Thinking of taking a family vacation to Italy? Look no further. First, let me start by saying, I started planning this trip at the end of July for our family to travel to Italy during Thanksgiving. This was my first time to Italy, so I knew nothing. Once I began researching, I quickly realized there were so many things I wanted to see. But I had to narrow it down. My daughter wanted to see “the Mama Mia houses”..which I translated into the Amalfi Coast. The summer of 2023, our TikTok’s were flooded with everyone traveling to the Amalfi Coast, so that’s why she chose that. She also requested “Alfredo.” So that’s where my research began: “Amalfi Coast, Alfredo, and Rome (of course).” It turned into a 10 day trip that ended in Dublin, which was just as magical as Italy.
# 1 ESSENTIAL TIP TO KNOW FOR FLIGHTS TO ITALY
This mama doesn’t like to be cooped up for long periods of time, so my plan was to upgrade to Premium Economy (with a little more leg room) regardless. Well, once I started looking, I was able to find where we could fly Business Class for $500 extra (I knew this would be our last huge family trip so I surprised the kids and splurged). I will say it took me a good 10 hours to find the best deal, but it was well worth it.
This is how I did it: USE Google Flights to do a search. Set it as a Multi-City search. Find a Connecting Hub (such as JFK, Philly, Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, or Miami) that you are willing to fly into. Be Flexible with your dates and consider staying 1 night at your connecting city. I found this makes a HUGE difference. I literally saved $30,000 on business class seats by doing this.
So this is what my flights looked like:
Sat: New Orleans-Charlotte, NC (stayed overnight in Charlotte)
Sun: Charlotte, NC-Madrid-Naples (4 hr layover from Madrid to Naples)
Thurs(Thanksgiving): High Speed Train from Naples to Rome
Sun: Flight from Rome to Dublin
Wed: Dublin- Dallas, TX-New Orleans
CHARLOTTE
Stayed at Courtyard Charlotte Steele Creek. Ubered from the Airport and it was within walking distance to restaurants and an outlet mall. Although, I didn’t shop because I knew I needed the room in my suitcase.
Around lunch on Sunday we arrived early at the airport because we had access to the Flagship American Airlines Lounge. This was super nice. At this point the kids did not know about First Class. They thought I had alot of American Airline miles and that’s why we had access. Not true. They had sandwiches, beer, wine, snacks, and a guacamole bar. It was so nice.
Surprising the kids with first class seats. They had no idea until this moment.
Me in First Class on American Airlines 777-200 from Charlotte to Madrid
Everyone in their seats before take off. My daughter, ex-husband (a story for another day..lol), and son.
Main Entree was steak and potatoes. With a double vodka/cranberry. I had quite a few of those.
Time to get some rest. Beds lay flat and was very comfortable. I did not sleep. I was too excited and was enjoying the full experience in First Class. It caught up with me once we landed in Madrid.
Breakfast Time! Egg Frittata, Biscuit, Fruit, and Coffee. This was served about an hour before landing in Madrid.
Too many vodka/cranberries plus no sleep on the plane =me being very tired waiting for the next flight. So I put on my eye mask and try to take a small nap.
Essential tip #2: picking the perfect hotel
naples
Our first stop on our Italian adventure was in Naples, Italy. Our plan was to explore the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. For 3 nights we stayed at the most charming hotel, La Medusa Boutique Hotel. This delightful hotel gave us the feeling of being guests at a private villa rather than a typical hotel. My daughter and I shared a room, which had a balcony with a breathtaking view. The balcony overlooked an enchanting garden, a serene pool, and a relaxing spa area.
But the highlight was the view of Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano known for its eruption that buried Pompeii. It was a surreal experience to wake up to such a historic sight every morning.
One minor drawback was the fact that we needed to rent a car due to the proximity of the places we wanted to visit. The hotel had limited restaurants and activities nearby, which led us to stay put once we returned back from our tours during the day. However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It provided us time to recuperate from our jet lag on the first day and rest up for the remaining time we had in Rome and Dublin. La Medusa was an ideal starting point for our Italian vacation, blending relaxation with the beauty of Italy’s landscape.
rome
Staying at the Barocco Hotel in Rome was magical. It’s right in the middle of everything, with quaint restaurants and shops around every corner. It was centrally located, which made it super convenient for getting around and checking out the city.
I loved the old-school vibe of the place, especially how they use classic key slots. Whenever I went out to explore Rome, I’d leave my key at the front desk – felt like I was in a Western, but in Italy.
Want to know the best part? The private rooftop spa that had a hot tub, lounge chairs, and even a sauna. It had the perfect terrace with views overlooking a fountain. It was the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring.
So, if you’re looking for a cool place to stay in Rome that’s got a mix of old-world charm, Barocco Hotel is the place. It’s a great central spot for exploring the city. I will definitely be staying here again.
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