Travel hints
Travel Light - Do you really need to bring a suitcase? These days it often costs extra to bring more than just hand luggage, often quite a lot extra. In summer you won't need many clothes, maybe a light jacket and a collapsing umberella. There are washing machines and an iron so you can recycle your clothes easily while you are here. If you can't manage with just hand luggage then mayb a suitcase between 2 or 3 or even 4! Remember that liquids can only be carried in hand luggage in bottles of 100cl or less and you can now buy most things in this size bottle. Shampoo and sun cream can be bought here when you arrive.
Car Hire - Prices vary tremendously so it pays to shop around on the internet. Don't assume that a special arrangement between your airline and a car hire company means the prices will be cheap. Very often they are not and can be double what you might pay elsewhere. Car hire insurance is always a problem. the standard insurance does not cover the first 2000 euros of any damage so the car hire company will try to sell you extra collision damage waiver insurance to cover this. Their charge is astronomical but you can buy this extra cover on the internet before you come. Many companies offer CDW insurance for either a single trip or on an annual basis. For a week it can cost as little as £14 and £35 for a year. With this cover you will need to pay the money to the car hire company in case of accident damage but then claim it back when you return - so you need to get receipts.
Driving in Italy - Remember that you always need to carry your passport and driver's licence in Italy. You can be stopped at the roadside by any of about 7 different police-style organisations who will want to see your documents. Drink driving laws are stricter in Italy, the limit is half what it is in the UK so you will need a designated driver if you go out for a meal - or why not get Andrina to cook for you at Geppa then you can all drink some of the delicious local wines.
Trains - In Italy the trains are inexpensive and with a logical fare structure, unlike in the UK. If you want a day in Rome then consider catching a train from Spoleto. The journey time is from 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. The fastest trains are Eurostar which also cost significantly more and you need to book a seat (at the travel agent opposite the station). The normal trains cost 8 euros each way and no advance booking is needed - but you do need to remember to stamp your ticket in one of the yellow machines before you travel - failure to do this can lead to a fine. The same system of stamping tickets also applies to buses.