Hi all: Thanks to everyone who has answered my questions before! We are planning a week or so in Italy next summer (after a few days in Munich and a 7 night cruise). We will have boys 9 and 11 with us. Do you think this will work? Sat - fly to Rome from Barcelona, arriving early afternoon Sun - Rome Mon - Rome Tues - train to Lucca, hang out, ride bikes Wed - bus to Pisa, see sites, dinner back in Lucca Thurs - train to Venice, arrive early afternoon Fri - Venice Sat - Venice Sun - fly home I wanted to leave Monday and give Rome an extra day, but DH can't. I know 2 days in Rome isn't a lot, but I didn't really love it last time (at end of trip, I think I was tired). Going to give it another try. We only care about Colosseum and Vatican this trip. I could skip Pisa (it's a cruise stop, we could do Tower then, but on the cruise I really want to see the Cinque Terre instead). And I think the boys will dig the walled city. So I like this plan better. We are 3 nights, 2 nights, 3 nights. What do you think? Thanks!
Kim :)
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
It's a little rushed for me, especially after a cruise where you'll be doing a lot of shore excursions. Personally, I would either cut out Rome or Lucca. I think you're going to be very tired as you near the end of the trip and changing locations 3 times in 8 nights is a lot, especially with young kids. Donna
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Since you did not love Rome the last time I would skip it entirely this trip and opt for some new places that you might love. Just because some other love Rome, does not mean you have to, or that you 'missed' something. I have now been 4 times (because of others, or flights) and I really don't love it and had no need to go back after the first trip. I enjoyed seeing it, but there are other places in Italy that I long for when I think of returning... and for me, it is the countryside and the villages...not big cities. My grandson who was 9 when I took him did love Rome but he also loved Pisa... as a matter of fact he loved everything we did:) If your kids really want to go to Rome, then maybe you will enjoy it seeing it through their eyes...
Just a sidenote for kids that age... whenever I take one of the grandkids to Europe I make a travel journal/trip log for them and I insist they fill out at least 1 page each day (favorite memory, best food, impressions of places visited, etc.) I also bring art items and one of my favorite images is a photo of grandson sketching the Leaning Tower. It will change them forever.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23787 posts
Personally think your schedule looks fine. At best, Pisa is only good for a couple of hours. This is a pattern (traveling for a week after a cruise) that we often do. We find that after getting off a cruise ship that we are well rested and can go at a little fast pace than normal.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2240 posts
I think your schedule sounds good. And here's another possible stop in Rome that your boys might enjoy (my son would have loved this at their age). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_Crypt
Posted by
east haven, ct
365 posts
Kim, I agree Pisa is just a day trip. There are many other things to do in Rome. The CQ is ok just for two days in my opinion. Not a lot to do. Hiking and more hiking. Each town is the same. Lucca is a beautiful city but also not for children. Not unless you want them to just relax they will be bored. Also is is very small and isolated. Maybe you can find a place to stay near Lucca outside of the town with a pool for the children. You have a lot of moving around especially with kids. My best advise, you may not like it but, leave them home and when you return take them camping or to Disney.
Have fun. Lorie
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
907 posts
If you don't like Lucca, or have seen it all, jump a train to 5 Terre. I liked Pisa but 2 hours is plenty.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco
1014 posts
Thanks for the opinions! I am kind of torn... I know for sure we need Pisa, but we can do a trip from the cruise for that (but then I miss Cinque Terre). The boys are really interested in Rome, and we are Catholic so I think there is value for them in going to the Vatican. I am hoping I will like it better through their eyes. :) I do want to see that Crypt too! Cool! I really want to go to Venice. We could technically do Rome from the boat too, and then go somewhere else completely after the cruise. But... that would just be seeing the super highlights. Which may be ok at this stage... If we skip that middle stop, then we have 4 nights in Rome and 4 in Venice... I think that is too many in Venice. I don't want to stop for just one night in Pisa I don't think.... Hmmm... decisions, decisions! I think the boys are ready to travel to Europe. We do a lot of travel here in the US. And we do a lot of camping and Disney already, so I think we are looking for the next step. :) That is partially why I am building the cruise into it, because we have done it before (but not to Europe), I know they like it, it will be familiar to them. That will sort of give us a chance to try out a RS style Europe trip without being locked into 3 weeks of it, in case it doesn't go well. ;) But I am pretty optimistic about it, taking it slow and easy! So now I need to decide!! Thanks!
Kim