Trip of a lifetime but need help

1a - Yes, you do need to allow time for customs and passport control. How long? Hard to predict. Maybe just an hour - maybe more if your flight is delayed. I wouldn't purchase your tickets to travel to Monterosso and lock yourself into a schedule ahead of time, because of the possibility of your flight arriving late. Just buy them when you get to Milan and travel from there.

2a - You'll need to transfer in to Milano Centrale from MXP (someone else should be able to tell you precisely how to do that, or Google. I haven't done it before). From there you can either take trains with a few connections or an Intercity train which is less frequent but no changes. That's what I would choose. Looks like they leave at 12:10, 14:05, 16:05, 18:05. 2h57m travel time.

4 - Since you're thinking of doing Siena only for a night, I would consider adding that night onto Florence and just taking a day trip. That way you don't have to move all your belongings with you. The day trip is easily done from Florence via bus, though you could rent a car if you prefer that. If you want to do Siena + vineyard, there are some private tours you can book that should be able to take you to both. (Again, apologies - haven't done it so can't recommend specific people/companies).

6/7 - I would not expect to get a good nights rest on a night train. It can happen, but many complain of little rest. Consider getting a hotel in Napoli or Rome and traveling early the next morning on a fast train. Also realize that when you arrive at Verona Porta Nuova, you must take a connection to Venezia Santa Lucia. It looks like from the Trenitalia website that if you arrive at Porta Nuova at 5:30, there isn't a train leaving for S. Lucia until 6:20 (arrives 7:48). That's a long time to be stuck there while you're tired. If it were me, I would sleep in Napoli or Rome, then head to Venice the next day.

1) yes, anywhere from half an hour to two hours depending on how many flights are landing at the same time as yours.

2) Use http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4ddd1a035296f310VgnVCM1000005817f90aRCRD to search for train tickets.

3) If you plan to stop at Pisa be sure you buy the correct train tickets. If you buy tickets on the high speed train you will not be able to get off in Pisa. You'll need to buy connecting tickets unless you buy tickets on the regional trains.

Your 14 year old will get into most sites for free.

4) I would just do Siena as a day trip and visit a vineyard from Florence

5) Your 14 year old won't need the pass. The vatican museums are not covered by the pass. Any site that honors the pass will sell them. Check their official site to find other locations to buy them.

6) I would suggest taking the train to Naples and storing your luggage at the train station until you are ready to pick it up. A private driver will be very expensive.

The night train won't allow you much good sleep. I would spend the night in either Rome or Naples and take the first train out in the morning.

Donna

Regarding the Firenze and Roma passes: Both can be purchased online or at the tourist sites in the city. Note that they work a little differently. With the Firenze pass, you get free admission to all sites on the pass. With the Roma pass, you get free admission to the first two sites only, and then reduced admission. So figure out what you want to see and make sure it is worth it to buy the pass.

If you buy the passes, the only site that you still need a reservation for is the Borghese gallery in Rome. You can call them or see if your hotel does it for you.

If your plan is to get off the train, take a quick look at the leaning tower of Pisa, and get back on the train, I would recommend skipping Pisa altogether. It will be a several hour disruption to your day for not a lot of reward.

I agree with the other comments about avoiding the night train to Venice. Rome to Venice is barely a four hour train ride. Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius are easy day trips from Rome. You can either book a tour or just do it yourself- take the fast train to Naples and then transfer at the train station to their subway (the Circumvesuviana) to get to Pompeii. Then spend the night in Rome and take an early train out to Venice. By the time you get there, it will be check in time at your hotel. You can drop your stuff off at the hotel and get out touring.

My memory of the Milan airport was, it's not very big. We arrived at Terminal 1 on a flight from London, so we didn't go through passport control. Once we got our luggage, we went out the exit and headed to the right. We caught the shuttle to the train station. It's showing the fare at 7.5 euros per person. The taxis only take 4, so I think a shuttle is the best option.

Robert, I imagine you are going to Pisa because the kids want to see it, so plan on a half-day from Florence. Better not to skip if they really want to go. If you haven't booked accommodations yet, consider an apartment in Florence and perhaps in Rome, it will give the kids space to spread out. Don't underestimate the convenience of on-site laundry facilities.

