Thank you for the insight. We like to wear New York Islanders shirts in Europe and Australia. Sometimes people actually recognize the logo. We also have Arsenal shirts. I'm sure that will generate some attention.

Looks like we'll stay at Residence Barberini in Rome, and then take the train to the Sorrento Hilton. Thanks to all for the input. Should be one spectacular holiday.

That's a real nice place too. We stayed there for 4 nights on one trip. It would have been my 2nd suggestion, but you originally said "location" is the real important, and my other suggestion had a better location.

This place is right across P. Barberini from the Subway station, so it is very convenient. On the corner is a little store for munchies and water/soda. It's also a major bus route (around the corner). In one direction, you can grab the bus to Termini. On the other side, you can grab bus 492 to zip you real close to the forum, and Lago Argentina, for Campo Fiore and Piazza Navonna.

Trevi is only a few blocks, and the Spanish Steps only about a 10 minute walk.

Excellent choice!^ They were also very helpful in arranging airport pickup, and a taxi to Termini when we were leaving. You'll love the elevator!

I stayed at the Sorrento Hilton for a conference. If you have a high up room facing the town, the view is spectacular. If not, there are public areas where you can enjoy the view.

I took the train from Rome to Naples, then the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento - I could not find anything more direct. The train to Naples was easy and got in early. But the Circumvesuviana is a (slowish, sometimes crowded) commuter train system separate from the intercity lines. Construction when I was there meant a long walk to the CV entrance, and no elevators or escalators. I had a lot of stuff for the conference so it was a pain. And be warned - in Naples guys will dress in light blue jackets and act like porters but there are no official ones - they will charge an outrageous amount to handle bags. Hopefully since this is a vacation you will pack light and have stuff you can easily handle. (I considered the ferry but was unsure about getting to it with all my bags.) But it very convenient for day trips to Pompeii or Naples from Sorrento and somewhat scenic.

When you get to Sorrento, you will probably want to take a taxi to the Hilton as it is a distance uphill from the train station (or the ferry dock). It was around 15 Euros for me and my luggage. Without luggage, it is a bit of a walk back to the center of town, but not too bad.

Four days should be enough for the places you want to visit. You can easily spend an entire day at Pompeii, but allow at least 2-3 hours for the highlights. I squeezed in a quick trip to Capri and due to a change in ferry times wound up taking the ferry back at sunset. It was beautiful.

Another tip: Look up the Roma Pass and the Campania Artecard before you leave (the pass rules may change between now and when you actually leave). They may or may not save you much money, depending on what you visit, but they can save time. For example, I bypassed a looong line at the Coliseum ticket window near closing time, giving me at least 15 more minutes to explore.

I know Rome very well, since I lived there for 6 years and worked for a local tour operator.

For the appartment, I would stay at the hotel for three nights, you are in holidays after all and you deserve to be served and just have a great tzime... but it's my personal opinion.
I agree with the other writers about the Express by Holiday Inn San Giovanni, it's really nice and stylish!!
I do not agree at all on the Jolly Hotel Vittorio Veneto, not a nice location and old style. Don't go there if you are staying at the Sorrento Hilton after that!! It's another world!

But you could also check the website www.booking.com, there you can book hotels (not only in Italy) at good prices and WITHOUT TO PAY ANYTHING IN ADVANCE!!! They'll have offers for Rome in summer for sure, cause it's low season. If you want an advice on an hotel you find, write me: I know most of Rome hotels.

For families, Accor chain is very convenient, they have a nice hotel close to the Colosseum (Mercure Delta Colosseo), childrem under 16 don't pay but they have to share the parent's room.

AS Roma and Lazio training locations are not open to visits, nor does the Olimpico stadium. It is a pity actually, I tried to organize tours there but it seems to be impossible... they don't understand business)).

The best way to go from Rome to Sorrento is actually rent a car. It's a nice journey and you can organize yourself as you want (important with children along...). Check with Herz or Europcar websites, best fares are to be found online, you can probably pick up the car in Rome and drop it off in Sorrento.

Best wishes for your trip and just ask me if you need more advice...

Now, this is an interesting idea. We actually have seven people travelling from Rome to Sorrento. Would it make more sense to hire a van with or with out a driver for the trip?

Our family (5 rooms) stayed at the Mecenate Palace Hotel - not too far from the Coloseum in a nice neighborhood overlooking a gorgeous church and plaza. Rooftop bar & breakfast room, lovely rooms with great bathrooms (best showers & towels of the trip!). I think we booked through Booking.com & the rate was E220 for a deluxe double, E165 for a Superior Double (not sure of the difference - might have been the view, as I didn't see the 2nd room). Excellent charming staff, lovely lobby - we really liked this hotel!

If you don't mind to drive, without. I think you can ask to have a van with a GPS system, maybe paying a little more.

When you get off the inter-city train at Napoli Centrale, look for signs for the "Ferrovia Circumvesuviana"--it is technically part of the Naples rapid transit system. I think that there are technically five different terminals in the Napoli Centrale complex. It's not that hard to find.

What it is is a narrow gauge railway that goes past Ercolano (Herculaneum) and Pompeii, and the end of the line is Sorrento--about 30 miles south of Naples. I was last on it in 2003--it takes an hour, and I think you can buy an all day pass on this train for less than E10.00 per person. As there were no hotels immediately around the terminal in Sorrento, you'll want to catch a cab to your hotel.

This is one of the most colorful rapid transit trips in the world--you will encounter street musicians and street theater on board the train, as they go from car to car seeking coins from the riders for their performances.

As for Rome, my family stays at the Tiziano, located on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, about half-way between Termini railroad station and the Vatican. Bus #64 (and a number of others) depart from in front of Termini and stop across the street from the hotel, which is adjacent to a block of Roman ruins called the Largo Argentina. The Pantheon is just a couple of blocks away, as is the Campo dei Fiore (flower market square)--Piazza Navona is not much further--around the corner from the hotel is the terminus of streetcar (tramvia) #8, which will take you to Trastevere. Between late September and early May the top two floors of the Tiziano are occupied by the Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, IN) Rome program, arguably the best of its kind (my wife, her sister and my daughter, all SMC alumnae, were on this program).