Hello all,
Can you help me with a plan starting in Venice October 31 in morning? We'd like to do a most time in Rome. We're flying into Venice Oct 30 at night. So our days will start in Venice October 31 and would like to do Florence, possibly Sienna and finally the rest in Rome. I've heard of stayinging at an agriturismo?? Or air bnbs better. Out budget is max $200 US. We'd like to see the common landmarks but at the same time not be so rushed and keep my kiddos engaged. Thoughts?
About 8 years ago we took our then 14 and 16 year old kids on a month long trip through Italy starting in Venice. We stayed at a mix of AirBnB's as well as a villa in Cortona, ending our month in Rome. One thing we all agreed on is that we wished we started the trip in Rome then ended in Venice. There is so much to do in Rome that we wished we were "fresher" for this part of the trip but after a month around Italy, the kids were done and didn't enjoy Rome as much as they'd (and I) hoped. Food for thought if you have flexibility in your start/end point. How many days will you have in Italy? In my opinion, that is the most important factor. Once you've set your number of nights, then you can arrange time spent in Venice, Florence and Rome. I will say that our nightly budget was roughly the same as yours and, though it's been a few years, I think you'll still find great apartments within your budget. We did not stay at an agriturismo though I've heard good things about them. Will you have a car? That will factor in to where you stay, especially an agritourismo as they are typically in the countryside and difficult to reach without a car.
Italy is lovely and I'm sure you and your kids with have a fantastic time!
How many nights are you staying in Italy?
If you fly home from Venice, make sure you do not take an early morning flight. If you do, you will need to take an expensive water taxi that costs in the triple digits from your hotel to the airport. I see nothing wrong with flying into Venice and spending three nights there so you have two full days.
You can take a direct train from Venice to Florence’s SM Novella station: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html and sleep there for four nights. This will allow a day trip to Siena. A bus from Florence to Siena drops you off outside of the old town and the train does not. Furthermore, the bus takes 1h 15m and the train takes longer.
From Florence's SM Novella station take a direct train to Rome’s Roma Termini station. You need a minimum of four nights if you plan a day at Vatican City.
How many nights are you staying in Italy?
Yes, and where will you be flying in from? And the trip is THIS October?
WOW I just read some of your posting history.......11 nights and 6 locations throughout Europe? Every time you move home bases, you practically lose a day of sightseeing, so you're moving locations quicker than every other day.......You have 5 nights to see Venice, Florence, Siena, Tuscany and Rome.....NOT going to happen....
I would fly into Venice, do what you want there (RowVenice for a gondola lesson!) and then train to Rome for the end.....you don't have time for 5 places in 5 nights.....
Yes, 11 nights in Europe traveling Oct25-Nov6th, DFW/LHR --- FCO/DFW multi-ity, but made some changes and here's the latest I have planned and booked:
Oct 25 fly DFW/London arrive at 8am- a day in London and spend the night near British Museum.
Oct 27th fly London/Paris @ 4pm, have dinner and go to Eiffel Tower and spend a night.
Oct28t Meet a relative in Paris (rent a car & spend 2 nights in Normandy to see Dday beaches & MSM). Stay @Airbnb by Bayeux). Drive back in AM to Paris and return rental on Oct30th.
October 30th fly @6:30pm from Paris/Venice and spend the night Venice. This is where I've left off and so thankful for our input, everyone! Thankyou!
Editing my previous post:
The plan sort of looks like this:
Oct 25th - fly from home
Oct 26: arrive into London AM.
Oct 27: fly to Paris CDG at 4:PM. Stay Paris
Oct 28: Rent car: Normandy/Mt St Michel/Bayeux
Oct 29: Normandy/Mt St Michel
Oct 30: Drive back to Paris from Bayeux/ fly to Venice
Oct 31: Venice
Nov 1: train to Florence
Nov 2: Florence
Nov 3: day trip Siena
Nov 5: train to Rome
Nov 5 - Rome
Nov 6 - fly home
Not enough time for London OR Paris. Scant time for Rome too unless you skip Siena or cut the full day in Florence...which I personally wouldn't do but up to your own interests. This is a very rushed itinerary that doesn't leave any wiggle room for anything to go sideways. I know we all travel differently, - that's OK! - but personally I'd cut London altogether and fly directly to Paris. I also wouldn't want to be in Bayeux the same day as a flight out of CDG, even one to another European country.
To add: Nov 2 is a First Sunday of the month in Italy when the Italian State museums are free; not the day to try and see the Uffizi or Accademia due to long lines and potential crowding. The duomo (the church; not its adjoining parts) is also closed to tourists on Sundays, and Nov. 2nd is All Souls Day when churches in general may be especially busy with religious services.
Honestly, I'd limit Italy to Venice and Rome on your schedule. My hope is that you will remember some of the things you have seen after you return home, rather than just the transportation experiences as you traveled from place to place.
I vote 3 nights Venice (30, 31, Nov 1), might want to look into a "Venice in a day" small group tour, or at least the Doge's Palace and St Mark's or something like that.....that will hopefully be over in the afternoon, spend the evening wandering the pathways, let the kids help get you lost. Second day, a visit to an outlying island, then back to do a late afternoon/early evening Row Venice lesson (or their chichetti tour!). A food tour the first full day in the evening might be good (instead of the getting lost part) to help you feel like you're exploring, but with a purpose. Part of the fun of Venice is to enjoy the surroundings.
Then take a train to Rome, there you will have the nights of Nov 2, 3, 4, and 5. Gives you 3 full days. Arrival night you can take a food tour (Eating Europe was just recommended to me by some friends and I have seen people on here suggest as well), then day 1 Ancient Rome (Coliseum, Forum, Palatine Hill), day 2 Vatican, and then day 3 maybe some outdoor activity? Visit the Appian way? Catacombs? If you can't think of anything, then you could take a day trip to Florence or Ostia Antica.
I think having tour guides to make the history or art or whatever you are experiencing come alive for the kids might be a good idea and they will probably enjoy it more. The evenings will have plenty of time to wander and enjoy Rome.
