Italy in April - questions

[NewJeffCT]

With flights being fairly cheap ($350-$400) and the dollar being pretty strong right now, we may go to Italy next month. I've never been to Europe and I figure the weather in Italy in April should be fairly decent... I'd like to go to the UK/Scotland in the future, but figure the April weather may be a bit chilly. And, yes, I realize that it can get a bit chilly at night in Italy in April.

A few questions.
1) Do you think a just turned six year old would appreciate Italy, or would we be better off letting her stay at my parent's house that week (she'd be off from school)?
2) Would we be better off going through a travel agent to book hotels, or booking ourselves? Would maybe a 4-5 day tour be a good idea, or is Italy do-able on our own?
3) Any recommendations/suggestions?

Thanks

[bettyellen]

1. trains and busses are very good in italy.. no tour is needed to get around

i think that there may not be a lt for the kid though, unless they are an art /history lover or epicure.
how long? what cities? PM and i wil send yu some airfare links.... in the meantime look at hotels at Tipadvisor.

[NewJeffCT]

2. We're going for about a week

Probably flying into Rome, see some sights there, and then probably hit a few of the major tourist centers, like Venice.

good idea on tripadvisor.

[bettyellen]

6. tripadvisor really has great reviews as well as maps ..now as far as airfare goes, read on.....

My advice is to do a search a see what airlines do the route you want and check their sites directly-you can usually make res + hold them while you shop elsewhere- when you do see how many seats are left on the flights you like. That gives you an idea if you need to be buying soon… you can also sign up for sale alerts or whatever…..

Wed is always the day to check for new fares
Sign up w/ travelzoo.com- great weekly specials- every wed….

This site is great for you right now- tells you which way prices are trending/ if you should buy or wait:
http://farecast.live.com/?cid=gbrand_003&

if you’re stuck with a ridiculously overpriced fare, agents compete to get you a better one- I think it’s better on domestic flights though:
http://www.farecompare.com/


supposed to be great but more for for asia + eastern hemisphere:
http://www.zuji.com/web/content/splash_index.html

[NewJeffCT]

9. Thanks

that's pretty helpful

[bettyellen]

13. anytime! have a great time here's one last link for you!....

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showforum=39

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

3. Ciao NewJeffCT!

Italy, especially the tourist cities, can be done on one's own. In fact, I encourage that.

I am not sure how long you have, but if you only have a week, I'd say hit just one city and then have another destination that can be seen in fewer hours. For instance, as you mentioned, Rome and Venice. You should definitely plan on spending the bulk of your time in Rome. You can mad dash through its top sights in 3 days if you really really hurry. Expect one full day for St. Peter's, though. The lines are huge.

Then, hop on a train and go to Venice. You can easily see Venice's top attractions in one full day.

If I may give you a suggestion for a web site to look for prices, I suggest www.italyvacations.com because you can get prices on your own Italian vacation with train transfers (or plane if you prefer) between cities.

I am a big fan of train service in Italy. If you know some Italian, check out the national train system's website at www.trenitalia.it

I think Italy is fun for kids; I know it was for me when I was a kid and we went sightseeing other cities in Italy. Then again, I grew up there so I am biased. For kids, the coliseum is fun as is Venice with the boats and canals and bridges.

[NewJeffCT]

4. Thanks - and another question

Even though I'm half Italian, my Italian is limited to "hello" and "goodbye" and "Merry Christmas"

Speaking only English should be okay, right?

[bettyellen]

5. you'll be fine.

[Heidi]

12. I livein southern Switzerland, five minutes from the border. If you can say "Grazie"

and greet people according to time of day (morning, afternoon, evening), and maybe count a little in Italian (to understand what you're paying and the change being rendered to you) you'll be fine. This is a matter of courtesy, and not a necessity, really. It shows respect and demonstrates that even, as a tourist, you're making an effort. Most Italians speak also French, English and, often, some "tedesco" (German). :hi:

[bif]

7. I've been to Italy couple times

First of all, the Italians are pretty stubborn and only speak Italian. But if you know a few basic phrases, you should be fine. I spent 6 months in Europe when I was in college and found if you can say "where is... please, thank you, how much.. and one, two, three" you can get around okay.

