Rome, Venice, Paris with kids Itinerary help

Hi, and welcome to the forums.

Have you traveled internationally before? If so, then you know your kids better than we do and know whether 3 cities instead of 2 are a better match. Every move tends to eat up half a day given packing, checking out, arriving, checking in. For both June 14 & 16 you need to store luggage - so that means getting to where you will be storing and returning there to pick up luggage prior to train departure.....unless your hotel/apartment will store it for you and is close to where you want to be at the end of your day.
Venice, if you have not been before, is all about the water and narrow walk ways and nothing direct to anywhere else. I would consider your (and your children's) abilities to find lodgings in the evening, possibly after bedtime and after a full day of sightseeing. Streets are not all signed and nothing is straight. Many main canals now have converted parts of the steps to ramps so you can wheel suitcases without lifting and carrying them, so if you are carrying a child as well, it might be more maneuverable. But you need to plan for your arrival to minimize frustration and time.
Personally, I would reduce it to only 2 cities with Venice being my last choice. Any of them either have a lot to offer for more days and give the option to expand outside the immediate city.

Your time is pretty short. I’d fly Venice to Paris. I’ve done it on EastJet which was pretty cheap when booked well in advance. Do be aware of luggage restrictions before you book and perhaps pay upfront for checked bags.

Do you leave Texas on the 11th or is that the day you arrive in Rome?

Editing to add: cross posting with Maria and 100% agree with her thoughts, especially if you don’t arrive in Rome until the 12th.

Thank you for your replay Maria. All good points!

I had been going back and forth about Venice. The last time I was there I had one of those nightmare travel days and my memories of Venice are mostly of how difficult that day was. That being said my husband and kids have never been there and want to go. Do you know if there is some sort of guide or company that will pick you up once you arrive and guide you to your hotel? I think I might lean on the family to ditch Venice on this trip and make a plan to go back in the near future.

As far as the luggage goes we take backpacks so I do not worry too much about that.

Pam, we will arrive in Rome on the 11th. Do you think if we do decide to keep Venice it would be better to fly Venice to Paris instead of the overnight train?

Jenni,

You don't say WHEN, other than summer, you plan to make this trip. I'll assume, since the children are school aged, the trip will be sometime between mid-June and mid-August.

Italy, particularly central and southern Italy can be hot & humid with plenty of mosquitoes. While you may be used to the heat and humidity at home, imagine standing in (seemingly endless) queues where ever you go. Just trying to prepare you...

I, personally, think you're trying see too many cities. 3 world-class cities in 8 days doesn't give you much time to enjoy much. I would pare one destination out to add time to the others.

The good news about Rome and Venice - there are a ton of affordable holiday apartments. In an apartment, you'll be able to stretch out, be comfortable, have some privacy, all for the price of a moderately priced "family" hotel room.

The train between Rome and Venice is very affordable, fast and efficient. However, I do recommend being careful how you pack. These trains generally don't have checked luggage service so you'll be carrying everything, along with the kids, yourself and there's limited storage space. The overheard parcel shelf fits standard carry-on sized (~14 inches wide) luggage but nothing much larger. There is limited room for larger pieces at the ends of the carriage but during the high travel season, that space tends to fill up fast.

The overnight train from Venice to Paris may sound like a time saver and a bit romantic, but if you do some research, you may find that it's not all it's cracked up to be. The comments I've seen on-line are mostly negative. I wouldn't risk wasting a day of your expensive vacation gambling that you'll get enough sleep on the train to arrive refreshed and ready for a day of sightseeing. I would take the previous advise and fly.

Just food for thought.

I’d never miss seeing Venice in favor of Paris but that’s a personal preference.

However on this jaunt probably best to focus on 2 cities.

Throwing this out there because the logistics are easier....London and Paris instead of Rome and Paris.

Guess I’m asking why Rome? It’s great and fascinating. I get that but I’d do Rome and Venice together, an all Italy excursion.

(my only venture to Venice was travel weary and how everything was challenging - not fond memories, but I am willing to give it another try)
If they insist on Venice, you can make things easier by being strategic where you decide to stay. Something on the main vapretto route could be quite simple. There is a vaporetto stop in front of the train station, so if you find lodgings close to another stop, that would make arrival and departure much easier. If you prefer an apartment, or smaller BnB type location, you could ask from the host whether they will meet you at a key location (say a vaporetto stop) to get you where you need to sleep. You can also hire a private water taxi, but that doesn't get you to your door if your lodging is buried deep in the neighbourhoods. There are options - you just need to plan for it. Get a map of the vaporetto stops, look at where you want to be, and then find on google maps for hotels near the stops. Do keep in mind that accommodation often is more expensive along the canal and definitely nearer to St. Mark's Square. But people have made recommendations near stops in the Dosodoro or Cannaregio districts. If you can find something near the Ca d'Oro stop, it could be fun. Take a stand up tragetto (working gondola) crossing to the Rialto fish market then head cross country to the Rialto Bridge and on to St. Marks, etc. When tired, take the vaporetto back.
You should price the overnight train vs flights and decide what suits you. The kids might sleep anywhere, but will you? Another consideration is moving a family to the airport vs the very handy train station.

The night train to Paris from Venice is not the most luxurious or pleasant way to travel by train. It was noisy and bounced around much more than I thought it would. I cannot say that I slept well, and the food car was awful.

It was an adventure, but I would fly rather than trying to do it by train again. The kids might like it, though.

