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Traveling to Rome and Don't Know Where to Start


kellycbr
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We were invited to join our old parish priest and his family that are traveling to the Vatican City in May to celebrate the canonization of Sister Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala. It seems like an amazing opportunity to witness the canonization of a new saint by a new pope, and maybe even an audience with his Holiness. So, where do I start? They haven't selected a date for sure, and I'd like to spend 10-14 days in Italy. We would be with our priest for a couple of days at the Vatican. Perhaps some time in Rome, some in Venice, I'd love to see Cinque Terre, Florence.......everything! My DS is 12 and DD is 9. Where would you go with kids and a DH who wants everything planned? He's a reluctant traveller, but I think flying on an airplane with a priest might make it ok:) I really don't know where to start to make this happen, and I dream of travelling with my family.

 

Kelly

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Sounds like a wonderful trip! I've been to Italy twice in my life but without children. We did just come back from a two week trip to Paris and then Avila Spain with a 13 and 10 yo. My advice is to focus on just some highights and not do a whirlwind tour of every site you've heard about. Kids get tired and overwhelmed. But a couple days at the Vatican sounds great. I'd do really touristy stuff like get a guide to take you around to see the sights of Rome. A memory just got triggered: my dh and I almost got locked in the catacombs. We were wandering around and they locked up on us but we shouted and the person came back and got us. That would have been a lovely night! Anyway, there is so much to see in Rome you could spend a full week there with visits to places in the a.m. and then just resting, hanging out or walking in the afternoons, so the kids don't get overwhelmed. I would highly recommend going to Assisi. What time of the year are you going? My dh and I went to Venice in late October/early Nov and it was raw, damp and gray. It was so gloomy that its charm soon wore off. We wound up buying tickets on an all night train down to Sorrento. Sorrento was absolutely gorgeous and we got over to Capri and saw the grotto there. Have you read Read Sails to Capri to your kids? Read that before you go, if you do intend to go down to Capri!

 

Anyway, I really don't have any great advice but I wish you a beautiful trip. And to go to the Vatican for the canonization sounds wonderful!

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What a great trip! I love Italy, and have spent time there with our kids. I can at least share what we did, and it might give you ideas.

 

We spent 4 days in Rome.

* One day at the Vatican (you could EASILY spend more there - the museum is the best I've ever seen). We were lucky and saw Benedict XVI while we were there.

* One day at the Forum and Colosseum. My favorite place in Rome....amazing for a history buff. We stumbled onto a free tour that was great.

* One day on a bus ride (tour) to Pompeii. This was better and bigger than we expected. A highlight!

* One day general sightseeing - Trevi Fountain, Capitoline Museum, Pantheon, etc. We also took a night tour back to the Forum, which was awesome.

 

We then rented an apartment in Florence for 3 weeks, and saw a lot. Here are the highlights:

* Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, Accademia Gallery (home to the David statue and lots more)

* Ponte Vecchio (famous bridge with shops)

* We took a train to Pisa and saw the tower & church

* We rented a car and driver and went wine tasting in Tuscany

* We took a train to Sienna

* We took a train to the Cinque Terre and had a great time, playing in the ocean and relaxing

* We took a train to Venice, and spent the night

 

The great thing about Italy (compared to most other European countries I've been to) is that you don't need the expense of a rental car. We were there almost a full month without a car, and we only rented one on the day we toured the Tuscan wine region. Easy train access from Rome to Florence (90 minutes) and Florence to lots of other places.

 

If your kids are into history, Italy will be a Disneyland to them. My kids were 7 (almost 8) when we went, and they never complained of boredom, even after 5 1/2 hours in the Vatican Museum. Too much to see and do in Italy to get bored!

 

Have a great trip and keep us posted on what you decide to see!

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Che fortuna!

 

Start with a map and several tour books. Try to read up and study what to see and do in Italy. Getting the most out of a trip to Italy will take some planning. Rick Steves' books can be a good place to start. So, initially, read a lot, create an itinerary, and then you could post your itinerary on a place like the Fodors forum for suggestions. People who have travelled there extensively -- and even who live and have lived there -- will give you all kinds of good advice. You'll want to schedule some down time, too. I'm taking an Italian class with a lady who lived there for ten years and she recommends scheduling the downtime toward the end of your vacation, usually. It depends where you'll be then. (If you can get your boys to sleep on the plane, that would be good. When we went to London recently, my youngest literally fell asleep for about 4 hours while sitting upright in McDonalds! The time change and long flight can be brutal.)

