In August '05 we are taking the family (ages 16 to 70) to Italy for 10 days. We are flying into Milan and planning to rent a minivan and drive to Venice, Florence, and one other place. We will likely leave Milan upon arrival, and spend only one night there prior to the flight back to the states.

Can anyone suggest some "must do" stops along the way, as well as, a 3rd destination where we can spend a day or two?

We like cultural areas, scenic towns possibly off the tourist trail, and good food. Really nice hotel recommendations would also be appreciated.

Thanks
Bob

My immediate thought is to go no further south than Florence. You don't have much time, you're going to end up with 2-3 days in each place as it is, and that includes driving time.

If your air fare is already booked to go into and out of Milan, then that's the given. If you are all taking an overnight flight, are you sure you want to immediately get into a minivan and drive for several hours? How about a nice 2.5 train ride to Venice?

Or, alternatively, rent the minivan and visit one of the nearby Lakes, pick one, with one of the pretty towns, stay 2 days.
Drive on to Venice, get rid of the car on the edge of Venice (no cars in Venice anyway.) 3 days. Then, train to Florence, 3 days. Or, stay only two days there, rent another minivan, and drive to Milan for the last night, getting rid of the vehicle when you arrive.

bobthenavigator may chime in here, this is his forte.
good luck

We rented our car at the Milan ariport - but then drove directly to Stresa for 3 days of relaxation. A very easy drive - I think was only about 45 minutes or so - and a great place to just veg out for a couple of days.

I travel in large groups frequently, generally 8+. Lessons learned many many years ago is that with a group that size, the less moving around the better...too many logistics. For your timeframe and general sketch of where you want to go I'd recommend blow out of Milan day of arrival and head to Venice, unless you think you'd be too tired to drive but keep in mind if you land early in the morning going somewhere close by you're not going to be able to check in anyway till later in the afternoon.
Spend two nights in Venice, then drive to Tuscany somewhere close to Florence is probably good, Cortona, Chianti perhaps and rent a villa...much more space and cheaper for a larger group, stay 7 nights, as rentals are typical 1 week minimum. Drive back to Milan and spend the last night in Stresa..assuming you're flying out of Malpensa. If Linate, Bellagio is great too.

Also recommend for the car rental since it sounds like your group is mostly adults, get two cars. A van for 7 people is going to be tight and not comfortable for those in the back over long distances...also take into consideration lack of room for luggage and if perhaps while on your trip part of the group wants to visit one thing while others something else then you have that flexibility as well. Have a great trip whatever you decide.

Have you thought about Bologna? I haven't been,but hear it is a lovely city with wonderful food. Also in the area is Modena and Parma,important places for foodies.

If Belalgio seems a little pricey/ritzy/classy for your tastes, then consider Sirmione, or any of several other destinations on Lake Garda. An especially good choice for August. It will be moderate there, when other destinations in Italy are hotter.

Best wishes,

Rex

Bob, spend 4 nights in Venice...loved the Pensione Accademia in Venice in the dorsoduro area. Ask for rooms with a garden view. It's a lovely B&B on a smaller canal just off the Grand Canal. Nice breakfast.

Venice can be enjoyed by all the ages in your group, from 16 to 70. When you arrive get the 3-day (72-hour) vaporetto pass for 22 euros each which allows you unlimited on and off privileges for the vaporettos, including the ones which go to burano and Murano islands and 2 other islands.

Venice food is expensive and hard to find good food. Bring restaurant recommendations with you for Venice especially!

Florence, eat at La Maremma near Santa Croce area on Via Verdi... Recommended to me by a 74-year-old well-travelled gentleman and he was right. Had some great home-made noodles there with zucchini and snapper and other dishes. Your hotel will have heard of them and can help direct you there.

Loved Siena...stayed at the beautiful Palazzo Ravizza with inspiring garden view...it's not just the garden, you see right over the wall of Siena into the lovely green Tuscan hillsides...Siena has a unique church that is striped inside and a famous main square...Siena really has a medieval feel...

