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Rome Mid-November with 14 and 10 Yr Old

Hello RS aficionados. My wife and i will be traveling with our kids (14 yr old boy and 10 yr old girl) to Italy in mid November (arriving November 18th). We will be in Rome 4 nights/3.5 days, Florence 2 nights/2 days, Venice 1 day, and ending our trip with a Thello sleeper train to Paris from Venice and 1 additional night in Paris before flying out the following evening (basically 2 days in Paris).

My wife and i have been to Italy/France several times and feel it is an appropriate time to bring the kids now. We are pretty much planning on doing the "biggies" in each city in an effort to get the kid's "feet wet" per say. We are planning on trying to be as relaxed as possible and going with the flow of what the kids want to see while also steering them along through the main items that we feel are important. What i was hoping was to provide a general itinerary, then sit back and allow ya'll to provide some insight/additional suggestions in respect to making this trip as fun, educational (both historical and societal) and non-stressful as possible. Both kids are fairly mature (depending on the day!) and enjoy a good time.

Rome
Day 1 - fly in. Get to hotel around 3:00 and then just chill the rest of the day, eat and do some people watching near our hotel (Pantheon area).
Day 2 - Forum/Palatine Hill/Colosseum (what are your thoughts on doing a tour under the Colosseum with kids? Too long? ) What's the church near this area where you can go down and see several "layers" of Rome building on top of itself?
Day 3 - Pantheon early morning then on to the Vatican Museums/St. Peters
Day 4 - Ostia in the morning/chilling in the afternoon in Rome
*** Day 3 is interchangeable depending on weather with Day 2 or 4. At the moment I'm going under the assumption that i don't need reservations in mid-late November for the sites we are visiting (the crowds haven't been bad in November before but feel free to comment and change my mind if need be). Ostia is not a priority, but i haven't seen it yet, but have heard great things about it and thought it may be interesting for the kids (since we won't go to Pompeii on this trip). Could change it out for something else if there are some really good suggestions.

Florence
Day 5 - Train in morning from Rome to Florence. Academia and Uffizi (Again, assuming i don't need reservations for either due to time of year, but feel free to provide additional insight). Possibly Duomo in late afternoon depending on how kiddos feel (will do Duomo either today or tomorrow)
Day 6 - Possibly Duomo in morning. Train to Pisa (gotta get the cheesy picture at the Leaning Tower) then depending on how kids feel take a train to Lucca a little while, then back to Florence.
**We would like to do a cooking class with the kids one late afternoon. Any suggestions on that in Florence (or even Rome) would be greatly appreciated.

Venice
Day 7 - Train from Florence to Venice (arrive around 10:00 am). My wife and I are not as big on Venice as many are, so we plan on spending the day strolling around, obviously will go to St. Marks area. Eat dinner, then get on Thello Train to Paris later that evening.

Paris (honestly still trying to figure out Paris)
Day 1 - Eiffel/Arc De Triomphe/Champs Elysee
Day 2 - Louvre/Notre Dame

Please give suggestions where you see fit. As you can see, at this point i have decided not to specifically reserve any dates/times for museums because i didn't have to do that before when i was in Italy in November... but that could've changed since i've been last so please update me. Would love to do a good family cooking class in the evening, so fire away with suggestions on that. And any other suggestions are greatly appreciated to help make this a great trip for the kids. Thanks in advance!

Posted by
1078 posts

You know your children, however, we have taken 3 grandsons' separately to Rome, Florence, and Pisa between the ages of 13 and 11; Museums(even the Vatican!) where too much for them after the first hour. The Forum(don't understand all these Rocks!- What did it really look like?) Highlights? St. Peter's, racing up the stairs ahead of us and getting to the Copula and using the rope to get to the top-the Underground tour of the colosseum, the park at the Brogese and racing the pedal carts, a day trip to Pompeii(about 2 hours) and the Pantheon with the "hole in the roof." Florence, the Duomo, and David and the bridge with all the shops, and Pizza. Pisa they all loved, along with the acoustics of the Baptistary. Never took any of them to Venice or Rome, however, are going to all of these places during Thanksgiving week so all of them will be jammed with Americans! If going to the Museums, make your reservations because everywhere will be packed. Finally, the "guys" designed there own trips, not us-make sure you have there in imput for a happy trip.

