We will be going to Rome in May with my three grandsons. I am thinking three days in Rome and three days somewhere else. Any suggestions where? and is this too ambitious? We fly in and out of Rome. Should be spend the entire time in Rome. This is their first trip.

Thanks

Donna

How old are the kids? Do they have any preconceived ideas of what they wanna do, see?

Hi Donna, and welcome to Slow Trav.

I'm planning a trip to Rome with my granddaughter (to turn 11 next week) and we will being staying in Rome the entire time, nine days.

You don't say how old your grandsons are, but I am thinking for us that Rome has more to see and do than even an 11-year old has time for in nine days. However, I am tentatively planning short day trips. Those we have in mind are Ostia Antica, the Tivoli Gardens (her latest request) and Orvieto. These will be last minute decisions as they don't require advance reservations.

Here is a link to the longest of several threads where I've discussed my upcoming trip. (And I can't believe we are to leave in less than a month!) Please fire away if you have more questions.

My sons (now 19 and almost 16) made their first international trip when aged 3 and in utero (born 3 months after end of trip). With the exception of one year, they have made month long trips ever since.

The lessons I've learned are:

1) Young legs wear out very quickly on city streets

2) No matter how interesting an adult thinks it is, the kids probably don't

3) The idea that you have to do "vacation" things as opposed to "home" things is great in theory but often comes to an unhappy end in practice (things that we could have just as easily done at home, but still did on vacations, have included circuses, renting bikes, going to a pool, eating at -- gasp -- McDonalds, sitting on a bench while the kids played Game Boys...and on and on)

4) You can never go wrong getting into a boat (kids love the water and you get to sit still for a while)

5) Picnics are ever so much more fun than restaurants (with the corollary being that "The restaurant does not open until 7PM" is a phrase that no child can understand)

You will love any part of Italy that you are in, but it might be that a child (anywhere from toddler to teenager) might see Rome as being a very large, congested, and noisy city no matter how much more an adult might see...and that somewhere with less clutter might free them up for more enjoyment?

Well, as we used to say on the Forum

De gustibus non est disputandum

Donna, I do think that Jeff's question needs an answer before really appropriate suggestions can be made.We have traveled extensively out of the US (mostly in Italy) with our grandson since he was 4 years old-he is now 10. So, I might be able to help you with that age group. So once we know your grandsons' ages, we can answer you better.

My grandson's are 8 (a very mature 8),6 and 4. The younger one's are on their age level. My daughter and I have been wanted to do this for a while, so we decided to give this trip a go. Any help and advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

Donna

quote:

My grandson's are 8 (a very mature 8),6 and 4.

Given the ages, I'd really think about getting out of the city and I'd do my best to break up the chunks in the city into kid-sized portions.

I could never hope to call my kids mature (have called them many other things, especially the older one once he started driving, but I digress)....but jet lag, unfamiliar food, and doing things that are not on their lists, have a way of making life tough for the little guys.

For a fun kid thing? Get their photo with the "Romans" outside the colosseum.

There are plenty of threads on here about kid activities on trips, so will just wish you happy travels and that you and your family have Italy in your plans for years yet to come.

As for: De gustibus non est disputandum ... I knew there was a reason I took those four years of Latin and I am amused....not as amused as my Latin teachers were with my exams, but amused.

Now that I've got the answer, I haven't a clue! I have five grandchildren myself, but I wouldn't dare...best wishes and let us know how/if it works.

Judging by our oldest grand-daughter, who is all of 11 1/4 years old, so more or less like Marian's, I would not hesitate to take her on trips anywhere in Europe, including Rome, Venice, Florence where Italy is concerned. She has a great interest in mythology, constellations and stars, Greek and Roman ancient history, etc. But she has a younger sister, and their parents don't want to separate them. And during the times of the year when we usually travel (May and September) she is is tied up in school. So I'm biding my time...

I don't think there "one answer-fits all children" here, like in any other field.

Donna, I am inclined to agree with Alpinista. A week in Rome for the little ones will be very difficult as it is not a city for small children. Even a week for the 8 year old might be difficult even though he is mature.

We began taking Casey to Italy when he was 4. His first time in Rome was in 2004 when he was 6 and then again when he was 9 and then only for 3 days--with his favorite Uncle who makes all things wonderful.

Are you committed to Rome? If you are open to suggestions for other ways to spend the time, a lot of us could chime in.

Do you have only a week for your trip? That makes a difference too as jet lag will need to be factored in as well as travel time to and from a second location.

This is a link to what I wrote when we took him in 2003 and 2004. You can maneuver around in it for things that interest you. Note the link to Rome in 2004. You might find some ideas to think about in it. There are also some ideas about traveling with children. Italy with Casey

Also, your 8 year old might be interested in the blog Casey started when we were living there in 2006-07 KZ in Toscana He can go back into the archives to find the Italy parts.

