places to stay
 

I am taking my family(wife and two children 12-15) to Italy next July for two weeks or so. We are flying into Rome and spend two days there. Off to either Central Tuscany or Cinqe-Terre area for the rest of the holiday. We would like to day trip from one base. Venice, Pisa,Florence, Siena are all on the itinery. We have a car. Villas suggestions and trip help would be wonderful. I am a wine and cooking nut.

if you don't get many responses, you may want to repost with a more meaningful title. Since it's a Europe board, you need to briefly state the country or city your post is about and other important info.

Can you tell i am a rookie.

Thanks

it's also helpful to let people know what research you may have already done and what your nightly budget is.

>>We would like to day trip from one base.<<

For Central Tuscany, focus on the Siena area and include San Gimignano.

For the Cinque Terre, you need another base to include Pisa and Lucca.

Florence can be reached easily from each of the above.

Venice is another stop.

Tman,
My trip reort may be helpful for trip suggestions http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34494897 feel free to e-mail if you have questions

Everyone is a rookie at the beginning. The most important word in the reply by sandi is <i><b>repost</b></i>.

Something like &quot;Seeking lodging advice for our family of four: Rome, possibly a villa in Tuscany and Venice, in July 2006.&quot;

Day tripping to Venice from a Tuscany base is a recipe for missing the magic of Venice, by the way.

Best wishes,

Rex

Venice is one of the worst destinations for a day trip--especially at the height of the tourist season.

This is partly due to the way the city's main sights are situated, and the massive number of poor daytrippers who are, as a reuslt, from P. Roma and the train station roughly along the Grand Canal (though not right on it most of the way) to the Rialto Bridge area and on into P. San Marco.

With this daily stampeding herd of humanity, this route has more than its share of Venice's worst restaurants, tackiest souvenir shops, most aggressive vendors, trash, long lines for sights, and overpriced everything.

It's no surprise that most daytrippers come away with a bad impression of Venice, while most people who stay 3 or more days come a way with a positive impression.

I would either skip Venice or spend at least a couple of nights (3 or 4 would be better).

I would be bored out of my gourd after 3 days in 5 Terre. And I would not recommend it as a base for driving daytrips. If you still want a base, I'd go for central Tuscany.

Tman,
Since you have 2 extra weeks, you might consider moving around and visiting different places. I agree that Venice cannot be seen as a daytripper. Even spending just 1 or 2 nights in Venice and Florence will give your family a great taste for the cities. We did that last summer with our 12 and 15 year olds. One night in Venice, one night in Florence, and then several to relax in Tuscany. We stayed in the independent villa at the Relais Villa L'Olmo in Impruneta and loved it. Our kids were happy to move around and see different places.

Two days in Rome is not enough!