Posted by
5239 posts

If you're staying near the Pantheon why not visit it during the evening before dinner? I'd be surprised if anyone can stretch a visit beyond 30 minutes (I find it amazing and have visited it countless times but even I would struggle to stay beyond 30 minutes) more so with children. I would suggest that a gentle stroll around the immediate area of your hotel and the Pantheon before taking in a reasonably early dinner would be a good way of dealing with jetlag.

As for the Uffiz I would imagine your kids would find it quite boring, I know mine would (same ages). When I was there I don't think I saw one kid there that didn't have a glazed, bored look on their faces. I understand that it's one of the major attractions in Florence but it simply doesn't offer much in the way of interest for most kids.

My kids really enjoyed Villa Borghese but in mid November I suspect that its appeal will have waned considerably. They also really enjoyed the catacombs (who doesn't!).

My eldest enjoyed the Forum/Palatine Hill/Colosseum, my youngest didn't and this is the perennial problem with kids that have different interests. Both enjoyed eating however and they'll probably claim that it was the highlight of their visits to Italy.

Other than it not being a favourable time of year to visit I see little that I would change about your plans other than the addition of Paris. You don't mention if you've bought flights yet but if you haven't I would consider adding on those extra couple of days to Italy.

Posted by
129 posts

I would suggest taking them on the vaporetto from the train station down the Grand Canal and, budget permitting, on a gondola ride. An evening boat ride from the Pont Neuf in Paris would be fun. They could see the twinkling lights on the Eiffel Tower.
Personally, I would skip the cooking class and spend the time in the various markets.
Don't forget the Rialto fish market in Venice, kids usually love that.
Have a fun trip.

Posted by
1206 posts

I was at the Vatican Museums (Rome), and the Uffizi, and Accademia (Florence), in early January this year. There were still LOONNNGG lines at each, even though it is also not a "prime" time for tourists. You may want to do some more soliciting of other peoples' recent experiences at those museums and the advisability of pre-booking timed-entry tickets, even in mid-November. The crowds in the Vatican Museums can feel oppressive throughout the year (I've been there January, April, June, and November).... I'd not want to be in that crush as a 10-year-old. You may want to check into "early entry" tickets or tours, in order to beat some of the crowd. Also be SURE to pre-book your Eiffel Tower tickets, too. There have been some wonderful posts on this forum over the last several months by folks who took their kiddos to Venice, with reports of what their families enjoyed there. You might do a search in the "trip reports" section to uncover some ideas.

Posted by
129 posts

I agree with pre-booking. It seems no matter the time of year the lines are always bad.
If you have time, check out the major department store Christmas windows in Paris. They are amazing.

Posted by
6 posts

Thanks for all the replies so far. Good suggestions and I will keep each in mind as I finish our plans. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to reply! Keep them coming...

Posted by
2281 posts

hi rvensonsmith
you are planning a lot to do in a few days especially with kids. check out withlocals.com, they have kid friendly activities with kids free, a pizza making class in rome, florence has a family friendly tour. doing the "biggies" to get kids "feet wet" is from your point of view, like others have said distracted after 30 minutes. i think they are too young to be standing in long lines, crowds everywhere, it is "off season" as you say but it is thanksgiving week with plenty of people traveling from all over. we took a walk thru campo de fiori (open market with all kinds of different shops, bakery, meat market, free entertainment in plaza) on our way to trastevere and had lunch at carlo menta ristorante for pizza, pasta and tartufo dessert, we shared it. lots of walking, kids get tired and grumpy, taxis can be your best friend. leaving rome early on train, can you check in early to hotel, leave baggage or carry around till checkin time? possible family tour that day, train to pisa next day early. you are trying to cram in alot with kids and no time to sit and relax. next day to venice, strolling around with luggage or storing at train station among more crowds since you are not staying overnight. why a train that is 16 to 17 hours ride to paris is beyond me. you are losing time in transportation, uncomfortable to sleep, stop and go, security issues with belongings, to save a few bucks when there are 2hr flights under $100. check in hotel, maybe do eiffel tour this day, withlocals.com has the best of paris on unique ride, tuktukinparis.com with a 1hr tour for 80E, walk thru luxembourg gardens. don't know about how the weather will be, dress warm with comfy shoes. please stop at a cafe and relax, people watch, have a glass of wine, the kids have to compromise sometimes. sorry about the ups and downs about your trip but it's realistic with young kids, you guys will enjoy too. no grumpiness allowed.
aloha

Posted by
996 posts

Do your children have any specific interests? Science? History? Clothes? Video games? Sports? Food? Movies? Music? Dolls?

