Dear Fodorites, <BR>What I am really looking for is advice from others who have traveled with their children. <BR>*But* will be happy with input from all,(as Long as it is polite!) <BR>We are two adults, and two children,(boy 13 yrs., girl 10 yrs) <BR>We will be in Italy next summer for a total of 18days. <BR>All of our vacations til now have been one week or less, all in the states,either at a beach house we rent or hotels, visiting families. <BR>By the end of the 7 days, our children are usually tired, and a bit cranky (!)and definitely getting on each others nerves. <BR> <BR>Our first week in Rome will be in a large apartment,with *more * than enough space for all. <BR>We will be spending our second week in the area that is about half way between Rome and Naples, on the coast at the beach. <BR>I do not know which of the two places to choose from. <BR>One is in San Felice Circeo, <BR>This place is a resort hotel,where we can rent a 3 bedrm/2bathrm/livingrm/diningrm/and have our own garden area. <BR>Plus full use of pool, beach and restaurant. <BR>It would be perfect for us, except we would like to be close enough to a town, to walk around, exploring, etc. <BR>This hotel is 5km from town. <BR>The main reason we are considering this hotel, is the children would have enough space to stay out of each others way, when tired and cranky. <BR> <BR>The other place is an older hotel, it has suites,a pool, beach ,restaurant. <BR>It is close enough to town to walk there and back, without tiring the children out. <BR>The problem with this place, is that the children would be sharing either a double room, or a suite, which still may not give them alot of room to have privacy and stay out of each others hair when cranky and tired. <BR> <BR>Will the close quaters be as potentially dangerous as I am imaging? <BR>Based on past experience, they really could use the extra space. <BR>But we are really leaning toward the place closer into town. <BR> <BR>Does anyone out there have any ideas, suggestions,words of wisdom, tales of real life experiences to share? <BR>Thank you to all. <BR>nancy <BR> <BR>

Topping, because I really need advice on this on this one PLEASE! <BR>nancy

Is this a troll? How can anyone possibly answer this except you? You are the only one who knows your family.

This is not a troll!!! <BR>I DO NOT DO TROLLS! <BR>Of course, I am the one who knows my children the best, and I will obviously being making my decision based on what I think will work best. <BR>BUT... <BR>I really would like to hear from others who have traveled with children, to gather some insight into what they experienced, etc. <BR>I really will appreciate any info/ constructive comments anyone is willing to share. <BR>Thank you. <BR>Nancy <BR>P.S. <BR>Please excuse my shouting, but how frustrating to be looking for help, and this is the response? <BR>

Hi Nancy, I can't respond to your request for hotel help, but I can tell you that I travelled through much of Italy last summer with my 12-year old and she absolutely loved it. It would have been nice to have a pool once in a while but she was so amazed by all the art in Florence and the history she had just studied in school, that she was never bored. It does help to do some preliminary study and it also helps to hit a McDonald's once in a while. Have faith that they will just get caught up in it all and enjoy your vacation.

We've travelled with our daughter and son (now 22 and 19) for many years to many places, foreign and domestic. Now that I think about it, we've also usually had other kids along (but not to a foreign destination) and that even in MORE cramped quarters everyone got along relatively well. I think that after a week in Rome, the resort hotel may offer more than enough variety and relaxation. So you'll need to take a cab or a bus into town instead of walk. Could be this would end up a positive. Plus, there may be a lot more within walking distance than you're expecting. If you really like the idea of additional space, go with that urge. On the otherhand, our kids have been happy on many occasions just to have "their own" room separate from ours. If things seem particularly tense you could share the room with your daughter and your husband with your son for that one night. My guess is they'd be happier together than this last arrangement!

I have a feeling that the travelling experience with my daughters (aged 1 1/2 years apart) may confuse the issue further ... <BR> <BR>We used to travel with our children till they were 10/8 years old. Then we resumed family travel when they were 16/14. In between, they traveled by themselves (sort of, with a mall group of kids the same age and a young leader). When they were 11 years old, they went to a month long summer camp, respectively, in the Philippines and Canada. When they were 13, they went for a month long family stay, respectively, in the US and Norway. In between, when they were 12 years old they travelled with us in turns. At 17 they both went on their own to help out in 11-year old summer camps in the US (Pennsilvania and Indiana, respectively). <BR> <BR>The picture you painted concerning your kids was similar to the one we had till our girls turned 11 (after their "solo" trips they turned themselves into outstanding travel mates). They would get at each other very easily, invariably not when they were tired but when they had little to do. In other words, I'm sorry to tell you we would never choose a beach or a lake to spend time abroad ... this would, di per se, be an invitation for trouble <BR> <BR>My advice is to keep your kids busy. I take it you'll have a car. Use it! Take them to Pompeii, up the Vesuvio, to visit the "star war" castle in Caserta, on a boat trip to Capri, etc. I can't see how laying around in a beach/pool can be "healthy". <BR> <BR>When my kids weren't allowed to waste their energy they sure tended to get on one's nerve. Occupied all day long they could crash both a single bed with no problems at all. We never ever even considered to provide them with privacy! <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Hi Nancy, <BR>I would go for the second choice. And I agree with Paulo in keeping them busy. There is so much to see an do that they should have time to get on each other's nerves. I also think it might be a good idea to bring a card game - something small and easy to carry - to keep them occupied at the pool or on trains. Check out the Gamewright games - like Slamwich, etc. <BR>Hope this helps. <BR>Nancy <BR>

