The best hotels in Rome for families in 2024
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The best hotels in Rome for families in 2024

Finding a family-friendly hotel is never easy. The options are typically limited to squeezing in a single rollaway (not helpful for your two teenagers?!) or booking two separate rooms and splitting your family.

You’re faced with the same issue when trying to find a family-friendly hotel in Italy! Many families opt for an Airbnb instead, but I know the guaranteed cleanliness of a luxury hotel (and the buffet breakfast) is enticing so I asked travelling parents where they’ve loved staying with their families here, and these are their recommendations. 

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The ultimate two-week summer trip through Italy with tweens and teens 
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The ultimate two-week summer trip through Italy with tweens and teens 

Ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through Italy with your tweens and teens? This itinerary takes you from North to South with stops in Venice, Florence, Rome and Puglia. It promises to keep everyone entertained, enlightened, and well-fed as you explore the best of Italy’s vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.

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Rome’s most fun local guide for the Colosseum and Rome with kids
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Rome’s most fun local guide for the Colosseum and Rome with kids

Let me introduce you to Mariaclaudia. You’ll find her recommended in all the family-focused Facebook travel groups, and for good reason. I recently spent an afternoon photographing a family enjoying one of her tours and like all the reviews you read, I can’t recommend her highly enough. She’s fun, she can adapt to connect with family members of all ages (even your teenagers!) and personalities on her tour, and most of all, she leaves you feeling that little bit more knowledgable but still wanting to know more, without the overwhelm. A feeling that is sure to encourage your children to continue their learning. 

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The ultimate guide to Truffle Hunting in Italy
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The ultimate guide to Truffle Hunting in Italy

Italy is not only renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and mouthwatering cuisine but also for something hidden beneath its soil – truffles. And what better activity to escape the crowds of Rome and Florence than a typical Italian experience that combines nature, food, history and maybe even a cooking class and lunch? That’s what Truffle Hunts throughout Italy offer and in this blog post, you can learn all about them and find the best one for your trip!

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Northern Italy 10 Day Itinerary from Venice or Milan with Kids
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Northern Italy 10 Day Itinerary from Venice or Milan with Kids

Planning a trip to Italy, especially for the first time or with your family, can be both exhilarating and daunting. Despite Italy's compact size, comprising just 3% of the land area of the United States, the country is brimming with an abundance of cultural treasures and picturesque landscapes to explore. However, in such a small country, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of trying to cover too much ground in one go, leaving you exhausted and feeling like you've barely scratched the surface of what Italy has to offer.

So how should you spend 10 days in Italy after flying into Venice or Milan?

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The Best Family-Friendly Day Trip from Rome
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The Best Family-Friendly Day Trip from Rome

Rome is a fabulous city with kids, and you are going to have a blast while you’re there. But it has to be said, that the buzzing city can be overwhelming. If you’ve booked Rome as a base for your dream Italy vacation and have 4+ days, you might be considering options for day trips or afternoon outings, outside the city- after you visit the Colosseum of course!

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A step-by-step guide to your family vacation photoshoot in Italy with Classico Portraits

A step-by-step guide to your family vacation photoshoot in Italy with Classico Portraits

You’re planning a family travel adventure to Italy and intend to hire a portrait photographer while you’re here on vacation. So, it stands to reason that you’ll want to fully understand what’s involved in a vacation photoshoot in Italy before you book.

In this article, I’m going to reveal the step-by-step process of working with me so that you know exactly what to expect if you choose me as your Italy photographer, whether you’re visiting Tuscany, Venice or elsewhere!

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Is Italy still worth visiting in Summer even with the crowds and heat?
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Is Italy still worth visiting in Summer even with the crowds and heat?

As Italy continues to draw record-breaking crowds and with forecasts of 2024 being the hottest year on record, the debate over visiting during the bustling summer months intensifies. Despite the heat and throngs of tourists, Italy's natural allure, rich history, and culinary wonders will always make it worth a trip!

Discover how to make the most of your family trip amid the hustle and bustle with strategic planning and savvy tips.

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How Far in Advance Do You Need to Book Experiences and Family Activities in Italy
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How Far in Advance Do You Need to Book Experiences and Family Activities in Italy

If you’ve started researching your trip to Italy, you might have already learned the importance of making bookings early, particularly in high season for hotels and tours. Popular activities and experiences, including photographers are no exception.

