Am I mad to consider Rome in July with kids?

[KristinAmandaThomas]

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?

Re: mozzies I know it sounds mad but I used to be a martyr for their bites. As soon as I got the copper coil in, all my holidays (including Rome in July) were bite-free.
I've read before that mosquitos don't like too much copper in blood. Might be worth asking your Dr about safe levels of copper supplements to take, or eating copper rich foods before you go.

Rome is incredible though! So is Pompeii and especially Herculaenum. Enjoy.

I went I November and it rained. Not my favourite city and I won't return.

Go at Easter, May or October half-term - those are all lovely times to be in Rome. I used to live in Italy and adapted to the heat by getting up super-early and doing anything active then - but I suspect that would not with meet the approval of an 11 and 14 year old 😉

If I had £8k to spend on a one-off holiday with my teenagers I wouldn't take them to Rome.

I went (left kids at home) in late August and it was 44 degrees on 2 of the days we were there. LOTS of incredible history but commented to dp that the kids would moan about looking at yet another pile of old rocks. Vatican was interesting but again, yet another room of old paintings/statues with disguised willies.

Food was average price for a big city, with kids it would have been expensive.

For £8k and a city break with teens I'd look at New York with a week somewhere on the east coast to unwind afterwards. Sooooo much more to keep them entertained, PLENTY of film locations and famous sights, incredible views from high buildings (much better than rocks from well, not very high up).

Be aware that the Amalfi coast is super-expensive, particularly taxis as they are all controlled by a cartel. There are many other bits of the Italian coast line that are just as lovely and much cheaper. If you go further north, it's easier to move around, as well, because the distances between the northern cities are less, and they are well-connected by train and road. Italy has an excellent train system.

If you have to go in the summer, good options could be:

Stay on the coast just east of Genoa. Nice beaches and day trips to Genoa and Milan. Florence is a bit far for a day trip, but you could do it as you arrive or leave - spend a couple of nights there then fly out of Pisa.

As above but stay on one of the lakes.

Stay on the east coast, near Bologna. Day trips to Bologna, Ravenna and Venice - or maybe stay 1-2 nights in Venice - if you stay on the mainland, it's much cheaper. I know people bang on about it being smelly in summer, but I have been there many times in July and August and it's still lovely, albeit crowded.

Stay in Trieste. Day trips to Venice, Slovenia, and Croatia. You can reach 3 countries in half an hour.

I'd say yes as we did it in July & it was way too hot in the city though fabulous by the sea I was pregnant, which didn't help & the Vatican staff couldn't have been less understanding when I almost passed out & needed to sit down before I fell down. I actually had a gun pointed at me & told to get up 😏 thankfully this was spotted by a lovely helpful nun, but I was gobsmacked when I was obviously pregnant

Don't do it, I went for a long weekend with DH pre-dc and hated every minute.

I found it a very unfriendly place, busy, far too hot with no wind and very very expensive.

If you want culture as well as a beach I would suggest Cuba, Antigua, Spain or France

@RockinHorseShit that’s terrible! I thought given how family oriented Italians are they’d have been very accommodating of a pregnant woman.

I’m so glad I posted this because you’ve all made me realise this probably isn’t going to be the best holiday for summer. Thanks so much for the alternative suggestions, whoever said Trieste and the proximity to Slovenia/Croatia that’s a really interesting suggestion. Also will look again at France. But most likely I think we’ll stick to Italy but in May or October and possibly skip Amalfi until it’s just me & DH and I can fully unleash my inner Bond girl

Also will look again at France
Noooooooooooooooo
I put my foot down and refused to go to France ever again. It shuts down during the holiday season. It's bonkers! There's lovely cake to eat and wine to drink but most everything is SHUT.