Y'all are all so helpful thank you! It sounds like the train from Venice to Paris is out. My husband and kids can sleep anywhere, I cannot though!

Maria Thank you for the tips on lodging in Venice I will be sure to look up the vaporetto stops before I book any place to stay!

The reason for Rome is because we went there a few years ago and my husband is dying to go back. We didn't get to see all we wanted to see. I think after reading all of your comments we will stick to just Italy. Do y'all think we should just stick to Venice and Rome or throw another city in there?

As far as the comments about luggage. My husband and I each carry a 40L travel backpacks and the kids each have a 18L backpack. We travel light.

Edited to add we are going mid June

Glad you simplified the plan to one country. Certainly limiting to 2 cities limits the moving around and makes a short let apartment more practical. Do be aware that AC isn't everywhere and you want to confirm the type of AC - as some places will list an occalating fan as AC,...or it might only be in one bedroom.
A day trip from Rome means the Appian Way, or Gladiator School, or Ostia Antica (not Pompeii, but old Roman city). Day trips from Venice are numerous. There are the islands of Torchello, Burano, Murano for a day away from Venice, and then towns along the train line to Milan - Padua, Vicenza; or Bologna. The list goes on.

If you can't be comfortable without a 3rd city, Florence is a generally accepted addition, but there are smaller cities directly on the Rome-Venice route to consider - Bologna, Ferrera, Padua, for example.

Now I understand why Rome.

So thumbs up to an all Italy trip.

How big are you on museums?

Could add Florence I suppose.

Or see a part of Italy not yet horribly over run by tourists and head south to the Calabria region.
Check out Nat Geo’s April/May issue of Traveler Magazine to see why.

Then again it’s June and might be far more crowded than I’d like to think.

Enjoy!

Our kids love to travel and are very go with the flow so I don't really worry about anything being too much for them)

Have they had a 7 hour time shift happen all at once? You may get off to a slower start in Rome than you imagine.

The only way Paris works is if Rome is the only other destination.

Rome with Lucca or Florence and Venice would be manageable. Choosing between Lucca or Florence depends on what your interests are. The bike ride around the walls of Lucca should be a big hit with the kids and a change of pace of big cities, museums etc.

My $0.02

For your timeframe, two cities rather than three are appropriate, especially with children. Rome is a “must’, so the question is which other.

Personally I love Venice, and we have spent as long as a month there . . . . but we never go in the summer. It is hot and humid, and very crowded. Not much in the way of parks where kids can run and let off steam. The calle, although free of car traffic, are so crowded in the main routes that it can be unpleasant to move around, unless you know how to move through the back street.

I do not know much about Paris in the summer, other than my sister and her husband took small children and loved it.

Another possibility would be London, especially if you have to fly through there on your way to and from Rome. I have been there with children of ages from 2 through 16 and it was all good.

Coming from the US with only 8 nights in Europe, and with young children - two cities MAX, or you'll be sorry.

As said, you don't know how jet lag will hit, but it's best to assume your first day will be a jet lagged haze, at least for some in your family if not all. The last day is taken up with getting to the airport. When trip planning, it's best to count nights, and remember that while two nights equals one full day, one night is less than a full day of sightseeing.

Part of what makes longer stays better is that you don't have to be "busy" all the time. You can focus on one or two major sights per day, rather than running around to try to see "everything." People who have short visits to Venice and Rome often don't enjoy them.

Plus, by sticking to one country, you'll have less adjustment in things like language and menus (even more important for your kids than for the adults). You can all start to learn some basic Italian, which will enhance your trip. And, you'll save money by not taking so many trains or planes.

So, I'd see Venice and Rome on this trip. Again, you won't feel "shortchanged."

Do look into flight connections carefully. Many flights from Venice to the US connect in Europe, and these can leave at shockingly early hours. Getting to the Venice airport for an early flight can be expensive (over €100 for a water taxi) or time-consuming (1-1.5 hours for vaporetto - water bus - followed by land bus). Rome has more late options for flights back to the US. But even if you have an early flight, a taxi ride to the airport takes 35 minutes and costs €48. Plus, many find Venice easier to adjust to than Rome. So, you'll probably want to see Venice first, then train to Rome (less than 4 hours), then fly home from Rome.

Hi!

I love your itinerary!!
My children are also good travelers, and I think this itinerary is perfect! The overnight train Venice to Paris will be such an adventure for them. Don't forget to reserve a private room with 4 beds on the Thello train. Bring a picnic, but there is also a restaurant car. It is not luxurious but it is fun!

I love Venice with my kids and we are going for a 4th time this summer (my children are 3 and 6). There are so many interesting beautiful alleys and bridges far from the tourist mass that you can explore. Hit San Marco and Rialto bridge early in morning or in the evening and you will bypass all the tour groups. One of the favorite things my daughters like to do in Venice is to take the Traghetto (mini free Gondola rides).

In Paris, don't forget to reserve your ticket to the top of the Eiffel tower in advance. My children like to take the stairs up to the second floor. Vedettes de Paris is a boat that you can take from Pont Marie (close to Notre Dame) and it will drop you off at the Eiffel tour. There is also a carousel and a playground near the Eiffel tower. The same boat will take you back to Notre Dame (just check the schedule). Of all the museums, my kids prefer le Musee de l'Orangerie and their favorite park is Le Luxembourg (rent your little boat and push it; a carousel with rings to catch).