We are looking to travel to Rome with our 3 children ages 14 -21. Does anyone have some suggestions for what to do and what not to do? They travel well but any and all suggestions for making the trip smoother would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Shoreview, MN, usa
187 posts
Our preteenager loved our promise of one art museum (The Vatican). That was enough for him and little did he know, but it was all around us in the churches, etc.
Capucchin Crypt was interesting although a little creepy to him.
Our biggest success, being determined that we didn't have to check a million must dos off our list. Dragging a reluctant preteen around is not fun. Being able to say, "Oh well, we didn't get to climb St. Peters, but we had a great chat over pizza and gelato instead" worked whenever we didn't get to see it all.
We wanted to relax and enjoy each other, not see and do everything. It worked.
One other thing, we stayed at aromabb.it in the flowers room. We had a terrace, it slept 5, and a small kitchenette. Picnic dinners were a big hit (grocery store at the termini station a few blocks away!) This kept us from having too many looooong Italian dinners (which although fun for us, weren't so great for our son!)
Have FUN!
Posted by
OP
Stephenville
2 posts
Thanks. I will keep that as a rule for us.
Posted by
Shrewsbury, USA
72 posts
How long will you be in Rome? A day trip to Pompeii is what my teenagers are looking forward to most, besides seeing the Coliseum. I also agree with the previous post about the Vatican--the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's will take the away of even the most cynical teenager.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23297 posts
Given them some independence. Let them plan a day or two just what they want to do. When we had our two sons with us, we let them go on there own for some time. Make sure they had a little cash, a map, and the address of the hotel on them. Initially it was only for a couple hour and an agreement to met at a certain location. As they gained experience time expanded. Started about 16 and by the time they were twenty we sometimes parted company in morning and met for lunch or dinner. Gave them a great sense of independence and solved some of the problems of who saw what.