 

Every regione (Italian state) has its own kinds of distinct food. If you're traveling about, you will be in for a treat. Find out what each region offers. And research all the wonderful Mom and Pop places to eat! They are usually quite affordable and wonderful experiences, but Italy is the sort of country that eats well. Even a school mensa (cafeteria) will serve outstanding food. Italians don't settle for less when it comes to food! Don't worry about taking your boys to the restaurants because Italians loooooove children even if they are a little active. Personally, I love places that love good food and children. :)

 

Keep in mind that Rome and some of the bigger cities have a petty crime problem -- pickpocketing, scamming -- that targets tourists. The Fodors forum has posts about this, so definitely read up on the various ploys so you will know what's happening should something arise.

 

As for the language, set aside a little time each day to hear some of the common phrases and to learn a few phrases that might be helpful. Italians speak multiple languages but you will probably meet some who are not so fluent. They will try to speak English with you, though, so don't stress too much if you don't speak Italian.

 

Plan, plan, plan! You will be so happy you did once you are there.

 

Divertiti! (Enjoy!)

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I can't really add a lot more to the great advice you've already gotten, but I seem to remember that the Pope only has public audience on Weds. (and if he's in town). There's also a cool looking bug museum in Rome. I was SO disappointed when we showed up with the kids to look and it was closed. Being vacation and all we didn't realize it was Sunday :closedeyes:

 

We had the 6kids with us - 16 down to 3. We went easy on the museums and Churches. Kids like the Catacombs and the Colosseum. They also really loved the park in Rome - darn, I can't remember the name. The kids loved it because they could climb the trees there. It was a great place for them to run around and burn off steam.

 

Venice was our favorite city and the kids loved it too. We went to Murano for a day trip. The kids loved taking the water buses around Venice.

 

Cinque Terre was absolutely wonderful. Do try to go if you can. It was perfect for the kids. Such lovely vistas and a nice long leisurely stroll down the coast. We stopped at one or two of the towns and bought food at the local shops (cheese, bread and sodas) to eat along the way. Perfect. Local Italians are very proud of their local cheese. Very proud...and I was happy to oblige them.

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There's also a cool looking bug museum in Rome. I was SO disappointed when we showed up with the kids to look and it was closed. Being vacation and all we didn't realize it was Sunday :closedeyes:

 

 

This reminds me of another museum we went to in Florence that my kids loved. We called it "the dead animal museum" but it was a taxidermy kind of thing, with wax human figures and organs, too. It was used at one time for training doctors. Anyway, my kids, at 7, thought it was very cool. :)

 

 

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Cant help with the hotel part - we used Hilton points in Rome to stay at the amazing Cavalieri, and in Florence we rented an apartment. But for food, we usually ate at local restaurants near our place, and avoided tourist places. Italians are great at helping you muddle through their language. I carried an English-Italian dictionary with me, although in Rome lots of people spoke English.

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What a trip! Yay!

 

You've gotten great info. I'd also pick up a Rick Steve's Italy guide. I've found Rick Steve to have a good idea of what my teenaged boys would like. :0) And we stayed in many of his recommendations for lodging throughout Europe.

 

Do pay attention to the pickpocket threat--wear an under the clothing money bag and keep your ID and valuables in it. My dh was pickpocketed on an Italian bus--we were thrilled the gals (with babies!!!!) only got a packet of crackers. They were not amused--they shoved the crackers back in his pocket--that's when he noticed. So pay attention.

 

Enjoy! Have a lot of gelato!

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I adore Rome. We were there this past Sept and Oct. Do not pass up the Coliseum and the Forum! Schedule and entire day for just that.

The Vatican museum is stunning! It's also expensive. It was 15 Euro for adults and 9 for children. You could spend days there. It takes forever to get to the Sistine chapel (even taking the "short" route), but do not miss it. It will overwhelm you with its magnificence.

Pompeii! Just...wow. You simply will not believe it. Herculaneum is spectacular too and far less crowded than Pompeii. It's quicker (and super easy) to get there by train and not expensive at all. We usually travel first class in Italy, because it's not that much more expensive (as opposed to Germany, where it's almost twice the price!) and you have more room. You will need to validate your ticket BEFORE getting on the train. There are yellow boxes around where you stick your ticket and it gets validated.

