Family vacations in Europe are different than other vacations such as to Disney World, to the beach, to the mountains cross-country road trips. Having done all of the above with my family, here are some tips for families on how to enjoy your special European vacation.

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Vacation rentals come in all shapes, sizes and prices Vacation rentals range in quality from very simple apartments on working farms that might rent for $500 or less per week to luxury villas that sleep 12 or more and rent for $5000 or more per week. Vacation rentals are for everyone - single people or couples who want more of a home atmosphere, families who need to be able to spread out to keep the children comfortable, large groups who want a place where they can easily be together, foodies who want a place to cook with ingredients from the local markets, people with special diets who need to do some of their own cooking, people on longer trips who want to have a place where they can settle in so they are not on the go all the time.

You won't have a concierge or a front desk. Staying in vacation rentals is very different from hotel travel. You are on your own; there is no concierge to reserve restaurants or museum tours for you. Do your own research, read your guidebooks, make your day trip plans. There is usually someone nearby that checks you in and out, or is there for emergencies, but they expect you to be independent, not to rely on them to plan your day. Many times this person will not speak English, so a working knowledge of the language of the country you are visiting is necessary.

As last advice, Pauline recommends planning in one week, Saturday to Saturday segments and also booking six months ahead.

Slow Travelers Website  

Great Apartments in Rome

	Tip #2. Mom, Take a Break
We highly recommend rental accommodations like the Casa Rossa and especially enjoy the sense of what it might be like to live in Italy. A rental villa or apartment is, however, a house that requires a certain amount of housework and, if you are taking advantage of the kitchen, cooking. Mom, if you do the cooking in your home, you will probably do the shopping and cooking while you are on vacation, perhaps gladly, but consider giving yourself a break, and while in Italy you will have a very special opportunity and time to pamper yourself at a spa. The area near Siena has many spas to choose from. These are different from American "facial and a manicure" pampering sessions, but earthy treatments deep-rooted in Italian's long-held belief in the curative powers of the natural hot springs that abound in Tuscany. So, think about taking a break and sneaking away for restorative baths, mud packs, and mineral water therapy. To locate a spa, look for towns with the word "terme" or "bagni" in their names; the words mean thermal or baths. Two well-known spas near Siena are the Terme di Saturnia, south of Siena and San Casciano di Bagni where you can choose from scientifically termed treatments like hyper-thermal, sulfuric, calcic and magnesic water, mud-therapy, fango-balneotherapy, and pelobalneotherapy. Learn about these exotic and healthful treatments, plus enjoy a historic and cultural experience, and return to your family totally relaxed!

	Tip #3: Arm Yourself With Humor
Travel irritants are like a cloud of mosquitoes that can take the joy out of travel -- if you don't keep your repellant handy. And that all important repellant is humor. If your teenager is in a funk, reflect sincerely, "I can see how not being able to play computer games is a difficult change in your life," then find something to joke about. If a child is having a nuclear meltdown on the Capitoline steps, suspend reasoning with her; the wonders inside will never do. Hug her, sit down and relax, watch the street life, make up a really goofy story about someone you see on the street. On page 61 in the Italy Discovery Journal you will find that she is suffering from a documented (temporary) mental illness caused by exposure to too much art! Humor is especially important in dealing with Italians. We love their joy of life and part of that is finding humor in things great and small. Their political system, the Church, nothing is sacred from satire. Italians may have some small jokes at your expense and your only recourse is to laugh with them. A common "game" is the incorrect tally of your restaurant bill. Simply check it and if you think you see a problem ask you waiter nicely (no need to get belligerant) and he will play his role in the game of shock and surprise, recalculate it, and you can smile and laugh with him. Watch for a hand sign that indicates cleverness, "furbo," the right index finger pulls down slightly at the lower lid of the right eye. Type A personalities find dealing with byzantine Italian bureaucracies a challenge. If you find yourself steaming at some seemingly inefficient and counterproductive process in Italy, take a break, have a glass of wine or a gelato, and return with a humorous perspective. Cynthia Harriman's book Take Take Your Kids to Europe. embodies a point of view that will help you through your travels. It is a little light on Italy, but a good read all the same. I also recommend Rick Steve's lighthearted approach to travel in, for example, Rick Steves' Italy 2004.

	Italy Discovery Journal
Cynthia Harriman of "Take Your Kids to Europe" wrote of our publication: "Italy Discovery Journal is the best educational travel-guide available for kids. Starting with the reasonable assumption that other guides already list places to go and things to see, Pat Byrne has largely skipped those listings. In their place, she's created a unique collection of activities that encourage kids 6-16 to truly observe and interact with Italy during their visit. She challenges kids to describe Italian school uniforms, list weird snack foods, collect pasta shapes, and even look for people wearing charms against Malocchio, the evil eye -- just to name a few of the scores of activities included. Byrne's approach emphasizes that travel should be dedicated to meeting people and learning about a different culture rather than simply eyeballing churches and museums -- and she gives families an excellent set of tools to propel them in her recommended direction. As a veteran author of the leading Europe-wide family travel guide, I highly recommend 'Italy Discovery Journal' and anxiously await expansion of the series to other countries." Cynthia W. Harriman, author of Take Your Kids to Europe (Globe-Pequot, 6th edition 2004) The Italy Discovery Journal »

	Train Travel in Italy
Train travel throughout Europe is fun for kids and easy on parents. You can get to almost any town in Italy in comfort. No navigating, no parking hassles. You will have a chance to meet other passengers and view the countryside as it rolls by. You can easily stretch your legs and enjoy a yummy box lunch purchased from a vendor. Consider taking a sleeper train between major European cities. Children will love the experience of sleeping on bunks in a train. You'll save a night's lodging and wake up at your destination. This rail site offers rails passes and point-to-point ticketing and reservations, go to "Fares & Schedules" to get point-to-point information. Kids love to travel by train in Italy... »