I see now.

I can understand your desire to get into the countryside, but it actually might be quite enjoyable for your group to take the train out of Rome and spend 2 nights in Bologna on your way to Venice, maybe with a day trip to Ravenna if you want to do some spectacular, unforgettable Byzantine mosaics, or day trip visit to Ferrara,.or Modena if you would like someplace compact and with marvelous food and architecture.

Bologna has a handful of fascinating sights, all in a compact area, and great train connections, so you can easily see it and another smaller town in the same trip.

However, if you would rather drive into the countryside, to a hilltown, I wouldn't recommend picking up your car in Roma, however. It can just be too time consuming and hectic to drive out of Rome. What I would suggest is that you take a train to Orvieto, take a look at the cathedral, have lunch, pick up your car and drive to Spello. Spend two nights there (you sightsee in Assisi or other nearby towns) and then go on to Venice, and lose the car.

If you would prefer the famous Tuscan hilltowns, go to Chiusi, simply pick up a car and drive to a villa or hilltown near Pienza. (Fodorites can give you lots of suggestions). Then drive to Venice and get ride of the car.

It would take you an hour to get to Rome airport to rent a car and then you have to drive back toward Rome to get on with your trip. It only takes an hour to get to either Orvieto or Chiusi by train, and you are already making progress toward Venice.

If people in your group are foodies, they probably would enjoy Bologna towns near there more than Tuscan towns. But if people want to get out of the cities and into rural, agricultural villages, go to Tuscany. Umbria is good for easy driving and some very beautifully preserved small hilltowns with amazing art, and St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy, so many Italians make a pilgrimage there.

Hope that helps.

ps, if desire gets the best of you regarding the Amalfi, I think a better plan would be to take the train to Napoli and get picked up by a car service and driven to your Amalfi coast destination.

Were it me, I might fly to Venice after that, just to save time, but you would need another car service to get to the airport and the costs begin to mount.

The Amalfi coast really doesn't work as a two-day trip out of Rome when you need to get up to Venice after that.

I know, I know, that's the problem!I tried very hard to get a flight out of Naples but could not snag one on FF miles.I was actually thinking of the overnight train from Naples to Venice, that would save us one night's hotel stay too but the train timings are not very convenient from what I can see.
Thanks for the suggestions for along the way, we like scenic places and I guess a chance to experience a winery/wine tasting would be nice. Which of the two areas would you (or any other Fodorites) suggest?

Looking into car rentals, there is a difference of only about 100 euros between renting a car for 3 days between Chiusi and Venice or a week from Chiusi to Milan. Given that there are 4 of us, does it make more sense just to rent the car for a week and keep it for Venice and the trip to Lake Como, returning it to Milan airport the night before we fly out? It will basically be parked in Venice so I need to find out how much it would cost to park there for 3 days & then in Bellagio for 2. Also, any idea how much it would cost for the train for 4 to Chiusi or Orvieta from Rome?

You need to research all the train (and parking) costs, not just Rome to Chiusi/Orvieto, in order to evaluate the "deal." If you don't have the car, you'll need to train from Venice to Varenna on Lake Como. I haven't parked a car at Venice for many years, but I remember it was pretty expensive. You also need to ask your Bellagio hotel what the parking charges will be.

You can get train fares at this website. Just plug in any dates. The fares won't change much between now and May.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

Excited_confused,

We have been pleased with the Albergo Olivedo in Varenna. Please remember that is a two star, but is air-conditioned (at a minimum, parts are air-conditioned).

Also, some hotels at Lake Como do not have or offer car parking. OTOH having a rental car expands the list of towns that you might want to stay in.

You might consider consider adding a day to your stop in Venice and then adding a day trip to Bassano del Grappa. Asolo and Marostica are near Bassano and both are nioce to visit.

For architecture, Vicenza on the venetian plain has three or four dozen buildings by Palladio.

Obviously the options depend on whether you are going by train or rental car.

Personally, I would go for two full days on Lake Como. But we have been four times so I am definitely biased.

Sorry for the long absence, I started a new job which has been crazy busy & have only recently got back to planning our trip. I feel like I am starting all over again! The new development is that we have some friends. also a family of 4, joining us so the planning becomes a little more complicated! (like it wasn't challenging enough already!)
In any case, we have 4 days/nights in Rome, planning to drive from either Rome /Orvieto /Chiusi to Venice with a one night halt on the way. Still have not decided which is the best place to spend that night, open to suggestions. Could we do a tour of a winery on the way? After that we have 3 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Bellagio & 1 night in Milan near the airport before our flight back. Should we rent 2 cars or a 9 seat van? Is it fairly convenient to go from Venice to Bellagio by train? How long would that journey take? Also, I would appreciate any advice on the best car rental agencies & the expected rates for an automatic car.
Thanks so much for all the help.

Try Autoeurope, Gemut, Sixt, and Kemwell for rentals. In Italy, you have to take the rental company's insurance, so make sure that cost is in your price quote. You will probably decide on two cars rather than a van. Luggage space will be tight. Make sure that every one packs lightly.

Based on what you want, I would try and combine the winery visit and the one night stop into the same thing (find a winery with accomodations).

Venice to Bellagio by train is rather easy. One train Venice to Milan Centrale, a differenrt train Milan Centrale to Lake Como (Varenna is the most convenient station), then a boat to Bellagio.

It's 4 to 4.5 hours by train from Venice S.L. to Varenna, then a short walk down the hill in Varenna to the ferry dock.

FYI, when you check the train schedules, you have to use Varenna's full name which is Varenna-Esino.