Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Planning
Accommodation
Your most important decisions will be about accommodation. In Milan, where accommoda-
tion can be scarce and pricey, book well in advance and opt for centrally located B&Bs or
hotels near a convenient metro stop. Around the lakes, you'll also need to book ahead for
high season ( Easter, July and August) and avoid low season when many places close.
Here, we highly recommend staying in
agriturismi,
villa B&Bs or well-serviced camp sites
(many of which also feature bungalows), as these often offer kid-friendly activities such as
swimming, horse riding and biking and many have in-house restaurants.
Driving
Most visitors to the lakes tend to drive. Fortunately, distances between destinations aren't
particularly long. Children under 12 are not allowed to sit in the passenger seat, and child
restraints and seatbelts are mandatory. You'll need to book car seats in advance from your
rental provider.
If you're travelling on public transport, note that a seat on a bus costs the same whether
you're an adult or child. You don't need to pay for toddlers and babies who sit on your lap,
though. On trains, discounts can apply if you're travelling in a family group - check the
'Offers and Deals' pages of the Trenitalia (
www.trenitalia.com
)
website.
Discounts
If your kids are EU citizens, they will almost always be eligible for discounted or free entry
to museums and other attractions. These discounts don't always apply to non-EU citizens.
There's usually three tiers of discount: free entry for kids under four years of age, another
tier for kids under 12 and a third for young adults up to the age of 18 and students up to the
age of 26 (with ID).
