Hello-
I am starting to do research for our trip to Italy. Late Sept. 2008. There will be 4 adults--my dh and I and my parents. 2 rental cars. This will be our 2nd anniversary trip. My 3rd time to Italy, DH and Parents 2nd.
Here are our thoughts: 3 nights in each home base not including flying travel days.

Fly into Milan-pick up rental cars
Acqui Terme- 3 nights
Day trips- Alba, Asti, Barolo etc

Italian Riveria/Cinque Terre - 3 nights
Day trips or relax/hike

Montalcino-3 nights, 4 if needed.
En route to Montalcino we would like to visit Lucca.
As Montalcino being our 3rd home base- day trips- San Gimignano, San Casciano. My parents may want to visit Siena ( we did on our last visit)
Fly home from Rome- Parents will extend their stay a few more nights in Rome.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I would greatly appreciate help. From mappy.com it seems each location is not too far from each other.
Thank you,

Robyn

Why would you go through the expense of renting and fueling 2 cars instead of choosing a larger vehicle?

If you will be leaving parents in Siena, why not fly out of Pisa? Delta has new non stop flights back to the states that make it easy.

I enjoyed the Italian Riviera when I visited two years ago in late September. Stayed at the Europa for 3 nights and it was a great base as well as a nice hotel. The CT was a huge letdown for me and I would not return. I left quickly and spent the day in Le Spezia instead which I really enjoyed ( and which was not swarming with card carrying Rick Steeves devotees).

Thank you for your suggestions regarding the Italian Riveria. I am going to look into that.

We are renting two cars so we can be together or go our separate ways during the day, depending on what everyone wants to do and see.


Any more advice would be great.

Thank you,
Robyn

I just went to the Cinque Terre a couple of weeks ago and loved it. We plan to go back. You do not need a car in the CT so it does seem a bit expensive to have 2 cars for 3 days that you won't use. You can easily train to Monterosso from Pisa airport if you want to switch around the trip a bit to avoid having a car sit in a car park for 3 days.

We spent a week in Piedmont, and it wasn't nearly enough, but you picked out some nice places to visit.