I think bringing a 6 year old would be a waste of money. Just my opinion. I also think a tour would be a waste of money. Do it on your own--you'll have some great experiences. I'd also limit your trip to a couple cities. If not, all you'll remember is the inside of a train.

[bettyellen]

8. yeah.. rome and maybe a jaunt to scicily- or florence for a weekend

any more than that and you feel enroute the whole time,

[WinkyDink]

23. "a jaunt"? Like it's NOT a far trip south AND a boat ride?!

[bettyellen]

35. Yep, a jaunt -it's less than 1 1/2 hours to Palermos' airport from Rome's.. and less than 200RT.

sounds like a great time to me.

[WinkyDink]

44. And the actual human time in the airports, getting to and fro, getting some vehicle in Sicily, .....

And returning.

For some Greek ruins.
(And I'm half-Sicilian saying this.)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

33. Really?

Except in Venice and Naples (where I figured most people didn't speak much English), most people would see I was an American and start speaking English to me. I'd at least try to stumble through some Italian words, though.

[bif]

47. Actually I haven't been back in a while

I'm glad to hear the Italians are speaking more English.

[Haole Girl]

10. I agree with the above posters...

as far as it being difficult for a 6 year old to really enjoy Italy. It's a lot of walking.

Don't want to scare you, but you need to be careful about pickpockets... even with a money belt. They prey on tourists. Here is a link: http://www.romebuddy.com/givesadvice/crime.html

I'm envious. Twice I've tried to make it to Rome & haven't. Once, my cat got sick the day before we were to leave. The second time, there was terrible weather and anti-war protests the week we were going to go.

Please take a lot of pics. Buy your airline tickets soon, if you haven't already!!

:hi:

[NewJeffCT]

11. Thanks for the advice

It's still not guaranteed that we're going...

[NewJeffCT]

16. and

haven't you been to Hawaii like a zillion times? I've never been there.

[Haole Girl]

17. Not a zillion

I think we lost count after 25, though! lol

[Kali]

14. oh bite me

unless you need me to go with for a nanny:rofl:

[NewJeffCT]

15. We never got a nanny

My wife changed her mind...

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

18. Lack of Italian language skills won't hamper you

especially if you stick to tourist-friendly areas like Venice and Rome. Be careful about pickpockets, as others have mentioned. I would avoid backpacks and purses that can be easily grabbed from a Vespa. Try to transact mainly by credit cards (make sure you have protection for fraudulent charges before leaving) and you should be fine, but have a few euros by the side for incidental expenses. My best suggestion for keeping money is to carry one of those belts that you can tuck in your pants or under a shirt. Any documents such as driver's license or passports should be kept in a safe in your hotel room or at the main office.

I would vehemently disagree with those who say a 6-year old won't enjoy Italy. Of course, I don't know your daughter's personality, but, by taking it easy and trying not to cram too much, you will be fine. Nothing that some good gelato can't cure!

If I may give you another suggestion, stay away from restaurants that have their menus printed in various foreign languages. While they may be easier for you to understand, they cater to tourists and chances are that you won't taste the best food you can have. Instead, look for smaller places; even ask hotel staff about the recommendations. Even if you don't know Italian, most Italians will go out of their way to try to ensure you enjoy yourself. Moreover, there are many who speak some English (even if not perfectly). The point is to stay away from tourist traps.

I am myself trying to plan a 15-day journey so I can show Italy to my boyfriend, who has never been. For me, it's bittersweet, as I would be seeing family members I haven't had the chance to see in years, as well as visit my birthplace and revisit my old schools and such. I hope you get to go.

[CTyankee]

21. You are so right about the restaurants. I always checked to see if the menus in the windows were

in a variety of languages. There are so many other restaurants or trattorias, no one can ever starve. And did you ever have a bad meal in Italy? I didn't (or haven't,so far).

Where did you live when you were in Italy?

[CTyankee]

19. Two big cities in one week is a biting off a lot.

I go to Italy as often as possible but I concentrate on different areas each time. Rome is a big project and one week wouldn't even do it justice. I would choose Rome over Venice. Frankly, Venice disappointed me but I felt I had to see it before it sank. I went in May and found myself in San Marco Square as the acqua alta (high water) began to rise around my feet at noon. People were taking off their shoes and socks and rolling up their pants legs to wade in water filled with pigeon crap (LOTS of pigeons in that square!). I fled the square for drier ground on the side streets, which I liked.

