We are a family of 5.Leaving LAX in August flying into London.We then want to go to
Genoa,St. Margherita and Portofino, Lax to Italy portion a week. Next two weeks in Greece..We have booked our flight to London..nothing else is booked.Two boys 17 and 20, one girl 9years and my hubbie and me.Any suggestions?

Yes! Get off your duff and book those flights now!. August is the most difficult month for late bookings since it's the month most people are travelling in Europe. Easyjet and has cheap flights to many cities in Italy, and to Athens. Aegean Airlines and Alitalia fly to Athens as well.

Ryanair flies to Genoa.

For Italy my favourite place is the Amalfi Coast and in particular Positano, nice and very cute. It is a charming village, very pretty.
We used a great private tour guide. Let me know if you need help there.

To clarify, Aegean flies from Rome and Milan to Athens.

Has anyone taken the train from Venice down to the Cinque Terra? Do you go through Milan then Genoa?How long should I put aside for that trip?

Look up train times at www.trenitalia.it. How did you get to Venice? It wasn't in yout original itinerary. As for the Italian Riviera, if you stay in Santa Margherita Ligure, you can walk (or take the bus) to Portofino. And it's a short train ride up to Genoa and down to the Cinque Terre.

Fly from Italy to Greece. I believe you can fly from Rome, Milan or Venice.

With 5 people, you need to make reservations starting now.

Trip goes like this.laxtolondon, then off to Milan.Stay 2 days go to Como one night, then to Venice three nights then to Portofino, Santa Mar. Back to Milan to Fly to Greece.We are about 9 or 10 days in Italy then 9 or 10 in Greece.Our college son is meeting us in Greece,he doesn't get to go to Italy so it's just 4 of us in Italy.We will be doing alot of train travel.Unless you have other suggestions.I'm worried about the trek to Portofino.