phaddix

My wife and I had such a great trip last year (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...erary-help.cfm) for our 10th anniversary we are headed back with our DD in tow.

Unfortunately due to hectic work schedules the only open window for our travel was the first two weeks of August. I am well aware of all of the downsides to this - i.e. heat, crowds and the closure of some sites, hotels and restaurants. The way I view it there is no way it will be hotter in Italy than it is in Kansas City during that time period (usually 100+ that time of year) and when you get the chance to go to Italy you go.

The basic skeleton of our itinerary is as follows:

4 Nights in Venice
1 Night in Verona
2-4 Nights in Lucca
1-2 Nights in Florence (or skip staying all together and do a day trip)
2-4 Nights a hotel with pool - ideally restaurant / breakfast on site
1 night may be necessary prior to our Rome departure

I know lodging is booking quickly and so I am working to outline our itinerary exactly.

I already have our Venice lodging booked, a lovely apartment through Views on Venice.

I also have one night in Verona on hold where we will be seeing the Opera that evening (cheapest seats so we can leave as dictated by a three year old's temperament.)

Last time this board really came through on lodging recommendations and would love to seek your help out in this regard.

If you have any fabulous recommendations in any of the cities above but especially with regards to an agriturismo or family friendly hotel with pool / restaurant that would be great. Also for those of you who have traveled Italy with small children is there anything you would recommend / avoid or suggest.

Ideally I would love to do this itinerary without a car though I have no problem renting and driving if needed for a great hotel.

Basic necessities for any lodging will be AC (for obvious reasons) and two beds. Open to all types - hotels, apartments, agriturismos, etc. Would ideally like to keep our nightly lodging at an average of $200 or less for the trip and will need to chip off some of the cost of our Venice lodging to do so.

Thanks for your help - will post replies here as we iron out the details.

sparkchaser

<i>The way I view it there is no way it will be hotter in Italy than it is in Kansas City during that time period (usually 100+ that time of year) and when you get the chance to go to Italy you go.</i>

It will certainly be less humid than KC.

Blueeyedcod

I would avoid your one night stops. The opera at Verona sounds lovely but really...your child is three. I can imagine you'll be there for all of 15 minutes unless she is a sound sleeper. Other people around you will be affected if she gets restless - I understand your cheap seat idea but often the opera doesn't allow anyone to leave until a certain point in the performance. I know they do this at Teatro San Carlo in Naples - just check the rules in Verona - it may be different.

Avoid Florence as well - packed to the rafters in August, too hot and unless you're both mad about the Renaissance and love art then I wouldn't bother.

It's difficult to achieve your agriturismo/pool without a car but otherwise it's easy to use trains for your plans. I would just keep it contained in view of travelling with a three year old (which is harder than you think).

Tuscany in August is blazing hot and dusty. You want to find somewhere that has good air conditioning and some shade around the pool. Without a car you'll be trapped. It's not the nicest time of year to visit Tuscany. Personally, I wouldn't go there in August.

Your budget is on the low side - check Booking.com

August 15th is a national holiday so don't plan to travel or sightsee on that day as sights will be closed and transport runs to holiday schedules.

You don't mention Rome. There is a great hotel in Rome with a rooftop pool and views of the Colosseum. That may be a workable compromise.

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-...re/index.shtml

nytraveler

The difference is not in the weather but in the AC. In KC everyplace has good AC - you can always go/stay indoors and cool off and presumably you have access to a poll at least for your child.

In Italy a lot of places will not have AC. Make sure every place you decide to stay has a strong AC that runs 24 hours. And that in the countryside the place you stay (and you will need a car) has a pool appropriate for a 3 year old.

Do remember that you child may get cranky from the heat fairly quickly and assume that the most you canplan on is 2 hours of activities before a break from the heat.

As for Opera - there is no way I would take a 3 year old. She will not enjoy this and your time will be extremely limited. Have you checked if you are even allowed to bring a child this young? For broadway shows kids under the age of 6 are simply not allowed at all - parents must find a babysitter to attend - since it's not fair to either the child or other patrons to expect a little one to be quiet and still for hours. At a minimum taking the child out will be a distraction and there may be much more than that if she gets fussy.

phaddix

Thanks for the replies. I realize a bit more background would be helpful. We have traveled extensively with our DD both internationally and domestically. We will certainly plan in needed breaks and limit our schedule.

With regards to the Opera - definitely a situation where every child is different. We have brought her to full length (but family friendly) performances of the ballet and symphony which she really enjoys.

Thanks for the ideas on Florence

jubilada

I would not move around so much with a small child. I'd Stay in an agriturismo with a pool and good AC and a car after Venice, and do day trips spontaneously.

As to the opera, I understand. I was taken to theatre and ballet all the time at three , and apparently there was no such age limit for Broadway shows 60 years ago.
Most of the time we could stay. ( didn't like operas, still don't, lol)

Not sure why you are flying out of Rome?

Friends loved Borgo San Luigi
http://www.borgosanluigi.it


http://ciaobambino.com/tips-for-a-fa...aly-with-kids/
This is a great site and though some properties are out of your price range some are not and you get much more space. It also has tips for kid stuff in Tuscany

phaddix

jubilada - thank you, great suggestions. I will look into Borgo San Luigi.

Unfortunately the Rome departure was dictated because our flights were booked on miles. Not complaining as total cost was less than $100 per person.

Blueeyedcod

http://www.arena.it/files/arena/docu...spectators.pdf

Unfortunately you will be unable to go to the opera. As I suspected, children under the age of 4 are not permitted to the performances.

As this is the case, you could visit Verona on a day trip from Venice rather than overnight.