We are travelling with our 6 and 12 year old boys to Italy in the second half of June for 16 days.

We are renting a car (Hertz - How is Hertz to rent from in Italy?) at the airport in Rome and driving to Florence where we will be staying for 4 nights at the David Hotel.

Plan to spend a couple of days in Florence and 1 day in the Tuscany countryside including San Gimignano.

Stop at Pisa on the drive to Cernobbio where we are staying at 4 nights at the Regina Olga in a lakeside room.

We also have reservations in Santa Margherita Liguere for 4 nights at the Hotel Fasce.

Our dilemma is whether to drive to the Lake Como area or spend 4 nights in the Italian Riviera and see Portofino and Cinque Terre. The beach seems to be a safe bet to entertain the boys but we have heard so much about the Lake District. (We did spend some time in Lugano on our last visit to Switzerland). Or should we skip both and instead spend that time in Tuscany?

After that we drive to Venice for 4 nights and return the car. We are staying in an apartment near S. Francesco della Vigna in the Castello area.

Take the train to Rome and spend 5 nights in Rome. We have rented an apartment on via dei Banchi Nuovi in the Piazza Navano area.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Do not drive to Florence--you do not want a car there. Overall, you really need to consider an open jaw flight itinerary--either starting in Milan or Venice and ending in Rome--or vice versa. For the car, Autoeurope is your best bet. On Lago Como, you are better off further up the Lake--Cernobbio is not the best location. I am curious why you are asking now since your itinerary seems somewhat set.

Bob, one open issue is the Italian Riviera or the Lake District. We have reservations in both places.

In Florence, we are staying south of Florence and our hotel provides parking. Thought it would be easier to drive around Tuscany if we had a car.

shawncarr,

Since you've already got Pisa on your itinerary, it would make more sense and be much less of a drive to go to Cinque Terre and Santa Margherita.

Anyway, we did a trip similar to this last year with our kids, who are a bit older than yours ( 16 and 13). If I had to do it over, I would skip Tuscany and add more time to Santa Margherita, Portofino, and Rome. Why? Tuscany is an adult-paradise, but not so interesting for the most part to kids.

My kids DID enjoy Pisa ( though it was touristy), Santa Margherita ( beautiful resort town, great seafood!) and, of course, Rome!

Good luck with your plans.

Thanks, Weadle. Santa Margherita waswhere we were leaning towards as well.

I'd suggest the Riviera as well. I think your boys will really enjoy the coast, especially the CT. We were on the coast a week last year and my two boys really got into the beachy, hiking, trains and boating thing. I think you'll find plenty to do for 4 nights and you won't be too rushed either.

With that itinerary I too would opt for the coast--but I would consider Levanto or Monterosso since SML is an hour from the CT. Both towns have a decent beach.

Hi shawn,

Before you rent from Hertz, check prices at www.autoeurope.com and www.novarentacar.com.

You might want to consider buying a cell phone for emergencies from www.mobalrental.com