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Critique 11 day Italy Itinerary - Venice,Florence,Rome,Sorrento

Critique 11 day Italy Itinerary - Venice,Florence,Rome,Sorrento

Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 12:01 PM
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Critique 11 day Italy Itinerary - Venice,Florence,Rome,Sorrento

Hello - my husband and I are planning a trip to Italy at the end of Sept, beginning of Oct and would love some feedback on our itinerary. Yes, we are flying in and out of Milan because of the ridiculously low airfare, so I do have to account for either a train or flight from Naples to Milan. I know the general consensus is not to try and pack too much in, but it's taken me 10 years to get back to Europe and it's hard to leave things out. We are thinking about using Airbnb for this trip - thoughts?
A little about us - we're 40yrs, love history and architecture, appreciate art, but highlights are probably sufficient. I included some of our ideas on sites to see and when to incorporate a tour. Please feel free to give me any advice/feedback/tips. Restaurant suggestions are also welcome!

Fri Day 1 Arrive Milan, train to Venice 2.5hr arrive 3:30pm; Dinner & Gondola ride
Sat Day 2 Venice - St. Marks Square & Basilica; San Marco, Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace
Sun Day 3 Depart Venice for Florence 2hrs - Uffizi gallery tour; Palazzo Vecchio; Ponte Vecchio
Mon Day 4 Florence - Duomo; Accademia of Fine Arts; Santa Croce; Giardino di Boboli gardens
Tue Day 5 Depart Florence for Rome 1.5hrs - Viator Ancient Rome and Colosseum Tour: Underground Chambers, Arena and Upper Tier
Wed Day 6 Rome - Vatican 'Skip the Line' tour 3 hrs 9am, including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Thu Day 7 Depart Rome for Pompeii then travel to Sorrento
Fri Day 8 Sorrento - Explore, ferry/hydrofoil down the coast
Sat Day 9 Sorrento - day trip to Isle of Capri
Sun Day 10 Depart Sorrento for Milan train 6.5hrs 8-2pm; 4pm Viator 'The Last Supper' plus Milan Walking Tour
Mon Day 11 Depart Milan at 4:00pm

Thanks in advance for your help!
7sconnolly is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 12:45 PM
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Your notations like "Depart Venice for Florence 2 hours" lead me to believe that you haven't considered how long it truly takes to get from place to place - you have to figure from the time you check out of one hotel to the time you are all check in at the next place. So that includes not just the rain ride but also getting from your hotel to the train station, wait time at the station, the train ride, station to hotel transport, getting checked in at the next hotel. So I fear you have underestimated transit time, which normally ranges from half a day to much of a day.

I think you would have a happier, more satisfying trip with one less stop or a couple more days. With this itinerary, I think you will hardly have time to catch your breath.

One other thing to consider in using Airbnb, you have to make arrangements to meet the owner to pick up keys or meet at the apartment at a particular time, so scheduling is a bit more difficult than at a hotel where you can show up any time and check in, or if your room is not ready, you can leave your luggage. With airbnb, where to leave luggage is a issue many people struggle with.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 01:28 PM
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These are really subjective calls. I would fly from Naples to Milan (take the Cadorna Xpress in). I would skip the Vatican -- heresy, but that's the way I feel.

You've stated your emotions about why you want this return to Europe you've been longing for would be best for you if every time slot in the day was filled. You just need to ask yourself how well you will handle it if a train is late, a flight is delayed, the acqua alta or a thunderstorm destroys your plans for Day X. If you can accept that something could turn this plan topsy turvy and you won't be screaming at your partner (who might get sick!), then go your own way and ignore the slowpokes who think it is wrong to have targets and goals for art and architecture and history in Europe. But if you are going to really very disapponted if you don't see or do X or Y, then isolate the things that matter most to you -- Michaelangelo or the Vatican or Capri - -and focus on that, and put some buffers and air around it so in case something goes wrong en route, you still won't leave with any regrets that you missed your personal "must see".
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Old Jun 2nd, 2015, 01:32 PM
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Regarding airBnB, it usually works pretty well for Italy.

