To ask for advice about holiday in Italy next summer even though we haven’t had Xmas yet?

[Battyasfeck]

Wondering if any of you travel gurus have any insight or advice for me. Taking my 3 kids all girls (10 to 16) to Rome for just over one week next May or July tbc.

We want to see what Rome has to offer but we’d also like to sample 2 or 3 days staying close to a beach near Rome. Any ideas of where we could stay in both Rome and beachside please?

No demands although a breakfast included would be a bonus. Also wanting to do a day trip to Pompeii if that matters. Thank you hopefully in advance.

You may want to factor in the Jubilee - Rome will be really crowded

3-4 star types. Ideally no more than about 800-1000 for accommodation in total. (Food doesn’t have to be included).

Doesn’t have to be half term … (and before anyone moans at me, we aren’t UK based normally so schooling doesn’t follow the same calendar - we finish mid May).

A "day trip to Pompeii" from Rome is a big ask - it's not close to Rome and the site is massive, will be ultra-crowded in May and horribly so in July and very, very hot.

You'd do better to transfer from Rome to somewhere near Sorrento for the 'beach' part of your trip and do Pompeii from there, returning home from Naples airport.

There is a chain of resorts and beaches all along the coast not far from Rome. Ostia is kind of the centre. It's quite a lovely area, full of those beautiful umbrella pines. The beaches are not quite like we're used to in the UK- they're mostly private, paying beaches with bars and sun loungers etc. There are regular trains to Rome from Ostia, and some of the resorts along the coast.

We were considering Rome next year but have changed our plans due to the jubilee. It's expected to be a lot busier than usual and accommodation likely to be expensive and already booked.

The Rome area and the Pompeii/sorrento area deserve at least a week each, trying to combine the two is a lot of travel for not much benefit.

We took our dd to sorrento for a week when she was 10 (at easter so not too hot) and Rome when she was about 14 (October so again not too hot ... we dod watersports in summer so beach wasn't a priority). I think our enjoyment was enhanced by learning a bit about the places before we went. The archaeological site at Ostia is well worth a visit.

Thank you all… this is super helpful.

I'd skip Rome this time and go to Sorrento. It's beautiful, loads to do including a day trip to Pompeii (which is amazing). You can also go to Capri and along the Amalfi Coast which is all lovely.

Rome will be too hot and too busy. Have a long weekend there in Spring or Autumn instead.

If you go to Pompeii, pray for rain or cloud cover. When I went, it was like a fucking furnace. Take loads of water, sandwiches and sun umbrellas. I found it only mildly interesting. Very uneven ground if you have weak ankles.
Amalfi coast is utterly beautiful. Public buses are plentiful. Loads of private beaches charge an arm and a leg for a lounger though. If you go to Capri, avoid the ordeal of blue cave or whatever it is called, and do the full coastal path walk.

For beaches you could stay on Ischia and do a day trip to Pompeii from there. I would avoid Rome next year too because of the Jubilee. I really love Naples though it's not everyone's cup of tea. Sorrento / Amalfi are now definitely over-touristed and expensive.

Some fab ideas here. Starting more research today. Thank you.

If you are Rome based you could go to Ostia Antica instead of Pompeii and leave Pompeii for another time. It’s easy to get to by train and also not far from the coast.

Have you considered Lucca as alternative? Fly into Pisa, 45 min drive or take bus/train from the terminal. Once in Lucca, you have Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore, Forte di Marmi for beach options only 40 minutes away...