We will be taking our 2 teenagers to London and Paris in July. Would like to show them some of Italy, have only 3-4 days there. Am concerned about heat and crowds. Do you have any suggestion?
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Well , it will be hot and crowded. Tell the kids that. I have told my daughter what to expect when we go in July. She knows she is lucky and that many little girls her age just get to camping 100 miles from home.
Luckily your kids are old enough to handle heat and crowds( not like them though, who does) .
I am packing two fans from China town for us, to fan ourselves while waiting in lines etc. They cost about 2 dollars and are lightweight, need no battereies and work better then a map for fanning. LOL
Bring water bottles.
Posted by
Atlanta
800 posts
If you are already doing two cities (that will also be hot & crowded), how about forgoing Rome and Florence and doing something outdoorsy? The Dolomite region is beautiful with lots of hiking, etc. Lake Como area is also nice though I think my kids would find it a little tame now that they are older. Notice I did not say Cinque Terra as I understand that it too would be VERY crowded. There are also nice small towns in Tuscany (Lucca, Pienza, Montepulciano) - if you stayed at an Agriturismo outside one of the cities that had a pool it makes for a nice break in the afternoon heat.
If you still want to do a city then I recommend Venice instead of Rome & Florence. Venice is truly unique and even in July we really enjoyed ourselves. And having said all that - my kids still rate Rome as a top place to see, despite crowds & heat. We all liked it much better than Florence in the summer - I just felt that Rome handled the crowds better than Florence.
Posted by
Henson, Florida, USA
466 posts
It will be very hot and very crowded but, it's Italy and even with the heat and crowds, make sure you get a hotel room with air condition so you can at least get a good nights sleep!
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
As you've heard it will be hot in July - probably in the 90's the entire month. In August LYR we had 6 days over 100! So be prepared. Make sure your hotels in Italy have AC-not all do!
Good news, there are plenty of fountains all over Rome, and the water is usually cold! We fill up our small 30 cent water bottles at every fountain. The water's great! You'll see all the locals do it.
Last week we had friends with a 15 year old here in Rome. Her favorite things: #1 Italian Boys! She found them "bello!" #2 Gelato - fell in love with Giolitti's, and we had to go everyday! #3 Eating: pizza, panini, and well, wine!
I would limit your museum intake (she got a little bored) but the "big name" places, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi, & hanging out at the Spanish Steps with other USA kids her age were the BEST in her book! We found ourselves setting aside time to see/do the things she wanted. For her we went to Hard Rock for the "T-Shirt & we went to see the "Bone Church."