cbgetaway2015

I am planning a trip to Italy for my husband and I. The dates of our trip are not solid yet, but we have 21 days to play with and are looking at May 2015. This will be our first international trip. I have been studying several guidebooks and forums like this one for a couple years in preparation. Until now I've been a forum spectator. I've decided to share what I have so far of my itinerary and hopefully get your thoughts and advice.

Let me give you a bit more info about what we want from this trip... Italy has always been my dream trip, so I naturally have a pretty hefty wish list. The trip below is the minimum, the must haves. I don't want such a crammed, fast paced trip that we can't stop and really enjoy it. My goal is to plan a trip with a good balance of city (museums, churches, and art) history, country, and beach. A few more fast facts. My husband are both around 30. We are active people and we aren't afraid of walking. We plan to get around Italy by train mainly, and would like to avoid (but haven't completely closed the door on the option of) renting a car if possible. I am aware that I will have to watch out for closures when it comes to museums etc and will adjust accordingly when finalizing dates.

So here goes:


1. Depart Sea-Tac
2. Sleep in Venice....... Arrive in Venice. Rest/Settle in
3,4,5. Sleep in Venice....... Explore Venice. St. Marks square, Murano/Burano etc.
6. Sleep in Cinque Terre........ Train to Cinque Terre*
7,8,9. Sleep inCinque Terre........ Hike, explore, beach time etc.
10. Sleep inFlorence........ Train to Florence**. Stopping in Pisa
11. Sleep in Florence...... Florence: Uffizi, Accadamia, Ponte Vecchio
12. Sleep in Florence....... Day trip to Siena
13. Sleep in Florence...... Day trip to hill towns
14. Sleep in Florence..... Florence or Tuscany
15. Sleep in Rome........ Train to Rome
16,17,18. Sleep in Rome........ Explore Rome: the colosseum, forum, Vatican etc
19. Leave Rome
20,21. Arrive home. Extra day to recoup.

* I have read comments on similar itineraries that say to put the Cinque Terre after Florence. It doesn't seem right to travel so far south (into the Florence, Siena, Tuscany leg of the trip) to just go back up to Le Cinque Terre before a long shot to Rome...?
**I am not sure about where to stay on this section of the trip. Florence, Siena, or maybe an agriturismo. I am open to staying a couple places during this few days. Maybe a couple days in Florence then move on to stay in one of the hill towns or an agriturismo for a night or two. I would like some more info on my transportation options in Tuscany if we don't rent a car. Are there any?

I am very excited to be sharing this with you all. Thanks for checking it out!
Ciao!

AJPeabody

You sure have done your homework!

Suggested tweaks: You plan to stay in Florence 5 nights but plan not to actually be there most of the time. You may want to rearrange that segment to use a rental car and base in the countryside, drop the car in Florence and tour there a day or two, then train to Rome.

You may also want less time in Cinque Terre and add to Rome.

adrienne

You're giving the same amount of time to Cinque Terre and Rome. Remove one day from CT and add it to Rome.

If you stop en route to Florence what will you do with your luggage. There is a web site to check if particular train stations have left luggage areas but it's not worked in over a week so I couldn't check for you.

Good itinerary over all.

mamcalice

Really great trip. Not too fast, not too slow. I, too, would drop a day from Cinque Terre and add to Rome. CT is quite scenic and good for hiking (unless the trails are closed by weather) but the beaches are not that great.

I would split my time in Florence, staying at least two full days to see its many treasures, and then rent a car to explore the Tuscan countryside and Siena for three days.

If you leave Rome on the 19th, you will possibly arrive home on the 19th. Perhaps you can leave Rome on the 20th, reserving the 21st to recoup.

vincenzo32951

All good advice, and a generally good itinerary.

You can do the day trip to Siena via bus. Touring the hill towns would require car rental or hiring a driver. Many people here, including me, have used and recommend Luca at hillsandroads.com.

bilboburgler

As other have said, luggage! CT too much time. etc

I'd drop the beach thing (May is not when the Italians do beach) but I would try for an agritorismo in Tuscany for a few days, with a pool (if it is warm) and a car rental to visit local towns. The obvious towns of Siena, San Gim etc are much nicer in the evening so drive around during the day and stop by in the evening for supper.

Good plan though

cbgetaway2015

Thank you all for your responses!
I believe that I read somewhere that Pisa's train station has a bag check... But I will see if I can find out more about that. Anyone else know?

As for the extra day in Cinque Terre...I expected the reaction that it may be too much. I stuck that in there as an extra day to relax mid trip. I figured one day we would hike north, one day south and one day make no plans and just take the day as it comes. With the hiking and the small towns it seems exactly our speed and I was thinking a good place to slow down before powering on. I will think about this and get back to you. Thanks for the tip!

Mamcalice, that is a good point since I will be traveling 9 hours back in time, haha. I will look into that when the times comes to buy airfare

I need to do more research on renting a car I think. If anyone has any good threads on the matter please let me know.

It crossed my mind to stay in Florence for two nights or so then move to another base for my day trips. Either Siena or an agriturismo. I'll work on that.

Thanks Vincenzo32951 I will explore that option too! Good to know!

Any thoughts on the order of the trip? Should Cinque Terre be moved after Florence/Tuscany?
Does this make more sense logistically as some have suggested?
Venice
Tuscany
Florence
Cinque Terre
Rome

Jean

You can store your luggage at the Pisa Centrale station during your stop between the CT and Florence.

If a pool interests you during your time in Tuscany, make sure you pick a place that has opened/heated its pool by the time of your visit.

