mel8596

We are planning a last minute trip to Italy leaving next Monday for a family of two adults and five teenagers (17, 17, 16, 16, 13). We are planning on staying in Rome for the majority of the trip and making a day trip to Pompeii, then moving on to Pisa for a night, and then to Venice for two nights before making our way back to Rome to fly back home.
We could only get flights in and out of Rome because we are using miles and it was the cheapest so there is no option of flying out of another city. Our itinerary so far looks something like this:
Day 1: Rome (fly in around 9AM)
Day 2: Rome
Day 3: Day trip to Pompeii
Day 4: Rome
Day 5: Rome
Day 6: Pisa (drive and spend night there)
Day 7: Venice (drive to)
Day 8: Venice
Day 9: Venice
Day 10: fly out of Rome

We also heard that Capri and the Amalfi Coast were nice. Should we go there instead of Venice? It is the kids first time to Italy and are not the type to be dragged around to museums and churches.
We have a place to stay in Rome, we are just trying to figure out the rest of our trip.
Also we are renting a car and are fine driving anywhere.
Many thanks!

nytraveler

A car is worse than useless in either Rome or Venice - and given your itinerary I don't really see anyplace you would use it.

I see you are going next week - so later to change things but not sure if you are planning on returning to Rome from Venice on the evening of Day 9 or the morning of Day 10 (VERY risky - given you have to get to airport 3 hours in advance for fights to the US).

Since your vacation is SO soon I would pick Venice or Amalfi Coast (but then you would need to bag Pisa) based on where you can find lodging for 7 people.

CatchK

I would say it depends on what the kids do like to do. I spent 4 days in Positano last year and wished I could stay forever. I am 29 and would have loved it there when I was a teenager...probably more than Venice honestly.

Mimar

I'd move onto Venice the day you arrive -- by train. You can't use a car in Venice and it costs money to leave it parked. End your trip in Rome, convenient for flying out. If you go to Rome the day of your flight home, either by car or train, you're taking a big chance there'll be no traffic jam/breakdown/strike etc. (fairly frequent events in Italy) to delay your arrival at the airport. What happens if you miss your flight home?

cathies

The amalfi coast might be a better choice for teenagers, particularly as it's the middle of summer.

I agree that no matter what you decide on, the trains are a better choice.

Jean

I suspect the car is cheaper than 7x train tickets, esp. since discounted fares are likely sold out.

But, mel8596, you should price the large vehicle you'll need, calculate tolls and fuel costs, overnight parking fees in Pisa, and watch for a possible rental drop-fee before you decide that driving is the way to go. You would be able to stop during both drives for lunch but not much more. In Pisa (and anywhere you might stop) you need to stay out of ZTLs (limited traffic zones) and find a parking situation that looks safe for your unattended luggage.

viamichelin.com can provide some idea of tolls and fuel costs.

wayfinder45

I think either way you go will be great, but I also vote for getting around by train. My teens enjoyed Venice far less than I expected, but thoroughly enjoyed Rome and Pompeii. So it may be worth dropping Pompeii as a day trip from Rome and heading south for a few days, basing in Sorrento perhaps and touring Pompeii and the AC from there. It's possible to do Pisa as a day trip from Rome as well. No real need to go up there and do an overnight if you're not moving on to Venice. There may be some that poo poo that idea, but it's a lot less taxing than a day trip to Pompeii (I've done both). Enjoy your trip!!

Sassafrass

Mimar's advice is right on. Change your hotel plans if you need to, but go directly to Venice (or the AC) when you land and put all time in Rome together at the end.

Pompeii as a day trip from Rome, in the intense heat of July/August is not fun at all, especially with a bunch of teens. If you do not choose the AC, at least spend the night before nearby and get to Pompeii as early in the AM as possible to avoid the heat of mid-day. Take lots of water, sunscreen and hats.