Don't even think about going to Rome over Easter.

Rome had museums and I am an art freak. I was entranced by the Borghese, the one gallery you should go to for some of the finest Caravaggios and Berninis there are and just an all around fabulous museum. Great art also in little churches, been on their walls for centuries, are also wonderful (such as the San Luigi di Francesi with its 3 part St. Matthew series by Caravaggio.).

I'm sure April will be a great time to go, not as many tourists. As I said I was in Venice inthe north in early May and it was lovely and warm. Rome is warmer than Venice.

Do learn to say a hearty "Buon giorno!" (it's considered rude not to greet Italians in this manner) when you go into a little cafe bar for your breakfast macchiato; do not order capucinno after 10 am.

You can't get bad food in Italy, or at least I never have gotten any and I've been all over the country, except the south. In Rome, I avoided the "trippi" which is tripe and I can't even entertain the idea of it. Wine is cheaper than coke, drink it, it's good and doesn't have those additives that give you a headache. Google typical menus in Rome or Venice to get an idea of what you'll see there. It helps to know the Italian for major foods, but it won't help if the item on the menu is a creationof the chef such as Pasta Luigi. In Sicily, Pasta Norma was on every menu cuz it was the national dish (it was made with eggplant, but was named after an opera character).

Eat the local foods, go to little out of the way trattorias (the classic ristorantes are expensive and formal). I loved the family restaurants best with families at big tables and papa carrying around the picolino/a to each table and you say "che bella" (girl) or "e carino" (boy). (e is pronounced "eh"). If you bring your little girl she'll attract attention!

You can always say "sono americani" we are americans and people will understand. I didn't find that "everyone" spoke English. On my first trip to Rome I got lost and had to ask directions back to the hotel. I had a course in Italian under my belt but the dialect and hand motions and bizzare street layouts were daunting (streets are often "vicoli" or alleys to us).

I think hotel concierges are a good bet for booking tours and for recommending restaurants. I've used them everywhere and always had good luck.

Get a phone card at one of the numerous tabacheria for the cheapest phoning back to the states. Farmacias are also great for everything medical and more and there are farmacias everywhere.

Bring a phrase book and dictionary. Good luck with the Vatican. I fled St. Peter's Sq. after one morning's worth of touring it, when I realized the pope was in residence and he was gonna do his hand wave thingie and the crowds started to close in.

Enough for now. I'll pm you if I have any more pearls of wisdom to share....

[pink-o]

31. OMG! I LERVE me the Borghese Museum!

Those Bernini sculptures--Daphne, David, Proserpina--are so amazing and life like!! You think only of Michelangelo when you think of Italian sculptors, but Bernini was just as great, IMO.

[CTyankee]

46. The Uffizi, tho fabulous, is not user friendly compared to the Borghese.

I swear you can go blind in the Uffizi just looking at the sheer abundance of Renaissance art, and walking around the thing is pretty tiring. So's the Prado, which is the world's largest museum. I did a two day in Madrid with the Prado one day and the Reina Sofia the next. The latter had the original "Guernica" which is an event all unto itself, but the Reina Sofia was also tiring. Also did the Guggenheim in Bilbao which is the height of spectacular in my book. If you love museums, this one will knock you silly. I can't even begin to describe it to you...

I may go back to Florence come fall this year for about 10 days, just to absorb the city a bit more and train out to places like Prato for it's cathedral with newly restored Giottos, and who knows where else (maybe revisit Lucca for Giglio, a great ristorante). I've had good luck on trains in Europe.

[Lost in CT]

20. Have fun and leave the munchkin at home.

As others have pointed out there is lots of walking and lines.

If you go to the big cities (esp Rome) beware of crime. There are many more petty criminals in Italy than Americans are used to. Stay away from the gypsies at train stations and do not give money to the beggars.

I recommend Rome and a trip to Cavallino d'Oro/Goldenes Rossl (Kastelruth/Castelrotto, near Bozen)is definitely worth a day or two.

