Italy via Amsterdam in March with children practically
I will try to present the practical side of traveling through Italy through Amsterdam in March with children without sighing. In Amsterdam, cool is not the right word. Take padding jackets and moderately warm comfortable shoes. We bought hats there for 10 euros - our ears froze, the wind was cold. The Carlton Hotel is possible. Well located. Tourist information boutiques are often found on the streets - there you can take a map, booklets, tickets. They went to art museums in vain, paintings, children are bored. Good: wax museum (you can shoot a video with Chaplin and send it to your mail, put on a wig and Monroe's dress, etc. ) - dress nicely there and the Museum of Amsterdam (there is no Russian audio guide, but there is a brochure in Russian with a barcode, attaching which to the reader, you can view video clips in some places). That is, choose museums according to your interests. On a 2-storey tour bus with Russian. audio guide ticket is valid for 2 days. Save the ticket, in Italy they will give a 10% discount on the same there.
I really liked Amsterdam, a lot of museums, atmosphere, shops, people. The flight to Rome is within euros, so you don’t need to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance. Our flight opened an hour before. In Rome, you should not take the train with children, it's cold downstairs, there are a lot of people, it's better to take a taxi to the hotel. Taxi fares are more expensive on weekends. R Rome Hotel Relasis Fontana de Trevi - in the very center, not cheap. Hotel with breakfast, and in the evening to eat about 50-60 euros, with seafood-100 in restaurants nearby. Water is expensive, wine is cheap. A glass of limoncello-4-5 euros, in the store a bottle-15-16. Outlet - do not waste time, only men can hit the road alone - they have something to buy. You need at least 4 days to Rome. Very comfortable shoes, do not drag an umbrella, in March a sweatshirt is a must. Everything, including the Vatican, is quite interesting to see without a guide. But having read in advance or hiring a guide, it is probably more complete. In Russian lang. There are audio guides everywhere.
You must carry a copy of your passport (the passport itself) with you to rent an audio guide and issue a tax-free. From Rome to Venice by train - basically convenient, better first class - wider, fewer people. Tickets at Termini station, via the Internet type e-mail. plane tickets. The conductor reads after sending by barcode, the seats are indicated on the ticket, it goes quickly (Eurostar). Where single seats are air-conditioned, it is better to take double seats with children. At the station and in the squares in Rome, there are gypsies. They tried to take money out of my husband's pocket. In Venice, the botella from the station immediately at the exit goes with many stops, tickets are sold at the box office from 7.55 in the morning, sometimes walking faster. Hotel San Marco Palace is not bad, especially if a large room with a terrace. But the bath is uncomfortable to wash. Many Chinese fakes, look at the back of the brand and seal. They offer to take them to the factory for free - refuse immediately - they offer the same product,
just 5 times more expensive. Chinese mask-10 euros, handmade original 150-250 euros. But you can find Italian at an affordable price. Eating at a restaurant is also expensive. The same train to Milan is similar, fast, comfortable, the toilets are clean, they give drinks and nuts-cookies (Eurostar). Trains all depart exactly on schedule, you can’t be late, you can be at the station in half an hour. In Milan, the Brunileshi hotel is more like a business hotel, normal, not cheap, near the Duomo 5 min. The city of shops, there is nothing special to watch, after Rome there is none. Compared to Rome and Venice, there are few outlets to eat, which is also not cheap. Outlets are not worth wasting time, children's prices: burberry jacket 256 euros, Ferrari jeans 90 euros, t-shirts cl 40 euros. Women: top-80 euros, burberry coat 700 euros, dress 175 euros, shoes 100-150 euros. Men can choose jeans, jackets and T-shirts - the choice of sizes and prices are reasonable. Only men should hit the road for an hour and a half there, and an hour and a half back,
bus ticket (in the office of red tour buses) 20 euros, departure at 10 and return at 5. The stores have the same prices, but the sizes and selection are better. According to Milan shopping: expensive, nothing supernatural, only for those who care about IT. I liked the shops in Rome more, although I'm not at all in this area.
Taxi-free in Linate: customs window near the window number 60, where the airfrance check-in. The customs officer puts a stamp, looks (or does not look) at things, then hand them over to luggage, the issuance window after passport control, they issue them in dollars (not euros). The queue at the customs officer 2-3 people. For the issuance of money for some reason more. Who did not have time to cash out, if transit, you can in Amsterdam (also a queue). In principle, it’s simple, you just need to lay time in advance for this.
Bottom line: in March for Italy, normal, cool weather + with children it’s real even by trains + you need to lay a lot of money for food + very friendly people will always help you orient yourself + it’s more interesting through Amsterdam.
Have a nice trip!