One more...you ask "Will I tire of 6 days in Florence?" Hmmmm...it has a lot to offer, but why not easily split that into two easy access locales to get a very different feel?

When we planned our first trip to Italy, we narrowed down by virtue of type: City, Country, Sea, Venice (class of its own). Then picked Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre and Venice to get a flavor of each. This worked perfectly for us and we were thrilled with our choices.

The Cinque Terre is a favorite of mine - I've been twice (stayed in Levanto both times). But I was there in late September/early October both times. And there were still a lot of people there. I suppose anywhere in Italy will be pretty busy in July, but I have heard the trails in the Cinque Terre are so full in the peak summer months that it might be unpleasantly crowded. (And almost everyone will be speaking English - or German.)

I'm not sure I'd want to visit the area at a peak time.

booking.com is an easy tool to cruise around what is available that subscribe to the service. It shows available ones in orange while sold out ones are shown in dark blue. It shows Primavera at Levanto having a double and a triple available for your days. I have never stayed at this hotel.
I think you will have a hard time. I have booked two rooms for my family in Monterosso for summer, but I did that 9 months before the visit. You only have 2.5 months to go during the busy peak season.

I spent a month in Florence in 2009 (May). My Florence landlords suggested just calling a hotel in La Spezia, which is just south of the most southern of the CT towns. It is a naval port city, but I found it perfect--stayed right near the train station and in 5 minutes was at the first town. Walked on the Lover's Walk (very easy) to the second town, trained to the others (which are more arduous walks). There was also a ferry that for a bit more money went back and forth to the various towns. You don't need to stay in Cinque Terre to enjoy it! Also, take the bus from La Spezia to Portovenere. It's about a half-hour and is one of the most gorgeous places I saw in Italy in 6 weeks--much more beautiful than any of the CT towns in fact. Either end of the CT (i.e., La Spezia to the south and Levanto' I think it is to the north) is fine for staying in and seeing each of the villages. And ladies I met on the trip told me that Santa Margharita Ligure was wonderful.

Thanks everyone. Some of the recommendations are not available and/or more than our budget. We are 5 (3 teens and 2 adults) and boy does that make things more challenging! I hope my kids appreciate this! I'm starting to look at Rapallo. It sounds like it would make a good base for us and I've found some resonable places.

Question: I can't seem to find info on the train from Florence to Rapallo. It looks like we'd stop in Pisa and then catch another train. Does anyone have any idea how much such a train ride would cost? Is it 2 hours from Florence?

With kids, stay in Levanto. Rapallo is too far from CT.

If you haven't resolved your booking issues I just used AirBnB to book an apartment $114 a night in Riomaggiore. Lots of options from $60 a night upward in all villages.... I booked the month of June in Cities from cinque Terre to Naples....affordable with great reviews and helpful hosts you can email chat with before you book. This was a great find....made making travel plans a breeze.. Also...I do not have any affiliation with AirBnB....

Here's another vote for AirBnB--I stayed 5 weeks in an AirBnB rental in Berkeley, CA--a 2-room unit with separate entrance, wonderful landlady (we became quite friendly while I was there)--really just perfect. I have recently booked an AirBnB apartment in Barcelona in a great central location, very low price (because of good timing on our part)and I was able to check out the reviewer to my satisfaction. You have 24 hours after arrival to get your money back. Also, even tho' many AirBnB users seem to be fairly young, judging by photos, I am over 60. I also have absolutely no connection to AirBnB.

Florence to Rapallo is about 3 hours, including one-half hour to change trains in Pisa. Costs 20 - 30 euros for an adult, less for teens under 15.

To get to, say Vernazza, from Rapallo is 1 hour on the train.

You can look up train times at www.bahn.de, the German train site. Check costs and book tickets at www.trenitalia.com. Both of these sites have an English option; look for the British flag.

I just looked up booking.com and rooms in Vernazza called Graziella are available for 5 persons (1 double and 1 triple room) for the nights you want. Cost is $340 TOTAL for 2 nights/2 rooms. I know nothing of this place, but check it out. Good luck!

Also, check into this mgmt co.: http://www.arbaspaa.com/
I personally haven't used them but I have them bookmarked for future.

Reasonable apts. that are avaiable and up to 4 occupants (maybe they will squeeze in a 5th teen). Your dates are available
http://www.cademandin.it/sito2010EN.html

Thank you everyone. I hope all of this information helps others as well :-) For us, we've decided to stay in Florence and do a very long day trip if we decide to go see at least a little bit of it (Viator has one that seems to be popular). Hubby and the kids just don't want to be moving hotels even more than we already are and the budget is getting a beating. I may end up going by myself with one of my kids. We'll see. But you guys are great! Thanks!

Good decision based on all the factors. Enjoy!

You can check on a specific booking engine for Cinque Terre and Liguria www.arbaspaa.com. Here you can find all accommodation ranged for category, find them on the map and directly book online. They also arrange tours and excursions.

I don't think I'd take a bus tour to the Cinque Terre. The road runs inland. You won't see much of the views and you'll have to climb down to the towns and back up. Better to take the train to La Spezia and switch to the local train that runs between the 5 towns. You can also use boats between the towns as well, of course, as walk the path between them.

Agree with Mimar to NOT do a tour. Go for the day...Train to CT early and return late. You can easily explore any or all towns of CT. Trains between the towns run frequently.

While I wouldn't take a tour either, for some people a tour might work just fine. I saw lots of tour groups - not using a bus but using the trains, just like everyone else. In fact, when I was there in September 2011, the trains were absolutely mobbed with tour groups. I can barely imagine July...

www.arbaspaa.com is a kind of booking.com but specifically for Cinque terre and for every kind of accommodation you can book online. They also display information on tours (and flying tours!) and cooking lessons at Cinque Terre.

Thanks! When I calculated the costs of going with the tour or doing it on our own (both being long days) I figured doing it on our own would be way more affordable.