rholt

My wife and I are struggling with a question and we could really use your help.

We are planning a trip to Italy for 2011. We know we want to do Venice - Tuscany (Lucca) - Rome. We are going with two kids (7 and 9). The trip duration will be 12 days on the ground. We plan on hitting the major sites in Venice and Rome - but the the Tuscany component will be more relaxed

Question - should we go a) the 12 days prior to Easter or b) at the end of June.

I imagine there are lots of pluses and minuses associated with each date. There are two factors specific to us: a) My parents will be in Lucca during th June trip = free lodging and b) if we go in June the kids will miss a few activities at home that we would prefer they didn't.

Anyway - I would love to hear what people have to say about these two possible dates?

Thanks,

Rick

SusieKay

We were in Venice last year for two weeks in late April/early May-well after Easter, but during several Italian holidays/Holy Days-making for long weekends for the locals. The city was very crowded, as was the public transportation, restaurants, etc. I cannot imagine being there (or Rome) during Easter. Unless you prefer crowds, I would avoid Easter. However, Italy can be warm in the summer, and have many tourists.

ellenem

The week leading up to Easter will be very crowded in the major tourist cities, especially with American tourists who have school vacations at Easter. My experience in Florence for a visit for the two weeks before Easter: Week 1 was pleasant; Week 2 (Palm Sunday to Easter) was packed with tourists.

zeppole

When does Easter fall in 2011? It can rain a lot in northern and central Italy in Spring, right up until the beginning of summer (June 21).

I wouldn't hesitate to go to Rome in Easter. It is a very big town, and the pilgrims crowd around the Vatican.

You will find big crowds in Venice whenever you go, and fewer crowds in Lucca whenever you go. If part of your plan for Lucca was day tripping to the coast, you should wait for June.

Otherwise, I think the biggest factors are purely personal to you-- your parents' plans and the kids' activities. Weather is always a crap shoot in Italy for a 12 trip. The places you are going have waves of crowd in both spring and summer. Go when it suits you, given your personal considerations.

adrienne

This is a tough decision.

I was in Florence once during Holy Week and there were packs of teenagers (16 to 18 years old) roaming around in groups of 20 to 40. It was impossible to navigate the streets and the sights were jammed. It was a 2.5 to 3 hour wait to get into the Uffizi (a lighted sign was posted near the entrance with the wait time).

Alternatively Rome will be an inferno at the end of June. I fried there at the end of May but I can't stand hot weather.

My choice would be to fry in the heat just to avoid those self-centered teenagers.

rholt

Good input - thanks. I lam leaning towards June.

jamikins

Easter 2011 is April 22 - 25.

We were just in Piedmonte and Cinque Terre last week and the temperature was +35 - 39 degrees C! I cant imagine how hot it would be at the end of June...something to keep in mind!

poutine

We were in Venice and Tuscany last summer with our kids (10 &12) from about June 30 to July 9. Florence, Lucca and Siena were VERY hot - 35 C hot. It is tough to sightsee in that kind of heat and humidity unless you are used to it. Venice was not quite so hot, however the fact that our hotel had a rooftop pool made a huge difference to my husband and the kids.

We did not go to Rome, and I have been considering the possibility of making that our destination next Easter. My brother went a couple of years at that time (Easter was earlier in the year). It was very rainy.

Which do you prefer, heat or rain!

jabez

Been there both seasons and would not return in late June-too hot.