Hard choice: Tuscany&Amalfi or Burgundy&Alsace (with a toddler in October)?

Hello,

We are planning a trip to Europe for about 2-2.5 weeks in the end of
September/first half of October. We used to travel there a lot, a
month every year at least, but this year we are going to take our 2
year old son with us (his first outing:-))). We greatly appreciate
wines from all the regions mentioned below, as well and food. We
understand that this time we do not have a chance of a nice meal in a
Michelan restaurant as our boy won't survive sitting still for a few
hours, and he does not care much (enough) about food:-)) However, we
would like to have some meals in good places if possible or maybe cook
ourselves sometimes.

I am trying to decide where to go and so far have come up with two
possibilities:

1. Start from Geneva, drive to Annecy (stay 1-2 days), then to Lyon
and up north first to Beaujolais region (stay there in a gite for 3-4
days, up to a week), then more up north to Burgundy(again 3-4 days or
more) and then to Alsace and Strasburg. Back to Geneva by train, with
possible stop in Bern. (We've been in Burgundy and Lyon before, but
not in Alsace).

2. From Rome go directly to Siena, rent an apartment or a house
closeby for a week or more, drive around to all nice places, and eat
all this marvelous food. Our toddler favorite is risotto even before
being in Italy.

Then drop the car, take a train to Napoli/Sorrento, stay in Sorrento
for a week without a car and move around (Napoli, Pompei, Positano)
either by boat or by train.

Although I've been in France and Italy at least a dozen times, I can
not make up my mind which plan is better this time. I've never
travelled with a toddler that jumps, runs and needs to be fed
relatively regularly. Also, we will be back to Europe next May, so
basically the choice is which of the pairs Burgundy&Alsace and
Tuscany& Amalfi Coast do in October and which later in May.

Any recommendations/ ideas are extremely welcome and I will really
appreciate them!!!

Thanks!!! Naum

Mamasha wrote:

Hello,

We are planning a trip to Europe for about 2-2.5 weeks in the end of
September/first half of October. We used to travel there a lot, a
month every year at least, but this year we are going to take our 2
year old son with us (his first outing:-))). We greatly appreciate
wines from all the regions mentioned below, as well and food. We
understand that this time we do not have a chance of a nice meal in a
Michelan restaurant as our boy won't survive sitting still for a few
hours, and he does not care much (enough) about food:-)) However, we
would like to have some meals in good places if possible or maybe cook
ourselves sometimes.

I am trying to decide where to go and so far have come up with two
possibilities:

1. Start from Geneva, drive to Annecy (stay 1-2 days), then to Lyon
and up north first to Beaujolais region (stay there in a gite for 3-4
days, up to a week), then more up north to Burgundy(again 3-4 days or
more) and then to Alsace and Strasburg. Back to Geneva by train, with
possible stop in Bern. (We've been in Burgundy and Lyon before, but
not in Alsace).

2. From Rome go directly to Siena, rent an apartment or a house
closeby for a week or more, drive around to all nice places, and eat
all this marvelous food. Our toddler favorite is risotto even before
being in Italy.

Then drop the car, take a train to Napoli/Sorrento, stay in Sorrento
for a week without a car and move around (Napoli, Pompei, Positano)
either by boat or by train.

Although I've been in France and Italy at least a dozen times, I can
not make up my mind which plan is better this time. I've never
travelled with a toddler that jumps, runs and needs to be fed
relatively regularly. Also, we will be back to Europe next May, so
basically the choice is which of the pairs Burgundy&Alsace and
Tuscany& Amalfi Coast do in October and which later in May.

Any recommendations/ ideas are extremely welcome and I will really
appreciate them!!!

Thanks!!! Naum

if I were traveling with a toddler, I'd rent an apartment -- and do day
trips around tuscany from there

Mamasha wrote:

Hello,

We are planning a trip to Europe for about 2-2.5 weeks in the end of
September/first half of October. We used to travel there a lot, a
month every year at least, but this year we are going to take our 2
year old son with us (his first outing:-))). We greatly appreciate
wines from all the regions mentioned below, as well and food. We
understand that this time we do not have a chance of a nice meal in a
Michelan restaurant as our boy won't survive sitting still for a few
hours, and he does not care much (enough) about food:-)) However, we
would like to have some meals in good places if possible or maybe cook
ourselves sometimes.

I am trying to decide where to go and so far have come up with two
possibilities:

1. Start from Geneva, drive to Annecy (stay 1-2 days), then to Lyon
and up north first to Beaujolais region (stay there in a gite for 3-4
days, up to a week), then more up north to Burgundy(again 3-4 days or
more) and then to Alsace and Strasburg. Back to Geneva by train, with
possible stop in Bern. (We've been in Burgundy and Lyon before, but
not in Alsace).

2. From Rome go directly to Siena, rent an apartment or a house
closeby for a week or more, drive around to all nice places, and eat
all this marvelous food. Our toddler favorite is risotto even before
being in Italy.

Then drop the car, take a train to Napoli/Sorrento, stay in Sorrento
for a week without a car and move around (Napoli, Pompei, Positano)
either by boat or by train.

Although I've been in France and Italy at least a dozen times, I can
not make up my mind which plan is better this time. I've never
travelled with a toddler that jumps, runs and needs to be fed
relatively regularly. Also, we will be back to Europe next May, so
basically the choice is which of the pairs Burgundy&Alsace and
Tuscany& Amalfi Coast do in October and which later in May.

Any recommendations/ ideas are extremely welcome and I will really
appreciate them!!!

Thanks!!! Naum

if I were traveling with a toddler, I'd rent an apartment -- and do day
trips around tuscany from there

Definitely Italy - that 1st trip sounds way too stressfull - I would
just rent 1 apartment in Tuscany & 1 in Sorrento or Amalfi or Ravello
& leave it at that. Travelling with most 2 year olds is very
stressful - why make it worse? Also, think of all the laundry you'll
be doing (my toddler had to be changed 3-4 times a day) & be sure your
apt. has laundry facilities.

Definitely Italy - that 1st trip sounds way too stressfull - I would
just rent 1 apartment in Tuscany & 1 in Sorrento or Amalfi or Ravello
& leave it at that. Travelling with most 2 year olds is very
stressful - why make it worse? Also, think of all the laundry you'll
be doing (my toddler had to be changed 3-4 times a day) & be sure your
apt. has laundry facilities.