Momddtravel2

Who: 17 year old daughter who will have just graduated high school, my husband & myself

Where: will have arrived in Venice on July 5 for a 7 night cruise - we have 7 nights after the cruise to spend in???

We have only been to Italy once - we spent 8 days in 2007 - (divided between Florence & Rome) .

Very open at this point & have over a year o p,an but am curious as to what you would do???

hpeabody

Dawn, Does the cruise end back in Venice or in Rome? and what ports will you be visiting on the cruise. RCCL, right, Which ship?

bobthenavigator

Where do you depart Italy?

With 7 day, and a car, I would hit the Dolomites and the lakes.

tower

Dawn..so good to hear from you on Fodors. I don't recall seeing any posts for quite while..

Bob's ideas might be the most pactical for you with only seven days. Don't try ot visit every corner of the country. The lakes and the Dolomites are a great combination.
stu

Momddtravel2

Greetings!!! So good to "see" you too!

I should have included that information... We are cruising from Venice (same return)
The ship goes to - royal Carribean splendor of the seas -

Dubrovnik (Croatia)
Ephesus (Turkey)
Santorini (Greece)
Katakolon (Greece)

We have not rented a car in Italy - are there any issues finding one that would accommodate us (3 people) I did a search and there seemed to be plenty of options...

Prefer a little slower travel .. We had a whirlwind trip in 07 (that included France & Switzerland) ... Back in 08 for about 10 nights in an apartment in Paris - which was much nicer!

jubilada

How long do you want to stay in Venice?

hpeabody

I agree, Dolomites and the lakes sounds nice and not too busy, if you want a little relaxation time. Maybe spend a couple days in Venice pre-cruise. I do like your cruise itinerary. I am sure whatever you choose you will have a great trip

Momddtravel2

Jubilada I am really open to suggestions - in theory I could arrive in Venice earlier and cut the second week short - but thought it might be best to have a full week after to explore.

I have to be back at work on Monday, July 21.

Momddtravel2

I will have to explore the Dolomites & Lakes ...

So much we want to see & so little time!

Hpeabody!- I am excited about the itinerary as well

kybourbon

I don't think I would split the time unless you wanted to fly into Milan, pick up a car, visit Lake Como or the Dolomites for 3-4 days, drop the car in Venice to catch your cruise.

On the return, three days somewhere else, fly out of ? Bologna? Verona? Vicenza? Fly home from ?

Most departing flights from Venice leave extremely early. You might want to depart from Milan.

Leely2

So you've not been to Venice before? If not, I'd find someplace in a relatively peaceful sestiere and spend at least three nights there. If you're flying home from Venice, head directly to your "other" destination (?) directly after your cruise, then to Venice for your last several nights.

Alternatively, I would love a solid week in Venice. Much easier to get away from crowds and explore at leisurely pace. You could easily do day trips too.

Momddtravel2

Thanks everyone!

No, we have only been to Florence & Rome in Italy.

Good to know about the flights ... Not sure yet what we will end up doing.. The choices are all good!

Momddtravel2

I think we are actually going to go to Spain... I know sounds crazy but we have a few options for our Marriott points/timeshare with that second week and with flights ect I am thinking of southern spain - costa del sol - will look into it...

So a few days on the front end in Venice - the cruise - and then over to Spain for a week - who/what that will look like is still up in the air.

A lot of those plans are on the where we can use either one of our weeks of timeshare and/or our marriott points. Stinks to be tied to that in ways but the marriott points are great as they are earned through my husband's travel at work and he gets to keep them...

I need to wait till 11 months out to check on the flights and will go from there...