With a group of six, try and minimise airline travel cheap to europe the luggage. Carry on may be doable - and certainly you don't want to be travelling with six suitcases. Experiment with packing now - maybe you need just a single suitcase plus carry on bags. Certainly if you are taking trains, less luggage is good.
Carry-on only is possible. It just requires careful clothing selection. Things need to mix and match and work well in layers, probably exactly the way you dress at home. I wouldn't take jeans because they're not warm and take forever to dry.
You can always buy cheap umbrellas if you need them, but I would pack hats, gloves, waterproof shoes and versatile jackets/coats for all. You don't say where you're going or what you'll be doing, but it's not likely you'll need expedition wear. Just a waterproof coat with insulation (either removeable or as a separate layer). Check the forecast before you go, and if it looks like it will be really cold throw some thermal underwear into your luggage. I would concentrate on comfort over style.
You're probably taking a train between Florence and Rome. If so, it's easier to deal with 3 or 4 suitcases than with 6. I don't think it's realistic to expect to pack everything into 1 or 2 bags. If you have bags no larger than 24" you will be able to put them on the overhead racks on the train and keep them near your seats.
For a relatively short trip, I prefer airline travel cheap to europe not to check bags. If a good portion airline travel cheap to europe of everyone's stuff is in a checked bag (or two) that doesn't arrive on time, then you're all in a pickle. I would have each person be responsible for at least a small bag (or backpack for the 9 y.o.) holding some of their stuff. airline travel cheap to europe Mom and dad can take larger bags (still carry-on size) to handle the overflow.
Mom..You carry the passports, itin. erc., Dad, you carry the copies of pp, itin and cc. Boys, you carry your own stuff in a soft backpack that you can shove into small places. Carry ons will work. They did for self, 2 daughters and 2 teen granddaughters airline travel cheap to europe for 4 weeks in the summer. You just can't have a different outfit every day.Underwear and sox yes but not jeans. Practise rolling you items, fit everthing into something else(sox, underwear into the shoes) It is surprising what you can fit into a small carryon bag and backpack. Keep you IPAD or whatever electronics you may have in your possession (hands on) at all times. Don't take earphones airline travel cheap to europe but buds. You will have such a good time.. Happy trails..as in contrails!!!
I would check the weather a couple of days in advance and then decide to take a mid weight preferably waterproof jacket. I think real winter coats would be overkill (what do you do with them if it's 55?). But be sure you each have 2 pairs of waterproofed comfy walking shoes ( may not dry out overnight). And I prefer a hooded rain jacket (but not heavy - or even lined).
They can be either or!! I took a plastic poncho airline travel cheap to europe from a dollar store that folded up and fit in my back pocket. DD thought I looked terrible but I was dry. In C.Terre on my first trip (I had 2 in 2011 12)I had to beg a plastic bag from a shop as it felt like a deluge..SO-o-o-o the poncho for trip 2. When you need protection you really need it, in my experience!! ND weather will not be experienced at all but the cold (if there is any) will be a different kind and can be miserable. I have always felt 40 below F (Alberta) airline travel cheap to europe with no wind is lots easier to handle than 0 to 10F in MI. Florence in April was bitter but there was a damp wind..so there you go.. Layers for you all.
I think a small light bag each far easier to deal with than fewer bigger heavier bags. Each person takes responsibility for their own bag. Manhandling large heavy bags is just no fun at all. And backpacks airline travel cheap to europe definitely easiest for kids - much kinder on their backs and easier to carry.
When we've traveled that time of year (Italy) we've worn jeans and boots or heavy shoes, had a shirt, sweater, and worn a windbreaker for him (Scottevest) and a short black trench coat for me, also Scottevest, with a ton of pockets. (Never wear jeans there in summer, too hot, but perfect airline travel cheap to europe for winter-to-spring.) airline travel cheap to europe Anyway I would go with layers of shirt sweater jacket. Agree gloves and hats take up little room and can be quite good to have. I personally bring a small travel umbrella but have also bought them there especially in the cities like Florence.
Packing options include the tight rolling method mentioned above--personally airline travel cheap to europe I think you get the most packed in this way--or a nice organization method is the very light mesh cubes (Rick Steves and other places sell them).
As a, Scot used to travelling to Europe with kids. Wear layers: an undershirt airline travel cheap to europe (what we call a vest!), shirt, woollen pullover and good quality waterproof wind breaker (cagoule). Jeans are fine, but suggest thin waterproof trousers to pull on. We have light-weight airline travel cheap to europe down gilets ( your vests) airline travel cheap to europe which roll into nothing and fit under a cagoule. One pair of sneakers will be fine. If it gets very wet, buy cheap one in a large supermarket that you can leave behind.
I suggest the kids each take a rucksack with things they'll need for the journey - so they don't get bored on the train. But leave room for their own cagoule, waterproof trousers, hat and gloves and wash kit. Get them to leave space for water bottles and souvenirs.
Keep rucksacks well closed. Wear money belts under your clothes and keep copies of everyone's passports and insurance, both in case they get stolen and if one of you needs medical attention (God forbid!) or needs to make a report at the police station for theft.
Don't take expensive iPads or electronic games and cameras etc, you'll invite airline travel cheap to europe trouble. I suggest you go back to old fashioned games like ludo, cards, battleships, hangman, puzzle books, colouring, sewing, toy cars, reading books (comic airline travel cheap to europe books even) and disposable cameras. We've discovered backgammon and have competitions. Depending on the age of your kids, you could give them little presents (mini packet of candy, cards, crayons, car, etc) every 3-6 hrs. Get them each to keep a diary with pictures and postcards and tickets so that they can show school back home.
You can (and should) do carry on only. Six tickets entitle you to six 21" rolling airline travel cheap to europe bags (and six 'personal items', eg. computer, pocketbook, small day packs). The people who say six bags are hard to travel with are not thinking of the fact that there are six people. Everyone is responsible for their own bag - on trains, in airports, getting to the hotels, etc. Might not be true of a four year old, but 9-17 year olds are able tobe responsible for their own stuff.
If you wear jeans at home most certainly bring them. They should be plenty warm for that time of year in Italy. You can always bring thin long underwear for underneath if the event of exceptionally cold. And layers for the tops - thin top, medium sweater, jacket. I have a very thin, but down filled jacket that fits nicely over a sweater, airline travel cheap to europe it also fits under my rain coat so I layer and mix and match outer wear too. But not everyone has a combo that works like that. If you have a medium weight jacket that is waterproof that should do. I do agree that you need two pairs of footwear.
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