[WinkyDink]

22. Less than 2 weeks = tour, IMHO. It takes REAL TIME to research hotels, write to them and book them,

and to lease (not rent) a car from a company with an office IN your Italian airport.

I've gone to Europe (including Italy) using both methods, but on-my-own only for a period of 60 days or more.

Seriously, a tour. Hit the high points, no hassles.

IN ANY EVENT: READ tour/travel itineraries/brochures, to get a sense of what to see and how long it takes. The Murphy's Corollary applies: Everything takes longer than you think.
And get at least two days' worth of Euros from AAA or your bank BEFORE DEPARTURE, to avoid THAT hassle right away!

Wherever else you go, Florence/Firenze is not to be missed. And if you go THERE, do not miss Siena and San Gimignano!

The best guidebooks: Green Michelin. In your local library, I'd bet.

[Call Me Wesley]

24. There are some great suggestions here.

April is a very nice month in Italy, although as you said, it can be chilly weather wise but it's not really tourist season so you might get a more 'natural' feel to it.

Leave the kid with your parents, she'd probably enjoy this way more, since if you visit Rome and Venice, there's a lot of walking involved, ruins, art and city life; nothing really that a kid could enjoy but you.

Now, visit the main tourist attractions, but: sneak into the little streets, find a bar that looks like nothing and have an espresso - there you'll find the real people, and they're friendly. Most speak some English and are happy to try their language skills on you. ;) That's my main advice; if you want to see the culture, don't dine at the big hotels. Go to the little trattorias in the back streets.

[DemBones DemBones]

25. Weather in April in Italy can be crazy so you need

to be prepared for cold or hot weather or something in between. Layering is key. Be aware that Italians turn their heat off at night and old buildings with high ceilings get very cold.

I would not take a young child because of all the walking and the fact that she probably wouldn't like the unfamiliar food. You could take her to McDonald's (yes, Mickey D's is in Rome, Florence, etc.) but why would you want to go there?

Florence is a great place to stay for art, architecture, and food. Shopping, too, if that's what you want to do. It's a nice, walkable city. Rome is bigger and rougher and Venice often floods. From Firenze, you can take day trips to San Gimignano, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Arrezzo, etc., and two or three day trips to Rome and Venice. When you take a train, you want to be sure you get a non-stop train unless you like "milk trains" and you want to get reservations unless you want to stand for a couple of hours. For buses, make sure you get your tickets validated. If you rent a car, you will find it hard to park it as parking is very limited in the cities and assigned to residents. It's only worth it if you want to drive to someplace that a train or bus won't take you.

"Let's Go 2009 Italy" is a book you should get because it will explain a lot of these things. Besides, their listings of hotels, pensions, restaurants, things to see, etc., is excellent. I think their books for all countries are very good. You also need a good Italian phrase book to carry with you because all Italians do not speak English. Many do, but not all. I'm speaking from the experience of nine trips to Italy.

Buon viaggio!

[Fleshdancer]

26. I took my daughter to Italy for a week when she was 5 yrs old...

The original plan was to spend two weeks in France, but after the first week, we thought it would be fun to take a train to Venice so we spent the second week there. This was April '05. In both cities, people were very sweet to her and she had a wonderful time. She loved the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the colorful buildings in Venice, and the gondolas. We also went to Murano where she got to see a glass blower. She was more interested in the architecture and the people than the art museums. She also loved trying new deserts. The massive amounts of walking wasn't a problem for her, we didn't take her to McDonalds, and she still talks about how much fun she had. I'm very glad we took her.

My tips for international traveling with a kid:

1. Prepare a backpack for them to wear on the plane filled with crayons, paper, books, video games, and/or whatever they like that will occupy them on the long plane trip and at the restaurants. Don't forget the bubble gum to help their ears.
2. Before the trip, regularly take them to the bookstore to look at the travel books.
3. Get them their own disposable camera to use.
4. Comfortable shoes. This is not the time for them to break in a new pair.
5. Since it was during the school year, I had my daughter make a presentation on her trip when we returned. She had fun going through the brochures she kept and the pictures she took to describe it all to her classmates.

I've never used a travel agent, but I imagine they're more convenient than the way we do it (plan everything ourselves on line). For this trip, my husband accumulated so many Marriott points from business travel that we were able to use them and not pay for our hotel.

