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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Am I mad to consider Rome in July with kids?

59 replies

KristinAmandaThomas · 29/10/2021 20:48

Looking to book a holiday for 2022 and would love to go to Italy. I’ve never been and my ideal is a few days in Rome then down to Amalfi Coast for a week. But in school summer hols this is almost insane amounts of money and I’m also a bit worried about it being horribly crowded and hot. Any advice? Will we enjoy it? DC will be 14 and 11 if that makes a difference.

And massive long shot, can anyone suggest an alternative holiday with a budget of up to £8k that combines a mix of pool/beach lounging with ability to see/do some amazing sights?

OP posts:
ramonaquimby · 29/10/2021 22:10

We went October half term a few years ago. Weather was perfect - shorts and dresses and sandals for all of us. Didn’t notice any mosquitoes. Wasn’t v crowded

whitehorsesdonotlie · 29/10/2021 22:16

Sorry, missed your dc's ages. I'd still go in Easter when temps are better.

TwigTheWonderKid · 29/10/2021 22:17

Have a long weekend in Rome at Easter or February half term and then a week in Sorrento in May half term when the weather will be perfect and mosquito free.

Cheermonger · 29/10/2021 22:22

I think our apartment in Naples was particularly bad for mozzies but I was eaten alive. Just me tho ough. Rome was ok I think. It’s bloody amazing, I’d go again in a heartbeat at that time of the year

JayAlfredPrufrock · 29/10/2021 22:23

£8k? Kin ell.

I adored Rome. But went in October.

senua · 29/10/2021 22:24

It obviously depends on the person. We did Rome in August and I couldn't see why people moaned about the heat.
Perhaps we were lucky that year but it was fine. Rome is very civilised with lots of drinking fountains.

Atalune · 29/10/2021 22:26

It’s very hot and very busy

If you don’t mind that then go. Otherwise it’s hard work.

FoxandFeathers · 29/10/2021 22:27

We still talk about our trip to Rome one July …. Eurocamp type accommodation. We only left it late one evening to see the sights when it was slightly cooler. The rest of the time I was in the pool like a beached whale with the children, my husband was in the chalet with the air con on.!

shorttwoshot · 29/10/2021 22:27

I went in August a couple of years ago when mine were aged 8 and 5. It was unbelievably hot as many have said, particularly in the Coliseum but we all loved it x

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 29/10/2021 22:27

We did it a couple of years ago. Yes, it was really hot, but we pre-booked to Coliseum etc. and got private guides. Stuck to mornings or evenings for sightseeing as far as possible. After Rome we got the train to Naples and then went on to Ischia. Day trip to Pompeii which was pretty cool. DC were really into Roman stuff at the time and loved it.

TuftyMarmoset · 29/10/2021 22:29

I agree Easter might be a better time. I went in June and it was too hot really, especially at Pompeii as there is no shade.

yikesanotherbooboo · 29/10/2021 22:37

Rome is fantastic and not particularly busy in August when a lot of the residents are away. Go at the end of your holiday when you will have acclimatised to the weather.

Chakraleaf · 29/10/2021 22:50

I went in September and was told even the Romans hate the summer months. It was too hot in September and no escape as all streets so dusty and enclosed.

Original poster
KristinAmandaThomas · 29/10/2021 23:11

Oh man, you lot are pretty much split down the line on whether it’s madness or totally fine. Really appreciate all the tips and thoughts though.