We would be open to all suggestions. We do not have to stay all week in Rome. We do want to see the major sites. I realize they are small, but I am not getting younger and I really enjoy them. My oldest daughter is their Mom and she is also coming, so between the two of us, we will be okay. We have been traveling in the US, Costa Rica and the Caribbean since the first boy was born, so they are used to going places. It won't be easy, but it will be fun. We will have an apartment. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

Donna

Hi Donna -
I don't have any advice to add about traveling with kids, but am surprised at the advice to get out of Rome.

There are other places in Italy I enjoy more (Venice!), but Rome has so many layers to offer! Even a walking tour of crazy over-the-top fountains (with stops for gelato ) could be fun. The Borghese Gardens are a wonderful oasis, with a mini-amusement park area for kids near the Pincio (Pizza del Popolo overlook).

I believe there are some articles on the main www.slowtrav.com website about traveling with children, and probably some specific to Rome. Check it out!

Best wishes! As you've no doubt found, traveling with youngsters opens all kinds of doors. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Italians have a special fondness for children ...

Colleen

As Doru wisely said, there's no "one size fits all" answer when dealing with young children. Rome can be utterly fascinating for kids, but also wearying simply because of the sensory stimulation, the walking, and the change in routine. As someone who has adored showing Rome to her kids and yet has also suffered through an overheated and overwhelmed child's meltdown in the Forum, (there are probably photos of the event in some several tourists' computers ) we do need to be respectful of individual children's tolerances and interests when traveling--as well as the differing plans of their adults.

So Donna--what do the kids normally enjoy? What drives them bonkers? There are so many fascinating things for kids to experience in Rome, and if you chose to spend all your time there you can certainly give them breaks in the large parks, in taking short daytrips (we have a page of those on the main site), frequent gelato stops, in plenty of just lazing around when the mood strikes. And if you chose, a few days in a slower-paced environment would also be lovely if that's what you decide.

It's a win-win, no wrong or right answer--you and your family know the kids best. You're giving them a lovely experience, and it's Italy, after all.

The boys are at ages they may find scary things interesting. There are a lot of suggestions in my travel note:http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome/chills_thrills.htm

Ditto what Amy said...this trip has to be about the kids, their limits, what they can tolerate and what they cannot. No need to plan long, hot and boring days in the ruins of Rome with a child too young to tolerate that kind of day. Sounds like you've traveled with your children before, so you will know their personalities and limitations quite well!

Here's my experience about traveling with my granddarlings...hope it helps!
I have 5 grandchildren, 12 - 26 years old.
I traveled with my first grandchild when she was 13...we went to Hawaii, because that's where she wanted to go, and I also was longing for a couple of weeks there. We did extremely well, mostly because I followed her lead...if she felt like going to the beach, we went to the beach, if she was looking for a lollygagging afternoon in the malls and stores, that's what we did. One of our best days was a day shopping for clothes in Ross and other discount clothing stores! We had a fantastic girls' day and still talk about it!

We had only one terribly stressful day during that trip...the one day that I arranged as a treat for her! That day was far too long, far too hot and humid and far too boring for her! Taught me a lesson...never put the weight of my expectations of what my grandchildren would/should enjoy onto their small shoulders.

My trip last summer with my third granddarling was a dream trip to London and Paris. We had a fair-to-middling time...a boyfriend back home and a desire to constantly shop-shop-shop for souvenirs for 29 people at home took its toll on our trip at times. She chafed at my protectiveness when I wouldn't allow her to walk by herself, at midnight, a couple of blocks to a phone booth to call her then-boyfriend. We struggled more than I have with any of the other kids, mostly because her heart was firmly planted with the people back home.

I learned a hard lesson...when someone is homesick, someone is homesick and there ain't nothing that anyone can do about it. Still, we both loved the trip and would do it again! I'd make a few changes and I think she would, also.
Oh, by the way, the boyfriend went bye-bye, right after we arrived back home from Paris! So much for that!

I took my 19 year old grandson to Rome a couple of years ago, and it was a great trip for both of us! He was older and could go on his own, so that made it much better for him, as he felt quite independent and adult-like!

You know those children best, and I think you can't go wrong if you take it easy and take it slow! Don't overload the little ones with long days or interesting-to-you-but-boring-to-them activities, and you'll be fine! What a wonderful experience for all of you!

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million."
~ Walt Streightiff
Brenda

Dms1709,
If you check my Slow Travel page http://www.slowtrav.com/member/henry/index.htm
you will find three trip reports where I took my grandkids to Italy. They all include a week in Rome. All the kids enjoyed Rome but none picked it as the favorite. The favorite for each child was always a small town.