 

There aren't a whole lot of chain restaurants, so everything is pretty much mom and pop. You will never have pizza so good. Though I think it's better in Naples than Rome. And the pasta! Oh, dear me. So good. Europeans eat much later than Americans, so many restaurants will be pretty much empty before about 7:30/8. Meals take a long time too. They bring food out when it's ready, so you may not all get your food at the same time. Oh, and if you do go to a restaurant that's busy (like during the day or late in the evening), you may end up sharing a table with someone else. The food isn't that expensive (IMO), but be warned that there are no free refills on drinks and water is just as expensive as a regular drink. During the day it's a good idea to grab a panini or something from a kiosk and eat sitting around one of the monuments. We frequently stop at a grocery store and pick up some bread and cheese, chips, fruit and a few bottles of water and eat that. It's soooo much cheaper. Some of the larger grocery stores have a sort of deli section with hot foods and we have picked up some of that and eaten it in our hotel instead of going out for dinner. Trust me, you will be tired and some nights the thought of sitting in a restaurant might be too much to handle. Also, Europeans, as a general rule don't do big breakfasts (except for the Brits, but they're a whole different animal), so it's usually croissants and jam, juice and coffee. Most hotels include breakfast, but it's not always spectacular. The higher the price, the better the breakfast.

 

Hotels...hmmm. That's tricky. It depends on your price point and what you're looking for. Unless it's a chain, they are usually pretty small and not nearly what you would find in the US. Also, the pics on the websites are often WILDLY misleading. We booked a quadruple room once and ended up in a double room with 2 cots and barely any room to move. It was hilarious to us. We've had great success with the Accor chain. The Mercure, Adagio and Sofitel hotels in their chain are nice. The Ibis hotels are clean and very sleek and modern and less expensive, but their beds are the most uncomfortable we've ever slept on. You get a boxed spring and a 2 inch piece of foam for a mattress. This holds true in every country we've stayed in one. I will never stay in another Ibis. My comfort is worth the extra money. :) You can check them out at accorhotels.com. Hotels are expensive in general though, so be prepared. Many of the hotels are not air conditioned (the chains are) and it can be quite warm in May, so you might want to make sure your hotel has it.

 

I hope you guys have an amazing trip!

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Reading with interest- heading there in June.

Are the money belts really something tourists use or are they tacky? And um, how do you get the money out when you need to buy something?

 

I think the money belt is for carrying *extra money* for later in the trip. I would keep money for the day in a cross shoulder, zipped pocket book.

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For food, if you want something between grocery store and restaurant, I recommend deli-type places. Here's a nice list for Rome:

http://www.guardian....best-delis-rome

(I am personally partial to Volpetti)

Yes, it is expensive, but you could easily spend more on a ho-hum tourist-trap restaurant. I am lucky to have family in Rome, so I fended for myself at lunch and had delicious, homecooked Italian meals for dinner. I pretty much ate cheese, salami, and bread OR pizza every day for lunch (along with cold, sauteed zucchini that my aunt kindly made vats of after I raved about it so much). Not many restaurant recommendations from me, unfortunately. But if you want to venture out for some non-touristy pizza and gelato, I have two recommendations near Gianicolo/Trastevere:

Pizzeria da Simone: http://www.tripadvis...Rome_Lazio.html

Gelateria Miami Beach: http://www.gelateriamiami.com/ (awful name, I know, but really excellent and reasonably-priced gelato--so much better than Giolitti, which the guidebooks all seem to rave about. My aunt used to live upstairs in the building next door, so I ate a LOT of gelato from there. Trust me when I say I've tried a lot of gelato in Rome.)

Both are mostly frequented by locals and students at the nearby American University of Rome. They are near each other but probably a bit of a hike from the more touristy areas.

 

Besides the big ones like the Vatican Museum and the major churches, I'd recommend making a reservation at Galleria Borghese and making a trip to Tivoli if you like gardens--you can visit Hadrian's villa and Villa d'Este, which is spectacular.

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I think the money belt is for carrying *extra money* for later in the trip. I would keep money for the day in a cross shoulder, zipped pocket book.

 

Well I am SO glad to hear that! I have a cross shoulder bag that I love, a safe back at the hotel, and a father who is footing the bill for the expenses. I'm set.

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I spent a little over a week in just Rome and I still didn't see everything I wanted. I do believe I'd go spend a couple/few months in Rome. I fell helplessly in love with it! :) Best advice I can give for Rome is walk; just get out and walk (with a good map, of course). We found the most wonderful places to eat, churches, and shops. Could you pack me in your bag? ;)

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I live in Italy.

 

-Rome is a special place. It's busy, very busy. Apartments will almost always be cheaper than hotels if you are staying for 4days+.

-Many cities, including Rome, have a CityPass available. If you're trying to see as much as possible, this is the way to go. You get prepaid public transport, free or reduced admission to museums, and a few other perks. When we did Verona the card paid for itself in 4 hours, not including the public transportation.

-Pay attention the the rules! Getting on a bus or train is not like getting on one in the states. You need to validate your ticket or risk paying a huge fine and being kicked off. There should be a reminder there for you.

