We are going to Europe for the first time next July. We are attending a Gymnastics event in Austria for 10 days and then would like to tour Italy. We will have approximately 2 weeks to spend there. We would like to go to Rome, Venice maybe Florence, as well as maybe a few other places. We will be traveling down from Vienna thinking of taking the night train to Rome. I have been looking at guidebooks and reading posts but it is a little overwhelming. I am not sure when we would be back to Europe again and would like to make the most of this opportunity for our family. Not sure if on return we would fly out of Rome or back through Zurich. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated so that I can get this ball rolling.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6862 posts
Fly home from your last destination - presumably a city in Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice) - don't waste money (and more importantly, time) by doubling back to your arrival city.
I suggest you check out some of the excellent Rick Steves resources for planning a trip to Italy (start here) - drill down into the "Plan" section for the recommended itineraries). He has suggested itineraries based on how much time you have. You have enough time to do the research and build yourself a great trip. A couple of cautions...
Italy in the summer is both very crowded and very hot. You will want to plan accordingly.
There's always too much great stuff to see for the time you have. This trip will be no exception. Be careful and fight the urge to try and squeeze in too many places in the time you have.
Posted by
11671 posts
No night train. Either fly or take a day train. Start in the north, in Venice. End in Rome and fly home from there. Look at Multi-City flights for your Trans Atlantic flights.
Fill in between Venice and Rome with. Florence and Tuscany for example. Or wherever you would like to visit. Make sure all hotels have a/c.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6862 posts
Oh yeah, agree - no night train! First, the scenery on that route should be worth seeing, so if you go by train, do it during daylight hours. Second, it sounds romantic and like a neat money-saving trick (it may have been exactly that for Rick back when he was a young backpacker), but for many of us a night train = a long, uncomfortable night followed by 3 days of sleep-deprived misery. If you can sleep under virtually any conditions, including constant motion, frequent bright flashing lights, constant vibrations, constant noise regularly punctuated by skull-splitting squeals...then hey, enjoy that night on the train. Personally, I've tried 3 times, under optimal conditions (for a train) and never got more than a few minutes fleeting sleep. Lesson learned, never again. YMMV (and your teens might survive it better) but I have a feeling Rick wouldn't do a night train himself these days. :)
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12034 posts
If David did not change your mind about the overnight train, the one thing he did not mention is the at least 1 to as many as 4 changes you have to make in the middle of the night ( either Venice or Rome).
If I were doing it, I would fly to Venice and work my way to Rome and fly home from there.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1922 posts
I agree with Suki. Arrive in Venice-3 days, Florence-3 days, Sienna-2 days, Orvieto-2 days and finish the rest of your time in Rome. A nice taste of Italy. All trains and relatively short ones. July will be HOT, expect it and start your day early and get tickets to your ALL sights and ALL tours in ADVANCE and avoid standing in lines. A great experience for your teens and the whole family.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Those are really great tips. We might not have to go to Vienna I was just thinking it would be nice. My daughter and I are in Dornbirn, Austria for the World Gymnaestrada so we could always leave from there and meet the rest of our family in Venice. I have to book flights in the next few weeks so that will determine where we end up. I appreciate all of the comments and have been looking at places to stay and trying to get an idea of what to do.
Posted by
San Diego, CA
344 posts
Excellent suggestions from all! Especially flying into one city (Venice), taking trains to other cities, and flying out of (most likely) Rome.
I would add if you are going with teens to ask about WiFi as well as Air Conditioning. As in....is there WiFi in the lobby or in the hotel room itself? Or not at all. We have found WiFi is all important for adults as well to make plans, double check opening times etc and it is not fun to realize after you are in your pjs that you have to go down to the lobby to double check what time something opens the next day...or the weather...etc.
And when you are in Rome, consider this terrific venue to give context to all the ruins you will see (you must book ahead; English tour; it is very popular and you may not get tickets if you don't book ahead): https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d2179620-Reviews-Le_Domus_Romane_di_Palazzo_Valentini-Rome_Lazio.html
Best use of multimedia technology I have ever seen--- a recreation of a Roman upper class home using projections, recordings, etc. Engages your imagination and your understanding. Really terrific.
Have a wonderful trip...you are smart to start planning now.