In the very early stage of planning Italy trip. Myself, husband, sister, brother in law .. ages 65-72. All in good physical condition. Husband and I did VBT ( biking) in Tuscany 10 years ago.( best trip ever) Sister and hubby first time to Italy.
looking to travel Mid May .. 10-14 days.
Considering either Amalfi coast area or Lake Como, Ravenna, Bellagio area. .. ? Opinions on these areas. Attracted to the water, gardens , landscape. of these areas.
Definetely a few days in Rome.
-not interested in big group tours ..

All love nature, food, history… walking/ hiking.. a guided bike tour.,

Weather in Mid May in the areas I mentioned… ?

Air bnb vs hotels pro cons ?

Unique small tour driver experiences?

Any advise or direction greatly appreciated!!

IMO, either option could be wonderful!

My first bit of advice is to spend a lot of time with a good guidebook or two – perhaps the Michelin Green or Rough Guide. For excellent climate statistics, consult weatherspark.com

To include Rome, consider flying into Rome and out of Naples (if you choose the Amalfi Coast) or into Rome and out of Venice or another airport near the northern Italian destinations. (Or end in Rome; your call.)

Some pros / cons of lodging options:

· Do you want to be able to cook? If so, then an Airbnb or similar might suit you better. Some people prefer a hotel’s (or B&B’s) breakfast buffet and dining out.

· How much space do you want? You’ll likely get more at an Airbnb. Some people don’t spend enough time in their lodging for that to be a consideration.

· How are Airbnbs viewed in the places you decide to visit? In some locations, they are not viewed very favorably because of negative impacts on local residents.

· What other options to you want? Elevator access? Parking? A pool? Distance to the places you want to visit? Your options will depend on your criteria. (You can search for all of them, and others, on booking.com.)

Hope that helps!

I choose AirBnb for easy access to a washing machine which means I have to carry fewer clothes so lighter packing
I choose small hotels if I want to meet local families and get local advice (one of the best things about Italy is the Italians)

We visited in mid-May, and the weather was perfect for walking and sightseeing. Amalfi is beautiful but crowded, with many hills and stairs. The Bellagio area of Lake Como felt quieter and easier to get around, with ferry rides, gardens, and great lake views. For a first trip to Italy, Lake Como was more relaxing.

Rome is definitely worth spending a few days in. Staying in the city center makes things easier. We found small hotels more convenient than Airbnbs. Private food walks and a boat ride were highlights that didn’t feel too much like typical tours. If I could choose again, I would visit Rome and Lake Como.

Last May we went to the Amalfi Coast with my sister and parents and it was a really enjoyable trip. One thing I would suggest is to do day trips if you are able to do so! We relied a lot on ferries for getting between towns (here you can see the day trips possibilities from amalfi https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/desti...s/italy/amalfi ). One thing that was totally worth it was renting a car for a day to ride along the coast. Spring weather is very nice there

In the Lake Como option, do you mean Ravenna or Varenna?? Ravenna is hours from the lake by car or train, so I assume you mean Varenna.

If you flew open-jaw to include Rome, the other airport in this option would be Malpensa (Milan). Passing through Milan, I would spend a day seeing the Last Supper and the Duomo. If you meant Ravenna, the closest airports are Venice (or Bologna), in which case I'd substitute Venice for Rome.

I don't think weather would determine which is the "better" choice. Both areas enjoy good weather in mid-May, and the scenery in both is beautiful. And the interests you mention can be pursued in either destination, although the "gardens" in the two areas are for the most part quite different. As davishawk5842 mentioned, Lake Como would be a quieter, more relaxing destination overall. FWIW, we've enjoyed the food more in the Naples/AC area than in the LC area.

We always prefer small hotels over an AirBnB, but that's us. We enjoy talking with the people in the hotels (both staff and guests) and have been given great tips and recommendations by them over the years. I don't cook while on vacation. I don't even want to see a kitchen.

Rather than the Amalfi Coast, you could consider Ischia, especially with your interest in gardens.
We spent a week there years go and long to return.
Easy to get around the island by bus.
I agree with Jean about staying in hotels, partly because you get a chance to chaat with the staff and learn so much about the local area...

Gardens:

https://www.lamortella.org/en/

I'm with Jean for not wanting to cook on vacation, claytoj1. We packed light and, after the sticker shock of hotel laundry prices, found local folks for wash and fold service, or went to laundry mats (lavateria).

FYI, unless things have changed (someone please say!), flying into Venice via international flights is at a better time than flying out (at 0 dark hundred!).

Just my 2 cents, but Lake Como was drop dead gorgeous... others have mentioned hiking from there. OTOH, we based in Sorrento and were stunned by Pompeii. As kja wrote, look at guides to see what calls.