neharohan

Hi joan, so with visa credit card you dont need to buy insurance, is that what you imply?

What kind of accomodation are you taking up in Montepulciano?

joan

Yes, neha, Capital One Visa also offers no foreign exchange fees. Using that plus I opened a Capital One 360 debit card which is also fee free (other than the ATM fee). That account will have a limited amount of cash in it for the trip use. That way if my debit card is compromised they cannot get to my "real" money.

Staying at the Politian Apartments in Montepulciano, per recs on this board. Do you have accommodations yet? September is busy season. Politian Apts availability calendar is not updated, so give them a try even if your dates do not show availability.

Also here is a link to an agriturismo that we plan to visit, but not stay at. They have lodging it appears:

http://www.podereilcasale.it/

bvlenci

Just driving straight through, not counting the driving around in Tuscany, would cost you about €118 (about $160USD) for fuel and tolls.

Trains from Rome to Florence to Verona to Venice for two adults and one child (the one-year-old rides free) would cost €222 (about €300) at full price. One month out, there would still be some discounts available, either Economy fare or Bimbi Gratis (which lets the 3-year-old ride free as well.) Looking at a random date about a month from now, I see a possible fare of €177 (about $235) for the whole family.

As I said, driving usually makes economic sense when you have three people. Between major cities, driving usually takes quite a lot longer than the train. Rome to Florence: at least three hours, often more, by car; by train, 1 1/2 hours.

Verona is a very beautiful city, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as a stopover between Florence and Venice. Another city I really like on that route is Ferrara, near Bologna.

You could almost certainly buy car seats in Rome for less than $100.

neharohan

Thanks. Bvlenci if we were to ditch the car and stick to trains is it possible to see Ferrara or Verona?

dwdvagamundo

nehoran--

Yes--we saw both those cities (and many more) by train several years ago. The question is would you be able to see them by car--that is, find a suitable place to park the car. Our experience in several cities--Bath and Oxford spring to mind--was seriously degraded by difficulties with parking the car.

We also would recommend both Verona and Ferrara---also Padua and Ravenna.

Mimar

With such young children it's best to minimize your stops and cater to them as much as possible. Rent an apartment and stay in one spot for several days or a week. Your children are even young for an agriturismo. And for that you would need a car. So in addition to your children and your bags, you'll be carrying 2 car seats? That is, during the non-driving part of your trip. Sounds difficult to me.

I really like trains for kids (beats being chained into a car seat; they can play on the floor and the toilet is at the end of the car.) But your children can't carry their own luggage. So, getting on and off the train, you'll be carrying them, carrying all the bags. Not easy.

Definitely don't consider a stop over in Verona. If you're on the train, you'll have to store your bags while you're in town. (I assume the Verona station has luggage storage.) If you drive, you'll have to pay to park on the outskirts and get yourself into the historic center by taxi or public transportation.

I sympathize with your wish to travel and for your children to experience foreign countries. But I'd tailor the trip to them or wait til they're older.

neharohan

Ok so train travel it will be for this trip and i think we will stick to major Italian cities for now.

Thanks for all the advice.