Long weekend in Rome coming up - advice please!

[MammaRoly]

We have a long weekend in Rome (Thurs- Sun) in June with our DS9 and DD8 and two of our friends. This will be the first time DC have been on an airplane.

DH and I were regular travellers pre children and backpacked around the world in our younger days . But this weekend away is causing me some anxiety, I think just because it is the first flight with our children.

So does anyone have any advice?

We are travelling with Ryanair and booked it as part of a package with our accommodation. Athough fully paid up, we haven't been allocated our airplane seats yet. Will we be allocated together or at least 2x2?

We don't have any cabin baggage and last minute.com website doesn't allow us to add any so I have emailed their Customer Service to see if I can add this. We have plenty of checked baggage allowance.

I have been thinking about hard sweets for the children to suck onboard and to take their games consoles with them for entertainment but anything else?

Thank you in advance!

Following for tips - we’re currently making plans for a long weekend in Rome with the kids too.

They also have never flown and I’ve not been on a plane for 20years, although I was a very frequent flyer before that. The airlines/logistics have changed quite a bit since then and I’ve become quite anxious about it.

I’m also wondering what the best “highlights” would be to focus on for 11/13yo with a decent interest in history.

It's a short flight. There won't be any problems on it. Just excitement. Buy food from Pret. That will pass a bit of time but they will be intrigued by the experience.

No idea about sitting together. You should have booked seats. That is your biggest problem

No, you probably won't get seats together unless you add them to your existing booking.

Which airport in Rome? Ciampino o Fiumicino? Where is your hotel? Transport via the metro in Rome is really easy- and tbh, lots of the main attractions are quite concentrated in a smallish central area.

Must sees for history buffs:
Colosseum and Forum- buy tickets online in advance.
Vatican Museums - ditto

My kids loved Rome
They were 10&12.
They found the dodgy sellers and scammers around the colosseum a bit much. The outside of the Colosseum is more impressive than the inside.
Book online before you go.

The forum is interesting to wander around, go later when it's a bit cooler and watch the sunset.
The Vatican was not what I expected(and We're catholic) the museum is a big conveyer belt of shuffling past stuff. Happy not have bothered
It was the little things they loved. All the intricate drinking fountains on every street corner, the ice cream shops and pizza places.
Watching the photographers etc around the pantheon, the churches with beautiful art hidden away.
Walking down the river.

They liked eating in one of the places around the piazza navona so we could watch the performers in the evening.

when we went to Rome a few years ago with our children 5 and 3 we used the metro to hop on and off. Most attractions are located near to the stops.
on the plane we took them each a little bag of goodies mostly pound shop bits and bats so they had something new to get exited about on the plane. It included colouring books. Small toys ect
found Rome really family friendly we got to jump the queue at the Vatican.

Agree the Colosseum is dull without a tour. Tours apparently are great for kids. Otherwise you have looked at it all holiday and then go in, and well it's round.

Anything you really want to see, book in advance to jump the queue - make sure you are on an official site and not a scamming site.

All the water in all the many fountains and open taps is fresh so don't bother buying bottled water.

Plus don't forget the cat sanctuary.

Most important thing would be to book your seats asap. We were seperated once and had to beg other passengers foe a seat change, was awful.

Apart from the obvious attractions, Villa Borghese park was a big hit. I would recommend booking colosseum and Vatican museum well in advance, they sell out quickly.
Depending what time you arrive taxis from the airport are reliable and have their fare capped. You will need cash to pay.
Have a great time, love Rome!

Just been on a grown up romantic break but thinking of kids - take snacks/drinks for flights. But flight is short.

in Rome- it was hot!

villa borghese is great
The wedding cake is fun and has a panoramic lift and roof top bar
I think my kids might have found Vatican museum dry - but Vatican is fun and down by the river
lots of gelato
bit if a cooler vibe if you go near the pantheon

When you get there, be VERY careful with purses/watches as the pick-pocketing is legendary in Rome. They'll prey on you if you're pre-occupied with talking to or supervising your children - the slightest loss of concentrating/awareness and they'll have you!

Ryanair is notorious for having really cheap fares but then making the money back by charging you for extras in unscrupulous ways. Make sure you read the terms and conditions with a fine tooth comb and search the internet for tips about how not to incur extra charges.

You will need to pre-book tourist attractions in Rome and even then be prepared for long queues. With children that age, I’d recommend a tour of the Colosseum (for the horrible history style stories) but skip the Sistene chapel, which is stunning but too hot and crowded for young children, IMO.

The areas around the railway station and tourist attraction are heaving with nuisance vendors. Teach the children how to completely ignore them & stress that they must absolutely not take hold of any item thrust at them.

Also - don’t sign any petitions in the streets - that’s a scam.

Check out if they are still doing the forum light shows. They are fabulous and really bring it to life.

Avoid La Tavernetta or whatever it may now be called. Its based at Via Sistina 147, 00187 Rome Italy and is a complete rip off.

My best advice is to check TripAdvisor reviews before eating anywhere.
Love Rome, but be careful of pickpockets.

*It's

June will be hot and very busy! You will likely need to pre-book tickets to museums. I enjoyed the Vatican museum, but might be boring if the kids are very small. We enjoyed a nice meal in the Jewish quarter. One dish I recall was an artichoke, squished flat and deep fried. Sounds odd, but it was delicious!

