thaicookie

We have 12 days in Italy with our college-age sons. We'll fly into Venice and out of Rome. I'm thinking 2 days in Venice and 3-4 in Rome.
Any suggestions of what to see in between? Bicycling in Ferrara? Hiking the Cinque Terra? Sienna? Lucca? Florence? Volterra? Or head south to Naples, etc? Or hit the Lake district up north?
Your recommendations would be very helpful.
Thank you!

nytraveler

Have you considered letting them figure this out. YOu pick what you want and they pick what they want and then meld together into a trip?

We did this with my step daughters from the first time we took them to London and Paris at 11 and 14 - and they had definite ideas of some things they wanted.

I'm sure you didn't mean it - but your post sounds sort of like the guys are luggage you're dragging along with you. Get them involved and everyone will enjoy the trip more!

StCirq

Agree with NYTraveler. Let them plan what they want to do. My junior-in-college daughter's been planning her own trips to Europe since she was 16; surely your sons know what they'd like to do and can do their own research. If you know you're starting in Venice and ending in Rome give them a map. Surely they have computers and can figure out on a million travel sites what THEY want to do inbetween.

brando

Out of your options I would say CT, there is many other hikes then between the towns, send them loose on the high trails and they will be tired and challanged.

Nikki

Some kids know what they want and will do research before a trip. So will some husbands. Neither my kids, who are in college and grad school, nor my husband, who is finished with both, fall into that category. But they all enjoy the things I have researched with them in mind, and when I give them a choice between researched activities, it is much more productive than asking them to do the research themselves.

I fully understand why thaicookie is asking about ideas for things they might enjoy. That said, I can only speak of my experience with college aged kids in Italy, which has been limited to Venice and Rome. But all the ideas listed in the original post have the potential to be lots of fun.

FauxSteMarie

You know, when I was in college, I was not too keen on hanging with my parents. I am sure your kids would be happier going off and doing their own thing.

You could make a time to meet for dinner or for evening entertainment.

Moreover, when the kids start kvetching about family trips, it may be time for them to do their own trips without you.

thaicookie

Thanks Brando on the CT recommendation.
Is the CT also the place for jumping off the cliffs into the ocean?
Nikki,I'd love to hear about your experiences in Rome and Venice with college-aged kids. The reason those cities are on our itinerary is because the kids haven't been to either and when asked initially what they'd want to see if we go to Italy-those were the two places they mentioned. (Clubs in Rome?) You have us pegged-neither my husband nor my sons have any interest in doing research before a trip. Now they might pick up a guidebook to peruse once we get on the plane but that is about as far in advance as it'll be. They all like to travel though and I don't mind doing the research, and as you had aptly said, with them in mind. (Right now my kids are more interested in planning their ipod music menus or today's evening out than a trip that still seems weeks away.)

Nikki

I can't say anything about clubs, as neither of my girls experienced them. Not really their style. Neither of them went off on their own either; they would have been more likely to do that if they had had friends to go with, I suppose.

The trip to Venice was just my older daughter and myself. We both enjoyed the Secret Itineraries tour at the Doge's palace. Walking around the streets and getting lost, er, disoriented. Eating gelato from Nico's on the Zattere. Shopping for souvenirs in the many shops and chatting with the people working in the shops. Wandering through the museums at the Accademia and Ca d'Oro.

Eating in little restaurants with great seafood. Taking the private water taxi arranged through our hotel to Murano. (Don't feel obliged to buy anything when they take you on the tour of the glass factory. Then you take the vaporetto back to Venice on your own.)

In Rome, my first trip was with my older daughter again. In fact, she and I took spring break trips together (at her request!) each of her four college years. The second trip was the following year with my husband and younger daughter, who at the time was still in high school.

Both times we took day trips to Pompeii, which was a big hit with everyone. My older daughter and I took walking tours of Ancient Rome and of the Vatican through Enjoy Rome. We found it added tremendously to our appreciation of the city. My husband and younger daughter would not have enjoyed that as much, but by then they had me for a guide.

Pasta and pizza were popular with both girls in Rome. The atmosphere in Trastevere at night was fun and filled with young people as we walked around to pick out a restaurant one night.

rbnwdln

Florence is full of young people, especially American college girls. Our children loved adventure travel when they were in college (and still do - son is somewhere is southeast Asia) so perhaps you can look into something that is off the beaten track. The hiking and biking sound like a winner, if that appeals to your boys. Beaches are also fun for that age group. Have fun with your boys.

Mimar

I'd add 1 day to Venice and 1 or 2 to Rome. The extra day in Venice will help you get over jet lag. And there's so much to see in Rome.

If it was me, I'd rent a car and stay in Tuscany in a smaller town. With maybe a daytrip into Florence by public transportation.

thaicookie

Thank you Nikki for sharing your travel memories. I wondered if I should add Pompeii-it sounds like I should. Did you stay in the Trastevere area of Rome?
Thanks rbnwdln. Most of my kids' travels have been in Asia/Australia. Off the beaten track is right up our alley.
Thanks Mimar for mentioning the jet lag. I always forget about that. Any suggestions for a good base in Tuscany?
Lucca area? So we'd be close to the CT also?

GSteed

Hey! What do these young people do at home? Active sports? Haunt the library? Garden? Italy is more than statues, museums and churches. Do they regularly explore their own state? Can they set up a college credit project?

thaicookie

Question-Would it be crazy to just head off from Venice without reservations between there and Rome and take our chances finding places/accomodation along the way? Or is Italy so busy in September that doing so would be a huge mistake?
Thanks again for your help.

Nikki

We did not stay in Trastevere, just went there one night for dinner. We stayed in an apartment near the Trevi Fountain.

Have a great trip.

thaicookie

Thanks Nikki. I am looking forward to the trip.
I still don't know what we'll be doing in between Venice and Rome. I was thinking the Cinque Terra but I've been reading today how crowded it is there...now I am thinking to rent a villa in the Lucca area for 5 days in between and do day trips to Florence, Portofino, etc.

aussiefive

Whilst my kids are a little younger - Girl 19, Boys 17 and 13 they much preferred the cities to the Tuscan countryside. They did love our stay in Sorrento though where we visited Pompeii, Capri and Amalfi Coast. I am pretty sure they would have loved the CT if given the chance but it was winter and I din't see the point of going there then.

thaicookie

Now I am thinking Venice to Cinque Terra to Florence to Rome. Nowhere off the beaten track but should be a hit with the guys. They've done a little bit of reading...

annhig

hi, thaicookie,

please don't think I'm trying to rain on your parade, but I would strongly dissuade your sons from "tomb-stoning" as jumping off cliffs into the sea is called. This year here in the UK there has been a spate of young men being killed and injured doing just that. it is very dangerous due to the possibility of hitting rocks hidden below the surface.

on a lighter note, if they like water sports such as wind-surfing, or would like to learn, lake garda is an ideal place to give it a go, and a very convenient place on your route.

the CT is rather off your route, IMO. and Lucca, though lovely, holds little of great interest to college age boys. if you do go for that, please make sure you have a swimming pool and some cycles to amuse them.

I would make sure that you have plenty of time in Rome - which is bound to interest them.

regards, ann