Teens seem to like both Venice and the AC. There are lots of things to see on the AC, but great day trips from Venice, so personal interests dictate.

If you choose the AC and Pisa is still a must, do it as an overnight from Rome, but stay in Lucca. If you do it on the way to Venice, visit Pisa, but still stay overnight in Lucca.

Get a place with a pool and beautiful views in the AC. With teens, I might choose Sorrento as a base. Touristy, and on the Bay of Naples, rather than the actual Coast, but beautifully situated with lots of restaurants and shops and very easy train and boat connections to Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi, etc.

sandralist

My vote is definitely for the coast, especially if you have polled the family and they are enthusiastic. In my experience, wayfinder45's teens are not unusual in the slightest. Many of them prefer other parts of Italy to Venice.

I suggest you call the rental agency Summer in Italy directly and see if they have any last minute deals on apartments, with or without a pool and views. If not, then look on booking.com for hotels. I would consider anywhere on the coast from Sperlonga to Salerno. If you end up in Sorrento or the Amalfi coast itself, don't rent a car. If you are in Sperlonga or Salerno (north or south of the Amalfi coast), rent a car.

If Pisa is really important then you can also consider the Tuscan coast. I would probably head to the island of Elba, but would also consider Lerici in Liguria. But I think skipping Pisa would be best.

As for Pompeii, I would leave it up to the group once you are there.

If you can't change your Rome hotel arrangements it is no tragedy, and you shouldn't do it if some members of your party would have a difficult time continuing traveling for another 5 hours after landing. But it is prudent to spend your last night in Rome before your departure.

If you decide to go directly to the Amalfi coast, it may be cost effective for a group your size to get a private car transfer directly from Rome airport. If not, and you end up in someplace like Positano, I definitely recommend getting a car transfer from Naples train station because I don't think all of you and your luggage will find space on a public bus.

cathies

Venice is likely to be murderously hot and extremely crowded. We were there a month ago and encountered an early heat wave and as much as I love, love, love Venice, I was happy to leave.

sandralist

Also, I would consider the Cilento area south of Salerno as well, and visiting Paestum. Renting a car would be best if you go there.

I don't think you will be able to do without a basic current guide book for Rome and wherever else you go. Rush order from an online bookseller.

sandralist

Just fyi everybody: Italy is having an unusually cool summer. Temps will bump up next week, but it won't be murderously hot anywhere. People are joking they are thinking about flying to the UK for some beach weather.

cathies

Not when I was there sandralist. It WAS murderously hot. BTW I'm from Australia and well used to hot westher.

greg

You may be "fine driving everywhere," but if you don't heed the ZTL warning mentioned above, you will be "fine<b>D</b> driving everywhere." The ZTL fines are not trivial. Pisa has it and so are pretty much any Italian cities you wonder into.

You have less than week to departure during high season with 7 people. Is there even an option to waffle with major itinerary changes?

One urgent area of attention is your return arrangement as others mentioned.

You kids, may "not the type to be dragged around to museums and churches," but in case you are not aware of, if you are going to Pisa to see the Field of Miracles, all the monuments there are part of the Church including the bell tower. Are you going to the Sistine Chapel in Rome? It is an important chapel of the Catholic Church. The Basilica of St. Peters in Rome is a type of church and so it the Basilica of San Marco in Venice.

MonicaRichards

I recommend Sorrento over Venice with the teenagers. Not sure if they'd have availability but we stayed at the Rota Suites so you get two rooms and a little kitchenette thing and the extra room is always appreciated. We stayed five days so we got as a bonus passes to the pool and ocean access at the Hotel Riviera. I just got our photo album up, the beginning is Napoli then Sorrento then Rome. https://plus.google.com/u/0/10346192...27113999121666

PSounder

MonicaRichards-
curious where you stayed. Loved your pics. We were headed to Venice for a few days, but now thinking about Sorrento b/c of your photos. We'll have a 12 & 15 old with us. Thanks