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Original poster

Italy trip planning

10 replies

Imtootired · 27/02/2020 14:24

I’m dreaming of a trip to Italy. It will be a year or two before I go and budget will be reasonably tight. It will be either just me and my two kids now 10 and baby or possibly also a female friend. I went around two years ago with my older son and we loved it. We’re going from Australia so flights are fairly expensive and I’m thinking of going before my baby turns two so we can share seats and don’t have to buy three tickets. We fell in love with Rome and there’s so much to do there so will definitely go back. I’d want at least five nights there. The last time we visited friends in a little medieval hilltop town outside Rome and it was so beautiful looking out over the valleys and so peaceful. I was thinking after our time in Rome it would be great to stay somewhere like that in a very small town or village with just a few shops and restaurants/bars and relax and do a few walks and some reading. I don’t think I would be confident driving in Italy and with the little one would need a car seat. I’m not sure exactly where would be good to go. Looks like there are lots of beautiful towns like that in Lazio and Umbria. Fairly close to a train station would be ideal. My older son is quite helpful so I’m sure we could manage a bit of a walk. The main lesson I’ve taken from the first trip is to pack very light! After that I’d love to go to Bologna as I’ve never been but would love to visit for the history and the food. Then maybe stay somewhere in Tuscany. We stayed in Florence last time and it was great but I don’t especially feel the need to stay there again. Maybe another town like Fiesoli and do a few day trips into Florence for the Ufizzi and the churches and day trips into surrounding towns. I would love to see the South of Italy but the places I’m really keen to see are all around that central region so it might be better to stick to that. Does anyone have any ideas about nice places to stay or things to see? I also plan to see Assisi. I think it may be quite difficult getting around with a baby or toddler as there are so many steps! I will have to bring a pram and a baby carrier such as ergo baby. Also can people let me know if it would be easier to go when my baby is around one or closer to two? I think it will be more fun when he’s a toddler and almost two so he can appreciate it’s different from home and eat pizza and gelato with us but probably also more difficult with him running around

OP posts:
Original poster
Imtootired · 27/02/2020 14:26

Sorry that’s so long, I should have at least made paragraphs Shock tl;dr I want to go to Italy with my baby and 10 year old. Which places should I go in central Italy, what age should I take my baby and am I completely crazy?

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/02/2020 14:30

Volterra, Artimino, Montepulciano. You'd need a car though.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 27/02/2020 14:33

I love Italy and go 4 times a year. I think you should be much more realistic about what works for small children. There is nothing in it for them in the big cultural cities. You need to have minimum hassle. Aim for a small seaside resort or a self catering villa near a small town. This might not be quite the one for you but look at Sperlonga in Lazio. A One and a half train ride from Rome or Naples. Travelling with little ones is a challenge but my 10 grandchildren love it

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NoMorePoliticsPlease · 27/02/2020 14:34

You could manage without a car

Melassa · 27/02/2020 15:02

How old is baby now? One might be a pain as not necessarily walking so pushchairs everywhere, the same with 2. It might be better with a small baby, more portable. At 2 they will not remember much anyway. Otherwise, if you can wait that long, 4 is probably a good age.

Totally doable by the way, although Umbria is not blessed with many train stations. Other places to visit in Umbria, other that Assisi, are Orvieto and lago Trasimeno, Perugia, Terni, Gubbio, Città di Castello. I would hire a car though, there are busses but not very frequent between places.

Ditto for Tuscany, the main places like Florence, Arezzo, Siena etc. are quite well connected but for more freedom I would go with a car. Also you should take in the coastal regions with great beaches and lots of historic sites.

KittenVsBox · 27/02/2020 15:11

Do NOT attempt Aus-Europe with a very nearly 2 year old on your knee.
So, go with him teeny tiny, or wait until you are nappy /pushchair/cot free and can travel reasonably light.
Most of Italy is fabulous.

NomadNoMore · 27/02/2020 21:12

Lucca.....not hilltop but lovely walks around the city walls and amazing food.

DangerousMouse · 27/02/2020 21:17

check out Norcenni Girasole Camp, we stayed there last year an it was a perfect base for day trips to Florence, Sienna, and we did a few more, they have a coach so no need to drive and the site has really good pools, activities and restaurants on site, your eldest would love it.

JMAngel1 · 27/02/2020 21:43

I thought this was going to be a coronavirus thread.

alphajuliet123 · 27/02/2020 21:55

The intercity trains in Italy are excellent - clean, fast, punctual and cheap - or at least the ones I used were! For example Naples to Rome took about 2 hours and £20 ($40 AUD) and was a beautiful journey.

Bear in mind international flights around Europe can be dirt cheap, so if there are any other countries or sites you want to see you might manage to get a bargain short flight. Our UK to Italy flight cost £22 per person.

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