I am planing a trip to Italy with by 10 year old daughter in late Oct/early Nov. We want to spend 2 nights in Rome, 3 around Sorento, 2 in Venice and maybe see Florence(or vicinity). Mostly we are interested in Pompeii, ancient Rome, just taking in the people and sites. We want clean nice hotels but do not care about 5 star properites. I know most of you are independent travelers and I usually am, but with taking by daughter and not knowing the country at all, I am considering a group trip. What do you think? I want to see alot of stuff I know but I don't want to only see stuff out a bus window and I want to sit and enjoy and do nothing sometimes which is why I am leary of groups but I want to be safe and not worry about everything since I will be traveling with my young daughter. Any and all opinions will be appreciated and any advice. Maybe someone knows of a company that does group travel but allows time for independent time also. I have bought Fodors, Fommers, Rick Steves, Italy for Dummies, and about 4 more guide books and have read them cover to cover but I am still undecided. Please help!!

Amelia,<BR><BR>What a nice trip for your daughter. There is so much in Rome to see - I'd suggest spending far more than 2 nights. It sounds as if you have only 7 days for your vacation? If this is the case I'd suggest staying just in Rome. Moving from place to place, transportation, getting settled, etc. can eat up almost an entire day (and certainly at least a 1/2) easily. For a short trip you'll want to stay in one city. Also, young children can only take so much site seeing - better to allow a slow pace with lots of time for breaks and gelatos and pizza than to end up tried and frustrated. You can easily make a day trip from Rome to Pompeii or Herculaneum. Since you mention wanting to be able to take a slow pace and enjoy your vacation cutting down on the number of cities you visit will allow this. You could hire a local guide in Rome to assist with your travels without having to join a group tour. Guides are also available for Pompei.<BR><BR>I hope this helps - enjoy the planning.

I'd echo the previous message- you are trying to do too much and the travelling will be too tiring, leaving you less than able to enjoy the sights. I'd suggest you stay in Rome- you can take the train to Naples and from there to Pompeii and Herculaneum. There's lots to see and do in Rome and you need time to sit in cafes and watch the world go by. Save Venice and Firenze for another trip

Amelia - Went to Italy in April w/ a 10 year old daughter and 12 year old son. We went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi, and other small towns in Tuscany and Umbria. Rome and Venice were the kids favorites! I haven't seen Pompeii so can't comment on that. Although we all loved Michaelanglo's David, Florence was of much lessor interest to them. They definitely had limited tolerance for art museums but did seem to realize the Sistine Chapel was special.<BR><BR>The advantage of the group tour, aside from the efficiency of transport, is the you have other people to socialize with. However, at that time of year they will mostly be senior citizen Americans. Also, my kids would never have the patience for the orientation walks led by a guide. I would go independent myself and find ways to meet Italians. The Italians seem to love "bambini" and were very kind. We used the "instant immersion" CD to learn a little Italian and we're shy about trying to use it, the kids really enjoyed saying 'grazie' and 'per favore' and 'prego' 'ciao' which got kind responses in turn. I think the trip will have much more impact and meaning for your daughter that way.<BR><BR>Based on our experience, assuming you have limited time, I'd cut out Sorrento and Florence as these are of lessor interest to children, if I were you to spend at least 3 nights in Rome (also, if Rome is your arrival city, you'll be jet-lagged and the first day is pretty much lost).<BR><BR>In Rome, I'd stay somewhere in the Centro Storico near the Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain or Piazza di Spagna. We stayed in the 3 start Santa Chiara and loved it. Great breakfast buffet and perfect location. These areas safe, central and much is w/in walking distance. Just don't stay near the train station. The kids' favorites in Rome were: Coloseum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Roman Forum, Campidoglio, Trevi Fountain, St. Peters., gelato at Giolitti's. You can take a 3-4 hour orientation bus tour through the American Express office at the Piazza di Spagna...or the less expensive 2 hr (recorded) tour called Ciao Roma Trolley Tour (though my son opted to listen to the Japanese channel!)<BR><BR>In Venice, the kids loved feeding the pidgeons in the Piazza S. Marco (yuck, bring hand sanitizer)and the water taxi from the train station, the vaparetto, the Palazzo Ducale, and the view from the Campanile. Or course, they also loved our Umbrian farmstay, but don't know if you have time for that.

I took my family to Italy last november and would agree that if you only have 7 days I would not travel too much. I also agree that for children the museums are of limited interest. Assuming you leave the US on saturday and return on sunday, I would advise the following. Fly into Venice arriving sunday. Stay until wednesday when you will take the Eurostar to Rome. You may wish to stop off in Florence for 6 hours or so on the way to Rome. If you leave Venice at 0800 you will get to Florence at about 1130. Have lunch then have a guide for a quick tour of the city, then leave for Rome in the early evening. This leaves you with Rome thursday to saturday, leaving for home sunday. You can obviously do this in reverse order and if you wish more time in Rome I would cut out Florence. It would be better yet to make your trip alittle longer, say leave the US on thursday and return on monday which would give you alittle more breathing room, and give you a chance for Sorrento and Pompeii.

Amelia,<BR><BR>see the message about "curiousity".<BR>