We are hoping to take our daughters (6 and 10 years old) to Italy late June 2008. This will be our first non-US travel with our daughters. Based on some initial research, I think spending a week in Northern Italy would be most suited to their interests. I'm not thrilled with flying in/out of Milan (versus the wonders of Venice, or Florence) - especially with the extremely high hotel costs, but I can get direct flights to Milan. I'm hoping to NOT stay in Milan the first night, but head via train to a hotel/rental apartment on Lake Garda or Lake Cumo. My husband would rather be at Lake Cumo, but I think Garda is more suited for family with young kids. Can one day trip places from Lake Garda? I would love to see the Cinque Terre area, but not sure I want to change lodging due to prices and logistics of traveling with kids. I would love any lodging suggestions and information regarding how to better understand the local Italian train system. I went to one web site someone recommended on a different posting - www.trenitalia.it - but (of course) it was all in Italian. We will have to stay in Milan our last night to be sure to get to the airport in time the next day and I do want to take our duaghters to the Di Vinci Science Museum. I also welcome hotel suggestions for Milan although I'm hoping to use some Sheraton Points for that night.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Deborah - How long will you have? With the two kids, I'd suggest looking into rental apartments. Garda wouldn't be a bad place to base because from there you can do day trips to Venice and Verona. Florence and the Cinque Terre would be a bit far unless you're immediate to a train station.
Posted by
Fox Island, WA, United States
27 posts
We were on Lake Como Sept 3-9 this year with our 19 year old son. He was bored to tears. (he was impressed with walking on the roof of the Milan Duomo though.) There is not a lot happening and most people were our age (50 something or older). We stayed in Sirmione on Lake Garda in May 2005. It had a lot more going on than Lake Como. We had to drive over a moat past a castle to get to our great hotel -Hotel Grifone. It was right on the lake with a great restaurant for 60 euros for a double. But again it was mostly older people but we were there when school was in session. We drove from Venice and I think it took about 2 hours. They would love Venice. We took our kids to Europe for their first time when they were 13 &16 and their favorite place was Cinque Terre. They have been back there two more times and still love it. But it is a long ways from Lake Garda. The trenitalia website in english is www.trenitalia.com. It is easy to use but I prefer www.bahn.de because it give more detail.
Posted by
OP
Leesburg, VA, USA
8 posts
Kent, Doug, and Cynthia, Thank you for the great suggestions. I think we will be in Italy for a total of 11 days counting the arrival and departure days. I would like to find a rental on Lake Garda near the train for the first 6 days (probably starting Friday June 20) and then go to the Cinque Terre area for 3 days, and then end in Milan. I've been hoping to use the train, but I'm wondering if we should consider a car. Any suggestions for how to find a place to rent in Lake Garda? Thought about train versus car?