I've been hearing that you don't want to go to Lake area or Almalfi coast during late June/July due to many crowds and that you have to book very far in advance if you want to stay in those areas. I'm really concerned because we are trying to plan a trip to Italy in one of those two areas but kids are in school until end of June so the earliest we can leave is last week June or first in July. Are we better off going somewhere else?

Those areas (along with all areas that attract tourists in Europe) are more crowded than other months, but I don't think prohibitively so. Certainly the biggest risk is finding a place to stay, so it's advisable to book ahead.

If you're only planning to visit one or the other of those areas, late June or early July is better than mid-August, when the Italians take their vacations and head for lakes and sea. You still have to book ahead, though.

We were in Rome, Naples and Sorrento end May/ early June last year and I was amazed at the crowds everywhere, even though kids were still in school, guess more and more people are travelling these days. But nothing can take away the beauty of Italy and all that there is to see and do...

Schools in Europe don't get out until the beginning of July so June is usually a fine time to travel.

Definitely book as soon as possible - the apartment we rented in Positano for the last week in June has been booked since November.

I can only answer as to Venice- yes! We also happened to be there on the week of Renditore- a festival celebrating the Redeemer/End of the Plague. It was like NYC new years eve- packed. packed vaps, etc. It was still fun and ok if you went off in the neighborhoods, but the main attractions were jammed.

I was in Rome, Sienna, Florence, Pisa and the Cinque Terre mid June. I didn't think it was any more crowded than the usual city or tourist spot.

There are tricks to getting around lines at museums and attractions. You just have to do a little research.