Family of 5 going to Italy - Need help please!!!

We did the Walks of Italy food tour in Florence and it was great. We had previously done the Secret food tour in Paris and my husband is still talking about both of them.

How many nights will you have?
Have you figured out where it's best/cheapest to fly in/out of?
Into Rome/out of Florence, into Rome/out of Milan, etc- usually an open jaw ticket works well

Rome needs at least 4 nights
Florence needs a minimum of 2- although 3 is better- then add 1 day for each day trip you plan to take from there.
Could stay in Tuscany hill town for 3-4 nights- you would want a car for this portion- are you open to renting a car?

Not sure how a beach fits in here- the beaches in Italy are mostly rocky, probably not what you are envisioning.
Maybe do an agriturismo stay in Tuscany- most of those have pools.
https://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhouse/tuscany

I can highly recommend Eating Europe food tours- they offer in both Rome and Florence. Use EATWELL10 for a discount
https://www.eatingeurope.com

Probably staying in Italy for 9 actual nights, maybe 8 at the worst and 10 at the best. I haven't booked the flights yet...was hoping to figure out our itinerary and would then book the flights. If beaches aren't really a thing, we're all more than happy to chill at a nice resort/hotel with a pool somewhere (will have to get 2 rooms for the 5 of us?). I could be wrong, but I'm hoping to "manage" our time as best as possible by not traveling a million miles between cities. Thanks!

Have you given any thought to a cruise? Given your lack of interest in museums, your family’s desire to shop and spend time at the pool, it might be the best option for you. You unpack and pack once. You can take excursions, spend time by the pool.

The distances between Rome Florence Tuscany are minimal. Mostly about 2 hour or less train rides

Quicker than driving most anywhere in SF Bay Area;)

If you want 3 locations do try to give yourselves 10 nights minimum
3 nights in 1 location us really just 2.5 days and your arrival day hardly counts as you’ll be jet lagged and foggy

We LOVE walking around cities and exploring...we're just not interested in spending 3 hours inside a museum crammed with other people day in and day out. The shopping part was just a throwaway comment...it's not the main goal. We want to really enjoy and experience Italy...just not stuck inside a museum :)

The scooteroma tour in Rome was a lot of fun for my wife & I a few years ago. We’re returning this summer w teenage daughters and planning a scooter tour w them too. Not sure what your budget is, but check them out and see what you think! The tour guides/drivers are very knowledgeable and friendly too. If you decide to book w them, I’d recommend the first day or so, because they’ll recommend cool stuff that’s off the beaten path, and you may want that time to do whatever suggestions they may offer up.
I also like Cinque Terre, no matter what everyone says about the crowds. Staying in the village is peace & quiet at night and mornings. And you could claim a beach spot early before the crowds show up ;)
But I do agree w others that there aren’t many options for beach resort towns in Italy.
Good luck!

the beaches in Italy are mostly rocky

omg, some evil super-villain called Rick Steves changed the all country into a copy of the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast? No more Maremma Sandy beaches in Tuscany? I hope they saved the cows and the horses!

Dario
Perhaps you could offer some advice to the poster rather than your usual unhelpful snark?

I thought that naming a famous sandy beach in the middle of a natural reserve in Tuscany between Rome and Florence would have been quite helpful. I guess I was wrong, but at least the Maremma cows are safe.

If you have only 8 nights, and Rome and Florence/Tuscany are on your list you do not have time for a third destination. Spend 4 nights in Rome and 4 nights in Florence. That will give you 3.5 days for each place. Book a hotel with a pool. There is so much to see in both cities without visiting any museums. Maybe there is a beach area within train travel from either Rome or Florence.

If you have 8 nights, just do Rome and Florence. You don’t want to move around too much, so you can do a day trip or two for a different flavor. If you have 9-10 nights, then your options of a 3rd city open up, and you can decide how much time to spend in each.

We are not museum people, either. Most aren’t. But the Vatican is not to be missed.

Walks of Italy tours are wonderful and you can’t go wrong booking one that sounds of interest to you. I also like doing one planned thing a day (or evening). I think it gives structure to the day. In Rome we did the early morning Pristine Sistine. We also,do the VIP colloseum, Forum, Palantine Hill tour.

One of our favorites was also the Travestere Twilight Food Tour. Book early, only so many slots.

https://www.eatingeurope.com/rome/twilight-trastevere/

We are going back with our 2 sons (27 and 24), in September. We will see Florence this time and plan on doing a Walks of Italy day trip to Siena, vineyard, etc. also do another one for Florence itself. I think they are well worth the money.

The beaches in Italy are rocky and not meant for strolling. They hurt your feet, you have to bring beach shoes. I can still remember laughing when H and I were on the beach in Positano (which to us was surreal). 2 teenage girls walked by complaining saying, “this sucks, this is supposed to be one of the best beaches in the world, I (bleeping) hate this place.”