Thank you to Diane, Paulo, and Nancy! <BR>Diane, thank you for that idea of switching off. <BR>I don't think we would have to switch to sleep, but if we had to, would not be too bothersome. <BR>I am just thinking of those few hours, after one has returned from a tiring daytrip, and are resting before dinner. <BR>This might be when we would play musical rooms. <BR>Paulo, <BR>I was hoping you would respond, I always like your input and I knew you had two daughters that you had traveled with. <BR>As to why we are picking a beach area. <BR>a few reasons; <BR>If I do not get to be by the sea at least once a year, I would go crazy.I do not see much water living in land-locked Vermont. <BR>(We always spend aweek in Maine, in a house less than 100 feet from the ocean, and will not next summer due to the italy trip.) <BR>We want to have a pool/beach to use for cooling off and relaxing by *after * the daytrips we are planning. <BR>Since it will be July, it will be hot, and these amenities will occupy the children also. <BR>But please do not worry, <BR> we will be doing many daytrips, will have a car. <BR>We are planning Caserta and the royal palace, <BR>Herculeneum, the large museum in Naples, a trip to Capri or Ischia, a day or two just in,Sperlonga, Gaeta and Formia, and then there are the 3 N towns to visit, etc. <BR>So, I am sure that we will be more than busy. <BR>But for all of us, there is nothing more relaxing than sitting by the water after a busy day! <BR>Which ever location we pick ,it will really just be our "homebase" to exploring the areas south of Rome and east of Naples. <BR>Nancy, <BR>Thanks for your input also, and the game suggestions. <BR>So, again, thanks so much. <BR>Of course, I am still waffling, but all your input has been **wonderful**!! <BR> <BR>If there are any more people out there with anything to offer (and add to my indecisiveness) I would vwery much appreciate it. <BR>Nancy <BR>

Sounds like a great trip, you'll build some great family memories. Someone is going to "get a pout on" at least once, but we found that when the surroundings were less familiar, that happened far less often!

Gina, <BR>Blew by your posting early, just read it now. <BR>Glad to hear about your 12 yr. old, and how just being in a new place kept her "busy" enough. <BR>This seems to go along with what Diane said, about being in new surroundings, and that helping with the "let's get on each other's nerves" type of thing. <BR>Thanks, <BR>nancy.

We had the same experience as Paulo, children would get on each others nerves while bored. <BR>I am not sure it matters too much *where* you stay, <BR>more what you do to keep busy.

We took our kids to Italy last summer (two girls ages 11 and 15 years) We did a lot of driving, so boredom exhibited itself in the car by the nonsense arguing between the. Other than that, the kids were great. There is plenty to see and do. But, I suggest instead of the area between Rome and Naples, go a little further south along the Amalfi Coast. It is so beautiful. And from there, you can easily visit Naples, Pompei, Paestum, and Capri. <BR>One great thing that we did was we found a family on the internet with similiar interests to ours who happened to have girls the same age as ours. Amazing, but true. We visited them in Pompei for several days. Everyone got to know a little of each other's cultures and habits. We visited them after the first 7 days of our trip. It created a nice diversion. I think our daughters now have some friends that may last a lifetime. When asked what was the best part of the trip, they always respond meeting the family in Pompei. Of course, I realize how lucky we were to find such a good opportunity. If your kids get cranky at home with each other, you can expect that they will get cranky on a trip. Do your best to live with. I carrry along a personal stereo to shut out their noise when I can. I don't think there is much difference in cramped quarters or lots of space. Don't despair. Your kids won't recall their bickering in the same manner you will. There's much to see and do. An idea that get keep them a little occupied is the "gelato hunt". Keep a record of which places have the best gelato, and rate them. On one trip, when the kids were younger, we did a "Beanie Baby" hunt. I was able to visit a lot more interesting shops when the girls thought there might be a rare Beanie Baby find. So, you might find a theme that can carry them through the sightseeing stops. After our trip, my younger daughter has developed a great interest in learning about Roman, gods, mythology, and ancient sites. This is something that would have never occured to her before the trip. If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]

GB, <BR>Great input. <BR>Laughed over the "beanie baby" hunt, Ferragamo beanies anyone? <BR>Thanks for offer to E- you. <BR>I will certainly do that soon. <BR>nancy