BellaIzabella

Here is what I have planned for our trip to Italy. Any suggestions to edit would be appreciated.

June 11th: Arrive in Florence in morning, Relax and Roam Streets
June 12th: Pisa/Lucca. Maybe Genoa.
June 13th: Emilia-Bologna area Day trip
June 14th: Sights of Florence
June 15th: Venice Day trip
June 16th: Siena, Greve - Chianti, San Gimignano Day trip
June 17th: Depart Florence for Naples(Train)
June 18th: Hiking Trails
June 19th: Capri
June 20th: Pompeii and sights
June 21st: Drive Amalfi Coast/Ravello/Positano
June 22nd: Depart for Rome
June 23rd: Sights
June 24th: Sights/Cooking Class
June 25th: Sights
June 26th: Sights
June 27th: Depart for Home

THR

Wow, that's insane. Your itinerary is far too busy. There is no way you can do that many day trips (e.g. Pisa, Lucca, and then Genoa, back to Florence, then out again the next day to Bologna).

Your Amalfi and Rome parts are less hectic (but still hectic) - but your first few days are simply just ridiculous.

THR

Where is your base for the first few days? Are you intending on June 12th to travel 472 km (i.e. return to Florence)? http://goo.gl/maps/ILxkx

Florence in itself is deserving of a few days; I would suggest in the first five days you can probably do two day trips maximum - you're doing 3, 2 of which are very large - 472 km return to Pisa/Genoa; 514km return to Venice (8 hours travel?).

Really, less is more. You have to cut out about half your destinations.

THR

I love the fact you want to see so much But seriously, you can't do all of what you plan in the time. As an example, we plan to go to either Spain or Italy in June - we're spending 5 days in Rome and 7 in the Amalfi, or similarly distributed in Spain; not 1 day per city + travelling.

Take it slower - you will appreciate it so much more (Florence itself is a city that warrants and deserves the time); and come back again.

mbloggs

Absolutely agree with all the above. Slow down. Do some research to decide what you'd actually like to see most then plan your trip round that. For a first trip to Italy I'd suggest you spend your time in just three cities: Rome, Florence and Venice. Get a guide book, book some walking tours, give yourself time to really experience something of each city.

goldenautumn

Hi BellaIzabella

It is too far to go to Genoa for a day from Florence.

If you want to see Greve, Siena and San Gimignano on a day trip, you will have to go with an organized tour. It is not a good idea to rent a car while you are staying the city of Florence. You should plan to do all your day trips by train.

If you want to go hiking, it is better to stay in Sorrento, not Naples, because you need to get an early start.

If you hadn't mentioned all the day trips you are taking from Florence, no one would have called you names. You should take a flexible attitude about these day trips -- skip them if you don't feel like it -- and realize that it will be a VERY long day if you go to Venice from
Florence -- but 5 days in Florence, 4 in the Amalfi and 5 in Rome is slower than most people go in Italy, so people just get hysterical when they see you are going to Bologna instead of a cafe in Florence. It is they who need to chill for a change.

I don't know if you have already bought air tickets. but were it me, I would fly into Venice and spend 2 nights there, and then see Bologna en route to Florence. (You could also go directly to Venice by train upon arrival in Florence).

goldenautumn

mbloggs and THR,

Your travel philosophy may work for you just peachy, but to call people names and criticize their itineraries because they are headed to lunch in Bologna instead of doing what you think they ought to be doing with their time is really the nuttier attitude. I think it is pretty obvious that this poster HAS DONE RESEARCH.

The train system out of Florence is really very good. Many people do not spend all the time in Florence when they use it as a "base" -- it is awfully crowded during the day -- and many people like to visit the countryside and see small towns rather than go into one museum after another.

I'm sure Bellalzabella is happy for any and all feedback and may adjust plans to end up taking a trip more like the ones you like to take But energetic people don't have a problem taking a 40 minute trip to Bologna for lunch -- or a 40 minute trip to see Pisa and then take a stroll through Lucca. So to talk and lecture in the fashion you are lecturing is really uncalled for. (I am so sick of the precious "slow" travelers and the people with a formula for "first timers" to Italy. Your petty ideas and rules for organized walking trips are so trite and boring -- and please don't tell me I'm rude. Read your own posts.)

BellaIzabella

Everyone, Thanks for your input.

All travelling will be done by train except the trip into Siena from Florence and the drive on the Amalfi Coast.

