Italian travel tips for those with bambinos

Italy is one of the best possible holiday options when you are planning a family getaway. Italians love kids, and the whole country is very much geared up to welcome families.

That being said, here are a few tips that will help you to get even more out of your time in Italy as a family.

Choose a great destination (or three)
There are many great destinations in Italy for family holidays. In fact, there are so many that often you will want to choose two or three and move between them, which is exactly the type of holiday we provide at Family Holidays Italy.

Just as an example, you could head to Lake Como in the north for an adventure-filled outdoor holiday of hiking, biking and swimming. Then you could fly down south to the Amalfi Coast for some lovely beaches and stunning scenery. And then you could end it all enjoying the world-class attractions in Rome.

There are endless options to choose from, so you can create your ideal trip based on your personal preferences.

Hire a car if you stay in the country
If you do decide to stay for part of your trip in the countryside, it may be a good idea to hire a car. Trains are fine for getting between large towns, but a car allows you to explore much further in the country, and it will open up so many options for you when it comes to going on family day trips.

Find suitable accommodation
Italy is very child friendly, but you should still make sure you look for accommodation that is suitable for your group. A few things to consider:

• check that your hotel or villa provides a cot if you need one;
• choose somewhere central if you stay in a town or city to cut down on travel time;
• find somewhere near to a beach if you want to ensure the kids always have something to do;
• rent an apartment if you want to enjoy more space and freedom.

Be patient and take it slowly
Don’t try to rush things on your family holiday in Italy. Italy is a place to take it slowly anyway, but even more so with kids.

There is always a danger in Italy that you will want to see everything. This is never possible, and even less so on a family holiday.

Plan to take it slowly every day and understand from the start that you will only get to see one or maybe two attractions a day.

Save money on meals
Food is fresh and delicious in Italy, and it won’t be hard finding something the kids like because pizza and pasta are everywhere.

To save some money, eat your bigger meal at lunch because the set menus are often cheaper. Or if you stay in a hotel, look for one that includes breakfasts so you can get the kids filled up early in the day. If you are planning to go sightseeing, pack picnics to save on the costs of eating out.

See at least a few of the top attractions
Children will not want to be dragged around museums and galleries all day, but there are some major attractions that are likely to impress them.

For example, the Colosseum, the catacombs in Rome, Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are safe bets for keeping the kids interested for a while.

Churches can also be great. Head to the dramatic churches like St Peter’s in the Vatican or the Duomo in Florence, and you are sure to keep them happy.

Seek out kid-friendly activities
As well as major attractions like the above, also seek out some things that the kids will love, like like waterparks, theme parks and zoos. For example:

• Miniatura in Rimini where you can see famous buildings in miniature;
• Gardaland in the Lakes region, which is the biggest theme park in the country;
• Villa Borghese in Rome, which consists of a huge park and a zoo.

Make your family holiday one to remember
Italy is a great choice for your family holiday, but just remember these tips when you are planning your trip to get even more from the experience. Then, whether you spend your time exploring the cities or getting lost in the great outdoors, you know that your kids will be having as great a time as you are.