Traveling with all of us is definitely different than trips with just my husband and I. There are a lot of logistics to work out. We do a lot of planning beforehand but there are just so many things that we can't know or figure out ahead of time. So here are some tips. Some are basic travel tips and some are specific to Italy.
1) Set Expectations - We always try to set expectations before we leave. For this trip we let the kids know that there were long flights and that they would be experiencing jetlag for the first time. We showed them the rental apartments ahead of time so they knew what to expect for sleeping arrangements. We also discussed that we would be walking a lot.
2) Be Flexible - There were many things we had to figure out and things that were just different. We did a lot of planning but also left a lot of room for flexibility.
3) Minimize Luggage - For this trip we each took one backpack. Our reasoning was that it's easier when flying internationally; if you check baggage you have to collect your bags and then recheck them anytime you go through customs. We also knew we were taking a lot of trains and were going to be walking in the cities, minimizing our use of the Metro. Backpacks would make navigating this all much easier.
4) Don't Overschedule - It can be tempting to try to see and do everything. We knew that the kids would have jetlag and we also knew that our 7 year old would only be able to do so much museum time. Before leaving we booked or planned one big thing for each city. Other than travel days we didn't have any set time to be up. We let the kids sleep in, had slower mornings and then explored more in the afternoons and evenings. We also had some evenings where some of the kids just wanted down time so a few of us would stay at the apartment and some would go out exploring.
4b) Plan Some Down Time - Our travel days were down days. We would enjoy the train ride, do some laundry, grab some groceries but basically just hang out and get settled in the new city. Often we would go out and wander a bit in the evenings but it was nice for those that wanted to just chill to have the option to just hang out and relax. While we wanted to see a lot we also wanted this to be a real vacation.
5) Use Public Transit - We booked all of our fast trains in advance. These were great as we had assigned seats with a small table so we would grab sandwiches on our way to the station and then eat lunch on our train rides. For longer trips within the cities; the metro is also very easy to navigate and you can just buy tickets using the machines at the stations. This makes it very easy to move around and between cities.
6) Use Rental Properties - We booked rental properties for all four cities. This meant we had access to laundry and a kitchen at each place. We ate breakfast and most of our dinners in the apartment. Also, having space to spread out a bit and hang out is also helpful.
7) Check For Discounts - Italy is very family friendly. The Frecciarossa trains have a Frecciafamily rate where the kids are discounted. Most museums are also free for kids under 18 and many other places have discounts for kids.
**side note, in the US kids are often seen as an inconvenience. We never felt that in Italy. Everyone was so welcoming and positive about the kids. Kids are expected to be out late, etc.**
8) Survey The Kids - We asked each of the kids if they had anything specific they wanted to see or do. Our youngest saw a train with two levels so the next time we were on a regular train we made sure to go up top so she could sit there. Another one was most excited to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Little things like this add to their enjoyment.
9) Check Sites Again - I had read so much about how you had to book things so far in advance because tickets sold out. We were able to get last minute or day of tickets to the Castel Nuovo in Naples, the Academia in Florence, Pantheon in Rome and the Doge's Palace in Venice. As I mentioned before we didn't want to overbook but once we were there and knew we would be up for doing more then we booked them. So always check again once you're there.
10) RELAX - There were some stressful moments but I kept reminding myself; God is here, we are all together, we'll figure it out. There were many more moments when I would just stop and soak it all in. Watching the younger two girls chase pigeons in St. Peter's Square, holding hands with my husband walking the streets of Florence while our kids ran and laughed ahead of us, listening to a symphony play in a Piazza, looking out over the city of Rome from the top of an ancient castle, going for a midnight walk with three of our girls and grabbing gelato next to the Arno River...and SO many more.
It's a lot more planning and logistics to travel with six kiddos but the memories, lessons, and experiences are always worth the time and effort.
No comments:
Post a Comment