France & ItalyFAMILY TRAVEL COMPANION
Family travel companion

France & Italy

November 3–16, 2026

All times are local.
Last updated: October 8, 2026

Before you pack

Pack for Vueling Airlines

Our Paris → Florence flight on Vueling sets the luggage limits for the entire trip.
Keep every bag within these limits—even if Delta allows larger or heavier bags.

1 checked suitcase

55 lb

62.2 in combined dimensions
Length + height + width

Exact airline limit: 25 kg · 158 cm combined

1 overhead carry-on

22 lb

21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in

Exact airline limit: 10 kg · 55 × 40 × 20 cm

1 under-seat personal item

15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in

Must fit under the seat in front of you.

Exact airline limit: 40 × 30 × 20 cm

Inches and pounds are approximate conversions. Do not exceed the exact airline limits shown in metric. Only worry about metric if you’re close to the limits.

Before we go

A few things to get ready

Do the downloads at home on wifi so they still work when we have no signal.

Offline maps

Paris · Metz · Florence · Rome

In Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Offline maps, and download each city. Offline maps help you find places; walking directions still need a signal.

How to download offline maps

Headphones

Bring headphones or earbuds

You’ll need them for the audio guides at Versailles and the Accademia.

In an emergency

Dial 112

It’s the emergency number in both France and Italy.

Getting there
Tue3Nov
TODAY

Flying to France

Two sets of flights, meeting up the next day.

Kara + Thomas · Sophie + Lila, on separate flights

  1. 5:07 PMKara + Thomas

    Kara + Thomas fly out

    BOOKED

    VPS → ATL on Delta DL2170, then ATL → CDG on Delta DL84. Arrive Wed, Nov 4 at 12:20 PM.

  2. 5:58 PMSophie + Lila

    Sophie + Lila fly out

    BOOKED

    SAV → JFK on Delta DL5460, then JFK → CDG on Delta DL266. Arrive Wed, Nov 4 at 12:40 PM.

Metz · Nov 4–6 · 2 nights

Metz

Two nights at La Citadelle, with time to see Jake.

At a glance

Wed · Nov 4Arrive in FranceTrain to Metz at 2:58 PMThu · Nov 5Time with JakeTime and place to be decided
Wed4Nov
TODAY

Arrive in France

Land at Paris-CDG, meet up, then the train to Metz.

Kara, Thomas, Sophie, Lila

  1. 12:20 PMKara + Thomas land

    Arrive at Paris-CDG

    Kara + Thomas land at 12:20 PM. Sophie + Lila land at 12:40 PM.

  2. After landing

    Meet at Terminal 2E Arrivals

    MEETING POINT

    Between Doors 8 and 10, after passport control, baggage claim and customs.

    Details
    Kara + Thomas will try to meet Sophie + Lila along their arrival route if airport access and the day’s gate assignments allow. Terminal 2E Arrivals is where we meet if we don’t find each other earlier.
  3. 2:58 PMarrive 4:48 PM

    TGV to Lorraine TGV

    BOOKED

    From the CDG Terminal 2 station.

  4. After 4:48 PM

    Transfer to La Citadelle

    BEING ARRANGED

    Lorraine TGV → La Citadelle. Pickup details to come.

  5. On arrival

    Hotel check-in

    BOOKED

    La Citadelle · two rooms.

Thu5Nov
TODAY

Time with Jake

Time and place to be decided.

All five of us

  1. To be decided

    Visit Jake at school

    TIME AND PLACE TO BE DECIDED

    We’ll share the time and meeting place once they’re set.

Paris · Nov 6–9 · 3 nights

Paris

All five of us, together for three nights.

At a glance

Fri · Nov 6Travel to ParisTrain at 10:58 AM, then the Big Bus tourSat · Nov 7Versailles and the SeinePalace 1:30 PM · cruise about 6:00 PMSun · Nov 8Private Louvre tour2:30–5:30 PM
Fri6Nov
TODAY

Travel to Paris

Train from Metz, bags at the apartment, then the hop-on hop-off bus.

All five of us

  1. 10:00 AMpickup

    Transfer to Metz-Ville station

    BEING ARRANGED

    Pickup at La Citadelle. Everyone downstairs and ready with bags at pickup time. Pickup details to come.

