First timers

Even Rome-Florence-Venice is a tall order for your allotted time.

I would focus on the north or the south, and of the two, I would opt for Florence-Venice and perhaps Milan (good international gateway). Save Rome and the Amalfi Coast for another trip?

Definitely add as many days as practicable. With the time you have, I wouldn’t visit the Amalfi coast. Rome, Florence, Venice is the way to go. When planning your time, count nights instead of days when planning your time.

Air B&B could be a solution as well as VRBO.com, or checking the apartment listings on hotels.com or other travel sites.

Keep in mind that July will be very warm, especially in the south of Italy where Sorrento is. If it were me, I would probably limit it to Rome and Florence, especially since you have not been before. Both are incredible cities with so much to see and do, and there are any number of day trips you can take from either.

Check the guidebooks, including Rick's, for hotel apartment ideas. I was a solo traveler in Italy (both times) so my recs won't help you (and it's been awhile, anyway). Also, since you will be there in July, think about air-conditioning. If you don't care, then that will make things easier but for some, it's a must and many European hotels do not have A/C.

We just returned from the RS Italy My Way trip which was great! We all agreed that 3 nights in Rome, Florence and Venice are best if possible. (There is a RS trip covering those 3 cities only.) From Florence you could easily do a day trip to Siena which everyone raves about. If you haven't been to R, F and V then do that trip....They are amazing cities and provide a great intro into Italian art and culture. Just know you will need more time no matter what! Be sure to book a hotel in Rome in the historic district as Rome is huge and spread out. So many options! Enjoy. Also, note that any museum you really want to see has the option to book online reservations, which is advised. Even the free entry to the Basilica of St. Mark's has a skip the line ticket which saves you time...we were surprised at how busy it was in late September.

It has been decades since I've been to Florence, but the word from knowledgeable people on this forum is that Florence can be absolutely miserable in the summer because of the surrounding geography. The average high temp is 88.5F; the record is over 108F. And of course Rome (average 88.7F, record high 104F) is also likely to be very hot. You'll survive that for 10-12 days if you have air conditioned lodgings, but it will be draining when you're seeing outdoor sights (many in Rome) or walking between sights. You may begin to wonder why you didn't go to the Dolomites instead. But for a first trip, it's hard to quibble with Rome/Florence/Venice.

Those places are so well traveled and there are so many resources available for preparing, I would not worry too much about having the help of a hotel. Get an apartment and be comfortable! I would not necessarily do that in all places, but certainly if you stay four nights anywhere it is worth it. It may also depend on the kids--what their arrangement would be in terms of how many hotel rooms you would need, etc.
As for "the big three" versus Rome + Sorrento, is there a consensus among the group? What kinds of things do you all enjoy doing? Of course there is no rule about what you must do in any location (you don't have to go to every art museum, etc.), but the Sorrento area is generally more about outdoor activities, particularly in July. I would only do the big three if you can make it 12 days.

I love all these perspectives, and I did expect the consensus of Rome, Venice, Florence. Venice was scratched off our list because people we know who have been to Italy told us its underwater, and many venues are closed with heavy rains, etc. My kids want the Amalfi coast, and we do too! I thought Sorrento would be a good spot to get to Pompeii and Capri.

I don't think acqua alta is a summer threat in Venice, is it? But if your group wants to see the Amalfi area, that's reason enough to go there (weather issues aside). On a short trip, I like the idea of two bases rather than three.

About that business of Venice being under water... stop listening to these people, since they are only partly right. Yes, Venice does get some periodic flooding. But it only happens in parts of the city for a day or so, and mostly in late fall or winter. You will be there in summer, so it's not a factor.

But if you and your kids want to go to the AC, then go to the AC. Just make sure your hotel or apartment on the AC has AC, because you will need it. If you do this, consider where you'll be on the night before your flight home. If you can fly from Naples, you could stay in Sorrento if you have a late afternoon flight. But if your flight is earlier, or if you leave from Rome, you would need to be in that city the night before.

If you decide on the VFR itinerary, then I'd recommend starting in Venice and leaving from Rome. It's easier to fly into Venice than to fly out of it.

Your friends are probably talking about the Aqua Alta which is a combination of high tides and rain where the city gets flooded. Very unlikely to happen in July. Yes, the water level has risen over the years and many buildings have ground floors that are uninhabitable because of damp but my feeling is that it is not to be missed as it is so unique and beautiful. Go online and have a look at the various webcam sites to get a look at how the weather is in live time.