I think your plan is good but I wonder about the overnight train. It's doubtful that everyone in your group will get a good night's sleep, and a day's touring is only as happy as the grumpiest person in the group. The train from Rome to Venice is only four hours, from Naples add an hour and a half.

1a. There might be a line at passport control (immigration), but in. My experience at MXP it was never that long even at the non EU citizen line. But it might be long if several flight arrive at the same time. Another wait could be at baggage claim (like sometimes it happens in the US) but not at customs which is just a walk thru.
2a. Malpensa Express Train from MXP to Milano Centrale station. Then train to Monterosso (some may require change at Genoa or Sestri). Use www.trenitalia.com to see schedule.
2b. Consorzio Navigazione Golfo Dei Poeti.
4. Go to Siena for the day only from Florence by bus (75 min). Can't use a car in Siena.
You can do wine tasting along the Chianti road with a private tour if you don't want to rent a car. Obviously for 5 people it will be costly.
6. The train to Naples is much faster than a private driver. You can leave the luggage at the baggage depot at the Naples station while you go to Pompeii with the commuter train. Or you can also leave the luggage at Pompeii site.
However instead of hauling the luggage and taking the night train, I would go to Naples by train as a day trip from Rome. Then in the evening go back to Rome, stay in the same hotel, and in the morning check out and leave early for Venice (3h48min). I can't sleep on trains and I will not travel on one again.

I have been to Italy/Sicily twice and my husband and I are leaving on June5th for my 3rd!! I love it there....My main advice is live the lifestyle.....don't rush yourself. Enjoy the people, the smells, the church bells and the pigeons!! I would not take a night train (no sleep), and I would take the train to naples...there is another train that you get on to take you to Serrinto (sp)...that is beautiful there....
Enjoy.....

Yes, you can get your Last Supper tickets on line. The website is vivaticket.it. Watch the site and look for tickets the day they go on same for your date. You print out a receipt and exchange it for your tickets when you arrive at the chapel.

There is no reason to buy the romapass onine. You can only pick it up in Rome and if bought online you must specify where you want to get it. If there happens to be long lines at that site you must wait to get it there. If you buy once in Rome you can pick up the pass at any site that honors it or at several other locations throughout the city. Check the romapass website for a full list of where it can be bought.

donna

to echo what is said here, museum and city passes are usually not worth getting online in advance. Its best just to wait until you get there.

For the Last Supper, don't consider doing it the same day you fly out if you are coming from Venice. It takes about 2.5 hours one way to get to Milan, not including the time it takes to get to the airport and needing to be there 2 hours in advance. Additionally, although you would have enough time to get from Venice to Malpensa, in the case of a train strike (which do happen) you would be stranded in Venice with few options for getting to Milan other than an expensive taxi.

If you can spend your last night in Milan, you would be able to see the Last Supper and you would have lots of options for getting to the airport.

Finally, I also agree with the advice on trains to Naples instead. Private drivers to take you that far will be really expensive. If you are doing the night train the same day as your day trip to Pompeii, you could leave your bags at Termini Train Station and pick them up when you get back. Trains to Naples only take about 1.5 hours one way can cost about $55/pp. Once in Naples, the Circumvesuviana train will take you right to Pompeii. That ticket only costs about 5 euros at most.

I hope this helps some.

CUSTOMS: That is a difficult question to answer. So much of it depends on the airport and the amount of agents working to process the passengers. Plan on an hour to be safe.

FLORENCE: Accademia is closed on Monday!!! Our one and only goal was to see the statue of David while in Florence but we didn't get to as it was closed on the Monday we were there. Plan accordingly.

ROME: The history in this city is breath taking. Visiting the Colosseum is surreal. Plan on plenty of time to visit Vatican city as it has so much to see. We did not give ourselves enough time and wish we could of seen more. There really is so much to see in Rome, your days will go by very quickly.

VENICE: My favorite visit of our entire trip. Many places are not as you see them in pictures but Venice is exactly as I expected, even more. The narrow cobblestone streets are exquisite and mysterious. You will feel like you have walked into another period in time.

roberts,

Could you clarify whether your trip has already taken place, or do you still require information?

This is the only post from robertspinazzola; he gone.