Viva Italia - Questions

[pinkmomagain]

I am just about ready to book Viva Italia for my family of 5 for this summer. But before I pull the trigger, I have two questions:
1) Are we crazy to go in August? With the 3 kids in school/camp, August is really the only good time for us to go. Just concerned about what I've heard about the heat and also the fact that the Italians are on holiday in August.
2) Am I crazy to take my 5.5 yo on this trip? I have a 14, (then)12 and (then) 5.5 yo...so we have that wacky age difference.

If anyone can help me out, I'd appreciate it.

TIA

 

[sayhello]

Don't know how much help this is, but the Visa Gift card offer expires today.

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/general?name=VisaGCOfferPage

I did the ABD add-on to the Med cruise, and we had a 4-year-old. She did good on most of the excursions, but they left her on the ship for the days in Rome and Florence. You don't have that option on an ABD.

Sayhello

 

[pinkmomagain]

Thank you. Yes, I'd like to book today if at all possible to take advantage of the GC.

Hmm...my DH has brought up the cruise, but my concern is the rush-rush at every port for excursions. Also, I can't imagine we'd feel comfortable leaving her on board in childcare while the rest of us explore. But thanks for giving me something to think about. Good to know, at least, that a 4 yo seemed to hold her own on most excursions!

 

[corky441]

You - more than anyone - knows your child best

but, in my opinion - I don't think this is the trip for your 4yr old (almost 5) child.

There is a LOT of walking on this trip, especially in London and Venice. I don't know how accessable areas will be for a stroller and asking a 4 year old to do all that walking might not work out well for anyone.

It is a cultural experience and I don't think a child of that age will begin to grasp that.

 

[pinkmomagain]

Thanks Marilee. She'll be 5.5...going into 1st grade. She no longers uses a stroller...I don't even own one anymore.

Oh, she certainly won't get everything out of this trip...but given our family dynamics (2 much older kids)...if I wait for that, my other two might be married already! Ha, ha.

 

[mimmi]

I lived in Italy for a while (also during summer) and it's really hot, I visited many churches during those months because it was cool inside.

I took my daughter to Rome and Calabria for the first time when she was 16 months and couldn't even walk. We did a lot of sightseeing in Rome, took the train to Calabria and again lots of sightseeing there, no problem at all. Italy is extremely kid friendly, everybody tried to help us with the strollers, marveled at our little blond girl and tried their best to accommodate us. Since then We've been to Italy very often and my daughter (now 7,5 years old) has grown to love sightseeing.

It depends on your child, but I wouldn't say that a 5 year cold can't get anything out of a trip like this. When my daughter was 5 years old we went to Petra/Jordan and she was so impressed that she drew pictures of the houses for weeks afterwards.

 

[serenita05]

We did other trips before and found out that 5-6 year olds are the boarder of what we would except tfor them to enjoy.

 

[lb4747694]

We did other trips before and found out that 5-6 year olds are the boarder of what we would except tfor them to enjoy.

Kids this age really won't grasp the cultural aspect. My daughter was 6 when we took her to London. We spent a week and a half seeing all sorts of things. After the trip, we asked her what her favorite part of the trip was and she said "the hotel pool"

She was 8, when we did Hong Kong and Paris. She had a much better appreciation then. Even asking to spend more time at some of the museums.

The thing is, you just have to accept that chasing pigeons around the town squares will probably be the highlight of your daughter's trip. Also, you'll probably end up carrying her during the day.

It does get pretty hot in Italy in August. I don't think it's crazy, but it's not all that comfortable.

 

[zaminur143]

I am just about ready to book Viva Italia for my family of 5 for this summer. But before I pull the trigger, I have two questions:
1) Are we crazy to go in August? With the 3 kids in school/camp, August is really the only good time for us to go. Just concerned about what I've heard about the heat and also the fact that the Italians are on holiday in August.
2) Am I crazy to take my 5.5 yo on this trip? I have a 14, (then)12 and (then) 5.5 yo...so we have that wacky age difference.

If anyone can help me out, I'd appreciate it.

Great choice. Don't look behind. Just enjoy.