I have been asked twice about bring kids to Italy in the last month. Once by a coworker; once by an old friend – who is looking to join me on a trip next year. My first response, off the top of my head, is almost always no. There are always exceptions, and every kid is different. But generally, I don’t recommend it – I’ll get off my soap box now. For those brave few who tackle this daunting task I can lend some insight.
Here are the top 3 things to help your kids have a great time in Italy.
- Snacks. Let’s face it when we are tired, hungry, overheated, and missing the comforts of home, it always helps to have a comfort item to help deal with life. A heart snack for those kids, or adults, who either can wait to the next meal, or are having trouble adapting to a new diet, is a life saver.
- Water. More tourist die in Italy of heat stroke than anything else. The Mediterranean sun is deceiving and hits you hard – especially when you least expect it. Bring, or buy a bottle of water, and have it available when you’re out and about.
- Kid Zone. In all honesty, unless your kids love history and trying a new food, Italy doesn’t have much to offer in the way of kid friendly activates. Italy’s greatest strength is its ability to build memories. I find that parents who are great a building memories thrive in Italy regardless of who is along for the ride. I encourage parents to turn a park into a playground. Have a picnic. Throw a Frisbee. Pass a soccer ball. There is nothing like a relaxing day in a park in the middle of
- Food. Italy has an amazing kid centric dish that is a combination of American and Italian food. French fries and hotdog pizza is a staple among Italian kids. You can get them at just about any pizzeria.
- Cruise. The best way to see parts of Italy while having a great place for kids to play is on a cruise. There are many cruise lines that stop at major ports in Italy. You don’t get to see much of the country side, but if you want to hit a few major spots, and be able to keep an eye on the kids then a cruise is a great way to go.
I’m always curious about what other parents recommend when traveling with their kids internationally. Please don’t hesitate to leave your suggestions on traveling with kids.
