We are planning a trip to Italy in August with 2 other families( a total of 6 adults 6 teenagers, and would like some recommendations of a good place to start and maybe rent a villa, and then some recommendations of what we should definitely include. Any suggestions are welcome! I planned our whole trip to alaska with your help!

Before asking an open-ended question, like this...Can you start by telling us how long you'll be in Italy and what are your musts? Rome, Tuscany, Venice, beach time, mountains, etc... Additionally, you should be forewarned that August is typically Italian's holdiay month where its very crowded, hot, and often things are closed.

You might want to check out www.slowtrav.com for more information on villas, apartments, etc. For this many people, this might be a cheaper way to go.

good luck

Hi M,

Since your question is so open ended, and you have given us no info, I suggest That you rent three suites at the Villa San Michele, just outside Florence, for your first week.

You can just wing it from there.

Topping

A good place to start is knowing which airport you would like to fly into and what kind of experience (apart from being in a villa) you would like to have -- and like to avoid.

As pointed out above, many parts of Italy are quite hot in August, and some are far more crowded than others. If you don't mind heat or crowds, you can go anywhere. There are a lot of villas in Italy!

Thank you for your quick advice. I'm going to see if we can move the trip earlier. Rome is definitely a must, and Venice probably. We plan to come for two weeks, and would like to be near a train station to travel within the city.

mjmom:
Staying near the train station in Rome is NOT the preferred location. Also Rome is small - you'll walk everywhere.

Go to http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/listings/index.htm
for info on renting apartments/villas in Italy.

You have quite a crowd. Try not to move around too much.

I forgot to mention, we were in Rome in JUNE and it was REALLY HOT. Air conditioning is a must, and you will be touring at a SLOW pace, especially if you go in July. Skip August, as Italians leave the city.

Yes, it will be hot in the cities and air conditioning is by no means universal except in big hotels. If you plan to see Florence and Tuscany, stay high up in the hills - either Fiesole above Florence or in Chianti. For a group of your size, you would save money and increase your enjoyment by renting a villa with a pool, but no one will air condition a whole house. Check www.greve-in-chianti.com if the Chianti area is of any interest to you.

I agree with the advice not to book near the train station in Rome.

For Venice, consider booking a place on the Lido.

For in between Venice and Rome, you might consider a stay on Lake Trasimeno in Umbria.

Here's one possible town, Castiglione del Lago, on the train line:

http://www.castiglionedellago.it/

If you want to book a villa anywhere -- and it's a good idea with such a large crowd -- you are going to be paying for a seven day rental. Since you are going to lose one day to jet lag and one day to returning home, that doesn't leave a lot of time for other touristing.

If you can possibly avoid doing Venice on the trip, I would try, because it will eat up another day of travel time getting there. If not, try to at least to make one of your airports Venice, either for arrival or departure (and Rome the other one)

Hi mj,

>Rome is definitely a must, and Venice probably. We plan to come for two weeks, ....<

You might want to consider flying ito Venice - 4 nights
Train to Florence - 3 nights with a daytrip to Siena
Train to Rome - 6 nights with a daytrip to Orvieto
Fly home.

Alternatively:
3 nights in Venice
6 nights in Tuscany at a villa (rent 2 or 3 cars)
drop cars in Orvieto and train into Rome - 4 nights.

Have a nice visit.