Henry

I went with my children - about the same ages. The Vatican tour was not fun - way too long and crowded. The square outside was lovely though - space to run. We should have visited the big park (I think it is called Villa Borghese). Lots of shady space there and little trains, horses, etc. I think Palatine Hill - where you can actually scramble around over things - would have been lots of fun. Also, the Archeobus - especially if it is double decker - would have been much more fun for getting around than either of our methods (taxi or dragging tired children). Finally, we stayed in an apartment which had the pro that we could cook but the con that we had to cook and could not rely on room service and there was nothing to do there. If you could find a hotel with a pool - somewhere to hang out when the touristy day gets long - my guess is you would be very glad of it.

I would stay 2 or 3 days in Rome with the children, hitting the fun things to do but with lots of breaks for gelato and stops for naps/down time back at the hotel. We stayed at a hotel in a central location with an indoor pool for down time. I would then take an easy and fast train down to the Amalfi coast where we found exploring with the kids in the am and then beach/pool in the afternoon delightful for all! Cyndy

Let me make one more suggestion...since you are already outside the city upon arrival, why not do the "small town/small stress" portion of your trip first and then let your grandkids see Rome when they have a little more of their travel legs under them?

A "short" (will let you choose your own definition of that word) transit to an out-of-Rome destination can probably be made with three happily sleeping boys in their car seats or on a train.

Just an off topic comment that it is a wonderful thing to make this gift of travel to your grandchildren. I was shocked just a few weeks ago when my younger son (the one who has perfected the "Not another museum" whine over the years) came to me to ask for some of the photos we took of the Archduke Ferdinand's car for use in a class discussion on the causes of WW I....you just never know what they are going to soak up for their future memories when on these trips.

quote:

ust an off topic comment that it is a wonderful thing to make this gift of travel to your grandchildren. I was shocked just a few weeks ago when my younger son (the one who has perfected the "Not another museum"

Alpinista, I had to laugh at this as it brought to mind the morning when Casey, who was somewhere between 6 and 8 (don't remember the particulars), said "Can we not do something interesting today?" Of course this referred to the museums, churches, ruins, etc to which we had been taking him for his enlightenment. We heard the message and took the day off from "interesting" things.

We are thinking of a few day trips outside of Rome. I have looked at the suggestions here and they are very helpful. Thanks

Donna

Hi there!

We took our kids last August to Italy and Germany for a total of a month in Europe. Our oldest, Katie, had just turned 7 and Brandon had just turned 5 years old. Even though they were well traveled prior to the trip, I would suggest from our experience:

- factor in jet lag ( 2 days at least at the beginning of the trip)

- bring a stroller the Magellan travel stroller was worth its weight in gold when they got tired or fell asleep (5 year old) the stroller was easy to fold for trains or bus useage

- ALWAYS have a snack and water on hand, especially in the early phases of the trip as the time differences do strange things to their hunger patterns!

- get a child book at the library or a bookstore explaining Ancient Rome (my kids were fascinated and once in Rome, remembered most of the book!) Read it to them several times prior to departure!

- let them have their DS or PS2 plane and train rides will be a lot more pleasant!

- have a gelato break each day

- have breakfast in the apartment; go to the grocery store and let them pick out cereal, fruit, snacks, etc...

- the comment on having their picture taken w/ the gladiators at the Colesseo is great! The kids LOVE these pictures!

- go to the top of the Vatican - the kids had the best time climbing up all the stairs

- Borghese Gardens

- double decker buses, Trevi fountain, markets, pizza...my kids have been begging us to go back to Rome!

Also, you may want to have a letter from the Dad saying he knows and approves of the trip. I took our kids to Germany by myself to stay with our family, then we went to Rome where we met up with my husband later in the day. I was questioned about their father & I produced a notarized letter my husband had written verifying that he was aware & approved of my taking the children out of the US. Also, we had gotten travel insurance in case of sickness.

Hope these suggestions help - you'll have a GREAT time!

Cindi

quote:

Also, you may want to have a letter from the Dad saying he knows and approves of the trip. I took our kids to Germany by myself to stay with our family, then we went to Rome where we met up with my husband later in the day. I was questioned about their father & I produced a notarized letter my husband had written verifying that he was aware & approved of my taking the children out of the US

When I traveled with my first granddarling, she was under 18 and I definitely had to have a letter of permission from her parents for her to travel with me. I don't know if the rules have changed, but I'd most surely take the letter, just in case. The second and third grandkids were both 18 and over, so no letter was necessary.

"You may have the Universe if I may have Italy." ~ Giuseppe Verdi
Brenda

Their Mom will be with me, so I don't think anything else will be needed. Any thoughts about where we could go outside of Rome for a day trip?

Thanks

donna

quote:

Any thoughts about where we could go outside of Rome for a day trip?

Hadrian's Villa would be an easy trip with lots of visual interest for the kids.

Ostia Antica (ruined port of Rome) is a great place to kids to run and play. They can even go to the second floor of some of the buildings. It is a 30 min journey onm the Lido train from the Piramide Metro stop. It is not crowded either.