[NewJeffCT]

27. Thanks

Our daughter's been to China twice already, so she's pretty used to long plane trips...

[DemBones DemBones]

28. In that case, she's surely used to walking a lot

and "strange" food, too, so take her to Italy, too. Italians love children.

[Trocadero]

39. have him or her keep a journal of the trip

get an iPhone or iPod and load it up with favorite movies and TV shows - may not be any kid fare in English on TV, also good for plane

get a Leapster if you don't have one. Small but packed with entertainment. Bring a number of cartridges.

We went to Europe and in both cities bought tickets in advance on the internet for the "hop on hop off" bus - double-decker with open tops. With your pass you can hop on and off all day. A bus came to each stop every 10 minutes- no problem catching one and they were never over full. Circles all the main tourist stops. Not sure if available in Italy but it was great. And when you are tired of walking, ride the bus around for awhile, rest your feet and see the sights with the wind blowing in your hair.

[Trocadero]

40. bring stash of snacks for the hotel room, such as

oatmeal packets, fruit rollups, dry soup, tootsie rolls, trail mix - light and non-crushable, and plastic utensils

Good snacks or a mini meal - with a kid you won't want to eat in a restaurant 3 or 4 times a day.

[pink-o]

29. Italy is my favorite country in the world!

April the weather is unpredictable, probably a lot of rain, so come prepared with a light trench and umbrellas.

As for a 6 year old, it really depends on the child. We took my friend's kid when he was 5 and he loved the galleries and all the sculptures, and fell in love with Venice--but he especially loved the pizza and gelato! The food is so totally amazing in that country, I can't even begin to describe it! I don't even like to eat, and Italy can turn me into an Epicurean the minute I'm off the plane.

Public transport is great in Italy! You can buy a rail pass before you leave, and travel wherever and whenever.

As for hotels, I have never failed with this website:


http://www.venere.com/

I have used them all over Italy, Croatia, and even in South Africa. All good hotels.

Have fun if you go! Here's an incentive: different trips, but I took these shots of Rome, Amalfi and Venice

[hippywife]

30. One major suggestion.

Take me, damn it! :rofl:

I'm half Italian, too, and have never been. And do take your little girl if you feel you can keep it to a pace she can enjoy. She seems like a very bright little girl, I don't see why she wouldn't enjoy it. It's not like she's not used to other cultures and it's something she can tuck away in her memories of wonderful things she did with her parents.

Ava just went not too long ago and had some beautiful pictures to share. You might do a search for her threads from her trip.

Have a great time! :hi:

[many a good man]

32. Hotel recommendation

We got a great deal on a place called 47 Hotel and it was fabulous. Check it out http://www.47hotel.com/

Short walk to the Forum, short walk to Trastavere. Its about a ten or fifteen minute walk to the metro at Circus Maximus. From there you can get just about anywhere. We had a great time. Four days is enough to see most of the have-to-sees.

[NewJeffCT]

34. Thanks

Looks good, but the rate I saw was about 200 Euros per night, and I think my wife would have a heart attack if she spent $250/night on a hotel. I think she's under the impression that we can find the equivalent of a Best Western or Comfort Inn for $30-$40/night.

[elleng]

42. Looks like a GREAT hotel!

.

[Trocadero]

36. Rick Steves! www.ricksteves.com

[Trocadero]

37. bring a small collapsible umbrella stroller, even if normally kid doesn't need one

[Trocadero]

38. free audio walking tour with lots of historical info available on iTunes

search on rick steves italy

I recommend listening several times before you go. You'll learn a lot about all of the main sites and your trip will be a lot more meaningful.

[NewJeffCT]

43. Thanks - good idea

appreciate the tip.

[WinkyDink]

45. RS is DA MAN for European travel!

[elleng]

41. WOW; What a question!

Went to Italy in April for Honeymoon! Marvelous!

Have taken children to Europe several times, including 1 month around France when younger was 3. HOWEVER, we were seasoned Europe travelers at the time.

I'd suggest going somewheres first, via tour possibly unless you've got enough places of interest yourselves; take kids on return trips, so you'll know where you'd find what she likes. Italy is DEFINITELY doable on your own.

OH OH OH, ENJOY YOURSELVES!