Help with itinerary for 8 night trip to Italy

Posted by pk107 (New York) on 03/03/24 04:16 AM

We are planning a family trip to Italy. Family of 5 with three daughters 18-22. Tickets are already purchased flying in and out of Milan. We arrive 9:30 am on 23 May and depart on the 31st. We plan to travel to Cinque Terre by train upon arrival. We plan to stay 2 -3 nights. We are trying to decide best village to stay in? Many places are booked and I know we must do that asap. We would like do some hiking but fine with staying off main trails as we understand it will be crowded. We plan to do a boat tour and a cooking class there during the busy afternoon hours.

We plan to end our trip with 1 or 2 nights in Milan since we will be flying out from there. Would love some suggestions on another destination in the middle. Lake Como was suggested as a possibility. I think we would have to travel back to Milan and rent a car if that is what we do. My other thought was maybe Tuscany or Amalfi ? Would renting a car be recommended for that? Open to any suggestions!

I know 8 nights is short but it was the most we could do for this trip.

Posted by Pat

San Diego, California

03/03/24 04:43 AM

5649 posts

Amalfi is too far away for the time you have left. The transportation infrastructure in the AC has been sadly neglected, and moving about is time-consuming and exhausting because of the congestion and crowds.

Lake Como is beautiful and is an hour train from Milan Central, so I don't think a car sitting in a parking lot during your stay is necessary. However, I think you'll find problems with lodging availability at this late date. We love Hotel du Lac, Varenna, I hope it is a possibility, and ask for a lake view room with a balcony. Lake Como is one of our favorite places.

Enjoy your family trip and have a great time.

Posted by mgotravel

Park City, Utah

03/03/24 05:19 AM

53 posts

Sounds wonderful! I recommend Monterosso de Mare for the CT since that provides the most options. Yes, I agree the Lake Como area is great. We stayed at Hotel Bellagio and I highly recommend it. Don't make the mistake we did and rent a car for Lake Como at all. We are good drivers, but the drive up from Milan is very windy, stressful, and narrow. All is connected by train and ferries. You could also take the public buses. It should be more enjoyable to continue to use public transportation. Enjoy and let us know what you decide! The other ideas of Tuscany or Amalfi are too far, in my opinion. Lake Como area is gorgeous!

Posted by Cyn

Colorado Mountains, USA

03/03/24 01:18 PM

7998 posts

Both times we stayed in the Cinque Terre, we stayed in Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five. Corniglia, the only one not right on the water, is smaller and draws fewer crowds. Vernazza, Rick Steves’ long-time favorite, was literally packed shoulder-to-shoulder with pedestrians on our last visit in the fall of 2021.

If you’re picking a village from among the five, I’d still suggest Riomaggiore, unless you want to be slightly off the beaten path, then go with less-convenient Corniglia.

Posted by Mary

Reno, NV, USA

03/03/24 01:57 PM

2556 posts

If Lake Como doesn’t work out for you, Verona is an option. I agree with the others that a car is useless at Lake Como. You can access the sites on the lake by boat which is very enjoyable.

Posted by pk107 OP

New York

03/06/24 02:49 AM

11 posts

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions! We have booked 3 nights in CT at place in Vernazza ( my daughter was determined to stay in Vernazza per RS liking location). We are continuing to look at this to make sure it is the best place for us.

1)Upon everyone’s advice we are going to Lake Como area for the next 3 nights:) As mentioned by most it is difficult to find Hotels for May this late in planning. I did just find Hotel Bellagio has availability but we will have to book 3 rooms as we are a family of 5 and only 2 guests per room. Not a problem but just want to ask if we will be able to find all we want to do with out a car? I have booked the rooms just want to be sure:) The only options for a family of 5 seemed to be VRBO or AirB&B type places and though many were beautiful it seems a car is necessary to either reach them or to get any where once you arrive. We had thought to rent a car but again upon everyone’s thoughtful advice I think we will avoid doing that.

2) For our last 2 nights we plan to stay in Milan. Does anyone have recommendations on hotels or places they enjoyed? Especially if we can fit in one apartment or 2 hotel rooms? Anything you really enjoyed in Milan that was not mentioned in RS guidebook?

Many thanks for all the excellent advice!