I am looking to travel to Italy in the summer, using points, or reduced first/business tickets...Any suggestions?

Cheap travel to Italy for the summer may already be gone. It's a very popular destination.

How about a little more data:

1. What points/miles do you have with which airline?
2. Where in Italy do you want to go?
3. When? Are you flexible?
4. What's your budget?

and so on.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

Yes, welcome to FlyerTalk and Italy is a fave among many of us here. I'm sure we'll be able to offer an abundance of advice once we know what kind of miles and points you have. Sometimes Rome and Milan are difficult to redeem to in season and I've always had great luck redeeming into Nice. France and then renting a car or catching the train into Northern Italy.

Again, welcome to FlyerTalk and we all look forward to helping you in any way we can.

It would also be very helpful to know where you would like to travel from.

Also, I assume, since you are not specific, that anywhere in Italy is OK.

If you can only get in or out of Italy direct, consider a city with a cheap flight to Rome or Milan. Easy Jet and Ryanair are good ones.

I'll add my 2 cents as well.

I would recommend going to Italy in March. I went this past March, and the crowds that you read about were not there. It also was not too hot, but the weather was quite comfortable. I was there for 2 1/2 weeks and had about half-an-hour of rain. You obviously don't want to go over Easter, but if you go just before then, I think you beat the tourist season.

I flew into Naples since I had a conference in Sorrento and then flew out of Rome. This was cheaper than a direct round-trip ticket, and it also allowed me to see more of the country without backtracking. The trains are very good at getting around, and the drivers are crazy so be wary if you drive. I flew into LHR, and then I changed planes onto BMI into Naples which was a good deal. I was able to book everything on one record, too, even though I was mixing airlines and alliances.

I can't answer your questions about miles or business class too well, but my economy class seat with an empty seat next to me was quite comfortable.

jebien There is little doubt that many are willing and able to help you. It is really impossible to answer your questions unless you give your departure city and/or mileage programs in which you are active. If you are not particularly faithful to one mileage program, than I suggest searching for all flights to Italy (assuming, you are USA-based) which offer discounted business fares. These are normally found as I fares or Z fares, depending on the airline and require an advance purchase fare as well as a minimum stay.
You can go to the individual airline websites; e.g.: AF, AZ,CO, DL, UA, AA, LH, etc., but you might be better-served by going to a more ubiquitious website such as Expedia. Again, there are many people on FT who could and would give you great information. We just need a little more input from you.
Welcome to FT.

In regard to Randy's tip. You can also fly into geneva, zurich. munich or innsbruk ^

Thank you all for the advice that you have given so far and I appreciate all of your comments. I have also searched the forum and I am aware of some of the info available. I have also spent time online as well as on the phone with several airlines(Continental, Delta, AA, Alitalia, and American Express (for a free companion ticket).

I have been told by CO, that the standard rewards have not been released from March going forward and Alitalia and CO recommended purchasing restricted tickets.

I presently do not have FF status but have American Express points to use.

I am looking to fly from the NY area; I prefer to fly from Newark and I am looking to go direct to either Rome, but will fly to any other city if the fares are good, ie.Milan.

I am planning a special trip, and usually not a flyer to Europe.

I would also vary the trip to fly through another city in Europe if the fares are good, using reward ticketing, ie. London, etc.

The dates would be mid July for two weeks....I could vary that as well, but would prefer the summer as compared to the spring.

Thanx

Yes, I see that you're targeting mid-July. But one thing that can broaden your options is if you can go before most U.S. schools close for summer (or after they start back up again. An early June departure will present more options for awards or reduced prices (though not for full-fare business class), and will also result in smaller crowds when you get there (there will still be crowds, just not as bad as July and August). And especially in Rome, early June would certainly feel like summer, not spring.

I too was planning a trip to Italy.

Flying into munich is the idea right now.

Also was wondering if Italy has "guesthouses" to stay
in like Germany does.

Italy has many hostels you can stay in, as well as dive hotels throughout all the smaller cities. I stayed in one particular dive in La Spezia, but it was all part of the experience. ^

Italy in September is wonderful. Crowds are much smaller, the weather is wonderful and there are lots of wine festivals in small cities all over the country.

Rick Steves books on discount travel, and staying in local homes, cottages, flats, etc always helped me when I just wanted a place to sleep, a nice breakfast, and meeting local peoples.

Thats exactly what I am looking
for. I enjoyed staying at the gathaus's in
Germany.

Most of them had a small bar and restaurant
on the premises and usually cost around
$50 a room for two people. Sometimes
breakfest is included. Most of them are
real nice too.

September sounds great too with the
wine festivals!

thanks for the info..