I am looking for a family friendly trip to Italy?

Question

I have 4 children, ages 17, 14, 13, and 10. We will be traveling spring, '08. Is this a good time to go to Italy? Should we book a trip with a travel agency, like a guided tour, or is there a better way to book things separately, like a "do it at your own pace?" I do not want to be overbooked like the guided tours tend to be, with having so many kids, but I do want to see at least Rome, Florence, Venice, and Capri, or some ocean. I am worried that we could not do it on our own, without the help of a guided tour. But the tours tend to be so fast paced, and boring. I want this to be an amazing trip, that we will never forget. And fun yet educational for the kids. Thank you for your answers to anyone who has done a trip like this!

Answer 1

You didn't state the number of days that you will be there.

Rome and Florence could take 1-2 days each/more. Florence & Rome have lots to see. Venice can be done in a day but briefly.
Those cities are in the Northern part of Italy.
You can dine on the Mediterranean from Rome. Seafood is expensive.

Capri is off the coast of Naples, Naples a few hours drive by Autostrada, about 1/2 day, to the South of Rome. Capri is much like a carnival, but the Blue Lagoon is quite nice, by boat. If it rains very much, it becomes flooded and inaccessible.
Watch your money in Capri.

From Rome, one can take the Amalfitani Coastal drive to Naples. This is beautiful, along the Mediterranean Sea.
This can be done by bus. Some of the hairpin turns have to be negotiated by buses, they cannot make the turn in one motion, must back up and forward a few times.

Pompeii is within reach from Naples as a side trip. Historical for certain. Vesuvia is close by.

I'm sure that you will find that lunch and dinner can consume a lot of time out of a day.

Spring may be a good time to travel. Weather there is much like NYC.

If you have limited time, I suggest Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Milan is not much out of the way, North of Rome, West of Venice. Be careful with the Gondoliers. Make sure that you understand the prices. They will quote one price before and another after, accusing one of not understanding.

These can very easily eat up a week.
Sorry if you can't rent a car and do it yourself. It's the only way I've ever traveled Italy.

Find a book on travel by Fodor. There are some fabulous restaurants, without the tourist traps.
Find the Trattorias, wonderful, and sometimes the Hosterias, very small family restaurants, 6 tables or so.

Weight gain is almost assured. LOL

If you do npt speak the language, you might have to consider a tour. I've never liked those either.

Answer 2

I've done this before but we drive since we live in Italy and in the Naples area. You could do it on you own really it wold just be hard getting to the different cities unless you plan on driving because the train with 6 people and all that lugguage will not be easy or fun. Its hard enough to take my lugguage and my baby and a stroller on some of the train. But in all the cities they have double decker bus tours which are good and they take you all over the city of Rome and Florence. But even with a good travel book like Frommors you can see the same stuff just without as good of commantary. Capri you may not know is 1 hour off the coast of naples and Naples is 2-2 1/2 hours south of rome and all the other places are north of Rome. Florence about 2 -2 1/2 from rome and Venice is about 4-5 hours north of rome.

Answer 3

This sounds like a father or mother friendly holiday !
You do not say how long you are planing to be in Italy .
Children of the ages of your are going to be really bored very soon .
The spring is quite a good time for seeing museums etc etc .
Your idea of a tour is not so bad ; but I would suggest you hire a van with driver/ Guide .
Children the ages of yours are too young to take in the history , art , and architecture . Really with children your ages ; I would have recommended taking a Farmhouse near Florence , for example ; near Figline Valdarno , from where you can take the train into the city . There are lots of places to visit on a daily basis ; such as Fiesole , Greve , Montefiorale , Radda , Castello di Volpaia , San Giminiano with its many towers , Siena , Poppi , Casentino , Gropina , Montepulciano , Val d'Orcia .
Marshalling childen through Rome would be so tiring , not getting robbed of your money and passports . Capri would be better when the weather is warmer and you can all swim . Speaking of the educational , I think your children would benefit more from the intimate local contact and having a real cultural taste of Italian life than constantly travelling from one city to another staying in hotels . Italy is a very beautiful country , if you never set foot in a Museum ; country people are simple and kind ; you can eat out in the many varied local restaurants , or in a farmhouse , make nice meals at home .
Dare I even recommend " Girasole Luxury Camping " at Figline Valdarno ; They have super swimming pools and lots of things for children to do , a good restaurant , bars , shops etc . They have coaches and take people sightseeing even to Rome . For a nice apartment in a beautifil country villa ; you could write to Villa Sant'Leo , Ponte Agli Stolli , Figline Valdarno , Firenze , Italy .
The owners are friends of mine and have a number of beautiful apartments in this ancient villa which has lovely views and is surrounded by their large farm . There is a nice swimming pool .
I once planned a similar holiday with my children when they were in mid teens ; but funked it and chartered a yacht instead . I knew there would be cries from the back ; do we have to go to another city seeing museums , couldn't we just go to the beach daddy .
I am sorry to put a damper on your plans . My children have since all visited Italy in their twenties and have done all the things you plan , on their own .

Answer 4

hello, I'm a licensed tour escort in Venice (you say guide but we have guides for museums and tour escorts to help you all along your stay and trip): you may contact me directly on
[e-mail]
for the Venice part. I may take care of your Venice stay since your arrival at airport and give you suggestions on what to do and where to stay, bookings etc.
Spring is a good time to visit Venice but avoid big holidays like Easter week-end (Easter is on 23rd March 2008); 25th April and 1st May (very crowded, besides most museums are closed); Assumption (some time in May... can't find the exact date now)
bye for now

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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