I agree with taking a day from the CT and adding it to Florence. But before you take time away from Florence, make up a sightseeing schedule of everything you want to do/see there and figure out how much time that will take. Lots of sights are not open every Sunday and/or Monday, so if your stay includes those days of the week you may have trouble seeing everything you hoped to in 2-3 days.

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/orari/

If you decide to rent a car for a few days, you should study up on the ZTLs (limited traffic zones) which have been instituted in almost every Italian town, and you'll need to obtain International Driving Permits. (Personally, if it were my first international trip, I'd stick to public transportation, but that's me.) Or you could hire a driver/guide for a day of exploring.

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/drivin...s_speeding.htm

ekc

You will get back to Seattle on the same day you leave Rome (I fly home to PDX), so you can leave on the 20th which will give you an extra day in Rome.

I would leave CT before Florence.

tuscanlifeedit

I too would leave the CT before Florence.

I think if you want a chill day, the Tuscan small town portion of your trip might be a better place to take it. You hike a bit on each of two days, which will leave you plenty of time for a boat ride and a little chilling. Remember that there are no historic or religious sites to visit; it's all kind of chill.

I also like the idea of dividing your Florence time: a few days for the city, and a few days with a car in the countryside.

But in any case, it's a nice itinerary and not too fast at all. You will have a great time.

cbgetaway2015

Thank you all so much! Knowing I'm on the right track is very exciting!

adrienne

<< As for the extra day in Cinque Terre...I expected the reaction that it may be too much. I stuck that in there as an extra day to relax mid trip. >>

Good idea but as you're starting in Venice, a completely relaxing city, you won't need to relax so early in the trip. Better to take a day in Florence or Rome (or part of a day) for relaxing. I find travel fatigue doesn't set in until day 14.

bvlenci

I wouldn't find the Cinque Terre very relaxing, because during the day, the towns are sinking under the weight of the tourists, at least six months of the year. I've been there twice; once was a rainy day in October, and it was crowded beyond my comfort level. If I were to go back, which I probably won't, I'd spend two nights and hike. However, many of the trails are closed, and have been for several years, due to the risk of landslides; it has little to do with the weather. The main trails that are open are the higher trails, which require good hiking shoes and a certain level of fitness (which is seems you have).

There are some nice beaches in Tuscany, in the Maremma region. I've never been there, but family members of our have gone there fairly often. These are totally untouristy areas, so you wouldn't find the level of support services you'd find in the Cinque Terre.

You really have a choice of very scenic seaside or beaches. Most of the really scenic areas don't have great beaches, because they're places where the cliffs rise from the sea (the Amalfi Coast, the Riviera del Conero, the Cinque Terre, etc.) and the beach areas at the base of the cliffs tends to be small and rocky. For really great beaches, Sardegna would be ideal. Probably Sicily, too, but I haven't been there. But you really don't have time for an island visit on this trip. Anyway, as others have said, May is not really beach season in Italy. My daughter used to always visit me in May, and always wanted to go to the beach while she was here, but we would get maybe two or three great beach days in the whole month. I live near the Adriatic coast, where the climate is similar to the Cinque Terre. The Amalfi Coast (reachable from Rome) is warmer.

bvlenci

Since you have only one full day in Florence, I suggest you drop the Uffizi Gallery, unless you have a burning interest in Renaissance art, or if there is something specific there you always wanted to see. Everybody seems to think they have to go there, but I don't hear that many people (except people who know a lot about the art of the Italian Renaissance) enjoyed it. I think most people would enjoy more visiting some of the spectacular church/museums in Florence, such as the Brancacci Chapel, the Tornabuoni Chapel, the Santa Croce church, or the St. Mark's monastery, with the monks' cells frescoed by the Beato Angelico (known as Fra Angelico in English).

Jean

I would include the Bargello Museum to bvlenci's either/or list.

nytraveler

It is possible - but inconvenient and time-consuming to tour Tuscany by public transit. With a car you can visit 2 smaller towns in one day (not an in-depth exploration but a view of the high spots). With public transit one a day would be max.

Also agriiturismos are - in the countryside, not a town - so without a car you would have to find someone there to take you to the nearest town to get train or bus and pick you up on return.

And I agree to take one day from CT and add to Rome - but then I really don't enjoy hiking (walking forever yes, hiking cliff trails no) and love big cities.

kybourbon

I would also drop a night in CT (I personally would drop 2 nights in CT).

I think I would pick up a car at the airport in Pisa after visiting the tower. The airport is just 5 minutes by train from Pisa Centrale train station (where you will store your luggage). They are currently building a new link so the train is replaced by a bus at the moment, but may be back to train by the time you are there. Visit Tuscany a few days and then drop the car at the Florence airport. Visit Florence a couple of nights before heading to Rome.

>>>There is a web site to check if particular train stations have left luggage areas but it's not worked in over a week so I couldn't check for you.<<<

Although Trenitalia is doing some upgrades to their website at the moment, you can still check it there (on the Italian version). Select the region in the drop down box on the right and click vai. On the next screen, click servizi in stazione.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

cbgetaway2015

Thanks again everyone for the great advice and resources! I'm gonna research some more on the rental car/hired driver matter.
As far as a pool or beach goes I don't really mean to swim and sun in May. Just the view alone is enough for me. I do think I will tweak my itinerary as most of you recommended and take a day from the cinque Terre.
Stay tuned, I will check in as the plan develops.

cbgetaway2015

Flights are up for May 2015 on Kayak! I'm excited to finally get to start flight shopping!

nytraveler

We were in Sorrento in May and the hotel pool was open and it was a great place to relax in a lovely garden. Remember the Med is not nearly as cold as the north atlantic or pacific.