isabel

I'd like some input as to whether the itineray I've planned makes sense. I'm flying into Milan (MXP) on July 14 and back home (from MXP) on July 31. Already have the tickets and couldn't do an open jaw because my miles reward program doesn't allow it. My plan is: train from Milan to Florence - 6 nights (with day trips to Siena and Pisa). Then train to Venice for 3 nights (my second trip to Venice, everywhere else will be a first time). Fly volare to Prague from Venice for 5 nights. Fly volare from Prague to Milan and take train to Lake Como for the last 3 nights.

What do you think? Originially I had thought to go straight to Prague from MXP as I'd already be at the airport. But what if plane is late or I get bumped - then I miss the flight to Prague, have no place to stay, there's only one flight a day to Prague (and it would cost 10 times as much to get a ticket with no notice, if I could get one at all). So I thought it made more sense to do Florence first. There are lots of trains from Milan to Florence and at worst I'd loose one day in Florence instead of screwing up everything. I'm about to book the volare flights but wanted to see if I was missing anything that made more sense. Thanks for your input.

johanna

Isabel: It sounds like you are going through what I am going through. I am going to check rynair or europeair to see if there are any cheap flights to get to prague. I love the train but have gotten lots of reports of pickpockets on the trains. I loved Lake Como (went by car from Germany) and loved Venice . Good luck with your itinerary.

Wayne

I would delete a day or so from Florence and add a day to the Lake Como area. Otherwise, since you picked those places and they are where you want to go, the itinerary sounds fine. Good luck.

isabel

Wayne, I liked your idea about deleting a day from Florence and adding it to Lake Como but unfortunately when I check the volare flights they only do that route on M-W-F so that would mean I'd have to delete two days from Florence and I'm not sure that leaves me with enough.

Is four days in Florence enough if I want to do two full day trips? I could delete one day from Florence (it does seem six might be too much) and add it to Venice and use it to take a day trip to Padula, Vicenza or Verona. Has anyone ever done that? worthwhile or not worth the time? I know most people want to spend all their Venice time in Venice but as I said, this is a second visit to Venice (I know I could still spend more time there).

Any more suggestions?

ira

Hi Isabel,

I like your proposed trip.

I would recommend *against* deleting a day from Florence. We recently spent 6 full days in the city and enjoyed it very much.

See my trip report, Ira?s Trip Report
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

mendota98

Hi isabel,

Have to agree with Ira. I spent three days in Florence over the holidays and in reviewing my notes there were many items I missed. I went to Pisa for about a half day which was good but Florence contains a great deal of culture in a tiny area. Study the city carefully.

==Mike

isabel

Ira - i've read your report. In fact one of the reasons I'm trying to firm up my exact dates is that I want to book the B&B Peterson. Your recommendation has me sold. So I'm pretty sure I will leave my itinerary the way I originally planned it with six nights in Florence. You've already said alot about the B&B Peterson, but is there anything else you'd like to add? I'll be alone on this trip, my first trip by myself so I'm a little nervous but you seem to feel it's in a safe place. Wanna reassure me one more time. Thanks.

ira

Hi Isabel,

I would guess that your main concern is returning to the B&B late at night. We found that the most convenient route was to exit the Via L. Alamanni side of the station and cross the street at the crosswalk. Go Right. About a block farther up the street widens. Stay near the curb, under the street lights, all the way up to the B&B.

This exit has a flight of steps. Your first day, exit the front of the station with your suitcase and take the long way around.

There is enough pedestrian and auto traffic along the street to discourage petty thieves.

Don't worry about being mugged. It rarely happens. It's the sneak thieves that you want to watch out for.