Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Travels with Mom

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Travels with Mom

My mother (81 years old and pretty darn good share) finally got our frequent flyer miles on USAir. How does this itinerary sound?? Itinerary: Arrive FCO on Sept 24 and depart October 16th. ' Rome - Sept. 24th to 29th. Depart Rome for Florence. Florence - Sept. 29th- October 6. Base out of Florence for Sienna and other Tuscan towns. October 6-10 Venice October 10-13 Lake Como October 14-16 Rome Questions: 1. Should I take a plane from Lake Como to Rome or train. Is there something interesting on the train trip that we could stop and see along the way-or is the ride such that we could see/experience something neat. 2. Should I add a quick trip to Naples area and cut some days from Rome either on the front or back end of the trip. 3. Should I focus on apartments of hotels for the lodging? Thanks, Keith

Can you fly into Milan or Venice and leave from Rome? That would be less tiring than backtracking. Otherwise the itinerary sounds fine. Try to stay in places that have elevators- there can be lots of stairs in Italy. We enjoy hotels that are centrally located. The hotel staff can help you with reservations, etc.

I second Sally's suggestion--fly in/out of Milan (very close to Lake Como), or Venice. OR you may be able to add on a short flight between Rome and one of these cities. If you do end up in Como and then must travel by train back for your departure, you can break your trip with an overnight at any number of places along the route: Milan (though kind of close to Como), Parma, Modena, Bologna, Florence... I think all that travel up north would make a trip south to Naples to difficult--unless you flew and even then I wouldn't do it. You may have a difficult time finding apartments for such short stays in each place.

Just 3 years ago I did a very similar trip with my then 83 year old Mum, Rome, Florence and then the Abbruzzo to visit a grandchild at school. We had a ball and it will be a treasured memory. Enjoy! I would not try to squeeze in another destination. We found "rest days" where we people watched in cafes and hotel lobbies and parks to be just as enjoyable as the museum-church-walking days. And we really talked then... Hotels suited both of us esp ,as yr other poster advises, with elevators and excellent heating and/or AC.Villas sometimes lack these niceties and can have many stairs. Also book hotel rooms with tubs as opposed to just showers. Mum loved her hot tub and CNN/BBC at the end of a long day and I sometimes had dinner out alone while Mum had room service meal. This bit of alone time was useful for keeping time together enjoyable. The only little friction we had was over Mum's refusal early on to give up her beloved handbag. This was solved by an early brush with some rather aggressive pickpocketing children who approached. We were able to rebuff them and promptly we went out to buy an inside pocket style wallet and ditched the bag.We laugh about it now, but at first I felt like Mum was a giant target! In Rome Mum esp loved the Vatican galleries, Sistine Chapel and the tearoom near the Spanish steps. An orienting bus tour in Rome was also helpful. In Florence, she liked the accessibility and relative compactness of the Uffizi and the bargains of the Straw Market, as well as the purchase of a pair of shoes at Ferragamo. Have a wonderful time and bring your sense of humour and a little extra patience.

Hi: I have traveled with Mom every year and some times twice a year since she retired in 1997 (5 years too late IMO!!) We haven't gotten to Italy yet.... However, I agree with what you have been told by others. Don't overplan. Have a "free" day somewhere in there to sit and relax and just take in the local scenery. We have spent many lovely afternoons sitting in cafes, on park benches or just strolling. We have some great conversations and I was given great insight into my Mother as a young woman. In the beginning it was "Dutch Treat" now I consider it my privilege to be able to treat her to Jaunts to Europe. I benefit TOO! I am now in process of planning 2004's excursion. Where to now Mom?

Hi, Sounds like a great trip. I have a suggestion for when in Florence. Take the number 7 bus up to Fiesole in the afternoon to visit the Etruscan ruins, watch the sun go down over the city and have dinner.