Reply to Mediterranean cruise or land tour for first Europe trip with kids?

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[quote=Anonymous]OP, there are probably easier and equally enjoyable options for a first European trip in summer: the UK, Northern Europe like Scandinavia, or Central Europe like Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc.   All very easy to visit these days; good for a land tour using trains, no driving required, cooler temps, and excellent base locations for day trips.

But as you say you have "narrowed it down" to Italy and Spain, I have experience with Italy, which as a young family you should probably DIY on land. Your money will go a bit further than on a cruise where you will be paying for amenities and services you may not need that are not central to visiting Italy, and you can choose among many family friendly accommodations and activties.  It's a little more chaotic than Northern Europe: hotter, more likelihood of strikes, pickpocketing, crazier traffic. I don't know how the Jubilee year will affect this; it could be a factor, especially in Rome. Unless you stay in the few hotels that can accommodate four people, you will need 2 rooms or an apartment (AirBNB, ItalyPerfect, etc).  But the food is familiar, the landmarks are well known, arrangements can be made largely online, and English is widely spoken in the most popular areas where you will want to go as a first time visitor.  By the way, the cruise itinerary mentioned above sounded great to me, but I'd rather be immersed in Italy if I had not been before.  So choose 2-3 cities and spend some time in them, take the trains between them, maybe a private tour or two.  You haven't mentioned whether your family is more oriented toward history, culture, or outdoor activities, but Rome, Venice, Florence, the Italian Lakes, Cinque Terre, are all fantastic destinations.  (Milan has some attractions that can be done in a day from Varenna on Lake Como, Pompeii can be a longish day trip from Rome.)

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