I am confused---do you plan to go in Jan. 2014?
Time of year may dictate location.

You can't do all of Italy in even 10 days, of course, but Florence or nearby would give you a launch pad for, well, Florence, plus Siena, San Gimigniano, various hill towns, and maybe long daytrips to Rome if you are willing to shell out for the fast 90 minute trains to that city. I'd go for central.

OK, so you can't use it UNTIL January 2014, but when do you actually plan to use it? Obviously, time of year makes a big difference in which part of the (BIG) country you head to.

If you are actually restricted to January, that's a bummer. It's probably the worst month to visit anywhere in Europe unless you're there for winter sports, and even then....If January it must be, I'd be as south as possible unless I were a skier.

January or Febuary 2014 is when we are able to use the week of timeshare because of other trips planned or work commitments already in place. I have been told that I need to reserve approx. a year in advance.

Then why are you even doing this? I'd either decline or negotiate a major price reduction if the only time you can use it is January or February. Obviously, those are the "leftover" weeks.

OTOH, I have an adventurous spirit and would go anywhere jusst about anytime, so if you share that, figure out a plan and stay south.

I would use it for some where else, like Hawaii or Mexico. Even if you went to southern Italy, many resort areas are virtually shut down in the winter.

It would be helpful to know exactly where the timeshares available to you are located.

I hope not to seem negative, but realistic. It may seem to be a bargain or real gift to you, but might not be such a good deal. You will have to pay airfare for your family of four. You will have to buy food for your family of four. You will be purchasing tickets to museums and trains for four. So, the only thing you will be saving is the cost of lodging. If the time shares are in areas where people go mostly in summer, and far from places you would actually be able to enjoy in winter, it might not be cost effective.

Considering all the other expenses involved, unless this timeshare is perfect, it might be better to find an apartment in a city like Rome where there are tons of sights, you can walk a lot, and you won't spend too much time and money traveling around.

As Sue_xx_yy said, if there is a place free for you to use that is near Florence, that might work OK.

How about somewhere in southern Spain? Warmer than Italy in Jan/Feb.

Water will be cold but I've had to buy shorts there in February.

We have visited Venice three tyimes, each time in January. Yep, it is cold.

Also lovely.

For that time of year I would pick a city...Rome, Venice, florence etc because the countryside will not be at its best and you are likely to get rain, cold weather and maybe even some snow in the northern areas.

Welcome to Fodors. I'd go to the Ticino and have a snow based holiday.

Do you ski?
There are tons of time shares in the Dolomites.

Yes, in January or February you're best off in a city that will offer lots of indoor activities. So find a timeshare in a city or with easy transportation to a city.

Thank you for all your replies. You have given us somethings to think about.

I don't know if it is too late to comment, but January is often a wonderful time to go to Rome and Naples. You will always get suggestions to go to Disneyland or the Hawaii, but if you are interested in experience Italy, especially its south, the mild weather and the low tourist crowds make it one of the best times to go. I try to go every year, and wouldn't really want to be there any other time.

When I go to Rome or Naples in winter, I spend a great deal of time outdoors, especially visiting sites like Pompei or the Baths of Caracalla that are very hot to tour in summer. Many cafes in Rome have outdoor heaters.

Another fun place to be in Italy in winter is Bologna, because most of the town is covered with archways and it has great train connections to fabulous sightseeing, including Florence. Venice can be amazing too -- especially since there are not the mobs of "we only know to travel in sunshine" tourists make the sites unpleasant with their inane chatter and opinions.

Please don't believe people who tell you that winter is the "worst" time to go to Italy (or Spain or Portugal or many other destinations in Europe, that have beautiful winter snows). One of the dangers of the internet is that people just post what's in their heads. It is isn't based on any reality. They've not experienced this travel themselves.

Thank you for another view point. Have you found that attractions, resturants, businesses etc. tend to be "closed for the season" during the times you have been there?

If you are going in January it will be cold no matter where you go in Italy. I wouldn't go to the wonderful beach areas of Italy (Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Sardegna, Liguria) because they'll be dead in the winter with most of the hotels and restaurants closed. The same could be said for the lake district. Lake Como and Garda are dead in the winter.

Instead, I would stay in Florence and visit nearby Siena, San Gimigniano, Montalcino and the Chianti region. Then, drive down to Rome with a stop off in Orvieto. Three days in Rome would be perfect.