Chianti is a lovely region to drive through...You can take the more scenic drive between Florence and Siena...

Do you already have your flights? It's a shame you are missing Rome, which is amazing...my 17 and 18 year old daughters and my 22 year old son and my husband and I were just stunned at the awesome grandeur and beauty of St. Peter's Basilica...it's indescribable. If you only saw one church in all of Italy this should be it.

Consider taking the train between the cities...the Eurostar is fast and very relaxing...even has a dining car...Rent a car just for the countryside of Tuscany and Chianti if you want.

Enjoy! buon viaggio!

Hi bob,

For the number of people that you have, a van might be cheaper than train travel.

Fares can be found at www.trenitalia.com/en

You have one day lost in traveling to Milan to drop off the car prior to flying home - 9 days.

One day is lost leaving Milan and going to Venice - 8 days.

I agree that renting a villa for a week would be the best way to go.

Bologna is less than 2hr from Venice, Siena and Pisa; about 1 hr from Florence, 1 1/2 hr to Verona.

You might want to consider that as a base.

Lot's of good advice. Let me add, limit the number of bags everyone brings.One van with 7 people and lots of luggage will be a problem.

Thank you everyone for the great advice. This is the best source of information when beginning the plan.

rjkritzer, Ira mentioned Bologna as a base for your group. IMHO I think Ira has a very good idea. Bologna is "hopping" for the younger members, lots of seniors live in Bologna and really wonderful for the inbetween ages.

Each time I have been to Bologna it as been arriving around lunch time, an overnighter and leave the next afternoon.

I would love to just go and stay there for several days. And train stations, or driving of course gives you a chance to go to other very interesting places without spending hours traveling. Ferrara and Modena are close by and if you able to obtain a map of Italy you will see that there are many small villages you (or perhaps some of you) would enjoy visiting.

With 7 of you it might be that small groups might each want to do something different. Bologna is an "University City". If, and I say this with a smile, the older folks wanted to explore some villages or whatever if the 16 year old had at least one other young person to be with I think they might enjoy just a day to themselves in Bologna. Often on the weekends there are bands playing on the street corners. Loud but fun. Even the senior citizens go "bouncing" down the walkways while they do their errands.

From Bologna you would take A-1 northwest back to Milan. You could stop at Parma (maybe for lunch?) on the way back.

Milian, Venice, Florence and Bologna
would be a nice trip without overdueing it in MHO.

Are you really not going to Rome? (Maybe you have been there before?)

Do you already have your plane tickets?

Venice IS wonderful.

Driving in Italy can be a challenge. How many in your group will be sharing the driving? Whatever you do, DO NOT NOT drive in Florence.

Look forward to hearing more about your plans.

I strongly disagree with Bologna as a base, thats a trek to Venice though not as far from Florence but still a trek to there. I firmly beleive if you're going to visit a place then go and stay there, only way to appreciate it...expecially the cities. A base shouldn't encompass more than 20-30 miles for the most part with one or possibly 2 50-100 range excursions in a week. Just my thoughts, I'm more of a concentrated area person and not everyone is. Whatever your own travel style is then you'll enjoy and have a great trip!

We've never had trouble finding good food in Venice--the problem for most people is that they are expecting spaghetti and meatballs or veal scallipini or pepperoni pizza, but Venice has a totally different native cuisine from the rest of Italy or what they're used to in the USA. Another problem is that many people think Venice is pretty just much the narrow strip along the Grand Canal running from the train station to P. San Marco.

Rufus,
That simply is not true. I for one have traveled extensively throughout Italy and cook authentic Italian at home (I have cook books in Italian) and Venice is one of the only places in Italy where I can truly say I've had a bad meal, if one can even say that. Venice restaurants unless you know where the good one are the food can be crap...and no most people are not expecting spaghetti and meatballs, veal scallopini or pizza!