AtKristin

I'll be visiting Italy in August this year (yes I'm aware of Italy in August but dates are solid) and would love any advice/opinions as this will be my first time visiting a country I've dreamed of seeing almost my entire life.
We will be coming from London, so the plan is:

Fly into Venice, 3 nights
Florence 3 nights
Cinque Terre (thinking Vernazza) 3 nights
Fly back to the US from Florence

We will be traveling by train to each new location. (will not be going to Rome, not a priority location for us)

Obviously I'd love to stay a lot longer but realistically this is the limit. Is 3 days at each place a good division of time?

I'm using a travel agent to help and for Venice, the 2 hotels I'm looking at that are an option to book through her are Ruizzini Palace and Duodo Palace. Any thoughts on either of those?
A definite splurge from our normal level of hotels but I'd really like some sort of water view (nothing crazy like grand canal, just a side canal would be perfect) from the room, even though we won't be in the room a lot. Is it worth it to stay in a fairly nice hotel (with small view) for the extra money or would you say it doesn't make too big a difference?

Finally any hotel recommendations for Cinque Terre, again would love a water view. Thanks in advance!

ellenem

Just wondering . . .why are you using a travel agent? Is she an Italy specialist?

The locations of the Venice hotels are perfectly fine for a first-time visitor, right in the heart of San Marco. Keep in mind--there are an average of 60,000 visitors to Venice each day. At the time you will be visiting, you will experience a much hgher number of vsitors, two-thirds of whom will arrive as day-trippers and head directly to the area in which you plan to stay. I suggest you find a place a bit removed in Dorsoduro, just across the Grand Canal from San Marco so you can escape the madness. You might even choose a place along the Zattere and have a view of the lagoon.

Jean

How well do you do in high temps and humidity?

How will you get from the Cinque Terre/Vernazza to the Florence airport? (There is no train service.) How early is your flight out? (It might be safer to spend the last night in Florence.)

But if you haven't booked your return flight yet, look into flying out of Pisa which you can reach by train from the Cinque Terre. However, it's still risky to rely on public trans to get you to an airport on time.

jamikins

We stayed at Hotel Galleria in Venice and they have rooms with lovely views of the Grand Canal www.hotelgalleria.it

Have fun!

annhig

Hi Kristin,

Unless you can fly home from Pisa, i would swap the trip around, so that you go straight from Venice to the CT [a longer trip, but worth it] so that you end up in Florence conveniently placed for your trip home.

and i agree that for a trip like this, there's nothing that an agent can do that you can't do yourself.

for your accommodation in Venice, given the time of year you might want to look at the Stucky Molino on the Zattere - it has a swimming pool!

http://www.molinostuckyhilton.com/

nwtraveler

I just read an update on Vernazza and even though the town is officially opened to visitors work excavations have just begun to repair the sewer lines. I think Monterosso is further along in repairs and restoration.

See this link: http://www.ricksteves.com/news/cinqu...m-vernazza.htm

AtKristin

Thanks to everyone for the quick responses.

@ellenem That is great advice and I researched a bit and found a wonderful B&B (Locanda San Barnaba) in Dorsoduro that I think I'm sold on. Staying a bit away from everything (but still within walking distance) is much more our style.

I think we are also rearranging our itinerary based on a few suggestions- 1: Venice 2: Cinque Terre 3: Florence. I agree it will be nice to end up where we are flying home from.

I also had heard about the Vernazza news and plan to hold off on planning that part of the trip so that I can wait and see how far along they come. "Worst" case (although you can hardly say worst for a trip like this!) we will look into Monterosso.

annhig

Kristan - looks like a good plan.

I like the locanda - though it's hardly off the beaten track. i especially like the fact it's got a garden - rare in Venice.

HG001London

Hi Kristnan,

if this place has a room available , it is an absolutely lovely italian B&B heaven

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...e_Tuscany.html

only has two rooms but couple lovely, great location and the dinner they offer is lovely- we ate in every night (we never eat in!!) because it was amazing food it lovely italian setting

ellenem

Locanda San Barnaba is in a very convenient location, right near a vaporetto and traghetto stop, close to the Accademia Bridge, close to Campo Santa Margherita, an easy walk to San Polo and Santa Croce, and way less crazy than San Marco would have been. Lots of good restaurant choices in the neighborhood as well that are better quality and cheaper than in San Marco.

annhig

Kristan, just a point about the B&B recommended by HG100, it is quite a long way from the centre of Florence, so however lovely it is, IMHO it would not be suitable for you on this trip because you have a very limited time there.

for subsequent or longer visits, I'm sure it would be lovely.

Jojonana

We LOVED Dorsoduro! We spent our afternoons drinking pro secco at a small enoteca called Mille Vini on Campo Santa Margherita. Ahhhhh, Venice! What's not to love!

AtKristin

Just booked our room in Dorsoduro! So very excited, thank you for the suggestions.

As for Florence, I loved the B&B suggested, definitely our style, but they are closed for the month we will be there. I just posted a separate Forum question but I will ask here too.

I have been looking at The Oltrarno and San Marco areas. Specifically
B&B Monte Oliveto (in Santo Spirito area- close but a bit further away than the previous suggestion by HG100)
Home in Palace (San Marco)
Palazzo Guadagni (The Oltrarno)
Also looking into Il Guelfo Bianco which is in main city center

Just trying to not be RIGHT in the middle of all the crowds for a nice end of day retreat to relax at our hotel after braving the heat and people all day.
The endless internet reviews are making my head spin and would appreciate any guidance and opinions on either areas and/or specific hotels/ B&Bs.

Thank you!

annhig

just answered on your other thread.

annettafly

We have a similar itinerary in May. We'll go back to Florence after a weekend in Venice (Domus Ciliota B&B). Our plan for Cinque Terre is to do a Cinque Terre Trek day trip by bus instead of making it another complete move and then another move to return to Florence before departure.