Originally Posted by
Ignutzz
Italy Xmas to NYE (2025 - planning ahead)
Grandparents: late 70s, still active - skiing, yoga, etc. so can walk distances easily, but still.
Parents
Teens - 13, 19
Looking for accommodations: could be 3 hotels rooms, could be 1 room + family suite, could be apt with 3 rooms in Rome. Dates are roughly Dec 20 -25th (then going on to Tuscany and Venice. The highest priority is location. We will be seeing some historical stuff/museums, but perhaps less than most. The kids don't have much interest in art so that will need to be balanced. We will want to spend time exploring Jewish history/ghetto area. We do not need fancy/luxury, but want something nicer than spartan accommodations. I've read the whole thread and made notes, but hoping for updated reviews and suggestions. Thanks very much!
And if anyone has further thoughts on similar accommodations in Venice, I'd love to hear it. Also, we'd love to stay in the Tuscan countryside (rather than Florence) but I'm wondering if given the time of year, that's a less good idea. If it were spring/summer/fall, sure. But in winter, are we better off being in Florience rather than at a tiny country inn?
Relative to Florence vs the countryside, we have a home in Tuscany and spend Christmas/New Year there often. Both Florence and being in the countryside are great that time of year. It all depends on how much time you have and what you want to do. Relative to Florence, last year we spent a couple of days there before Christmas (Thursday - Saturday) and it was magical - particularly in the evening with the lights in Piazza Della Repubblica. Relative to the countryside, if truly the countryside (house/villa outside of a borgo) that shapes up as family centric - maybe excursions to a close by town. Alternatively, you could stay in a small town but then I would look to find one with some holiday activities. If you haven't spent much time in Florence, I'd recommend that over the countryside for Christmas. If you do decide to go for the country inn, look for nearby Christmas festivities/activities that would have the inn staffed and operating rather than on a skeleton crew.