We are planning a trip June 2012 and need help figuring out the right "spots" to take our 3 college age kids. My husband and I have traveled to Italy before without kids- thinking a trip to Florence and Venice a good start. We have 10-14 days tops so want to make the most of it. Ideas and suggestions? They like museums but don't want to spend the whole trip in them. :) With a group of 5 we need suggestions of places to stay as well. I really appreciate any tips as it's a big trip for our family- and 2 of our kids have never been to Europe before. We are not set on Venice but thought it would be interesting to them- welcome your thoughts and thanks so much!
Posted by
Atlanta
800 posts
My older teens/young adults have liked: Rome - very exciting city, very cosmopolitan - personally I like it better than Florence but that's just me Venice - They have ALL said Venice is their favorite place - we only stayed 2 nights but it was a definite highlight and one has since returned with her friends who all thought it great too. When we took our older & younger kids (6 in our party total) we stayed a week in an agriturismo about 1/2 hour from Florence. This gave us a place to stay where we could stretch out a bit & relax. It was also great to use as a base to see Florence, Siena, Assisi, Chianti region (do wine tasting with your kids!), as well as some smaller towns. It also allowed for a different feel than staying in hotels all the time. They loved playing frisbee on the lawn next to the fields of grapes, olives & sunflowers! If you decide not to go to Rome and want to stay in the North, we also really liked the Dolomite region and it was very different from the rest of our trip. But another place that I hear great things about and think would be great for your whole group is Bologna. I haven't been myself but I'd really like to go.
Posted by
Houston, Texas, USA
4 posts
Janelle: My husband and I and 16 year old and 21 year old spending 12 days in Italy in 2 weeks for our 25th wedding anniversary - we are spending 2 nights in Rome - doing the angels and demons tour, vatican, scavi tour and rome at night tour and then rented a house in tuscany for a week - will do day trips to beach, pisa, florence and general tuscany hill trips - house has pool and everyone has own bedroom and bathroom - so they can sleep in a day or two and relax - then 2 days in Venice and we head home. We did the private guided tours so they see and do the "got to see" stuff and leaves the balance of time to just be together and adventure. We just find hotels painful these days - so the house i think works better from a cost and relaxation standpoint - we got an apartment in Rome and then for our exit i did breakdown and got a hotel in venice for the final 2 nights and head home. Will check in with you when we get back...
Posted by
Wiesbaden, Germany
791 posts
Cinque Terra, more specifically Vernazza. In the summer it's a haven for college aged kids (and their parents alike). They will love the Blue Marlin Bar. Trust me on this one.
Posted by
Clifton Park, ny, usa
109 posts
We just returned a couple of days ago from our kids 6th family trip to Italy. they are now 17 and 23. i would suggest part of your stay at an agriturismo in a well located area from which you can take day trips. A pool is a must for us. I would recommend Rome also. My kids spent a weekend with my niece who is 21 and working in rome for the summer. They went to Trastevere in the evening and had a ball meeting up with other young people for some night life. I would recommend an apt when you are in a city.
Also, get your kids' input and try to make sure that everyone gets to pick one thing that is important to them.
Posted by
Clifton Park, ny, usa
109 posts
We just returned a couple of days ago from our kids 6th family trip to Italy. they are now 17 and 23. i would suggest part of your stay at an agriturismo in a well located area from which you can take day trips. A pool is a must for us. I would recommend Rome also. My kids spent a weekend with my niece who is 21 and working in rome for the summer. They went to Trastevere in the evening and had a ball meeting up with other young people for some night life. I would recommend an apt when you are in a city.
Also, get your kids' input and try to make sure that everyone gets to pick one thing that is important to them.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10681 posts
I also suggest you stay in apartments or at a villa/agriturismo if you stay in the countryside. If you only have 10-14 days (does that include your travel days?) you do not have all that much time. Do they like to hike? You might consider Venice, Florence and the Cinque Terre.
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
Janelle I second Trastevere in Rome which my 21 year old enjoyed. Consider adventure type activities. From Florence there are day bike trips to wine country. Probably from other smaller Tuscany towns as well. Fun and active and good way to meet other people. Be sure to "get lost" on the back streets of Venice. Try the chichetti (small plates) in the Venice bars. What a great family vacation. The longer the trip the better. Like your other ideas as well.
Posted by
Marin, CA
532 posts
You don't mention if they're girls or boys. Our girls are now 23 and 29, the older having lived and studied in Florence, and we've brought them over seven times. We do better in the countryside during the day but the evenings in the cities are fun. Rome, Santa Margherita and Sorrento are favorites. As it's their first visit of course they should see Florence which swarms with students and Venice.