Have Kids Will Travel – Our Family Trip to Italy

The English novelist and playwright, Fanny Burney, once said, “Traveling is the ruin of all happiness! There’s no looking at a building after seeing Italy.” Having just returned from a 12-day trip to Italy, I feel the full extent of that quote, and I’m just now beginning to process the experience. It’s impossible to synthesize everything into one post. So in an effort to honor the trip and make this as useful a resource as possible, I’ll start with an overview and packing list (scroll to the bottom for the list) and will then write four separate city-specific posts (Venice | Rome | Florence | Bellagio). I’m also planning to offer some fine art photographic prints for download. So be sure to stay tuned for those Italian City Guides and details regarding the prints. But first, a little backstory …

The Arch of Constantine spanning the Via Triumphalis, Rome. Photo by Shalene Roberts.

Broken Leg, Broken Heart

In February 2023, we were anxiously awaiting our upcoming March trip to Italy. But that all changed when my son broke his leg in three places sliding into second base just three weeks before our departure date. His injury required emergency surgery. Two rods and multiple screws later, we knew we would have to reschedule. We were heartbroken. Since we were also traveling with family friends, this meant they would have to travel without us or reschedule their trip as well. I don’t know why the Lord allowed the injury when He did, but I trust His timing and His goodness, and in His compassion He worked out the details. Our friends chose to reschedule with us. We chose a date in October and prayed for favor.

Slowly, our trip drew near. Then five days before our departure date, our flight from London to Venice was canceled without the option to rebook. We scrambled, found another flight, and finally embarked from DFW to Venice on October 10.

The canals of Venice. Photo by Shalene Roberts.

Itinerary

We arrived in Venice on October 11 and ferried via motoscafo across the Laguna Veneta to our hotel. We spent two days in Venice, then took a train to Rome. From Rome we trained to Florence, and from Florence we trained to Verenna/Lake Como, finally landing in Bellagio. We spent an average of three glorious days in each city, barely enough time to even scratch the surface. Since returning, I’ve been asked what my favorite city was, and I can honestly say I don’t have a favorite. Each city was beautiful and captivating in its own way. I will do my best to capture the essence of each in the forthcoming Italian city guides.

The view from our apartment in Rome. Photo by Shalene Roberts.

Packing List

Since we were traversing the country via plane, boat, train and car, we opted to pack lightly. Each of our 7 family members took one backpack and one carry-on. We did not check any luggage (I highly recommend this). This suitcase was essential and affordable! It took a beating and even endured being dragged a mile up a cobblestone trail in the pouring rain in Bellagio. If you’re looking for a durable suitcase for any travel, seriously … don’t look further! My husband packed everything into an Osprey, since he knew he would likely need to be hands-free to pull some of the children’s suitcases. He was right, although the kids did exceptionally well pulling their luggage across the country!

Walking the streets of Vatican City.

Here’s what else was on our packing list:

  • 1 pair of waterproof shoes (We took these. I HIGHLY recommend them. They were a lifesaver during the rain!)
  • 1 packable waterproof coat (This option worked really well!)
  • Neck pillow for the flight
  • 5 bottoms (two pairs of jeans, 2 skirts, 1 pair of joggers)
  • 5 tops (including two button-ups to dress up or down)
  • 1 sweater (I wore this cashmere Quince sweater almost every day.)
  • 1 dress
  • 1 set of pajamas
  • 5 pairs underwear
  • 5 pairs socks
  • Pashmina or shawl to throw around your shoulders when entering a cathedral or duomo
  • Air Tags and Air Tag watch bands for the kids (These provided great peace of mind.)
  • Power adapters. These Italy-specific adapters worked great for basic needs! And although these are a bit more expensive, they have 4 USB ports, which were nice when charging multiple devices.
  • JetKids Bed Box – OK, full disclosure. We made a last-minute call not to take this. Since we were doing so much walking and train travel with luggage in hand, it made more sense to give our daughter a traditional carry-on. However, if you’re planning a long flight with a young child, this is genius!
  • Minimal toiletries – Don’t overpack toiletries; Italian pharmacies (farmacies) are plentiful and well-stocked.
  • DSLR camera, extra battery, extra SD card. I took my Canon 5d Mark III with a 50 mm prime lens, and I’m so glad I did! Yes, your phone camera works. But it can’t capture Italy like a good camera.
  • Thieves essential oil, Thieves spray, hand sanitizer, Sleep Essence and UnWind. I was so incredibly grateful I packed every single one of these items. Thieves essential oil kept us healthy, boosted our immunity and was used as a buffer against the stale airline air. We used the spray to sanitize the train trays and our hands. Sleep Essence supported the adults’ sleep on the red-eye flights, while UnWind helped the kids rest.

If you’re planning a future trip to Italy with your family, dreaming of the day you can visit or simply indulging in wistful wanderlust, I hope this has provided some useful information and inspiration. I’ll be back shortly with the city guides for Venice, Rome, Florence and Bellagio, Until then, Arrivederci!

“You may have the world
if I may have Italy”
— Giuseppe Verdi

Watching Rome from our apartment.

/ / /

Don’t miss a post! Subscribe to get them straight to your inbox and check out my children’s book, Bruce the Brave, available on Amazon! Want to connect? Find me on Facebook and Instagram. To get a free copy of “Five Ways to Build Faith in Your Children”, drop your e mail in the subscribe box. You can also follow me on BlogLovin’.