Laura

2 wks Italy next May. Rome 4 nites at either Hotel Due Torri or Pantheon View B&B. (both look/sound great) Pvt tour of ancient Rome 1st morning. Bfr leaving Rome, want to see<BR>Borghese + St. Peters and do Scavi tour. Rest of time, go w/the flow. Would love to catch flea mrkt Sunday maybe.<BR><BR>ES train to Naples, pvt car service to Positano, Villa Rosa 2 nites. Want to go to Ravello while down there, maybe experience a concert.<BR><BR>ES back to Rome, rent car + drive to Orvieto, stay 1 nite.<BR><BR>Drive to Florence. Thinking of staying at either Hotel Casci in town or Pensione Bencista in Fiesole for 4 nites. Want to dine at Il Latini one nite. A day trip to Siena. <BR><BR>Drop car off in Florence, take ES to Venice. Staying at La Calcina 3 nites. Want to shop San Marco and Murano island. Would love to go to a sm operahouse. Last nite, dine at Al Cove or Da Fiore.<BR><BR>Any thoughts, either way, would be greatly appreciated. <BR>

Nancy

Dear Laura,<BR><BR>I would take the Eurostar train when training.<BR><BR>Add one more night to Positano, taking 1 away from Florence.<BR><BR>It's great you have 3 nights in Venice -what a great way to end your trip.<BR><BR>Have Fun!<BR>Nancy<BR>

Rex

Quite often, I urge people to consider driving in Europe. But your (one-day?) car rental may not be very cost-effective.<BR><BR>I have never been to Orvieto, but I understand that taking the train there gets you to the same central location as a car will.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Laura, What is not to love?<BR>Looks great to me--good luck !

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RnR

Al Cove is terrific ... but Da Fiore!!! And reserve right now - do not wait!!! Have a good trip.<BR><BR>Oh, a suggestion: try to learn the vaporetta numbers and routes before you go, at least they main ones. It always helps to know the bus routes. When you walk out of the train station, there you are - and it will help you to know which boat to hop on.

Laura

Nancy, originally we'd planned 4 nites in Florence, but I took 1 away so we could stay in Orvieto 1 nite. So now we're 3 nites Florence. (wish we could do Positano 3 nites, tho)<BR><BR>Rex, we'll be renting car for 3 days, for the drive from Rome to Orvieto, (stay overnite), maybe drive to Assisi next day to ck it out bfr heading to Florence, using it one day for Siena day trip bfr turning it in. Does anyone think leaving Orvieto early, going to Assisi for a few hrs, then on to Florence to hotel is too much for a nice day? <BR><BR>Rnr, Da Fiore it'll be, then. And I'll get going on rez. Email, call? Thanks so much for your suggestion to plan bus routes and vaporettos ahead of time. Knowing that info will certainly ease the process, keeping chaos to a minimum. <BR><BR>

italophile

It looks good to me. You're not frantically covering too much ground, but you are getting a taste of both north (north-central) and south.

Laura

Strict dress code at Da Fiore? Anyone?

Laura

One more question:<BR><BR>Should we stay the nite in Orvieto or Assisi? How do they compare?<BR><BR>Anyone? Thanx

Howard

Looks great to me. Are you including a visit to Pompeii during the Naples/Positano part of the trip?

Dayle

Hi Laura!<BR><BR>Your trip sounds wonderful! I was going to say no need for a car, but your route through Assisi to Florence explains it! Can't say how Assisi is, but we stayed in Orvieto & loved it. Be sure to take time to see more than just the incredible duomo. Take the cave tour, very unique & interesting & only about 1 hour. Sip some Orvieto Classico too!<BR><BR>Buon viaggio!

Rex

Thanks, Laura.<BR><BR>Ii agree that knowing you plan the several days between Rome and Florence make the car rental a good idea.<BR><BR>I recommend staying in Assisi. I can offer you thumbs up personal experiences at both the Umbra and the Fontebella - - (better for those with a car (free parking at the front door - - very unusual in Assisi).<BR><BR>But that's not meant to talk you of Orvieto. I have never been there. It's been given strong thumbs up by many on this board.<BR>

ttt

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Laura

Howard, we were planning on going straight to Positano, due to having only 2 days to enjoy the area of Positano and Ravello. <BR><BR>Hopefully Pompeii *next trip.