With frequent flyer miles you have to plan ahead. We booked tickets into Rome for a week arriving April 1, 2006. Trying to decide among (1) Le Marche, for example Urbino and around, (2) Amalfi coast, including Naples and Pompeii, maybe with Sorrento and around or (3) Sicily. We have already done Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Milan and Lake District. All three areas have been on my "list" for some time. What would you recommend for weather, availability of seasonal openings of hotels and restaurants, and general interest for that first week in April (Easter isn't until April 16 next year). We prefer culture to beaches but also like being outdoors, for example ancient ruins or light hiking.

My vote, particularly given your interests, would go to Sicily. The Amalfi coast will not be fully operational that early.

Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, etc. start to open on April 1. The end of April is a great time to go. Before the crowds. Everything is open. The beginning of April is iffy. I would suggest Le Marche. Unless you fly to Sicily, you're going to spend too much of your time traveling there and back since you're only there one week. Next time fly into Sicily. You can easily spend a week there alone. Or fly into Naples and spend a week in that whole area.

We once went to Sicily in late April/early May, and the smaller hotel we stayed in had only opened for the season at Easter. But I'm sure the bigger ones stay open all year round.

Go south, young woman !
Early April is still suspect in the north. See my Sicily trip report, but we have also done the AC that time of year as well.