is a factor).

Many questions rise due to this change.

1. If we still stay Rome for 6 nights, and we will be in Naples the last day (or part of the last day) of our trip, what’s the best way to use the last day if we stay at Rome the night before? Do we have time to visit Pompeii and Archaeological Museum that day? If so, where do we keep our luggage? If you don’t think it’s a good idea, what’s the best way to spend our last day (where/what to see/do/eat), considering that we will leave from Rome some time in the day, with all the luggage, and need to be at the Naples airport at around 19:00pm?

2. Then I thought about staying Rome for 4 nights and staying at Naples for 3 nights (and borrowing 1 night form Florence). We can then make the Pompeii trip from Naples. If we stay at Naples, then why won’t we stay at Sorrento since it will be less hectic (or more, some of you will say!! It is exactly the reason I’m asking different suggestions with reasons..). What would you do? Stay at Naples/Sorrento for few nights instead of staying at Rome for all 6 nights? If we should consider this idea, which city is a better choice, Naples or Sorrento…considering that we will leave from Naples airport the last day?

We love history, art, architect, scenery. I can’t say that money is not a factor. We want to get the best value for our money (for example, right now I’m thinking no 500 EUR taxi for a day trip).

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

It's hard to follow your post, but let me suggest this:

Venice 3 nights
Firenze 2 nights
Rome 6 nights
Sorrento 2 nights

That's 13 nights. If you can add another, I'd add it either to Venice or Firenze, depending on what kind of art you want most to see.

The Naples archeology museum will hold your luggage for you while you tour the museum. I suggest that you use the early part of last day of your trip to visit the archeology museum, then catch a taxi outside the museum for the airport. The museum will mean more if after you've seen Pompeii.

I may be possible if you arrive in Sorrento before lunch that after lunch you could go to Vesuvius.

Are you flying into Venice? If so, then I think 3 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Florence, 5 nights in Rome, and 3 nights in Sorrento (or possibly add a night in Venice and delete a night in Rome, but no fewer than 4 nights in Rome). I think most people can do Florence in two nights (really gives you one full day in Florence, time to see Accademia, Uffuzi, and other sights).

If you're not flying into Venice, I'd be inclined to skip Venice on this trip - trying to do all of Italy (or at least most of what tourists go to see in Italy) in 2 weeks is pretty ambitious.

Many on Fodors would recommend more time in Florence so that you can do daytrips to other places in Tuscany, but something has to give. Since you've already got your tickets out of Naples, you might as well take the opportunity to visit Sorrento, Naples (Archaeological Museum), Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi Coast, and/or possibly Capri.

What's really critical to finalizing the skeleton of your itinerary is knowing whether you're flying into Venice?

KC

Thank you both for suggesitons. Yes, we will fly into Venice.

Since the time you will be spending in the Naples area is a weekend, I would not count on a trip to the Amalfi Coast or Capri. If the weather is nice, the traffic on the coast is likely to be intense, along with lines for the boats to Capri. Play that one by ear, with the advice of the locals.

Only you can know how you would like to shuffle the "art" deck with a 9 year old. In addition to considering what art and architecture you want to see Italy, many children adore carlesss Venice. Firenze is a smallish town without much car traffic at its core and some small museums and monuments (like San Marco or the Bapistery) which may be more enjoyable to kids than a warehouse like L'Uffizi. I recommended 6 nights in Rome, but maybe that's too much -- unless your child is already fascinated by antiquity or the splendor of high Catholic art.

I agree with the above poster that tacking on Tuscan sidetrips makes no sense this trip.

Thanks for the advice. I like this suggestion:

Venice 3 nights
Firenze 2 nights
Rome 6 nights
Sorrento 2 nights

But if we don't count on a trip to the Amalfi Coast or Caprithe (which I agree since it will be too crowded), should we stay at Naples then? Or is it better to stay at Sorrento because it's more tourist friendly, less scary?

Thanks.

I would base myself in Sorrento rather than Napoli with a 9 year old because of the traffic in Napoli, which is filled with speeding cars and motor scooters. It is very frightening and you wouldn't be able to relax for one minute.

If your 9-year-old is wildly enthusiastic about Pompeii, you should consider a trip into Napoli from Sorrento to visit the archeological museum. Otherwise, Sorrento will keep you sufficiently amused and you can enjoy some relaxation.

Hi P,

As note, a weekend on the AC in June will be very crowded.

A visit to Pompeii from Naples is a lot better than doing it from Rome.

I suggest taking one night from Florence and 2 nights from Rome and staying in Naples for 3 nights.

You will still be able to visit Siena from Florence, will not be rushed in Rome, and can easily visit Pompeii or Sorrento or Mt Vesuvius, or the AC.

As far as danger goes, the traffic in Rome and Florence is worse than in Naples because Naples is virtually gridlocked most of the day.

You might find the Naples part of my trip report helpful.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

((I))