Italy for 3-4 weeks with kids

Hi Jenn -
I'm not sure if you're thinking you can find one single base for visiting all of the locations on your list, or if you mean multiple houses in different locations?

If it's the former, that's very definitely not a possibility. There's no middle point from which to day-trip ALL of these places. A few, maybe. You could base, say, in Salerno for Naples (about 40 minutes away by train) and the Amalfi (bus/ferry around the coast), possibly Rome although I don't know as I'd drag 3 kids on too many day trips there given the time involved (90 minutes - 2 hours one way by high-speed train.) Salerno/the Amalfi aren't exactly known for their beaches, though.

Personally, if you want to do Rome would stay IN Rome because there's so much to do there. Sardinia? I don't think you can do that one in just a few days; it's a big island and not a day trip from anywhere.

How are you planning on getting around?

Thank you for your post.

Sorry, after posting I realized I didn't give very much information. I have two different trains of thoughts on this. First, I am thinking about first visiting a few areas, maybe Venice, Como, Cinque Terre, and staying in hotels, before arriving at the home exchange. For the home exchange, I was thinking a town in a central area where we could explore areas around Rome, Naples, Amalfi would be ideal. Once we are at the house, I am happy to do little trips into Rome, Naples, or wherever and stay in a hotel or B&B for a night or two. I don't think only one day in Rome would be enough time to take it all in, again, I could be wrong though, since I have never been. This is my first trip to Italy and don't want it to be too action packed with the kids. I do want to have some down time at our home exchange where we can take walks into the village and really experience Italian life and culture. We are all beach bums at heart and would like to incorporate visiting some areas with nice sandy beaches. Maybe Amalfi will have to be taken off this trip for the mean time to allow more time to explore other areas.

Secondly, find a home exchange somewhat central to Venice, Como, Cinque Terre, and then after 2-3 weeks travel down to Rome/Naples area and stay in hotels. What do you think about Perugia? There is a great home exchange that looks beautiful. Otherwise, any areas you can suggest?

I am not sure if we will rent a car or travel by train yet. Both are an option.

The Cinque Terre take more time to reach than a glance at a map would suggest; Vernazza is 5-1/2 to 8 hours from Perugia by train, for example. You can take a look at train times on the TrenItalia website. Keep in mind that you must use the Italian version of city and station names.

Use ViaMichelin for driving times, keeping in mind that folks say it tends to be optimistic. It guesses a bit over 4 hours for Perugia-Vernazza, plus over 20 euros in tolls (each way).

I'm not dissing Perugia; I think (without checking ViaMichelin driving estimates) it is well-positioned for visiting a lot of wonderful small cities and towns by car, including Assisi, Gubbio, Spello, Trevi, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi, Cortona, Montepulciano and Arezzo. However, you are traveling with 3 children, so I'm guessing beach time will be important. VM tells me that Perugia (which is located more or less midway between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas) is about a 2-hour drive from the Adriatic Coast, and I don't know how far you'd have to go along the coast to find a good (sandy) beach.

Also be aware that Perugia is a city, not a small town. If the house you are contemplating is on the outskirts, it might not be within reasonable walking distance of the historic center.

Jenn, for cities, trains are the best option, IMHO, as they usually get you there faster, and dump you out right in the middle. There are all sorts of issues with parking, ZTL zones (restricted streets with big fines for wandering into them), pedestrianized areas, etc. There are towns you really aren't allowed to drive into at all.

I don't think only one day in Rome would be enough time to take it all
in, again, I could be wrong though, since I have never been.

Definitely not. We've spent nearly two weeks total in Rome - spread over several trips - and feel as if we've only scratched the surface. Then again, how much time you want to spend there depends on how much interest you have in what it has to offer. :O)

I'd like to offer a different way to view your planning. Stay flexible and look for a home exchange first, then plan your trip. Say you find a great house in rural Tuscany for a week. Couldn't you build your trip around that, filling in with hotel and B&B stays to see the other locations before-and-after the home exchange?