And to the poster who mentioned the budget, we’ve never spent this kind of money on a holiday before, it’s to celebrate a few special things and that’s why I really want to make sure we enjoy it. If I spent so much and we hated it I’ll be gutted. I’m not very well traveled so a bit clueless really which is why your opinions are so valuable

OP posts:
Drumshambo · 30/10/2021 08:01

To echo what some others have said, do Rome separately. I wouldn't go in July. Fat too hot and crowded. We went in late April and it was hot then. Also imo, The Almafli coast is a very grown up adult holiday with great food and cocktail sipping. I wouldn't take kids. What about lake garda?

senua · 30/10/2021 08:04

And to the poster who mentioned the budget, we’ve never spent this kind of money on a holiday before, it’s to celebrate a few special things and that’s why I really want to make sure we enjoy it. If I spent so much and we hated it I’ll be gutted
I have never been on an Italian holiday that I didn't enjoy.
What about Chiantishire Tuscany instead: Florence, Siena, Pisa (town is not impressive but you have to see the tower), Lucca, Arezzo, Montecatini Terme, the Cinque Terre, Perugia (the underground city is like a Dr Who filmset!).
Get your timing right and you might see a palio.

rookiemere · 30/10/2021 08:16

We did a split Sorrento/Rome trip, but in October. We were lucky with the weather and it was low twenties in Rome, wouldn't have fancied walking around sight seeing in much higher temperatures than that.

Sorrento was a good base, but a lot tackier than I had thought it would be - more like a downmarket med resort unless you could afford the hotels right on the seafront.

We've also been to Tuscany in July and again far too hot for visiting places. We shared a villa with other families and basically DCs were unable to use the pool from about 11-4 as it was just too baking.

zafferana · 30/10/2021 08:50

Well I wouldn't, because my family a) don't like it really hot (and it WILL be REALLY hot), and b) my DC hate museums. We went to Rome for a long weekend in the Feb half-term and had a brilliant time. It's quiet at that time of year, so minimal queuing (there's always a bit for the Colosseum and St Peter's), and it was sunny and bright, but not hot. We were able to sit at pavement cafes in coats, walk the streets without crowds and of course all the restaurants and ice cream shops were open, so we had a lovely time. Rome is a city for wandering and IMO wandering is fucking miserable in 40 degrees.

zafferana · 30/10/2021 08:51

Oh and obviously no mozzies in Feb either! Yes, Italy can be dreadful for mosquitos - I've been eaten alive there in summer.

hopeishere · 30/10/2021 08:54

We did as the start of a cruise. It was so hot. Like scorchio. We did an evening tour of the Vatican which was ok. But two nights was plenty. Kids were younger than yours DS1 liked bits of it but DS2 has SN and struggled with the heat. He sat down at the Colosseum and refused to move!! We got a lot of taxis to help so we were not trudging along in the heat.

I also got bitten really badly by mosquitoes!!

whiteroseredrose · 30/10/2021 08:55

Actually someone mentioned Lake Garda. I've not been but friends went there with DC about the same age as yours and had an amazing time. The best holiday ever apparently. Being more Northern and in the mountains it isn't as hot.

They stayed in a Eurocamp or similar so it didn't cost the Earth - although obviously there are other options. They had boat trips, canoed on the lake and I'm fairly sure they went to Verona and possibly Venice.

PenguinLove1 · 30/10/2021 08:59

As a couple Of others have mentioned, definitely do a Mediterranean Cruise! Ive taken my son on loads at similar ages to your kids and he loved it! Means you get the best of both worlds - same bed every night, great pools, entertainment and food, but somewhere different to explore most days. We have sene Rome, Pisa, Monaco, Barcelona, Gibraltar and many other good places by cruising. Marella (TUI) ones are good for being all inclusive, royal Caribbean are great for kids. Im going next year to do Mykonos, Santorini etc and cant wait!

hopeishere · 30/10/2021 09:10

@PenguinLove1 we were hugely excited with the pool on the cruise!! RC and it was tiny and bunged! Kids only used it once which is just not like them!!

hopeishere · 30/10/2021 09:11

Hugely disappointed not hugely excited!!

senua · 30/10/2021 09:33

We went to the Garda region. It was years ago so the information might be out of date.

Garda is in the north of Italy (which why people are recommending it - not so hot) which is within easy distance of Germany, Switzerland etc. Everything is accordingly more expensive. Your budget-of-a-lifetime won't go as far.
Also, it's no so easy to get around because there are mountains and (would you believeWink) lakes in the way. You could day-trip to Venice, though.

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