In case my post wasn't clear, I wasn't suggesting you focus on one destiantion. But if going to Capri matters more to you than seeing the Colosseum, then build your itinerary in a way that even if it rains for 2 days when you are in southern Italy, you still have a 3rd day to catch that boat to Capri, even if it means you only spent 2 days in Rome seeing a few things -- and vice versa. (I have no opinion on what your priorities should be. Choose for your heart's desire.)
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 05:56 AM
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Kathie - thank you for the feedback on travel times. I was definitely overlooking some of the necessary evils of checking into hotels, dropping bags, etc. I also didn't realize there was so much coordination necessary for Airbnb so we'll probably avoid that now.

Sandralist - We've definitely done enough traveling that we can go with the flow if something happens to disrupt plans. I thought if we could keep our schedule packed at the forefront of the trip, we could unwind and relax in Sorrento. However, I hear what you're saying and will give more thought as to what we can do without. Considering my love of history, I'd rather do without the Uffizi than the Vatican and its museum.

*Would it make any more sense to forego the Amalfi coast altogether and do a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence, and a day trip from Rome to Pompeii?
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 06:46 AM
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I wouldn't avoid the Amalfi Coast in favor of day trips to Cinque Terre and Pompeii. I would leave your itinerary much as it is and avoid the day trip to Capri. We love Capri but it is not great as a day trip as you will be arriving at the same time as the cruise ships and it is a madhouse.

Your trip is very hectic but you seem not to mind the pace.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 07:35 AM
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You are doing enough train trips to merit a look at the Italy Eurailpass - especially if you want flexibility to chose which trains to take once there - discounted ticket have to be booked weeks in advance to guarantee as they are sold in limited numbers on each train and I believe cannot be changed nor refunded.

Full-=fare tickets can cost a ton - but even if you add up discounted fares on those several trains it may come to the cost of a pass or more - not sure have not done the math but advise you to do it. With a pass you must pauy also 10 euros to ride the faster trains supplement so figure that in too.

anyways for loads of great info on Italian trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

and IME first class may be worth the extra price for folks carrying perhaps too much luggage - more room to easily stow in there as often there are empty seats IME - and often not in 2nd class (which is perfectly adequate just that first class is more adequate) - a pass in first class is even a better deal than a 2nd class one. anyway do the maths yourself.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 01:42 PM
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I think keeping Sorrento instead of a day trip to le CInque Terre gives you more flexibility in case it rains.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 01:44 PM
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Sorry -- I hit the "submit" button too soon. If you go to Sorrento for 3 days and 1 of the days it rains, you can resked the Capri boat tripi if need be. You'll have less flexibility in Florence to adjust for weaher since you will be there such a short time and want to see so many things there, some of which need advance reservations.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 01:48 PM
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People do day trips from Florence to CT, but it involves 5 hours on trains and 4 trips going to and from stations.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 06:20 PM
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For such a tight schedule, verify that the sights you hope to see are actually open on the day of the week you plan to visit.

For example, the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence is not open on Mondays, the day you have planned to visit.
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Old Jun 4th, 2015, 05:57 AM
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I've done the Cinque Terre as a day trip by train from Florence and went to four villages on a rather leisurely basis - now if into hiking the 7-miles between the all no not on a day trip but to get the taste of the CT yes.
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Old Jun 4th, 2015, 12:04 PM
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Thank you all very much for the excellent advice.

PalenQ - great info on the rail.

Ellenem - I am planning on purchasing tickets ahead of time for most of the sites as soon as we nail down days. Thanks for the heads up on the Accademia.

I think at this point we are leaning more towards the day trip to CT so that we'll be changing hotels one less time. If it rains, we'll just have more time to hang out in Florence.
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