Hi all:

I got some great suggestions on planning my family's trip to Italy this summer and would like some assistance with some final items. My family (wife plus children aged 10 and 8) will be renting a villa near Florence (Strada in Chianti) the last week of July. We are flying into Milan on July 20 and need to be at the villa by Saturday, July 23.

A few few questions:

1) We would like to see the lakes for our time before then. Any suggestions on where we should base our travel? I'm not interested in taking the kids to something like Gardaland, or whatever the amusement park is called, so that's not an issue. I am intrigued by Belaggio or Stresa but I know there are plenty of choices! I am most interested in good walking/sight seeing and I tend not to love huge crowds. And if you have suggestions on towns to base ourselves in any accommodations suggestions would be great. I would say we are looking for moderately priced accommodations.

2) Also we would be renting a car for the week in Tuscany but do you think we should have a car while at the lakes or rent one there to take to Tuscany?

3) Would it make sense to spend two nights at the lakes and then stop somewhere on the Friday night to break up the travel before getting to Strada in Chianti? Some place like Bologna? Or do you think it would be better just to have a more extended time at one place in the lakes and then make a long drive on the Saturday?

4) We will be flying out from Rome FCO on Sunday the 31st. I assume we should get a hotel near the airport (our rental ends on the 30th) but if there are other ideas that would be great.

Any help you can give me would be great. We are very excited about trip! Also I'm happy to elaborate if I have been way too vague.

several years ago we flew into Milan and rented a car for our two week vacation in Italy. We drove to Bellagio and stayed four days and only used the car once to drive into Como for a day visit. From Bellagio we drove to SML on the coast and stayed a few days then onto San Giminano. I would say the drive from the lake district to Chianti would be very doable in a day, you can go to www.viamichelin.com and map it. As for the end of your trip, I have always avoided driving into Rome preferring to drop the rental car in Orvieto and taking the train into Rome for the last day or so of our trip. The rental car drop is pretty close to the Orvieto train station but the person running the rental car office can drive you there.

I've been to Lake Como twice - it is spectacular. Amazing views and very relaxing - a great way to start your trip to Italy! We stayed in the quaint town of Varenna, quieter and less expensive then staying in Bellagio. There is a ferry from Varenna to Bellagio and the other towns surrounding Lake Como so you would not need a car while there. Of all the places I've been, Lake Como always rates as one of the most beautiful in my opinion.

I prefer really getting to know and experience a place so I would not want to break up the travel. You may not even want to drag yourself away from that gorgeous view anyway!

However long it says it will take to drive... it will probably take longer. That's my experience with driving in Italy anyway. So that would be a long day of travel. Be sure to make pit stops for gelato along the way!

We stayed in a villa near Castellina in Chianti. Staying in a villa was wonderful and the Chianti region is amazing, you will enjoy it!

Are you seeing Rome at all? If so, you can stay nearer to the sights and have the hotel arrange your trip to the airport. We stayed at the Albergo Cesari which has an ideal location. Walking distance to many sights. They were very helpful with arranging a taxi to the airport.

Have a wonderful trip!

We stayed in Bellagio for a few days a couple of years ago. I can't imagine why one would have a car since the boats take you almost anywhere on the lake. BTW, there is (or was?) a bus direct from Malpensa to Como and, of course, a boat to Bellagio. The Hertz office is around the corner from the station in Orvieto and the train to Rome is an easy hour.

Since you are leaving the Chianti area on the 30th, there is no point in going to Rome. Passing via Tarquinia (visit the Etruscan tombs if you have the time) you can use the autostrada that goes along the coast to get to the airport, drop off the car and stay there overnight.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622914974923/

Thanks for the responses. I've heard great things about Residence La Limonera in Belaggio which sounds nice. Thoughts? If I do stay in Belaggio, I assume I would get a rental car in Como to drive down to Tuscany? Or is there a better location?

thanks

This is where we stayed in Bellagio. But you would have to rent your car in Milan to get there.

http://www.ilperlo.com/en/hotelaccomodation.htm