When we traveled with children, we always tried to tailor one thing per major area to their specific liking. It wasn't a perfect system, but things flowed more easily knowing that X was on the list of MUST DO things today...

Posted by
344 posts

Suggestions from our family's experience:

  1. Every kid I know 9 years old and older has loved the multi-media display, a recreation of a Roman palazzo/home with sound effects, and amazing visuals (projections on the walls). Makes all the ruins come to life. You must book an English tour ahead of time, it is extraordinarily popular. I actually think everyone visiting Rome would enjoy it (Note: Save extra time to find it. Although it is centrally located, it is tucked away a bit, an there is a specific time your tour/ticket starts and you wouldn't want to miss it).
    https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d2179620-Reviews-Le_Domus_Romane_di_Palazzo_Valentini-Rome_Province_of_Rome_Lazio.html (I would do it on your first full day instead of going to the Forum, and I would walk by the Colosseum to get the WOW effect but not go through the tour.)

  2. Pantheon is always popular, good idea. Just a few blocks away from the Pantheon is something called Torre Largo Argentina. Most people know it because it is the sight of Julius Caesar's assassination. My kids loved it because there are dozens of stray cats romping among the ruins (outdoors), rolling about in the sun, or cavorting. One of their fondest memories of Rome. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d246111-Reviews-Largo_di_Torre_Argentina-Rome_Province_of_Rome_Lazio.html

  3. Ostia Antica is a fun day trip, quick and easy train ride and then very short easy walk. Rick Steves has a free audio guide, download it. My kids LOVED being outdoors and able to run around with no crowds, after days sightseeing in Rome.

  4. I have 2 sort of nerdy kids in their early/mid teens, and although I took them to the Vatican/St. Peters, if I had to do it again, I would not. I did so because I felt they "should" see it, so that they could have "the experience of seeing it'. In reality, they didn't really care and were polite but bored. Even the displays of the Pope Mobiles in the Vatican weren't that interesting to them. Ditto with the Colosseum. Now that I've had that experience, I know that some day as adults they will go, will enjoy it, and will remember it. Yes, they can say they saw the Sistine Chapel but what they remember is the crowds....yet have much better memories of the Pantheon, the cats, and Gelatto.

  5. Even if they don't play right now, consider suggesting they download Pokemon Go---lots of fun in a new city, but you will likely need to have ground rules about when they can play and when they cannot or else they will be looking at their devices instead of at your Italian locations.

Enjoy your trip as a family! Schedule as much downtime as possible.

SuzieeQQ

Posted by
2281 posts

hi rvensonsmith
i think this a whirlwind trip, doing the "biggies" with young kids. they will be bored after half an hour, long lines to wait in, get grumpy and cranky. is this trip really for you or the kids? don't know how long ago you were in rome in november but lots of changes with cheap airfares. you are going during a busy time with thanksgiving week, along with lots of other travelers. what ever you plan you need to reserve ahead of time. look at withlocals.com that have kid friendly activities, even a cooking class offered to keep them occupied and happy, kids join for free. lots of walking, they will get tired. sitting on a train may be boring "are we there yet?", how long is attention span? your short time there, will they be jetlag next day with those plans you have, you need some down time every day. can you check into hotel early, if not will they hold luggage or will you be holding and pushing thru the city? in venice where are you leaving your bags since you won't have a hotel? lots of steps, stairs and bridges to cross, if kids are tired where do you take them, it will be a busy and crowded city. a night train to paris is not my cup of tea and don't understand, you are losing lots of valuable time. how many hours is that, 13-15 hours, sleeping arrangements, bumpy ride, noisy, uncomfortable. do you have a hotel in paris, how tired you'll be to see things when you get there and check in. don't count your arrival and departure days for playing tourist. check in check out, airport/hotel transportation, getting unpacked and packed up, breakfast, customs, immigration 3 hours before flight. you are not counting the times it takes to do everything especially with kids, walking, crowds. sorry to be a downer here but that's how travel is nowadays. go back look at your plans, sights and times. like you said a great trip for your kids.
aloha