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[quote=Anonymous][quote]We are starting a VERY long term plan to take the kids to Europe (specifically, at least Italy) next year or maybe in 2017. Kids will be 12, 7, and 5 (2016) or 13, 8, and 6 (2017).

Tell me about your European family trips...Can anyone help me get started in terms of planning and budgeting?

When is the best time of year re: crowds/prices/weather?
What did you do that you consider "can't miss" - and what are the places that you'd drop from your itinerary given a second try?
What travel websites or booking agencies did you use? Do I need a travel agency?
Did anyone rent a house? How?
Do we need a car?
What's a ballpark trip cost for a family of 5 who doesn't need anything too fancy?
Any great books or planning websites I can check out?

Thanks so much! [/quote]

We lived in Naples for 2 years a few years back (with 2 children younger than yours will be) and traveled all over Europe and of course Italy as well.  My first recommendation for a guidebook would be Rick Steves.  His Italy guidebook is wonderful, and he has more in-depth regional books for different areas of Italy.  One thing I would caution is try not to do too much.  How much time will you have in Italy for this trip? 
The Rick Steves book lays out itinerary suggestions for various trip lengths and they are pretty accurate in my opinion.

If your trip is on the shorter side, it doesn't make sense to travel south of Rome.  It is beautiful and gorgeous there (I know- I lived it everyday!), but it is out of the way and there is just SO MUCH to see in Italy that you can easily fill 7-10 days or more with Rome, Tuscany/Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre....

For accommodations, I highly recommend VRBO.  We used VRBO extensively in Europe and never had a bad one.  It is so much nicer with kids to be able to spread out a bit, and we would get breakfast stuff to have in the place because it's much easier to eat breakfast while getting everyone ready before starting the day.  Here were our favorites from Florence and another agriturismo (farm stay in Tuscany) we adored: 
Florence: http://www.casacaterina.it/index-florence.html  Great location, lots of room for kids.
Tuscany: http://www.romitoriodiserelle.it/

We used a VRBO in Rome as well, right off the Piazza Navona that was good, but I don't think it would be large enough for your family of 5 (it just had 2 queen beds IIRC).

My other piece of advice is to be realistic about what you can and can't do. A trip with children is a little different than a trip you'd do on your own.  Prioritize the most important sights for each place and try to get those in first.  For example, we really wanted to see the Sistine Chapel and at the time had a 1 and 3 year old.  Obviously their patience for a long museum tour in the heat of summer was not very long. So we got to the museum, headed straight for the Chapel, and then while the kids were still "happy" to be in their stroller with a lollipop we walked around the other areas of the museum for a bit. Until they were ready to get out, and then we left.
Also, pack snacks.  Especially in Italy dinner is not until at least 8, if not later, in most restaurants.  Prepare for this with lots of snacks!!
Also try to seek out parks and other things that your children might enjoy for a little break here and there to balance out the museums.  And realize that your youngest children will NOT appreciate the trip the way you will. And that's okay! It's just their first taste of international travel and they have many years to return and hopefully this first taste will expand their basic understanding of other countries and cultures different than ours. [/quote]

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