Family trip to Italy in July/August

If you only plan three days for Rome I wouldn't do a daytrip to Pompeii. Perhaps you should decide on what exactly you'd like to see in Rome and then determine if three days really is enough. We had planned a five night stay in Rome with a daytrip to Pompeii and couldn't fit everything in. We added an extra night to Rome and I'm still having problems overscheduling.

You have a basically good plan. A couple of comments/suggestions:

• Stay in Venice proper, not Mestre. The evenings are lovely in Venice and I'd hate to have you miss them by being in Mestre!

• Day 15 stay in Monterosso one more night and go to Milano on Day 16 unless you have things you really want to see in Milano.

• Day 16 arrive in Milano in time to see the Duomo and walk around a bit, go to the Galleria. Will you stay in Milano and take a bus to the airport in the morning? Is there an early enough bus?

• Sicne there are 4 of you, apartments might be a good idea: more space and less €€ than two or three B#B rooms.

Looks like a very nice trip!

Suggestions:

Stay in the historic center of Firenze if possible. It's very compact and easy to walk, so staying in the suburbs is a time-waster.

Swapping a day with Roma: depends on your interests. Firenze is mainly a city for Renaissance art, Roma is a city built on over 2500 years of history, art, politics, religion.

Day trip to Pompeii: again, depends on what you want to do in Roma. Personally I think three nights in Roma is minimal for seeing this city, but it's my favorite in the world, so...

Arrive early or late in Milano: you could arrive in the evening. There is plenty to do in Milano for one day (Leonardo's Last Supper requires advance reservations): the Duomo (take the elevator to the roof, could be your only chance to commune with the gargoyles). Some excellent museums, a castle, some great restaurants. If you decide to go somewhere else, you could spend the last night in Bergamo.

I have to ask: why stay in Mestre?

Thank You very much for your input!

• I've already booked a very nice place in Mestre, so, too late for that! :)

• 4 Days in Monterosso won't be too much? Maybe add that day to Rome?

• I have not decided whether to stay in Milano or Bergamo. I think it's best to stay in Bergamo! Saves a lot of stress in the morning :D

• I'm doing the Airbnb thing and I'm so frustrated by the number of offers listed that I'm kind of going nuts here :D

What about the accomodation in Firenze? Is it important to stay in the historical center or is suburbs OK?
Will something this far do?
Or is it better to stay here?

Edited:
In Mestre because I found this nice place and we do not want to stay in a Hotel.

The places you chose look fine. The reason I suggested staying in the historic center in Firenze is because, well, that was your question, and it's so easy to walk to everything that it seems with just a few days there, commuting from suburbs takes time away from enjoying the city. But what you are doing looks great.

I would spend less time in Monterosso and add a night to Roma.

I have to say you found some nice places, i just think you will miss the atmosphere at night in Venice, but the price you got is excellent. I would go with the Santa Croce property in Firenze. It is a very nice area, away from some of the crowds, but close to the center.

I see only 2 1/2 days in Monterosso: Half of day 12, all of 13 and 14. It is enough, so as Zoe said, add a day to Roma. There's never enough time in Roma! I'd still have you go to Milano on Day 16 unless you really want to spend more time there. Take a close look at Mialno in the guidebook and decide if it is for you.

I think you have found nice lodging options. I prefer some other booking sites as AirBnB is so strict on cancellations, but you've done well with price and they are rated highly by others. I notice there is not a washer in either Firenze apartment. Not important to you to do laundry in your apartment? There are landromats and sinks, of course. :-)

Thanks, Zoe, good point! I will then book this place and I'll add a day to Rome!

Now the later part looks like this:

day8: Firenze - Roma (going early in the morning)
day:9, 10, 11, 12: Roma
day13: Roma - Monterosso(CT) (going early in the morning)
day14, 15: CT
day16: Monterosso(CT) - Milano (going early in the morning), doing the main sightseeing --> Bergamo(BNB)
day17: Bergamo (07:00) - Riga

Edited:
Laurel: It looks like now we're thinking alike! :)
P.S. could you suggest any "better" BNB booking options with a more flexible cancellation policy?
P.P.S. Yes, it's a bummer that the Santa Croce place does not have a washer/dryer but it's the best place (for the price) that I've found thus far ( I've been searching the whole day, please correct me if You know a better place, I'll be glad to reconsider as my eyes are already blurry :D ) and besides - the place in Venice has a washer as well as the place in Rome (which is still to be found)
Thank You very much!
P.P.P.S. Is there a "must stay in" BNB in Monterosso that You know?
Now it looks more like it, doesn't it?

If the apt. is in fact only 5 minutes from the train station that's not so bad. Not sure when the last train leaves from Venice to Mestre, but we've had friends from there join us for dinner in Venice and they left quite late so you should be able to enjoy Venice at night after all the crowds have gone.

Yes!
And the early bus to Venice Downtown is at 5:40 in the morning or something, so we will be able to see the place before the tourist groups arrive!

P.S. I've booked the Santa Croce apartament. :)
Fingers crossed!
Rome, Monterosso and Bergamo still to be booked. :) As well as the super-cheap train tickets and museum reservations and day-trip...
This is getting tireing :D