I'm visiting Italy for a month in August with my 4yr old son. We're staying with friends in Frosinone near Rome but I plan to travel around Italy while we're there. Does anyone know if the Trenitalia tickets are the best bet or are there other tickets out there I don't know about. I plan to stay for 3-4 days each in cities such as Venice, Rimini, Sicily, Sardinia and/or Sorrento. Any suggestions out there about tickets and best destinations with a 4yr old. Thanks

As much as I am a fan of air travel (intra-Europe), I think I would not elect to make the trip to both Srdinia and Sicily with a four-year-old; flying would probably be the best way to get to both (though not the only way). Either way it seems like a lot of travel, and no child of that age can begin to appreciate the differences from one to the other - - nor from many other places in Italy.

Best wishes,

Rex

I would not suggest Rimini in August. It will be wall-to-wall vacationers, many Italian but also many from Central European countries. Sorrento has nothing to offer a four-year-old; I don't think you'd want to take him to Pompeii...

Sicily and Sardinia are islands; you can take the train to Sicily, but you can only get to Sardinia by ferry. Or by air, as Rex points out.

And I also agree with Rex -- who is a pediatrician -- that you are not doing your four-year-old a favor by dragging him through Italy in August, when it's hot and all resort-type towns are overcrowded.

If you must, spend 4 days each in Florence and Venice (hotel rates may even be lower in August in those cities), but then go to a quiet place in the Tuscan or Umbrian countryside. Look for an "agriturismo"; these are working farms that have rooms -- and often restaurants -- for guests. Many have pools and play areas for children.

Your friends in Frosinone should be able to help you better than the strangers in a travel forum.

Hi lea,

Good advice above.

>Does anyone know if the Trenitalia tickets are the best bet...

Of course they are. It's the national railroad.

You can enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com to see if a railpass would save you money.

Bringing your message back up "to the top" since you are new here - - how do I know that? Click on your own name. It's a valuable tip that Fodors fails to provide to you when they send that initial e-mail confirming your registration.

Best wishes,

Rex