Next summer I am up for a 5 week sabbatical at my company, plus my 50th birthday and 20th wedding anniversary. My wife is set on returning to Italy, where we went on our honeymoon. Unfortunately we have to go in the summer based on our kids (10 and 8) school and activities schedule. I know late July and August are terrible times with heat, crowds, and city closures. Any suggestions?
Also, we want to tack on a week or so in Croatia.
Posted by
California USA
4061 posts
I would looking at at least 1 at 2 different agriturismos that have pools. This would be great for your children and give you an atmospheric place to relax and unwind.
Posted by
4836 posts
My first step would be to decide if I wanted to embrace the season and stay somewhere coastal, or escape and go up into the mountains in the north or interior. Part of this is determining what sites, if any, are a priority.
The rest is simply logictics--deciding when to insert Croatia (options are driving if you will have a rental anyway and will be in the north), or two long ferries from Ancona or Bari, or a short ferry from Venice if you are in the north and want to visit Istria.
lucky you--enjoy!
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for the feedback. I think we would favor embracing the coastal life from the options you describe. We love the ocean and I understand to be much cooler. The Cinque Terra is one of my absolute favorite places I have ever been, but understand crowds have become a problem since I was last there 20 years ago. Would love to find a similar, lesser known coastal area. My wife wants to see the Amalfi Coast, but again fear the level of crowds. While I love the coastal areas, it feels like I would have to take the kids to Rome, Venice, and Tuscany at some point. They are all so amazing. I'm OK skipping Florence given their age.
Posted by
4836 posts
I'd steer clear of Cinque Terre, but there are other pretty places on the riviera. Start searching accommodations very early (like now would not be too early). I felt like you could escape the crowds on the Amalfi coast more easily than in Cinque Terre. The sandy beaches of Maiori/Minori might be easier with kids, as well as less expensive for accommodations.
If I was going in August, I would at least want to be surrounded by Italians and not Americans. Save the big deal history stuff for when they are older, and just do fun things.
Puglia has some kid-friendly stuff in its favor, and the ferry to Croatia might be a fun experience. Outside Rome and in southern Tuscany there are some cool Etruscan sites--start thinking what the kids would find compelling and work from there. The utterly wonderful thing about Italy is there you can't throw a rock and not find something interesting, but you will be better off if you choose what you find uniquely interesting rather than the most famous stuff in high season.
Posted by
Los Angeles
972 posts
My sister has taken her family to Tuscany for years. Her kids started going as infants and now range from age 5-13. The thing she likes is the location. Lots of little towns to explore but also 20 minutes to Siena and 45 to Florence. Then, easy train to Rome or Pisa or Venice. Just a thought.
We are also looking for a place to go to for 4-6 weeks but are looking at France and England. It's so difficult to decide, isn't it?
Posted by
State of Washington, USA
267 posts
My wife and I just returned from a 3 week August to early September trip to Italy. It was wonderful. There were crowds, but I had bought most tickets in advance for attractions and trains, so it was barely an issue. Stayed Sicily (east coast), Sorrento (visited Amalfi Coast, Pompei, Naples), Rome, Orvieto, near Montepulciano, Siena, Cinque Terre, and Milan.
Two years ago we visited Croatia, and I posted a trip report in the forum. Late Aug. Started in Dubrovnick, then rented a car and drove to Split, then Plitvice Park, and finally Rovinj. Was wonderful - though Dubrovnik was terribly crowded.
Posted by
Oakland, CA
124 posts
I have stayed at this villa in Umbria (on the border with Tuscany) twice now and will be back soon. It has a pool and is conveniently located near Siena, Assisi, Cortona, Montepulciano and other beautiful hill towns. I have no financial interest in this property, I just love it and the owners are very nice and responsive. Stay here for a week, maybe head to the Adriatic coast and then over to Croatia. Sounds like a wonderful trip.
DD