reb77

Ok I think I will stick to Rome and rent a car to visit these surrounding towns. They all look nice. I still have a longing to see something like amalfi/cinque terra/sestre levente (oceanside hilly towns with colorful houses) Is there something similar in Rome's vicinity?

brubenow

Yes, I think it's a good idea to pick one area and stay put, rather than changing lodging every 2 days. As someone who has traveled a lot with young children (but not to Italy with kids), you and they will have a much better trip if you spend more time relaxing and less time in cars and on trains. Try to rent a villa or an apartment in whatever region you decide on. That way your kids will nap, it will be quieter, and you can have a kitchen to cook meals and snacks for them, so they don't always have to go to restaurants three times a day when they are tired, hungry and cranky. Many rental villas have minimum night stay requirements, so that is another reason to stay put longer in one area.

If you do choose Switzerland in addition to Italy, I'm taking my kids to Wengen in the Bernese Oberland in July. We're renting a chalet there and there's a ton for kids to do. I can let you know how we like it after we get back! Think trotti bikes, summer toboggan rides, children's adventure trails, hiking, waterfalls, trains, gondolas, and farms.

Also another good reference website for traveling with kids that I sometimes refer to is www.ciaobambino.com

Have a great trip!

reb77

Thank you and yes do let me know. Switzerland is now on my bucket list but as you suggested, this time i will stay put in a rental outside rome and visit surrounding towns. My husband has business in latina so we can even get a hotel there if we wanted.

reb77

business as in work related business trip to latina.

brubenow

http://ciaobambino.com/best-family-activities-in-rome/


http://ciaobambino.com/rome-with-kid...o-in-72-hours/

http://ciaobambino.com/best-family-f...rants-in-rome/

reb77

thanks! will check these out!

sandralist

If you want someplace like Sestri Levante that is close to Rome, check out Sperlonga. But don't rent a car if you are staying in Rome the whole time. Only rent a car if you are leaving Rome to spend nights in othe places.

bluemeansgo

If you're going to see the scenery in Switzerland and you're flying into Milan, you may want to consider the Bernina Express. It leaves from Tirano and end in Chur, but you can continue on to Zurich. If you buy a ticket well in advance from bahn.de from Tirano to Freiburg, you can get tickets as cheap as 29€. You'll just have to get off the train early.

There's a trick to this, check out seat61.com for details.

This trip is one of the more famous in Switzerland, and you could even plan a stopover in St. Moritz. It may be a way to kill two birds with one stone. You see the scenery from the train without incurring a lot of cost. Also, the munchkins are contained in the train, as opposed to running around city with kids ( and luggage ) in tow.

Varenna is on the way to Tirano for a beautiful place to stop on Lake Como.

reb77

interesting! thanks!