Hello! Seeking advice for 2 families consisting of 4 parents (ages 45-50) and 5 kids (boys ages 8-14).
Is it too much to do gladiator school (11-1 - hot!) then eBike along Appian from
3-7pm on the same day? We were trying to take advantage of the proximity of these two activities.
We also have 4.5 days total in Rome, what are the pro’s cons of a daytrip to Pompeii for all of us?
Thanks you in advance for your insights.
Hi again, I should have mentioned it will be last week of June weather.
Gladiator School--how does that work? (Nobody has to die, right?)
Re your question, Rome has enough to keep you busy for a week or two (at least), so 4.5 days minus Gladiator School and biking--this means you probably want to avoid spreading yourself too thin with a Pompeii trip.
A common mistake is for travelers to try to do too much, not too little.
You may want to look at Ostia Antica rather than Pompeii to get the ancient city experience, without the wear you out travel day
I’ve walked on the Appuan Way s couple of times (public transport from Rome to get there, then walk) and the road is made of big rocks placed together instead of pavement. Some parts were even difficult to walk because of the uneven rocks...I can’t imagine a bike because of those stones.
Thanks everyone. No one has to die! And will consider Ostia Antica. I heard there was a paved way for bicycles on Appian Way?
I heard there was a paved way for bicycles on Appian Way?
That must have come in the last couple of years, since I was there.
It seems like an awful lot of activity on (what could be) really hot days. But, that said, you know your friends and the boys, and I do not.
If you live in a location that might have summer temperatures similar to Rome, maybe give it a "trial run" -- obviously different activities...but something very active outside 11-1, then go for a bike ride 3-7 and see how everyone does during the sort-of simulation. I can make my predictions, but they would be based on very little knowledge. And, hopefully this will not be on the first day of arrival in Europe (jet lag).
Pompeii is fabulous, but it might also be trying (baking in the mid-day sun). I would suggest an early-morning tour of Pompeii for your group, having the guide show you a single example of the key architectural/cultural features. Hats/sunblock appropriate. There is really no way to see everything Pompeii has to offer in one day....we met some people who did it over 2-3 days (which would be an overdose for me). But, if you all may never get back to the area around Rome, definitely squeeze in Pompeii.........interesting and thought-provoking, and the boys will get a few giggles, too.
Lucky kids to have such a fun, educational trip, and I hope they truly appreciate what you kind parents are doing :) Enjoy your trip. Let us know how it goes. I have a feeling the gladiator school will be a "keeper" on the itinerary......what young boy would not want to experience that?!!?!
We did Gladiator training in the month of July (way back in 2008). No way could we have gone cycling afterwards, mind you we were 38 at that time.
It was great fun, i was freakishly good at the net thing.
Last month we were in Rome for a week and debated on Pompeii. Decided it was too long a day but did Naples one day and Ostia Antica another half day.
Have you read Sarah Murdoch's blogs on these activities?
https://adventureswithsarah.net/detours-roman-gladiator-school/
https://adventureswithsarah.net/travel-tutorial-day-trip-rome-to-pompeii/
Nigel, maybe it wasn’t paved, perhaps a dirt road on the side. Thanks for the serious consideration Maggie. We are looking forward to this experience with our kids, we are blessed! Andrea, we plan on ebiking, good to know that the training was strenuous, that’s what I am curious about, will they physically be able to do the school and ebike afterwards? Sometimes I think these boys have endless energy.
I heard there was a paved way for bicycles on Appian Way?
Anhla, the bikes will be covering a variety of surfaces, from smooth pavement to cobblestones to dirt paths. TopBike (a RS recommended bike-tour operator) has a short film on their website of their Appian tour that will give you a good overview:
Just how many surfaces you'd ride may depend on the particular tour operator you're looking at and where they go but for sure wouldn't count on smooth pavement the entire way (we've done quite a long section of the AA on foot).
