Italy with 5 Help with rooms

We travelled through the same areas you list with
five, 3 young adults, my wife and myself. Always
had to get two rooms, a triple and double. No
trouble doing so.

Thanks for the ideas. Has anyone rented an apartment for less than a week?

I've rented apartments for less than a week a couple of times. My best friend does it for 4 day weekends all the time. Look at www.homeholidays.com. You can sort the listings by 'avaiable for less than a week'. For Florence, CT and Orvieto I would pick one place and get an apartment for the entire time.

Do research on Trip Advisor, Virtual Tourist, and check RS books for lodging options. Once you have narrowed it down, call, email, or contact the place through the website and explain how many you have, who can bunk with whom, and ask them for the best room combinations. With six, we never had to get more than two rooms, but then we had three girls who could sleep together or with me.

If you are making reservations for June for five, you might want to hurry! Oh, and check out the hostels. We found some to be a deal, others, not. We stayed at a B&B outside of Venice because we thought breakfast would be worth the price, but it was on the skimpy side, so we might as well have gone to a hostel.

I LOVE renting apartments! It is so easy, you have so much freedom and you feel like you actually live in Italy! Not to mention, they are often cheaper than a hotel, and are often available for less than a week; I've even rented one for only two nights. We are renting one for four nights in June right on the Grand Canal...can't wait! Your contact person meets you at the agreed day and time, shows you the apt, how things work, where to buy provisions (which is such fun!). (and they usually have a washing machine!) Go for an apartment near the center of things, near what you'd like to see and can walk to. In Rome, I think the area near Campo di Fiori is great, easy to walk anywhere. In Venice, I stay in the main part of the islands, not Mestre or the Lido (unless you want the beach). Good luck and have a wonderful trip! PS walkie talkies or cell phones that actually work in Europe are great to have so you can go in different directions if you like, and meet up later. Big PS: Since there are 5 of you, take a water taxi (worth the little splurge) from the Marco Polo airport! It is such a WONDERFUL way to meet Venice for the first time! The boys will LOVE it!

Many apartment agencies rent for less than a week. In Venice we have had good luck with These folks.

www.veniceapartments.org

Some places my have a three night minimum but sometimes not

Your sons may love the apartment life but I'll guarantee they will be knocked out by the really cute Italian girls on motorscooters in Florence and Rome. Don't stop and stare too long as they will run you over. Eat lots of gelato.

For Rome try mauro@team-shock.it He came highly recommended from this site. We have booked an apartment in June for a family of four in the Villa del Reginella (Jewish Ghetto) area. This is within walking distance of many major attractions. Mauro is quite a character and offers airport transfers with a five night stay, minimum three nights required. He has connections for Tuscany as well.