On my first visit I spent 2 nights there and have been back 5 times for usually 3 nights. If you do the V, F, R itinerary, better to fly into Venice and out of Rome because of early departures.

Personally I think in July I’d prefer being on the coast and the Amalfi Coast is stunning.

The coast really has it all. I would certainly check flights to Naples, but if you end up with round-trip to Rome, it is a short train ride so you can head there on arrival fairly easily (returning for Rome for the remainder of time). Because of the heat and crowds, I would start scoping out accommodations very very early.
If you end up with more time, I would at least look into the logistics of splitting up your stay into Sorrento and somewhere smaller (Capri or an Amalfi Coast village). Most people don't seem to mind the long day trips--and I agree that a ferry ride is part of the fun--but if you want the tiny village experience, it is worth the hotel move imho. Sorrento is more convenient for day trips to Naples, Pompeii, but it is personally a bit of a drag to me to be on the go every day, and being in a village or on an island at night is a special experience. But, it ultimately depends on the flights, number of days, and what your groups likes. The kids might want to be somewhere more lively at night for example. Or, an outdoorsy bunch might want to be somewhere they can be on a trail or beach in minutes.

hey hey s42mahoney
welcome to the forum. when you say 4 adult children, are they over age 18?
eurporeforvisitors.com seat61.com
lots of info about cities you hope to see and train travel
july will be really hot, especially the southern part of italy plus very busy with the summer season. wherever you stay look for a place with A/C and that it is big enough for all 6 of you. how many bedrooms, bathrooms, beds. knowing rooms/showers are smail, i personally would look for 2 "family" hotel rooms. always look at the number of people limited to a room, plus 2 rooms gives you 2 bathrooms with your gang. when booking flights, look at arrival and departure times, checkin is 2-4pm and checkout 10-11am. if hotel make sure they have luggage hold instead of pulling bags along with hours to wait. rent an extra night before or after, seen many people frustrated/stressed with no where to go
i have to laugh about "friends" tell you venice is underwater. the acqua alta happens, we got caught in it, lasted about an hour. what an experience, walked out of apt barefooted and around corner where the water had receeded, shoes back on and away we went. watched people by the train station in their boots and pants rolled up to walk to get wherever. some shops may close to sweep out water and open up again. this was in october, next day we rented car across train station and drove to bardolino on lago di garda (lake garda) for the annual wine festival, just go with the "flow". had a fabulous fun time and the lake is gorgeous.
your days in italy are short to be cramming so much in, add more days. give yourself and gang travel time on trains, getting ready in morning, checkout of hotel, getting to train station and checkin to new hotel, usually takes half a day to change places.
whatever your decision, if venice on agenda, easier to fly in than out. early "dark thirty" morning hours to get to airport with early flights about 6-7am. take a private water taxi (motoscafivenezia.it) for about 120E airport to venice hotel) so so worth it, plus with your gang, we've done it 4 times.
when booking flights, do a multi-city flight (USA - Venice Rome - USA) or (USA - Rome or Naples Naples or Rome - USA) no backtracking. wherever your flight departures from stay the night before in that city. make sure all passports are up to date, time to get thru immigration/passport control, give myself 3 hours. you're at busy airports with many people, finding gates and terminals, pack light, don't forget jet lag when arriving, it's real,
my opinion, since you only spend a couple nights in each city, i would look for hotels. rooms next/across to each other. most hotels hold luggage and airbnb's do not if someone already staying there, plus check fees and taxes they add up, get 2 keys per place.
figure out your days of travel, how many days total (is 10 days total including flying in and out which makes 8 days), what cities you going to, make a list of what you & gang wants to see and do, have the children do some research also. it can get crazy to research and can be fun, have your "ducks" in a row helps later when you are there. look at what needs tickets to see or enter, book online, many are time stamped.
just some options and things to know about before and being there. first time i went to rome years ago, told friend i wanted to ride a "fast" train, you don't have time!!! yes i do and we went to naples for the day. not many want to include naples with it's "reputation" being dirty and gritty. we had the best time and day there, eating pizza, roaming and window shopping the alleyways, talking with our hands with italians that were so friendly, nice and helpful, walking to a plaza by the water, police everywhere in tanks with their rifles and guns, guess a normal thing, garbage in the street. it is what it is and was so worth saying i've been there and would go again and experience more. back on train to rome laughing the whole way, memories made.
aloha