Valencia or Rome/Sorrento

[timesnow]

I’m taking two teens away for a week in the first week of the summer holidays.

It’ll be 5-6 nights in total, and it’s an extra break as we’ll also be doing our usual family holiday to Wales with DH and the in‑laws later in the summer.

So… where should I take them?

Rome sounds amazing but I’m worried it’ll be unbearably hot at that time of year. Valencia appeals too but I’m not sure it has the same “wow” factor for teens.

They’re into shopping, the beach, history, good food, so both destinations tick a lot of boxes.

Worth mentioning that I sometimes struggle with back and knee pain, so while I’m happy to walk for a couple of hours, I can’t do full days on my feet.

Depends what you want to do, we’ve been to all 3 places and all will be very hot. Sorrento is lovely, but no beach, so sitting around a pool each day, eating lovely food, going into the town of an evening, we visited Capri for a day, that was good. Valencia only went for a day from a cruise, so only had a brief stop, we went to the beach by taxi and taxi driver took us on a little tour, we said we would like to go back one day. Rome, although lovely, isn’t in the heat with masses of people, but if you are looking for somewhere that has lots to see, then it will be fine. Queues for Vatican, Cistene Chapel, are ridiculously long, we did the main places by using taxis and paying skip the queue prices, but still a lot of walking.

I’d go to Valencia as I love it, great food, interesting city, walkable, not too crowded. Sorento is so busy and while beautiful . But as a teenager I went to Rome and loved it, it was everything a slightly dreamy teenager wanted. It’ll be hot, crowded, touristy….so seek out some less popular spots for a break.

Valencia can get very hot in summer and personally I don’t think it compares to Rome or is particularly high up on my list of places to see. Rome is always amazing and I also love Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. We took our teens and they enjoyed visiting Capri by boat and the blue grotto and also Naples and Pompeii. My teens also loved Venice but we went in April.

We went to Sorrento last October. It was VERY busy even in the off season so I dread to think what it would be like in the peak summer season. We walked a lot due to packed buses/lifts down to the port area.

I’d choose Valencia out of your three choices.

I’ve not been to Valencia but heard great things about it. My teens have been on Spanish school trips and loved it. Another family went there for a 2 week hol and raved about it. Rome is great too but not for a week in height of summer.

You can’t go wrong both great. We loved Valencia but yes it was flipping hot.

Rome is incredible we’ve been twice with teens in summer. The answer is hotel with a pool. Get up sightsee then by 4pm you’re in the pool. We found a fantastic hotel with a pool not sharing as it’s a gem and don’t want it overrun!

Can you recommend a hotel with pool please?

or dm me?

I've been to all, & Rome is far more interesting.
Book tickets on-line for whatever you want to see as soon as you have the dates.

I think all those places would be very hot during the first week of the summer holidays. I certainly wouldnt fancy Rome. Valencia could be nice, as there’s the old town, a park area where the Turia (sp?) river was, a new development with a science and art museum and the oceanographic centre, plus it has a beach (around 25 mins on the bus from the old town). I’d find it too hot in July but I think it’s a good choice as a holiday with teens.

Rome is great, so much to see. But I’d go at a cooler time of year. Historical sights with little shade would be tricky in the summer.

We spent a week in Valencia last August and loved it. A great mix of history in the old town plus other things to do (city of arts and sciences, aquarium, bioparc etc) and the beach which is large/long. Plus great food and easy to get to and from the airport. We often did a sight/walk in the morning and then beach in the afternoon. It was hot but didn’t feel
as bad as it should have done. We’d definitely go back there (DS is 8 so not a teen but quite mature in his interests). We also went to a Valencia FC football game which was really fun if they’re into football. Not sure if they’re on the pre-season break in July though. There’s also a tram line plus buses. We stayed closer to the beach and the closest tram line wasn’t running into the city/to the airport but if that was running it would have been v quick to get around.

I absolutely love Rome, and I've been several times - but I really wouldn't want to visit it in the height of the summer heat, or Sorrento when it was heaving with tourists.

I think Valencia would be a better fit at that time of year - still hot, still busy, but possibly a bit more comfortable being on the coast, and easier access to the beach.