First trip to Italy - suggestions and help please :) (Rome and Tuscany)

I have done this exact trip but with 16 people. Be sure to get two vans for your time in Tuscany. Everyone who may drive will need an International Drivers Permit. You can get them at any AAA for about $20. Be sure to read up on the rules for driving in Italy and read the terms and conditions before agreeing to rent the car. Get the full insurances for the vans. It doesn't cost that much extra but you'll be glad you did if there is any damage done to the cars. We had someone run into our parked van while we were visiting Val D'Orcia but since we had full coverage there were no issues when we returned the van.

Try not to over plan your days while in Tuscany. With that many people it can get to be overwhelming.

Donna

Reserve any museums that you want to visit ahead of time! Like the Uffizi or Accademia in Florence and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, will most likely be very crowded and busy in summertime. I studied in Florence for a semester, if the kiddos (or adults too!) like gelato or pizza, La Carraia gelato is commonly agreed by locals to be the best in town, as well as Gusta pizza for pizza. I also recommend climbing the Duomo dome in Florence, beautiful city views, might be a little difficult for the 3 year old, though. It's 300 some steps to the top, I believe and gets narrow at the top, but worth it, great views over the city and surrounding hillsides. I loved walking around Florence, even if you don't visit very many (or any) museums, the city is beautiful to walk around. Also, Piazzale Michelangelo is a little bit of a trek (up on the hillside) but also has beautiful city views. A great picnic spot, too!

You can't reserve a time for the Sistine chapel. You must go through the Vatican museums in order to get to the chapel. You can buy a timed entry ticket for the museums but that doesn't guarantee you a specific time in the chapel.

Donna

Thank you very much! Any help is much appreciated.

We're in Atlanta and flying non-stop ATL to Rome, overnight. We have 7-year-old twins. Returning from Venice with only an hour layover in Amsterdam (flying KLM). We booked KLM for the arriving flight too; they partner with Delta for that. Even if it's a bit cheapert (just a BIT) to include a layover or two, I just couldn't imagine swapping a direct overnight flight to hang around strange airports and exhaust ourselves even more, lol. We stay in Rome two nights, then take the train to Cortona to pick up our car to drive to the agriturismo, Cretaiole. Are you staying there by chance, or another nearby? We totally can't wait.

Also, for Rome, I booked two tours I felt my kids could handle. I figured Rome is a tall order for people like us who've not been abroad before, and we needed to hit the major sites with people who completely know what they're doing. I was leaning toward kid-oriented outfits until I found Through Eternity, which adapts for families or anyone who's on the tour. On the day we arrive we're touring the colisseum, forum etc. We're staying in walking distance from the Colisseum in one of the rare places where you can sleep four in a room! The following day I booked a Through Eternity tour for the Vatican Museums. I think for the rest of Rome (what's left of it--we're just there two nights before leaving for Tuscany) we'll play it by ear. Our hotel offers three-course meals in the evening for guests to relax and meet, etc. That sounds about right for our first couple of days in Italy!

The tours are not cheap, but in order to fully appreciate what we're seeing, it will be a good investment. I've been encouraged through my correspondence about my children enjoying the outings too.

If we were going to be longer in Rome I'd try to go to the Borghese Gardens and ride bikes.

One more resource for you. I love this blog: http://www.designmom.com/2012/06/kids-rome-7-dont-miss-activities/