Are any of the tour guides worth spending money on? We will be in Venice and Rome. Trying to put my itinerary together. The Vatican and Colosseum are the two I'm leaning towards. But should I just do them on my own? We have 8&9 year old boys. I've looked at Dark Rome and Rome with Kids. But I'm not sure if the cost is worth it. I see at the Colosseum we can do the Underground thru their official website and it's less than 10 Euro per person, compared to 60 for the tours.

Thanks for your advice.

I think, especially with kids, it's a question of doing your homework and devising a tour yourself for your family or, if you don't enjoy that aspect of travel, springing for the tours. I think kids are happiest visiting historic sites when they're guided with a good story. Either way, depending on your preference, time or money, but I wouldn't just go and wander for their sakes. Exciting places can be boring if not guided in 1 way or the other.

I love love love the planning part of a tour. I'm going to see what I can find for guide books. I do have a kids Rome book and a Venice scavenger hunt book on order. Maybe I'll just spring for the cheaper underground tour and do the rest on my own.

Plus, my kids like to explore in their own and what catches their interest isn't always what I expect.

IMO everyone benefits from historical and cultural context to get anything useful out of a visit overseas, so you either do your homework and provide that yourself (usually my personal preference - it's not hard) or hire a guide.

Rizzo, when are you going to be there?

I am taking my 5 and 6 your old GS along with their parents to Rome and Venice in March. I am just getting starting on the tours and what to do with them.

They were given kid friendly cameras (Vtech)for Christmas and are now practicing their photography.

We arrive in Venice on 4/19 and Rome on 4/22. Slowly figuring out a plan....

We are looking into Bomarzo if you can do a side trip. I am trying to figure out if I can fit it into our trip.

rizzo - I don't think that you need a guide for Venice - it adapts itself very well to children very easily what with the canals, the Doge's palace and the novelty of being in a place without cars.

as for Rome, I think that the Colosseum Tour of the underground and upper tier would be fine. Where I would think of having a guide is the Forum which is very difficult to bring to life if you're not a professional. And I would forget about the Vatican [by which I assume you mean the Vatican Museums]. They would be too large and overwhelming for children of your kids' ages. By all means go to St Peter's [i don't think you need a guide for that] and perhaps go up the Dome. [get there early to beat the crowds, be there by 9.30 and you should be ok]

If you want to show the children some great art, I suggest the Galleria Doria Pamphilij - it starts with a tour of the family apartments with a really interesting audio guide narrated by one of the family, and then progresses to a gallery crammed with great works. Best thing is that it is rarely crowded so you can get to see the paintings properly without all the crowds [and all the walking] that you get in the Vatican. It's also very easy to find - the entrance is in the Corso - just up from the Piazza Venezia.

Given your few days I agree with annhig entirely regarding the Forum and also the Vatican museums. I was at the Forum very recently and even with my guidebook found it utterly confusing. Unless it's to visit a place to let the kids have a run (You'll have a ticket as it's a combo with the Colosseum) I think the single huge building of the Colosseum will be far more interesting.

If you find yourself with a half day available, either Ostia Antica or a walk on the Via Appia Antica might be interesting for them. Train to Ostia or bus to the Appian Way just south of the city.

annhig - Thank you! I feel confident handling Venice alone. I just ordered a guide book and I have a kid's scavenger hunt book coming. Plan to visit Rialto Market on our first morning to get some items for snacking and maybe fish to make dinner in our apartment. We will get the 3 day ACTV pass. Just have to get the books and plan the rest of our days. As for Rome, I'll try and get the underground tour booked thru the official Colosseum website and look into a Forum guide. I may just have to book one private guide for the two together. Rome With Kids with Maria Rita looks pretty good. Or Dark Rome. And we will take your advice and skip the Vatican Museums. We have been and the kids probably won't be interested.

MmePerdu - we are planning to visit Ostia Antica and then we may take the bus over to the beach. My kids love water, even if it's just to throw stones in.

good for you, rizzo. looking at the age of your kids, they might enjoy a playground; I seem to remember that in Venice there is one in the public gardens down by the Giardini vaporetto stop, [right down by Arsenale] and also a google search brought up one in the Giardini Papadopoli to the east of the constitution bridge on the south side of the Grand Canal. Google "area giochi per bambini" for more details.