As a full-service photographer, I often photograph families undertaking a favourite activity during their travels like learning to row in Venice, or truffle hunting in the Italian countryside.

As you can imagine, I’ve learned who to suggest you book these experiences with, (and who to avoid) to ensure a wonderful time. As you’d expect, the best service providers are often the first to book out.

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Vacation babysitters in Rome and throughout Italy
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Vacation babysitters in Rome and throughout Italy

Planning a family trip to Italy? You're in for an adventure! Italians truly adore children, and this love extends beyond their own families. When it comes to accommodating families on vacation, Italy's services reflect this adoration for kids.

In bustling cities like Rome, Florence, and Milan, as well as serene countryside locations in Tuscany or along the Amalfi Coast, finding reliable and trustworthy babysitters can be a game-changer for your itinerary. You might wonder about the logistics. How can you find trusted caretakers while travelling?

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Why Invest in Family Portrait Photography in Italy while on Vacation?

Why Invest in Family Portrait Photography in Italy while on Vacation?

If you’re planning to experience Italy with your family this year or next, it’s certainly worth considering hiring a professional family photographer, especially one with knowledge of the country and whose style of family portrait photography you love.

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Alba Truffle Hunt: Family-Friendly Experience and photoshoot in Piemonte
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Alba Truffle Hunt: Family-Friendly Experience and photoshoot in Piemonte

Among all this gourmet food and wine, you may be wondering what family-friendly activities there are in the Langhe?

Or perhaps you just want to build a break from wineries into your itinerary!

How about foraging for truffles?

I recently joined a young family on their guided truffle hunt just outside Alba and I highly recommend it. It was so lovely to head into the countryside, dig in the dirt and learn all about the truffles!

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A unique tour from Barolo: see The Langhe by Tuk Tuk
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A unique tour from Barolo: see The Langhe by Tuk Tuk

This cute little “tuk tuk” in Italian is called an “Ape”, pronounced “ahh-pe”, which means bee!

They’re traditionally used by farmers but in recent times they’ve been popping up beautifully converted into a kind of tourist taxi.

This particular one is in Barolo, available for a tour through The Langhe in Piemonte. But you’ll find them throughout Italy! Keep reading to find out where!

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Langhe Accommodation Recommendation: Casa Di Langa
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Langhe Accommodation Recommendation: Casa Di Langa

I first visited Casa di Langa to photograph a Brazilian couple in one of 39-rooms, and I can say, the five star hotel is absolutely spectacular. It operates on 100 percent renewable energy, is plastic free, and recycles all of the water used to irrigate its vineyards.

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Style Guide: What to wear for your family photo shoot in Italy
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Style Guide: What to wear for your family photo shoot in Italy

I try to hire a photographer every couple of years for my own personal photoshoot. I do that for a few reasons. Firstly, to update my wall portraits! And secondly, to remember how it feels to be on the other side of the camera. Every time, without fail, I end up with every item of clothing I own lying across my bed (and spilling onto the floor) as I try to find the perfect outfit. It adds completely unnecessary stress to the day, and all because I don’t follow my own process. So don’t be like me! Be like my clients!

Here are some tips to get ready for your photo shoot in Italy, stress-free!

  1. Pick a photographer who can guide you on what to wear

  2. Decide on outfits well in advance and ensure they’re washed (undies too) and pressed the day before

  3. Have a backup option available, and be a little flexible

Okay so you’re following those three steps, but what should you actually wear? Continue reading for the tips I send my clients to get them started in packing the right outfits for their vacation photoshoot!

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Family-friendly sailing from Brindisi in Puglia
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Family-friendly sailing from Brindisi in Puglia

Stunning Baroque towns, crystal-clear seas to unwind, caves to explore and arguably home to the country’s best Gelato- that’s Puglia, “the heel of the boot”.

It gets super hot in summer to vacations on the peninsula are all about the sea. Like the entire Italian coastline, the best beaches are almost always paid (lido) and packed so when you’re ready for a break from the crowds but don’t want to part with the sea, sailing is the perfect solution.

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