Mamas & Papas Venezia Completo Travel System

Author's product rating:   

Age Group	0 - 6 months
Storage	Very compact - fully collapsible
Ease of cleaning	Very easy to clean
Safety	Very safe
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	flexibility, safe, solid construction, stylish
Disadvantages:	heavy, a tad expensive

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Requirements: a versatile, robust, safe, stylish buggy that both myself and my wife can use comfortably to chauffeur our new born around until he’s old enough not to need a buggy.

Solution: Mamas and Papas Venezia

Our requirements are like most new parents, but why is the Venezia so much more appealing than its competitors?

Well let’s start by with a few simple questions:

Do I need a 3 wheeler with go faster stripes?
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Do I look like I am ever likely to go ‘off-roading’ with a newborn on the way to pick up my latest supply of nappies? No. So why do I need a buggy with off road tyres that may pick up a puncture, with brakes to slow me down, and extended suspension travel? Ah that’s right, I don’t.

Is everyone 6ft tall ?
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It seems that some manufacturers of buggies haven’t quite figured out that not everyone is of the same height. Manufacturers also seem to miss the fact that both parents might want to push the same buggy. So when looking for a buggy that both my wife and I intend to push around for the next few years, we need something that will cater for our differing heights. I don’t want to be pushing something that requires gorilla length arms to reach and my wife doesn’t want to be performing pull-ups on the handlebar!

I want to use a buggy from birth until my child is old enough to be happy walking
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On our epic search for a buggy we came across countless examples of buggies that are only suitable from 3 months up, or didn’t have the flexibility to be used from birth until the child is older. Not good enough.

OK, so we have no discounted a lot of buggies and travel systems by now, but there is still plenty to choose from. Well the search goes no further than the Venezia for us and here is why:

Venezia buggy:
Flexibility is the name of the game with the Venezia. Firstly the buggy has two modes, pram mode and buggy made. This is possible due to the convertible handle bars which allow the baby to be rear facing as with a conventional pram or forward facing as with modern buggies. With the flip of a couple of clips the handlebars rotate over to the other side of the buggy, so that the direction of travel changes. It is this versatility that allows you to either keep an eye on your fresh newborn, or allows them to see what’s happening in the world outside when they are a wee bit older.

The handlebars also adjust to accomodate variations in height of those pushing the buggy. Ideal when, like my wife and I, you differ in height to your partner.

In both modes the seat/backrest of the buggy can lay flat or at any of three slope settings. This of course means the Venezia can be used from birth right up until your baby is toddling around making a nuisance of him/herself!

The buggy is fitted with a five point harness system to keep the little one securely fixed in place when out and about. In addition there is a footrest which can be lay flat as with the backrest to create a longer pram layout, or can be set down for when the Venezia is in buggy mode.

To ease the conversion from pram mode to buggy mode the set of wheels at one end can either be locked in place (for pram mode) or set to rotate (for buggy mode). So dodging unobservant on comers becomes a breeze when in buggy mode. Having said that, steering would be much improved if this could be done for pram mode too. One end of the buggy also has a dual lock brake for those times when you just have to let go. Unfortunately this is at the wrong end when you are in pram mode.

Pushing the buggy down a busy high street is not a problem. It feels light enough to cope with sudden changes in direction, is sturdy enough to take a few knocks and is easy enough to get up and down kerbs.

The buggy naturally comes with the usual extras including, foot muff, rain cover, drinks/play tray, storage net and hood. Optional extras include the colour coordinated changing bag and other consumables. All are easy to fit/remove with zips and a couple of press studs so no more being caught out with a sudden rain shower.

The storage net hangs under the buggy and is very secure and large enough to take a large pack of nappies and a few other odds and sods!

Venezia Travel system:
If you haven’t already guessed the Venezia is a flexible little machine that as with other Mamas and Papas buggies combines with the Primo Viaggio Car Seat. The car seat latches onto a couple of clips on the buggy for ease and convenience. The car seat clips into a fixed base in your car and is secured with a seatbelt. In both situations the car seat is very secure. Baby is held in to the seat with a three point harness with optional headrest, and belt covers. Adjustable for all shapes and sizes of baby.

Both the buggy and car seat come in colour coordinated fabrics which are tough, well padded and easy to clean.

Storage and transport:
The buggy folds very easily into a nice compact shape. The flip of two switches and a flick of the wrist compacts the buggy, then two hooks holds the bundle together. When folded it takes up ¾ of the space of our car boot (Renault Clio), so would fit comfortably into a larger car. My only gripe is that it is quite heavy to lift in and out, but then I haven’t really compared it to any other buggies. Unfolding the buggy is simply a matter of undoing the two hooks, unfolding the frame and clicking into place.

All in all a good buggy. A couple of things could be improved (swivel wheels on all four corners, brakes at both ends) but nothing that horrendously jeopardises functionality and safety.

We paid £350 for the complete system, which isn’t too bad considering you get the car seat, seat base, convertible buggy and extras.

Available from M&P stockists of which there are plent, but check their website for details (www.mamasandpapas.co.uk). But if you fancy a trip to Italy you could pick one up a lot cheaper as M&Ps import from the manufacturers Peg Perego and stick their own badge on the goods. They of course hike up the price too. Sneaky!