First, i should say that this would be our family's third trip to Italy, and it would be in late June 2008. (I have to reserve ff tickets soon, so i need to decide on somewhat of an itinerary)

We have two teenagers who are great travelers.

We have been to Florence and Rome twice, and have also been to Venice, Santa Margarita Liguria, and several places in Tuscany: Chianti (Impruneta and Greve), Siena, San Gimginiagno, Pienza, Montalcino, and Orvieto (umbria).

We definitely want to incude the Amalfi Coast this time, which i figure we need a week.
I'm thinking 3 nights Capri, 2 nights Positano, and 2 nights in Naples. We are looking for relaxing, boating, and swimming in the first two, and then time to go to Pompei and the Archaelogical Musuem when in Naples.

The family really wants to do Florence, Rome, and Montalcino again -- which will take up a week, also, if we do two nights in each city and 3 in Montalcino.

That leaves a few more days, and i am fascinated by Sardinia (which i have already posted a question about), and was interested in doing 2 nights in Chia and 1 night in Porto Cervo (just to see it!).

Otherwise, I'm thinking of Bellagio. (I chose it because it seems to be livelier than Varenna and thought the kids would like that, especially the shopping for my daughter and me). We've heard how beautiful the area is and thought we'd really enjoy it. We'd also get to see Milan, and perhaps fly out of there.

Lastly, we've never taken a train in Italy. We always rent cars, and my husband loves to drive while i navigate. Some of these places seem a little car-unfriendly, like the AC? Lake Como? and obviously, the cities, as we know.

Sorry the question is so long, but i tried to as specific as possible and welcome all comments as to...
--Sardinia vs. Lake Como (&Milan)
--when to have a car vs. when to train
--start in the north and go south or vice-versa
--any way to fit in a visit to Ravenna??
and, well any other insights you brilliant Fodorites would like to share.

Thanks so much!!
dina

Although I've never been to Sardinia (it's high on my list too) I would say that after spending time in both Capri and Positano, Lake Como might be a better change of scenery than another beach area. I'm sure your kids will like Bellagio, although on the whole, there isn't much nightlife for young people. We have always had a car on our visits to Lake Como and found it helpful to visit the lakes. The car ferries are great. A car is a burden on the Amalfi Coast. We've stayed in Positano several times, both with and without a car. When we had one, we never used it and left it at the Sirenuse's paking lot which cost around 20 Euros a day, more if you aren't guests of the hotel. I would start south, go to Capri, Positano and Naples first, train to Rome and after Rome, get the car to drive to Tuscany. Three days in Montalcino seems a lot, especially if you've already been there. You might want to consolidate your days in Montalcino/Florence and use one for Ravenna. Then drive up to Bellagio and fly home from Milan.

Ciao dina4

Be my pleasure to help you on this.

#1. I'd goto Lake Como before Sardinia, you going to do the Amalfi Coast & Capri so thats enough seacoast for one trip

Bellagio is stunning you'll love it, I would have a car rental while up there as to get around so much easier. Daytrips to Lagi di Maggiore & Lugano are so easy and enjoyable. You mentioned Milano to, I'm a cityboy so I'm kinda partial to lively cities Milano/Firenze/Roma. If going to Milano on a daytrip you can just take the train from Como/Milano Centrale in 40 minutes.

You really don't want a car in June on the Amalfi Coast & Napoli unless you want to go crazy afterwards...lol.

I don't know what your budget calls for but if you have it..take the train to Napoli and then hire private drivers from its Centrale Stazione to reach Positano and the Amalfi Coast.
Capri is a simple ferry from either Napoli/Sorrento or Positano.

Napoli is kinda crazy to me, so I would just stay in Positano and come in to Naples for a day to see the Museum & Pompeii from there or vice versa.

New Alta Velocita superexpress service of mainline train routes is starting to be put into effect now. You can get from Napoli to Firenze nonstop in 3 1/2 hours. I would pickup a car in Florence and have a rental while you explore Tuscany, always the easist way to see the countryside.

I would travel by train on that route and Firenze/Milano/Como.

North/South or vice versa, either way would work...only thing i would say is that from Como/MXP airport is only about a 45 minutes drive, its actually closer than downtown Milano is.

If you were in Positano to end your trip your talking about waking up at 4:00am to get to Napoli airport in time for the first connecting flight up to Roma, its a 1 1/2 hour drive from Positano to Naploi airport! Of course being in Napoli for that last night would be a good idea to ....

My experience on the Amalfi coast (in early October) left me with being relieved that we didn't have a rental car - public transportation is the way to go (or at least for us). While Tuscany is so rental car friendly, we found the Amalfi coast just the opposite. We daytripped to Capri - everyone who has stayed overnight had a much more positive experience so I agree with your choice to spend 2 nights there. The local train to Naples for the museum as well as to Pompeii was very convenient. We stayed in Sorrento spending one day in Pompeii and another day at the archeological museum. Your kids will love it!

