Missme

I've noticed that questions asking where should I go in Italy and how long should I stay in each place pretty popular here on Fodor's so I thought it might be helpful to post past Italy itineraries with some very limited additional info, such as year of trip, age of travelers, mode of transportation, places visited and length of stay and then maybe a very brief what you thought/think of the itinerary now.

I'll start and then we'll see if there are any others who would like to contribute...

1993 - 1st trip to Italy, married couple early 30s, lovers of art, food and wine

Milan - 1 night (car, stopped in Verona on way to Venice)
Venice - 3 nights (car)
Florence - 4 nights (car - day trip to Pisa)
Rome - 3 nights (car)
Positano - 3 nights (car)
Sicily/Taormina- 3 nights (drove to Naples airport, flew to Sicily)
Rome - 1 night (flew from Sicily back to Rome)

Why did we drive instead of train? And WHY did we DRIVE in ROME??? I have no idea, but we knew we never, ever wanted to do that again. It was a fast-paced, but totally fun trip. I planned it without Fodor's forum help, which you can easily tell.

1998 - 2nd trip to Italy, 2 married couples, both late 30s, lovers of art, food and wine

Rome - 3 nights
Florence - 3 nights (train)
Siena - 3 nights (car - day trip to San G)
Cortona - 2 nights (car)
Rome - 1 night (car, returned at airport - we had learned our lesson)

Since our traveling companions had never been to Italy they wanted to go to Rome and Florence and that was fine with us. We did add a couple of new spots. It was a good trip, but it took way more time navigating the countryside than we thought it would. No GPS!

2009 - 3rd trip to Italy, married couple - who still love art, food and wine

Venice - 3 nights
Florence - 3 nights (train)
Montalcino - 3 nights (car - day trip to Montepulciano)
Orvieto - 1 night (car)
Rome - 5 nights (train)

Our first trip to Italy we were not sure if we'd ever make it back so we rushed around to see all the important sights in each place. Now not so much. We still change locations more than some like -our best travel buddies prefer to spend at least 4-5 nights in each place, but we are fine with mainly 3s. And we are fine with whatever we see! We are in Italy!

We plan to go back to Italy next year (we are going back to France this year) and I am thinking we are going to spend 1 week in Tuscany split between two locations (not sure where) and 1 week (a whole week!) on the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento) and 2 nights in Rome.

Michael

I let my trip reports give the relevant information. Click on my name to find them.

janisj

I agree w/ Michael. IMO - No need to reinvent the wheel - there are MANY Italy trip reports already on here and they are easily found by using the search function.

nytraveler

Haven't done trip reports- a lot of mine are busines - and very few of us would travle in that style unless on someone else'dime.

Have been 6 times on vacation - all from Amalfi coaast and north visiting Sorrento, Rome, Florence Venice, Pisa, Siena, San G, Perugia, Verona, Milan, Stresa Aosta -and ohter places I can'teven recallfor a lunch stop.

All have been road trips - we both enjoy driving fast cars fast and are "assertive" - not aggresive drivers- and like the freedom of following your own schedules, whim and even weather.

IMHO for a first visit to see much you need 5/6 nights in Rome, 4 in Florence and Venice and at least 2 anyplace else.

jelopez33

Missme:
If you click om my name,you can access my trip report related to one week in the Amalfi Coast(2009); we were really happy there,and can't wait to return.
Enjoy planning and your trip!!!!

Missme

I thought it might be interesting to see just a list of places/nights at least it would be to me, but no worries.

I don't understand the need of someone to comment to tell me that my post is not needed, what's up with that? Just don't respond!

Thanks jelopez, I will do that. I enjoy reading trip reports which is why I come to Fodors forum.

bobthenavigator

That is what trip reports are all about.

Travelingwithbaby

Thanks for your post. I like the brevity of your idea. ~newbie

Dayle

Missme,

I like your idea too. Sometime people can get good ideas with an outline itinerary and brief 20/20 summary.

Here are my limited trips:

Mid-March 1995 - Ski Club trip, 500 people (including me and boyfriend)
7 nts skiing in/around Cortina d'Ampezzo
2 nts Venice
2 nts Florence
3 nts Praiano - visit his relatives
2 nts Rome

First time ever to Europe for both. Whirlwind trip, short museum hours and long lines (Florence). Uncrowded Pompeii. Long before the Italians extended their hours and made advance res available! All public trans. Would not recommend this pace to anyone and I wouldn't do it again.

Mid May - 2000 - w/ BFF and 1 other friend for Orvieto & CT portion
1 nt Milan
2 nts Lago di Maggiore
4 nts Chianti (car pick up Siena)
3 nts Orvieto (car drop)
3 nts Santa Margherita Ligure
1 nt Milan (BFF departs)
4 nts Venice (solo)

Perfect trip, perfect weather, red poppies in the countryside, easy driving, very relaxing.

Mid - Sept 2005 - totally solo
3 nts Praiano
2 nts Capri
1 nt Naples
5 nts Rome
3 nts Montalcino (pick up car in Chiusi)
1 nt Gubbio
1 nt Assisi
2 nts Spello (drop car at Foligno)
1 nt Rome

Wonderful, different experience to travel solo - LOVED it! Not a single problem, except for Gubbio where church bells range all night long, every 15 minutes. Left early. Would have loved more time in Naples & Spello..... weather variable. South hot and humid, Rome rain at night, perfect during the day, Tuscany very cold wind. Fabulous food & wine the whole trip!

Upcoming - Sept 2011 - don't know yet whether it will be a solo trip, still debating car rental vs.public trans.
6 nts Rome
1 nt Naples
6 nts Aeolian Islands (via ferry)
15 nts Sicily

amyb

March 2002 -- Amalfi Coast - stayed in Sorrento for a week, day tripped to Pompeii and Rome, visited Ravello, Amalfi and Positano on our own

March 2004 -- Florence for a week, cut short by death of grandmother, Amazing Race-like experience getting home spur of the moment

May 2005 -- 10 day Tuscany cycling tour -- stayed in Florence, San Gimignano, Lecchi, Pienza and Florence. Rode a loop around Tuscany including Siena, Monte Olvieto Maggiore, Colle Val d'Elsa, Montalcino, Montelpulciano, Pienza, Radicofani, and day tripped to Pisa on my own before heading home.

November 2007 - week in Rome with day trip to Orvieto