The trip from Florence to Pisa by train is a little over an hour. I though a day trip to Pisa back to Florence would be fine. Maybe I will skip Genoa or Lucca or both. Is one better than the other?

We will only be spending nights in Florence, Rome and Sorrento. These will be our base destinations.

Maggie1017

Goldenautumn - Preach it.

bella - I'm jealous of how long your trip is! We'll be departing just as you're arriving. I think you've gotten good advice regarding being flexible. We've found what works for us is to just prepare all the info we might need for a day trip to a certain town. So directions, notes on parking, attraction details we might need, any restaurants that were suggested to us. That way you can decide what your in the mood for the night before or morning of. Not sure if using trains would require to you to decide earlier in advance since you wouldn't be driving...but maybe that idea will still help you in some way. It's helped me balance my need to plan every detail with my desire for some spontaneity.

ekc

Seeing both Pisa and Lucca in one day trip is doable, as the distance is not that great. I loved Lucca and am glad we stopped there on our way to Florence. Fitting in Genoa would be difficult.

I think your Siena/Greve/San G day is too much, unless you find an organized tour.

I hope you are planning to see the Amalfi Coast via bus and/or ferry. Traffic on the AC, especially in June, is terrible and parking is scarce (often non-existent) and expensive. You can take the bus from Sorrento to Positano, wander around, then take the ferry from Pos to Amalfi (amazing views), then bus or taxi up to Ravello, then reverse the journey. If the ferries are running between Sorrento and Pos when you are there, then that is another great option.

Be sure to pack light and bring comfy walking shoes! You will have a great time!

Goldenautum - pot calling kettle black. This is a site where people ask for opinions and advice, which is what Bella received.

BellaIzabella

Thank you everyone. I reveiced ton's of advice and some criticisms, but I am taking everything into consideration. It is my first trip to Italy, so I put my tentative itinerary out for the much received feedback.

eck: yes we were planning to drive the coast, but your suggestions are far better. I thought the drive would give me the best experience, but by what you say, I would just be setting myself up for frustration, so thank! Ferry and Bus will be our mode of transportation.

Liadan

Hi, Bella,

My husband and I are leaving for Italy on Monday (eeeeek!), and I got some similar feedback when I posted my itinerary. I was planning to go to Pompeii as a day trip from Rome. Several posters suggested that it was too much and a long day.

I mostly ignored that and went forward with my plan. But as we got closer to the trip and I started working out the details of taking the train to Naples, hitting the archaeology museum, finding lunch, getting back to the train station, getting on another train, going to Pompeii, walking around, then getting back to Naples, and finally getting back to Rome.... it kinda hit me. There's a difference I think between something being doable and being actually what you want to do.

So we've decided to stay in Rome and save Naples & Pompeii for another trip. Something else to look forward to later on. =)

Good luck and I think you'll have a fabulous trip no matter what you decide. I'm also jealous about how long your trip is!

msteacher

Looks like you have a lovely trip planned. I agree that it looks like a lot of day trips from Florence. But if you go with the attitude that you will do them if you feel like it and not do them if you don' t, you will be fine. It's good to go armed with the info you need abou these trips, but then give yourself the option of dropping them depending on your mood, the weather, etc.

Personally, id prefer to spend more days in Florence with ferwer day trips. But thats me and you are you. So a thought I'll toss out there... it looks from your itinerary that perhaps you are more interested in smaller towns than you are in Florence. If that's the case, you may want to consider staying in a Tuscan town (Lucia, Siena, etc.) and just making a day trip into Florence. Stay in the place that would make YOU happiest (which is not necessarily the same as a bunch of other people would choose)

Enjoy your trip!

THR

Nobody said any names.

mbloggs

I'm offended by your vitriol goldenautumn. Bellalzabella asked for advice and we provided it in good faith and in the genuine hope that we can help her have a better travel experience. Nobody called her names and nobody is trying to be nasty. Advice is always about personal opinion and everyone's opinion is worth considering, even 'precious' slow travellers.

adrienne

THR/mbloggs - don't be offended. Goldenautumn constantly attacks responders because they offer different advice than she does. She has been banned under other screen names but keeps coming back. You're among good and numerous company if goldenautumn attacks you. I usually ignore her posts but read this one because of your responses.

mbloggs

Thank you adrienne. I appreciate your comments.