-Don't eat the gelato. Seriously. You'll find it a quarter of the price outside Rome in any direction. Same with eating near any major attraction. Find an alley.

-and more on food: cappuccino is breakfast only. The Italians laugh at us for ordering it at any other time. Same with simple sandwiches, though those are more of a 9am-lunch thing.

-"Permesso" - Excuse me (let me pass), "Mi scusi" - excuse me (pardon the interruption)

-Look at everything you want to see on a map first and try to judge the distance from each other. It's a lot of walking or getting around.

 

 

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

 

And for fun - http://vimeo.com/32038695 Rome Reborn!

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Other resources you might find helpful are TripAdvisor and Tauck Tours (for itinerary ideas).

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187791-Rome_Lazio-Vacations.html (Lazio is the regione where Rome is located)

http://www.tauck.com/search.aspx?destination=Italy

 

 

A few Fodors links:

 

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/rome/

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/rome/itineraries.html

 

I agree that you might prefer to stay in an apartment especially since you will have four people. You might also want to have access to a washer/dryer if you plan to stay a few weeks in Italy. (Stay as long as you can!)

 

If you go to Venice, research restaurants there. That is the one city I hear people complain about having not-so-good dining experiences. You'll want to have some idea where to eat before you go.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I second the recommendation to get a Rick Steves guide book. My Rome one was invaluable for planning our trip. I also agree that in Rome you must visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum (they are next to each other), the Pantheon and all the sites nearby (Trevi Fountain, etc), and spend a day in the Vatican. St. Peter's Basilica is breathtaking. No picture can match the feeling of being inside that massive piece of art. It moved me to tears. I highly recommend taking a day trip to Pompeii. It can be easily reached by train. Also, be aware that not many Italians speak English so learn some basic words and phrases before you go; I really did have to use my Italian. We rented an apartment in Campo de Fiori through a place called Sleep in Italy, and I really recommend it. The location was absolutely perfect, and, in fact, we could walk to most places in Rome including the Vatican City. Rome is best seen on foot anyway and I feel like we experienced so much more this way. We shopped at the Roman food markets and cooked our own food at our apartment, which saved a ton of money and made us feel more like a local. It was really a neat experience. Also, do the walking tours in Rick Steves Rome guidebook. My favorite one was the Jewish ghetto walk, but we did 3 or 4 of them and they were all incredible. Oh, yes, and the CityPass is very handy. I believe there is also a package that gets you into some of the main sites as well if I remember correctly. If you do eat at restaurants be aware that most don't open until afternoon or early evening and that if they put bread on the table it is not free. You will make wonderful memories - Rome is an amazing city!

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If the city pass doesn't include the Forum and the Colosseum, or you don't get the pass, you can buy a combo ticket that will get you into both. Go to the Forum first as there is usually almost no line for tickets and then when you go to the Colosseum, you can go right without waiting in line (there is a separate entrance if you already have tickets). The line for the same ticket at the Colosseum can be up to an hour long!

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If the city pass doesn't include the Forum and the Colosseum, or you don't get the pass, you can buy a combo ticket that will get you into both. Go to the Forum first as there is usually almost no line for tickets and then when you go to the Colosseum, you can go right without waiting in line (there is a separate entrance if you already have tickets). The line for the same ticket at the Colosseum can be up to an hour long!

 

The Rick Steves Rome guidebooks will give you tips on how to avoid the long lines and they really do work!
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I have a question about apartments/hotels in/near Rome. If we wanted to go visit Rome, how would we go about finding an apartment to rent for a week? Also, when I look at tripadvisor, there are SO many hotels and they're so expensive. Any tips?

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I don't think I saw anyone mention the Scavi tour yet. We were in Rome about ten years ago and this was easily highlight. At the time, tours were conducted in English by seminarians living at the North American College and were limited to 10 or 12 people. It's an amazing, amazing tour but I think you need to make reservations well in advance.

 

We also really loved our day trip to Assisi. Part of me wishes we'd take the time to visit other Italian cities but, on the other hand, it was amazing to just wander the same city every day and get to know it a bit.

 

We found, too, that when we came back--despite having take a solid week to see a million things--people who'd been to Rome would say, "Oh, did you see my favorite xyz?" And we never had! There is just so much to do and see and this thread has only scratched the surface. So do your own research and figure out what sounds fun. But leave lots of time for just enjoying the culture and lingering over meals (the waiters respect you more and treat you better if you don't show up at 6:00 and leave within 45 minutes).

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But leave lots of time for just enjoying the culture and lingering over meals (the waiters respect you more and treat you better if you don't show up at 6:00 and leave within 45 minutes).