DH and I walked a great deal when there, but the train system was also easy to navigate. I think thought they you need to validate your ticket at the start and end of each journey. I seem to recall cobbles on many streets, which might be a problem if the kids are in push chairs.

Like any large city, you just need to be wary of your surroundings but its no more dangerous than London or Manchester. Don't leave a hand bag or backpack on the back of a chair. Don't leave a mobile on the cafe table while you eat. In busy areas, move your back pack onto the front of you. If anyone hands you flowers- just say no and hand them back or put them on the ground- they aren't a free give and will ask for payment. If someone tries to tie a friendship bracelet around yours or DH wrist for 'luck'- they will want payment!

Be careful of ‘ helpful’ people at the airport and train station - they just want money off you for telling you which platform you need.
Rome is quite compact but the narrow streets are easy to get lost if using a map!
agree if you do the colosseum pay for a guided tour as the guides will bring it to life.
Open top bus tour is also good for Getty your bearings

The Vatican museum is a big conveyer belt of shuffling past stuff. Happy not have bothered

That is exactly how it felt when we visited. We went in October a few years ago, and it was hot and stuffy in the galleries then. It would be unbearable at this time of year. I found the Sistine Chapel very underwhelming after shuffling through the ornately decorated galleries TBH. I think the children would be bored.

Yes to watching out for pickpockets. Wear a cross body bag and keep your hand on it at all times. If you look alert you won't be targeted.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will do a lot of walking.

All the churches are free to visit, and are a good way to get out of the heat temporarily.

Pre-book the colisseum and don't miss Palatine Hill or the Pantheon.

As the children are 8 and 9 they'll probably really enjoy the Egyptian bit of the Vatican Museums, lots of mummies etc. They'd probably enjoy the Knights of Malta door as well. Bit of a schlep up the hill but worth it for the view (it's the famous keyhole you look through and see a perfectly framed St. Peter's)

The Colosseum like other tourist attractions has self-guides which I find much better than "follow the woman with the umbrella" as you can go at your own pace.

If you're going to the Pantheon don't fall for the "advance" tickets there- entrance is free as it's a church- what you're paying in advance for is just the guide and doing that doesn't help you skip any lines.
Unless you need to be at Rome Termini for an actual train (was there in August 21) and it's one of the loveliest user friendly full of cafés and shops train stations I've been in in a while, lots of security and no hoodlums in sight) don't step outside of it, because it's the dodgiest area of the city around it.

Eating out is ridiculously cheap- the best authentic restaurants will serve about 3 pasta dishes only- carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe. Check Trip Advisor. Avoid eating anywhere on the little street that funnels you down to the Trevi fountain EXCEPT the steak place which is out of this world. Arlu near the Vatican Museums on the edge of Trastevere is as cheap as chips and excellent. Authentic so a very minimal menu.

Typical Roman food is the above types of pasta and anything with artichokes. You can't go wrong eating any of those.

Overground trains need to be validated if they're paper tickets. You will be fined if you forget this. Easiest way to buy train tickets is from the Trenitalia app which is great, works very well. There's English language options on it.

At the ages your DC are they should be able to decide what they want to do on the plane. What do they do in a car? They could do puzzles or read. Buy food in advance of your flight. We don’t eat on short hail. Usually eat in the airport first. Make sure you book seats. Also it’s Ryanair so no frills and basic. People who have not booked seats scrum to get them. They will push to get on first so book seats. Ryanair isn’t a great experience.

Do plan your route to the hotel. Read the Lonely Planet guide for all recommendations regarding what to see, itineraries and restaurants/cafes. It’s invaluable.

They will only be as nervous as you are about the flight so try to be excited and upbeat about it. There are Youtube videos of people doing walk throughs of most airports and the getting on the plane part, and watching those helped prepare our DC and get us all excited about it! Speak in a matter of fact way about how it's bumpy during take off and landing which is fun, and then smooth once you are up there.

Eating on the plane passes a lot of time so allow time at the airport to go to Pret and choose some nice food for you all. Maybe let them pick a magazine from WHSmiths they wouldn't usually have?

Games consoles will be enough to keep them entertained as it's a short flight. Have a lovely time!

Thank you so much for your tips and advice, it is much appreciated.

We didn't get a choice (from what I remember) to book seats when we purchased our holiday through last minute.com website but I will email to see if we can do this and pay extra if needed. We don't mind being apart really as long as we are one adult with one child.

I appreciate it is a really short flight, and on a no frills basis. My two are 8 and 9 so can entertain themselves on a train or car journey so will be fine. The tip about the You Tube video is a good one, thank you @Lasana and I always try to make a conscious effort to hide my own anxieties in front of them.

The tips on Rome itself are also much appreciated and too many with good advice to tag you all but thank you. I have bought my son some sturdy walking sandals as he didn't have anything suitable as I think we will be on our feet a lot and it is hot.

We are flying into Ciampino airport and have an apartment above a large park where Villa Borghese is. DH assures me there is a tram line or bus nearby so we can travel into the centre easily.

Does anyone have any advice on best way to transfer from Ciampino?

Taxi. With kids and luggage just taxi it. It'll be boiling hot as well.

Also it's quite a nice journey as you drive in the centre of Rome and start seeing some sights, I got v excited when I realised we were driving up the Appian Way.

By the way you need masks still on public transport and in Vatican. We also headed on flight - the FPP2 type.