Rome December 26 - Jan 2 with 2 children...crazy?
 

While my DH and I have traveled quite a bit in the US, we have never been to Europe. Heck, I have only been to Canada once and that was for 8 hours...

We have two sons - ages 9 and 5 and I think it is time for us to go to Rome. Why Rome? Well, after Pope John Paul died I, as a recent convert to Catholicism (9 years), have felt an overwhelming urge to go to the Vatican. Probably kind of weird, but that is the way it is!

I think we would want to stay in Rome for the entire week - seeing what there is to see and enjoying our first of hopefully many European vacations.

SO, my question is...is December 26 - Jan 2 the worst possible time to plan such a trip? Should I wait until the boys are older?

We've brought our girls to Rome twice, once when they were 7 and 4 and again 18 months later. The first time was over Thanksgiving break and the second over Easter vacation. They loved Rome both times. We were very lucky with the weather. In both November and April, we had sunny days in the 70s so that allowed for visits to parks, amusement parks, zoo etc. At the end of Dec. the weather may not be as nice but you never know. I have a travel note entitled "Chills and Thrills in the Eternal City" and a trip report entitled "Principesse Tour" on the Slow Travel website that lists lots of kid-friendly activities, restaurants and gelato spots.

The weather is iffy but who cares about the weather?

The niner may be all right, the fiver only if he can be trusted to endure your pace and tastes, or if you are willing to modify your plans to accomodate him. Look through a copy of "Around Rome with Kids" and see if you think they'd enjoy the trip.

Alternatively, there is a large population of gypsies in Rome, to which unruly children may be threatened with sale . . .

As a mother of young children, I would care about the weather. Nice weather allows the kids to get out and run around and burn off the energy they have to contain while touring a lot museums and churches. We have used "Around Rome with Kids" and it's a good resource. But many of its suggestions (Villa Sciarra, Borghese, EUR etc.) are good weather activities.

Thanks for the replies. The gypsie sale made me laugh out loud!

My 5 year old will be a week away from being 6 when we go, and he is used to running around with us and is actually a great traveler. He was upset to find out that we were not going to fly to visit my parents 2 hours away...he thinks planes are great because "they have tables and drinks AND a bathroom."

I will look for the book tonight.

We just went to Italy with our two kids age 9 and 12 this past March and had a wonderful time. I suspect you will all enjoy it. Definitely look up Grinisa's "Thrills and Chills" on the Slow Travel website. We basically used that as our travel guide in Rome and saw a lot of interesting things and places.

You may find it helpful to read my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34632534

I went with 15 month old and 2 elderly in laws to Bologna and Florence and we enjoyed ourselves. I had been to Italy a few times before and had to adjust to no long leisurely dinners and wandering around at such a slow pace. Travel with kids has its tough aspects but I love how much I can focus on them when we get away from our own environment and eating ice cream and watching the fountain and the pigeons seems all the more pleasant in Italy than at the mall. So I say what a great way to spend time with the family.