  2. 10:58 AMarrive 12:21 PM

    TGV to Paris

    BOOKED

    Metz-Ville → Gare de l’Est · all five of us.

  3. 12:21 PMafter the train

    Van to the apartment

    BEING CONFIRMED

    Gare de l’Est → Edgar Suites. Airporter Paris, van for 5 + luggage. The driver waits with our name.

  4. On arrival

    Early luggage drop

    CONFIRMED

    Edgar Suites · Apartment 303 J. We can leave our bags before check-in.

  5. Afternoonafter the bags

    Hop-on hop-off bus

    BOOKED

    Big Bus 48-hour pass. Hop off anywhere along the route.

    Details
    Valid for two days and includes the Seine cruise on Saturday. The last pickup at the Eiffel Tower is at 6:50 PM. Everyone downloads the Big Bus app first, and we’ll split the ticket before it’s activated.
    Big Bus Tours
  6. 3:00 PMcheck-in opens

    Apartment check-in

    BOOKED

    Edgar Suites · Apartment 303 J.

Sat7Nov
TODAY

Versailles and the Seine

The palace at 1:30 PM, then the evening cruise.

All five of us

  1. 12:30 PMabout · pickup

    Van to Versailles

    BEING ARRANGED

    Pickup at 25 Rue du Jour, ready downstairs. This gets us there for our 1:30 PM entry.

  2. 1:30 PMentry

    Palace of Versailles

    BOOKED

    Château, Pavillon d’Orléans entrance, with skip-the-line access.

    Details
    Download the Versailles app before we go, and bring headphones or earbuds that day for the audio guide.
    Open in Maps Palace website
  3. 4:30 PMabout · pickup

    Van to the Eiffel Tower

    BEING ARRANGED

    Pickup at Place d’Armes. This ride protects our time for the cruise.

  4. 6:00 PMabout · board

    Seine cruise

    INCLUDED IN BUS PASS

    First collect your cruise boarding pass from a Big Bus staff member near Stop #8 (Eiffel Tower). Then go to Pontoon No. 3, Port de la Bourdonnais, and scan your ticket. It boards every 30 minutes on weekends, and indoor seating is available.

    Open in Maps Bateaux Parisiens
  5. Eveningafter the cruise

    Taxis back to the apartment

    NO BOOKING NEEDED

    We may have dinner around the Eiffel Tower first. When we’re ready, we’ll hail two taxis on the street back to 25 Rue du Jour.

Sun8Nov
TODAY

Private Louvre tour

2:30–5:30 PM with our guide, Alix.

All five of us

  1. 2:30 PMuntil 5:30 PM

    The Louvre with our guide

    BOOKED

    Meet in front of the glass pyramid, at the equestrian statue of Louis XIV. The guide sends a reminder the day before.

    Open in Maps Tour details
Florence · Nov 9–12 · 3 nights

Florence

Four of us here. Jake is back at school in Metz.

At a glance

Mon · Nov 9Paris → FlorenceGolf-cart tour 3:30 PMTue · Nov 10David at the AccademiaTimed entry 1:00 PMWed · Nov 11Guided Uffizi tour3:00–6:00 PM
Mon9Nov
TODAY

Paris → Florence

An early flight, then the golf-cart tour in the afternoon.

Kara, Thomas, Sophie, Lila

  1. 6:30 AMpickup

    Van to Orly airport

    BOOKED

    Pickup at 25 Rue du Jour. Airporter Paris, van for 4 + luggage. Everyone downstairs and ready with bags at pickup time.

  2. 9:20 AMarrive 11:05 AM

    Flight to Florence

    BOOKED

    Paris Orly → Florence · Vueling VY6059.

  3. After landing

    Taxi to the apartment

    TAXI RANK ON ARRIVAL

    Taxi rank outside arrivals, to Via dei Servi 8. We may need two cars.

  4. About noon

    Early luggage drop-off

    TO BE CONFIRMED

    Via dei Servi 8. We’re asking the host whether we can leave bags early.

    Open in Maps
  5. 3:00 PMcheck-in opens

    Apartment check-in

    BOOKED

    Duomo View Terrace.

  6. 3:30–4:00 PMabout

    Florence golf-cart tour

    BOOKED

    Proposed meeting point: Piazza Carlo Goldoni, to be confirmed. The provider sends details before the tour.

