We would like to rent a place in italy 7-10 days and just try laid back day trips to rome, florence and the countryside. Maybe a day trip to popeii also. Can anyone give advise as to a charming village that we can access trains easily or would you suggest renting a car. Thought the trains would be less hassle. SO...a great villa in a nice location...even on the coast.
A little beach and culture too. Kids are 16 and 18...Been to Italy once before.

I think you need to have a look at a map. There really isn't anyplace that's close enough to all those places to do day trips. And trying to do it by train will definitely slow you down - esp when it comes to smaller towns.

If you want to do a week in Tuscany by car and see Florence and several smaller towns - then spend several days in Rome with a (very rushed) day trip to Pompeii you might come close. But - this doesn;t include beach.

I think you're trying to do a 3 week vacation in 10 days.

And most villas are far enough into the countryside that car is really the only sensible means of travel. Otherwise you would be taking buses (every hour?) to train station (every half hour) and would spend most of each day in transit.

this is exactly why I posted here. great advise. maybe we could do 2 weeks...mayber 5 days in tuscany 4 days is rome and end with 4-5 day in the south including popeii. Sorento?..thanks...

I use www.mappy.com to find distances between towns in Europe. Give it a try.

you didnt say if you had boys or girls....but having made this trip many many times with toddler to now.....teenage boys, i would reccoment a villa for a week . for instance http://www.castellodicasole.com/defaultHTM.php
has a great location near siena(25 min) and florence(45 min)
i have also used
vacanza bella....i believe it is www.vbella.com
we stayed at a villa they had near orvieto, i know they no longer have that villa....but they are very pretty good about having decent villas.....not incredible ....but good.
anyway
take day trips......short ones and all day ones should be alternated with each other.....let the kids pick an entire day to take the day off and hang at the pool(yes your villa should have a pool...dont rent one without it) and visit the local town pizzeria......i have found the kids can do a full day in florence.....but then need a day to chill out. girls might have more museum stamina than boys......
but that is what i have found
btw, they love the gelato...regardless of age....test the shops in every town....let them vote on a winner....even teenagers will respond
then finish in rome for a few days
another year you can change your base allowing you to go further north or south