I have a question for you. What airline are you planning on using ff miles on? I've been working with American for a couple of weeks now trying to procure 2 business class seats for next year - first time I've ever had absolutely no luck. They're just not releasing any seats. What are your plans in this regard?

Grinisa and Prada: thanks. You confirmed my thoughts about not having a car on the amalfi coast. Sounds like it would be good to have one in Como.

Also sounds like it would be closer to an airport to end in the Como area.

Grinisa-- the kids actually love Montalcino because we stay at the Dei Capitano where there is a lovely pool. We would realy only have two full days there, and we've never seen Montepulciano or San Quirico. We love the area, and my husband is crazy about brunello.
and good idea to maybe stop in Ravenna on way to Lake Como. I'll have to check mappy.com for driving distances. wonder if we could see the amazing mosaics, have lunch, and be on our way...

Prada-- how much would you say it costs to get a driver from naples to positano? it would be nice to incorporate an "amalfi coast drive" into it, as well.

thanks so much!
dina

Hi dorkforcemom,

We must have posted at the same time. I'm so glad to hear such positive feedback on Pompeii and the musuem in naples, because i know you have teens too. (right??) I"ve always loved reading your posts about italy.

Regarding the ff points, it will be our first time using them for europe, and i'm trying to gear up for it as i know it is never an easy or pleasant experience when using them for a popular destination. (Hawaii is almost impossible!!)

anyways, we have enough points on united for 2 tickets and enough on american express for 2 tickets (which translates to Delta or Continental). So i think we will be flying separately and thus have double the difficulty in booking tickets. Having said all that, my plan is to call on the first day possible (331 days ahead is supposedly when they release the tickets) to hold the flight out, and then do the same for our return flight. Someone told me they let you do that. I plan to be flexible about where to fly in Italy, as that might help and ask about all their "partner airlines".
I also plan to read through all those websites about frequent flyer tricks. not as fun as reading thru fodors, but i'm gearing up for it.

i'm sorry you're having such a difficult time getting tickets, and that i don't really have any good advice. did you try for just regular (not business class) tickets?
am i missing anything myself? do you have any tips?
good luck!!
dina

We were happy in Bellagio without a car. Spent all our time on the little ferry visiting Varenna and Menaggio and points thereabouts. You can visit the town of Como by hydrofoil. Plus the drive up the Bellagio peninsula is supposed to be a bit harrowing. But if you've driven elsewhere in Italy, it should be no problem.

However, using Bellagio as a base to visit Lago Maggiore or Lugano seems kind of inappropriate. Bellagio is situated mid-lake; any daytrips by car would require a ferry trip or the drive down and back up the peninsula.

Lugano is reachable by bus from Menaggio.

You are getting good advice here. I would drive to Como but maybe stay in Menaggio rather than Bellagio for more flexibility and easier access.
As for the AC, I would stay in 2 places but not 3 in that time. A good report for you can be found at www.onelittleworld.com--look at the Campania trip. That is my son and his family.

OK---I will learn someday !
www.onelittleworld.com

bob-
thanks so much for the link. i look forward to reading and enjoying it this afternoon.
i have read that bellagio is so much more charming and picturesque than Mennagio. is that not true in your opinion?

Mimar-- glad to know you were happy without a car in bellagio!

thanks!!
dina

Start in the South.Your schedule there looks great.Then:

*train to Rome

*by car from Rome to Tuscany en route to Florence.

*Drop the car in Florence when you arrive.

*Train to Milan with a stop in Ravenna.

*Perhaps a day in Milan to see Da Vinci's The Last Supper fresco at Santa Maria della Grazie church.

*Train to Como,only 40 minutes, and a short ferry ride to Bellagio.A little more activity than Varenna.

*Visit the other towns,including Varenna, by ferry.

*Fly from Milan airport This is only a little over an hnour directly.Hire car(s) to airport from Bellagio.Convenient and no fuss with a car dropoff.Don,t go to Milan first because it will take 45 min from Milan to the airport after the time spent from Bellagio to Milan.

Have a great time.

I'm glad Sardinia has dropped off your radar for this trip. Although it is drop-dead gorgeous, the logistics and time involved in getting there, seeing the island and getting back to the mainland make for a trip in itself. Flying in/out saves some time but adds $$$.

Just read another post about a 2 euro Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Sardinia in September 2007. Not a typo. 2 euros.

Jean,
It seems most agree that Sardinia seems to be a destination in itself, for a week or so. Better not to squeeze it in to this trip?
Thanks for your input.
I can't imagine with my luck finding a 2euro fare to sardinia from rome in the summer...

gplusg-
I LOVE your plan. It sounds really great.

question, though:

what would we do with our luggage in Ravenna?
Do you know if there's a place in the train station to check it?
I assume we could walk to the major sites from the train station in Ravenna?

thanks so much!
dina

Ciao dina4

Mi spiace, but been busy working!

I can usally arrange such services with my contacts in positano for transfer around $200 and for a private full day driver on Amalfi Coast about $500-$600.

To discuss personally email me, don't want to get flamed for offering services on here. So thats all I'll say. I can tell I may have already lit the match...oh well