I am planning a first time trip to Italy with the family. All 5 are adults, 21 and up. We have some places we all want to see. I have read lots of your suggestions. Here is what we want to do. Rome, Pompeii, Pescara, Venice, Milan or Lake Como, Cinque Terre, and then Lucca. We have 22 days. I was thinking of 3 days in Rome, Then a day in Pompeii. A stop in Pescara on the way to Venice. Venice for two days, a day in Milan or Lake Como, then three days in Cinque Terre. Then the last 10 days or so with family in Lucca. Use Lucca as a home base for the Tuscany region. Any suggestions of my timing or if I should skip one of the stops? Should I add something that we may have overlooked?

When are you going? Time of year might make a difference as to recommendations. What are your major interests? Do you mean that you have family already living in Luca, or you are going to stay there, just the five of you? Ten days would be too long for me in Lucca, even using it as a base. Pompeii is such a long day from Rome. Were you staying overnight in Sorrento or Naples? To begin with, I would probably add a day to Rome and one to Venice.

I love Lucca, but it is not your best base location for much of Tuscany. And, 10 days is a long time. Why Pescara?

Rome--4-- with a day trip to Pompeii
Florence--2
Venice--4
lake Como--3
CT---3
Lucca--5

That would be my loop.

Are there 5 or 6 of you? Or 7? What form(s) of transportation do you intend to use? If you're thinking of renting a car, you'll probably need a van -- which is a bit large for navigating in small hilltowns. Consider 2 cars instead. Or the train. Train fares for 5 or 7 can add up. However, in Venice and the Cinque Terre, you'll just leave the car parked.

I ditto bobthenavigator. My advice is always to read about what places call out and then tailor your days accordingly. Between Florence and Venice, you have some wiggle room. Same with Lake Como area and CT.

Other posters, can David_G easily make CT a day trip from Lucca?

You could combine Milan with Como area also.

I forget to say that the fewer times you have to move, the more pleasant your trip can be. And remember, you can fly into Milan and out of Rome (or vice versa) so you don't have to backtrack and waste any precious touring time!

We all have different likes and dislikes, but I would end up very bored with 3 days in the CT. It is very pretty, but there isn't much to do other than look around the villages and walk from one to the other. If you want to just chill out for 3 days, that's fine, but don't expect much in the way of anything else. Some people would love it, others, like me, would not--just consider the personalities and interests of the people in your group.

Other Posters, how long does it actually take to hike between the towns? David_G, was that your intent? OR to chill as PaulHahn mentions above.

"We all have different likes and dislikes, but I would end up very bored with 3 days in the CT."

I was disillusioned after three hours and left. It was so over touristed and very disappointing.

To each his own and some love it. For my time and money there are so many better places in Italy.

And how much you might enjoy Lake Como and the Cinque Terre would depend very much on the time of year you're there.

I generally agree with bobthenavigator except I would skip Pompeii on this trip and find a day to add to Florence. I wouldn't pick Lucca as a base for Tuscany because most of what interests me in the region is farther south and east.