My wife and I are in the beginning stages of planning a 2 or 3 week trip in may 2015. As we will be traveling with our two boys aged 4 & 8, we have decided to take a friends advice and not think of the trip as a 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip but rather the first of many. Meaning, we would pick one place to visit, with a possible day trip here and there. My question is, would Cinque terre be a place that you could spend 2 to 3 weeks in. It seems relatively family friendly and a good mixture of beach and culture. The Rick Steves videos of the place made my wife and I fall in love with it but we are unsure of its suitability for the length of time we wish to spend and the kids. We found many cost effective lodgings with prices around $700 per week for an entire cottage. Is this a good price? Also airfare for that time of year seems to be $1000 per person from Calgary Alberta Canada...?...Please help an inexperienced traveler.
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
2-3 weeks would be very long, I think. The beaches in CT tend to be pebbly, so not so suitable for building sand castles.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
You are definitely in the right frame of mind to think of this trip as a first of many. You are also right, IMHO, to be thinking of not moving around every few nights, but rather settling in to enjoy an area. However, the CT is probably not going to keep you entertained for 2-3 weeks. If you have 2-3 weeks, why not 5 to 7 nights in each of three places so you can see a little more of Italy?
Rome is certainly worth a week and you can easily rent an apartment for a reasonable price. Try Cross-Pollinate.com for options.
The CT, to me, is worth 5 nights. You can enjoy the little towns, take a boat trip between them, go to Portovenere and Portofino. Yes, $700 for a week is a GREATprice.
For a third location, maybe an agriturismo in Tuscany or Umbria. The kids would be exposed to farm life and perhaps you can get one with a pool. You would probably need a car for such an adventure. Another region worth looking at for farm holidays is in the Dolomites, the South Tyrol. Some friends of our swear by this site for booking an agriturismo in the South Tyrol. The later in May the better for the South Tyrol....
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Another option would be the Amalfi Coast, Naples and Rome.
Along with the beautiful scenery of the coast, you also have Herculeneum, which might interest your 8 yr. old. You could also split your time between an argriturismo and a spot along the coast.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I would also split the trip into shorter stays in a few locations. The range of how far you can get by car or public transport (e.g., within an hour each way) is limited and the doubling back will get repetitive. You would miss out on a lot of Italy. Expand your possibilities from more home bases.