1 Week in Italy - travel suggestions

[TerryBoyz]

Planning a family trip 1st week in July. Flying into Rome and the only box to tick is visiting Calabria because that’s where my family is from.
Any advice on:
Train, plane or rental car.
Family of 5, parents and high school kids so any advice on hotels, air Bnb.
I know it’s less than a month away and 8 days isn’t a lot of time.
Been wanting to go all of my life so a shorter trip is better than nothing.
Grazie!

 

[storrsroars]

Planning a family trip 1st week in July. Flying into Rome and the only box to tick is visiting Calabria because that’s where my family is from.
Any advice on:
Train, plane or rental car.
Family of 5, parents and high school kids so any advice on hotels, air Bnb.
I know it’s less than a month away and 8 days isn’t a lot of time.
Been wanting to go all of my life so a shorter trip is better than nothing.
Grazie!

As it's your first time, I'd probably opt for hotel in Rome over AirBNB as someone else cleans up for you daily. I don't have any specific recommendations because in Rome we've always had access to an apartment. It's just easier to deal with. Can't offer advice about Calabria, but maybe an AirBNB is a better choice there.

You won't need (or want) a car in Rome. While trains are good, driving to Calabria is a couple hours quicker and you can stop when you want.

I hope the kids appreciate good food. You're not gonna find chicken tenders or ramen. Start the day with a cappuccino at a cafe, eat well, drink plenty of wine (the house wine anywhere is cheap and good and somehow doesn't get you wasted) and explore all the flavors of gelato possible. At least one night just hang out at a table in Piazza Novana and watch the street performers and relax.

Kids will probably get museumed out quickly so make any of those visits count. I think Vatican should be #1. I don't know if I'd add any more art after that. Colosseum is good, get a good guide - TripAdvisor can help there. Just don't grab lunch around there. Compared to the rest of Rome, food sucks around there. There's a decent trolley system you should get familiar with that will get you many places.

Also, while in Rome, tell the women to watch their purses/backpacks - or don't bring them. Rome isn't crime ridden, but there are plenty of opportunists who excel at distraction while their partner takes your stuff, especially near major sightseeing areas.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[Fishy]

Go to Epcot.

Cleaner. Fewer pickpockets and no one will run you over on a sidewalk trying to park their Fiat Panda.

 

[Jasper Husky]

We visited Italy about 10 years ago and, of course, had a great time.

We planned our own trip. In short, arrived and spent time in Rome, then rented a car and drove to Tuscany for a couple of days, then drove to Florence. Finally, took train to Venice for a few days and flew home from there.

We found Rick Steve's guide to be helpful in all locations for tourist shortcuts and places to eat.
Also, using Hotwire, we lucked out and got a couple of great deals on hotels in Florence and Venice (right on the Grand Canal not far from the train station.

Rome - We stayed in, I believe, Sleep in Italy in an apartment near the Spanish steps. Did all t he sights.
Tuscany - A little complicated to get out of Rome without google maps back then but got to Tuscany and stayed at an Agriturismo estate and visited a number of walled cities, including Sienna.
Florence - Drove and dropped off the car and spent time there and again did the tourist sights.
Venice - Did all the tourist spots, including taking a boat to the 3 islands: "Burano, Murano, and Torcello. Burano is known for its colorful houses and lace-making. Murano is famous for its glass-making industry, with many glassworks factories on the island. Torcello is an island with ancient buildings and cathedrals, and was one of the first populated islands in the lagoon"

As a general comment, we usually use the hop on and off tours in cities to get and overview.

So many great places to visit in Italy so, wherever you decide to go, it will be worth it.

Enjoy.

 

[Lafayette]

Went to Rome, Naples, and Sorrento a year ago Summer so similar time.

Fly to Rome - trains run on time but you might be able to rent a car for ~same price (car rentals are adjacent to train depot in Rome).

In Rome we also stayed adjacent to Spanish Steps / Colliseam and made those trips easy as well as the Vatican if that's your thing. It was really hot when we were there and most apt don't have great AC like in the US btw.

Naples - skip - they are going thru some hard economic times there and could last awhile.

While we didn't get to Florence, that is a bucket list place - it's like art was invented there.

Your most common stops anywhere will be for gelato at night, and cappucino/espesso in the AM - note that Italians typically don't take their coffee to go - you drink it there same as you would alcohol at a bar and be pleasant with others, then leave the cup and head out.

 

[cullaville]

An easy half hour train trip from Rome is Ostia. Very interesting archaeological site. We haven't been to Pompei but a lot of people enjoy this because there is a lot to see and is less crowded.

A nice way to get out of the hustle and bustle of Rome for a while.

The catacombs is also interesting and depending on your children ages they would likely enjoy/