Our kids are almost 5 and 2. We are planning a trip to Rome, Venice and maybe Florence. The only easy time for us to go is January. The kid related posts I've seen so far have been people traveling with older kids and often at a warmer time of the year. I'm feeling nervous. We are also traveling with my 70 year old mum. Is it worth wringing ourselves out a bit to go over in April or August instead? Would really appreciate advice as it's a long way to go for a whole lotta dampness and trouble at mill.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I would skip January and go in April,, you do realize it can even snow in January,, not nice snow,,the cold sleety kind,, and the days shorter, and since part of keeping kids happy at that age is visiting parks and playgrounds you have to know that would be pleasanter in spring. For adults only we can happily sit in cafes while bad weather passes,, or spend hours inside museums,, but you will have two young kids who will need downtime . Your moms not old,, so unless she has some particular health concerns she will need no other consideration,, but I am thinking cold wet weather won't be any more fun for her then it will be for you !
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
What Pat said. When traveling with kids, having outdoor time and space is key. Bobbie
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34143 posts
Don't have kids, and not far from 70 ourselves, so take this for what it is. I'd eliminate August in Venice, or Rome, or Florence if I had a choice. Just too hot and busy. Ok, agree with Pat about April. But I'm not sure I completely agree about January. I haven't been to any of them in January but I have in February. I don't have a clue where AKLD is so can't compare, but I live in middle of England and almost every January or February I take a week or so and go to the Med. Usually Monaco or other places on the French Riviera, and/or northern Italy. I know about the high water from time to time in Venice, and the windy rainy stuff, but coming from the freeze up dark skies of England we relish it. More predictable spring weather in April, but I wouldn't rule out January, especially in Rome and Florence. Myself, me, I'd even go to the wonderful, fantastic, unforgettable Venice.
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
On average Venice in Jan is high in mid 40s with little precip. April gets much more rain but it is warmer. Here is the annual chart You can plug in Auckland and compare. http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=LIPZ&SafeCityName=Venice&StateCode=&Units=none&IATA=WUI
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
Hi Evie,
You know, I'd really push for the April vs. January (or August). I just returned from Italy this spring (May-June) with my daughter, who is a toddler, and you'll have a much better time, I think, in April. August is stifling (not A/C everywhere in Italy) and January is cold, wet, and dark. Tough combo for toddlers. Watching my daughter run around in the parks of Venice and Rome (few, but they're there) and the fields of Tuscany was definitely a highlight for me. After all, you can only spend so much time in cafes and museums with kids, and the longer days give you that much more outdoor time available for frolicking. I definitely think it's worth "wringing yourselves out" and do April.
Posted by
Westwood, KS, USA
15 posts
My wife and I traveled in September with our two children, 1 and 4. My parents went as well. The kids certainly fared best when they could be outside. Piazza's were fun places to play, seemingly every town had a nice playground, dining outside worked well, strolling was comfortable in the evening, even swimming in the ocean and pools were highlights for the 4-year old. Conversely places like museums and churches where you hope your children will be somewhat quiet and hold still didn't work as well for the young children. It would have been really difficult for us to not have had a place for the kids to run around and be loud occasionally. My recollection from my time there in college was that the winter months were pretty chilly and damp. When April rolled around it was like a switch went off, the clouds lifted, and every day was sunny and perfect. All that said, we found our Italian hosts everywhere to be extremely warm and accommodating toward our family. I'm sure that hospitality applies year round.