Background:
First time travel to Italy
Traveling with 2 kids (5 and 1 year old)
Art lovers
Food lovers
Tee totalers

Requesting some comments and feedback on the itinerary below. Specifically on breakup between the big 3 cities and Tuscany in terms of time to see major sites and travel fatigue.

Itinerary: May 3 to May 18 (14 nights excluding travel to and from Italy)
Reaching Rome on May 4th 2004
Stay in Rome for 3 nights
Train to Venice
Stay in Venice for 4 nights
Train to Florence
Stay in Florence for 3 nights
Rent car in Florence
Drive through Tuscany. Stay in a hilltown for 3 nights and day trip to other towns.
Drive to Rome, return car and stay overnight.
Return from Rome on May 18.

ThanX in advance.

Logistically it would be better IMO if you could fly into Venice and fly out of Rome - or vice versa. That would cut your travelling time.

If you're tied into a return flight to Rome, the one change I'd make is to allow more time in Rome. I'd say 4 nights/3 days is an absolute minimum.

Steve

Hi gem,

I also suggest flying into Rome/Venice and out the other if you can.

I take it that you have already gone on long car/train trips with the kids and know how to handle the luggage, etc.

You might find this useful:
Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

ThanX Steve and Ira.
Ira, I have already gone through the "Helpful Info" thread and got some very valuable info from there.

We are tied down to flying in and out of Rome. I was wondering if I should take out 1 day from Venice and put it in Florence. Experts, please comment. BobTheNavigator, where are you? Need help ...

Hi gem,

My immediate response was, "no".

However, since you have the 2 kids, you might want to add one more day to your Tuscan drive.

This would give you a day to just chill if the kids need downtime.

I would take a day from Venice and add it to Rome. There is so much to see and do in Rome, even with a week in the city, and you will need even more time with kids along. I feel a minimum of four days allows for a first visit to Rome that is not hectic beyond belief.

Basically I like it.
I would try hard not to stay IN ROME that last nite--depends on departure time. I would drop a day from Florene and add it to Tuscany, but that is your call. May is a great time. You will have fun.

I'd try reversing it.

Rent car at FCO, drive to Orvieto, 1 n.(You could also train here and pick up car here.)
Tuscan hill town 3 n.
Drop car in Florence, 3 n
Venice 3 n.
Train to Rome 4 n (this consolidates your time in Rome.)

I defer to the experts on the itinerary itself, but having had a lovely vacation this summer with two small children (a two year old and a one and a half year old), I wanted to say that the travel days take a lot out of them (and the adults). For that reason we spent one full week in Tuscany and one full week in Rome (and did day trips from each). It was really nice having a home base that we moved into for a solid amount of time. We wanted to see Venice too but decided it was too much with the children. As art lovers (we enjoyed seeing it but it wasn't a primary focus for us), Florence seems like a must for you so I wonder if it would make sense to use it as a base for the entire Tuscan part of the vacation.

We also flew in and out of Rome. We chose to see Rome last and that way drove to Tuscany right after our flight (the kids slept nearly the entire way). The train is likely a better choice than driving because the adults were very tired too. I would also recommend leaving Rome for last to let the kids catch up on jet lag on the trip to Florence or Venice and to keep all your Rome days together.

I also agree with the previous posters, that more, rather than less time in Rome is key. You won't believe the Vatican museums. And the churches are gold mines for art and sculpture. You'll have a wonderful vacation whatever you decide. Enjoy!

Tory

Thank you all for the comments. We really appreciate the input.

Tory's comments re: vacation in italy with 2 small children are very valuable. ThanX a lot.

Now on to the next step ... making hotel and car reservations ...