 

 

I agree 100% with this. We rent apartments/houses for 3-4 weeks, and it usually works out that every other day or so is "down time" - just to people-watch, relax at our favorite cafe, unwind, etc. Seeing museums and castles and ruins is awesome, but taking the time to soak up the culture is one of our favorite parts.

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I have a question about apartments/hotels in/near Rome. If we wanted to go visit Rome, how would we go about finding an apartment to rent for a week? Also, when I look at tripadvisor, there are SO many hotels and they're so expensive. Any tips?

 

We used http://www.sleepinitaly.com/ and had a great experience. We booked an apartment in Campo de Fiori which is very centrally located in Rome. It was perfect.

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We were lucky to visit Italy with our friends who are Italians. We did all the Rome stuff mentioned. Loved it all. My favorite day was spent in a mid evil town, Todi. So far removed from tourists and crowds. Really great food! We went to Lake Como and stayed far from the tourist part in a village. Loved it - we went to local grocery etc... Just relaxed and enjoyed being there. We are going in May with a school tour guide - I have a feeling it will be a much different trip.

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What a fantastic and historic trip! I would love to make the same pilgrimage. My favorite place in Italy is Venice, with Florence and Rome a close second and third. Venice is so easy to get around - just walk everywhere you want to go, and aside from the historic places, don't miss the Guggenheim museum.

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I don't think I saw anyone mention the Scavi tour yet. We were in Rome about ten years ago and this was easily highlight. At the time, tours were conducted in English by seminarians living at the North American College and were limited to 10 or 12 people. It's an amazing, amazing tour but I think you need to make reservations well in advance.

 

 

 

 

I'm glad to hear you say this- Dad wants a Scavi tour and I got on right away and requested it and we have a reservation. I was worried since they only let 250 people a day go on a tour- seems like we'd have trouble getting in. So when I received the confirmation email, I was thrilled since it's all he's been talking about. Glad to hear it's worth our time!

 

Every post in this thread has been helpful- for everyone who's been to the area, I appreciate your input. I live 900 miles from my father and planning his trip of a lifetime has been a challenge. My brother, who lives near my dad and sees him every week, has been to Rome twice and has offered NO help. What a brat.

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  • 2 weeks later...

What if a person wanted to stay for 3 months in Rome? Or anywhere else in Italy? Is there any way to find longer term and less expensive rentals? Or perhaps the problem is that we want to go in the summer which is probably the most expensive time of year.

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What if a person wanted to stay for 3 months in Rome? Or anywhere else in Italy? Is there any way to find longer term and less expensive rentals? Or perhaps the problem is that we want to go in the summer which is probably the most expensive time of year.

 

 

What are you willing to do?

 

There are long term rentals that do by the month but they're harder to find for lower than what's available weekly. But if you're willing to work, you can check out the WWOOF program. They also have links on their site to other similar volunteer organizations.

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What if a person wanted to stay for 3 months in Rome? Or anywhere else in Italy? Is there any way to find longer term and less expensive rentals? Or perhaps the problem is that we want to go in the summer which is probably the most expensive time of year.

 

Three months. Oh my -- heaven! You could stay one month or 3 weeks in various regions. That would be fantastic.

 

Try asking over at the Fodor's Europe Forum. You are bound to get some good advice from people, including US ex-pats, who have lived or are living over there.

 

Even though it's not located right by the big sites, the Trastevere (tras+Tevere = across the Tevere/Tiber) area of Rome might have some reasonable long-term places and it's a beautiful neighborhood.

 

Another idea is to look into staying at a Collegio, which is not a college, but a boarding school. In summer they sometimes rent out rooms. I have heard that Rome has one in the city that is reasonable, but I don't know for sure which one it is. You would have to ask. I have also heard that sometimes nunneries (I don't know the correct word) have a few rooms to rent, so that might be another idea. With both you'd have to follow their rules, such as being quiet or being inside by a certain time.

 

I cannot even imagine staying 3 whole months in Italy at this point in my life. What a fantastic opportunity!

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We all (kids, husband, and I) want to experience other cultures and really get to take in a place. Ideally, Id like to live somewhere for a year! If we do this, we'd all fly over with my husband, then he'd return to Alaska for work and the kids and I would stay. He'd come join us again when he could, probably in 1.5 or 2 months.

 

Besides wanting to stay and really take in the culture, the airfare is so expensive a longer stay just makes sense for the cost of getting there. LOL But the hang-up is the cost of housing. I've been quite discouraged lately looking up rentals.

 

Thank you, Lily_Grace and MBM, for your input.

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