We are planning a trip to Italy in June (07) here is our tentative schedule.

Day 1 - Arrive Rome
Day 2 - Explore Rome (depart for Florence afternoon)
Day 2-9 - Rental apartment in Florence
(during this time exploring Tuscany, day trips, tours etc.)
Day 9-14 - Santa Marghertia Ligure - hotel TBD
Day 14-17 - Return to Rome
Day 17 - Fly home

Some background info. There are 4 of us, we have all been to Rome before and have seen the major sites, etc. We are also taking a small child (2.5 years) so we don't want to pack in too many places, that is why we thought it would be nice to rent an apt. for a week so we are not jumping from place to place.

From Santa Margherita, we plan on going to Positono and Cinque Terre, etc.

Any comments or things we cannot miss. Do you think SM is a good choice for 4 nights. We really wanted to do something "seaside" and were going to do capri, but with time constraints we figured SM would be easier.

TIA for any comments. Sorry if I have any typos, very tired tonight!

Hi Mim,

I think you will really like SML, we did! Stayed 3 nights and would have liked a 4th. I know you mean Portofino. Take the boat there, much nicer than the bus, and go early before it's overrun with tour boat visitors. Shop, window shop, and park yourself at a marina side restaurant for a long lunch with lots of vino while you watch the yaghts wiggle into the tiny harbor. Lovely day!

Buon viaggio!

Dayle- thanks for your comments. Yes, Portofino! LOL. Geez, I knew I was tired. Yes, I think SM looks really great. Where did you stay?

Hi MIM

If anyone here knows me, they know what a huge SML fan I am. We stayed in the Hotel Metropole and loved it. I highly recommend Biacin for delicious and moderately priced food. They'll be nice to your child there, too. A walk up the main street, away from the tourist area, will lead you to some great shops with take out food. This runs from the Duomo, perpendicular to the sea front.

We have stayed in a great apartment in Florence, but it is up three flights of stairs; that might not be good for your child. If you would like to check it out, it's the Santa Croce apartment at florencevillas.com. If you decide to go with one of their apartments, feel free to tell them that Debbie that used to write their newsletter sent you.

Your schedule looks good to me. Since you have a small child with you, I suggest choosing the day trips carefully. If you would like to have a car in Florence, even though it is a pain, Garage Verdi is close to the Santa Croce apartment and fairly easy to get in and out of town.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. We are not planning on a car, we really like to walk, stroller and all. For day trips we are going to do the train, and yes I agree to plan the trips carefully. In the week in Florence we will do maybe 2 day trips, so not many. We did find an apt. which is in the Oltrarno neighborhood.

I think SML will be great for us. I did look into that hotel - what type of room did you book, did it have a terrace, etc. What did you like about it VS others you may have looked at. We were looking also at the Imperiale Palace.

Thanks again.

I think your trip sounds good, mim.

In Tuscany, if you end up near Montalcino, go less than half an hour more to the Sant' Antimo monastery to hear the monks' Gregorian chants (or just to enjoy the lovely location and a lawn picnic if your little one is too restless!).

I stayed one night a few years ago in Santa Margherita on the way to the Cinque Terre. We stayed at the Hotel Fasce, which is very nice (but we found the effecient Englishwoman who runs it a bit too brusque!).

Although we really enjoyed the pretty town, we found that Levanto worked mcuh better as access to to CT national park itself. Just another option!

Oh, sorry, I just realized you don't plan on a car for the Tuscany days, so nix the Sant' Antimo idea.

Annabelle,

Thank you for the info. I was considering the hotel where you stayed in SML. Still not sure where to stay during that part of the trip.

Well, Fasce has a website so you can check it out; it is spotlessly clean, nicely decorated (contemporary)and has a yummy breakfast. The owner obviously knows how to run a business, but she had a habit of kind of sweeping the 'lingerers' (guilty!) out of the breakfast room that irritated me.

The town has a lovely waterfront with nice restaurants.

I did really prefer our next 2 nights in Levanto (at the Hotel Europa) because we wanted to be in the Cinque Terre park most days and Levanto was minutes away by train. I liked the wide beach at Levanto and the friendly atmosphere. Lots of good places to eat, including many that were very family friendly.

The whole area is lovely, however, and I think any town you pick for your Ligurian coastal headquarters will be fine. Eat lots of fabulous pesto!