Many families prefer renting apartments in European cities as they offer more value and living space than traditional hotel rooms.

My issue with apartments is that standalone units can be a quality risk unless you are diligent about checking references (see my post on finding the best family-friendly vacation rental for more tips and links to resources). Moreover, the management of an apartment may be nonexistent which leaves you without someone to help with planning and logistics in a foreign environment.

Although I love visiting Florence in summertime when the weather is warm, a strategy is required to avoid an all-family meltdown given that the city is compact and during prime tourist season, it’s almost impossible to escape the crowds. The majority of the city hotels do not have swimming pools or open spaces for kids to run around. A bad combination.

Enter Villa La Massa …

Villa La Massa has been in our kid-friendly luxury portfolio for a few years now. It’s located …

We’ve had a glorious week in Tuscany. We took advantage of our crisp and clear day in Florence and climbed the 460+ steps to the top of the Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore) in Florence. What a view (and workout)!

This is a fantastic activity with school-age+ kids and was the highlight of this trip to Florence.

The magnificent city of Florence has so many marvels to explore that planning a family trip to the city can seem a bit overwhelming. Yet the beauty of this Renaissance city, perched proudly on the Arno and nestled amid iconic villa-adorned hills, is not lost on the little ones. Nor are the wonders of the local art and architecture.

With thoughtful planning that involves the children in crafting a family-friendly itinerary, Florence will inspire lifetime memories for the entire family in a lively, exciting environment …

Ciao Bambino’s roots are in family-focused trip planning to Italy and it is still our most requested destination by a long shot. Incredible food, a rich culture that loves children, amazing sights …

One of our clients traveled through Italy two years ago for 3 weeks—at the time their kids were 6 and 8. They loved their experience so much that they are doing it all over again this year—this time for 7 weeks!

I guess I have never really labeled myself as a foodie. But, when I travel, it truly excites me to eat my way though a new area, a new culture.