    Open in Maps Tour details
Wed11Nov
TODAY

Guided Uffizi tour

A private three-hour guided tour of the Uffizi.

Kara, Thomas, Sophie, Lila

  1. 3:00 PMuntil 6:00 PM

    Uffizi Gallery with a private guide

    TOUR BEING ARRANGED

    A private three-hour tour. Meeting point to be confirmed.

    Tour details
Rome · Nov 12–16 · 4 nights

Rome

All five of us again once Jake arrives on Thursday.

At a glance

Thu · Nov 12Florence → RomeTrain 10:59 AM, then a walkFri · Nov 13Private Vatican tour1:30 PMSat · Nov 14Ancient Rome walk2:00 PMSun · Nov 15A free day in RomeNothing planned
Thu12Nov
TODAY

Florence → Rome

A morning train, then a relaxed walk from Piazza Navona to Trevi.

Kara, Thomas, Sophie, Lila · Jake arrives in Rome today

  1. 9:45 AMpickup

    Transfer to the station

    BEING ARRANGED

    Pickup at Duomo View Terrace, Via dei Servi 8 → Firenze S.M.N. Everyone downstairs and ready with bags at pickup time. Pickup details to come.

  2. 10:59 AMarrive 12:35 PM

    Train to Rome

    BOOKED

    Firenze S.M.N. → Roma Termini.

  3. 12:35 PMafter the train

    Transfer to the apartment

    BEING ARRANGED

    Roma Termini → Pantheon Miracle Suite. Our host has agreed to meet us around 2:00 PM. Details to come.

  4. 3:00 PMcheck-in opens

    Apartment check-in

    BOOKED

    Pantheon Miracle Suite. Early luggage drop to be confirmed.

  5. Afternoonafter we arrive

    Piazza Navona to Trevi Fountain

    NOTHING TO BOOK

    No paid activity is planned. We’ll stroll from Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain, with café or gelato stops as we wish.

Fri13Nov
TODAY

Private Vatican tour

Vatican Museums with a private guide, starting at 1:30 PM.

All five of us

  1. 1:30 PMabout 3 hours

    Vatican Museums with a private guide

    BOOKED

    Includes the Borgia Apartments, Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Meet in front of Caffè Vaticano, Viale Vaticano 100. Our guide will be holding a sign with our name.

    Open in Maps Tour details
Sat14Nov
TODAY

Ancient Rome walk

A private guided walk to see the Colosseum, forums and market from outside.

All five of us

  1. 2:00 PMabout 2 hours

    Ancient Rome, private exterior walk

    BOOKED

    A private guided walk to see the Colosseum, forums and market from outside. Meet at Largo Gaetana Agnesi, on the terrace overlooking the Colosseum just above Colosseo metro (Line B). This is not the Vespa office. Arrive 10 minutes early.

    Details
    The walk is about 2.5 km, all outdoors and over cobbles and gravel, so wear comfortable shoes. Bring water. No tickets are needed because we see everything from outside.
    Open in Maps Tour details
Sun15Nov
TODAY

A free day in Rome

Nothing planned. Explore or relax as we wish.

All five of us

  1. All day

    Free day

    NOTHING TO BOOK

    No activities are planned today. Enjoy the day, and explore or relax as we wish.

Heading home
Mon16Nov
TODAY

Rome → Home

Early pickup, then home by evening.

Kara, Thomas, Sophie, Lila

  1. 6:45 AMpickup

    Transfer to Rome airport

    BEING ARRANGED

    Pickup at Pantheon Miracle Suite → FCO. Everyone downstairs and ready with bags at pickup time. Pickup details to come.

  2. 10:25 AMDelta DL215

    Flight to Atlanta

    BOOKED

    Rome FCO → Atlanta ATL · four travelers together.

  3. 6:35 PMarrive

    Kara + Thomas home

    BOOKED

    Connect in Atlanta (2½ hour layover), then ATL → VPS on Delta DL2803. Arrive 6:35 PM.

  4. 9:06 PMarrive

    Sophie + Lila home

    BOOKED

    Connect in Atlanta (4 hour layover), then ATL → SAV on Delta DL2425. Arrive 9:06 PM.

Bon voyage · Buon viaggio

Here’s to a wonderful trip

Two weeks, four cities, and so much time together. Thank you all for making this trip something special. Safe travels, and see you soon.

With love