lemsd

Fly into Rome around 12:30. Feasible to go direct to Venice for 2 nights, then to Florence for 2 nights, Positano 3 nights and Rome 3 nights.

We would travel by train. I am wondering if it is doable after getting off a transatlantic flight to take a train to Venice?

Michael

Do an open jaw, arrive in Venice, leave from Rome. I would drop Positano, but you obviously see that as a major stop, giving it more time than two major, in terms of tourism, Italian cities.

Rubicund

Michael is right, fly into Venice and out of Rome. Otherwise you'll be back tracking across the country and wasting a lot of time. As is often pointed out on here, each time you change location you'll lose at least half a day in travelling.

With only ten days, Positano is too far South to visit without detracting from the other places. UI'd do 3 nights in Venice, two in Florence and 5 in Rome--give or take a night+ or - with Venice and Rome.

SloJan2

Agree with Michael and Rubicund.

mamcalice

I agree that, with 10 days, limit your trip to Venice, Florence and Rome. And fly into Venice and out of Rome. Our first trip was 14 days and we didn't have enough time to properly see and experience the three wonderful cities. We didn't get to Positano until our 8th trip to Italy. And, while it is a beautiful location, IMHO it doesn't hold a candle to Venice, Florence and Rome (I expect that I am in the minority here).

bobthenavigator

Pick 3 max !

lemsd

OK... thank you for all of your input... Let me give you additional details... I was in Positano 18 years ago and my husband has previously been to Florence/Venice. We are travelling with our 14 yo and 10 yo (lucky kids have travelled abroad before...) I miss Positano, Capri, etc. and ALSO would really like to get my family to Pompeii; hence the trip to the South.

We have very good airfare into and out of Rome... so I don't think open-jaw will be an option... With the time we have... I know we won't be able to do anything "in depth"... but just have a "look see"... now with these additional facts... what do you think?

Thanks.

kybourbon

It won't cost much more (and may be cheaper) to fly into Naples instead of Rome and fly home from Venice. When you factor in cost of training from Rome's airport (14€ per person) and train from Rome to Naples (43€ per person). 57€ = about $75. Use the multi-city selection on the airfare websites.

With only 10 nights, you need a maximum of 3 locations.

Mimar

If you're stuck with the Rome flights, then yes, do go immediately to Venice on your day of arrival. If you're coming from North America, most flights arrive in the morning, giving you plenty of time to get to Venice. And taking the train to your most distant point is a good use of that first sleepy, jet-lagged day.

It's not so easy to get to Positano. That's another reason for omitting it. But if you've been there before, you know that. If the Amalfi Coast is a priority, consider dropping Florence or just spending a day in passage there. Unless you're all great fans of Renaissance art and architecture.

Be sure to be back in Rome the day before your flight home.

jamikins

Well I think what all the others think - pick 3 locations max and fly open jaw into Venice and out of Rome or Naples depending on your location decisions.

Sure you can visit all these places in ten days, but it will be a whirlwind and you wont have much time to actually see or experience any of them much. It will take much longer to organise people and get everyone out every day with 4 people as well...

ekc

Just to give you an idea, here is the schedule you are currently proposing:
Day 1: arrive Rome 12: 30, baggage, immigration, get to train station, 4 hour train to Venice, get to hotel, check-in, have dinner, sleep
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 2 hr train to Florence, get to hotel, check-in, lunch, afternoon in Florence
Day 4: Florence
Day 5: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 3 hr train to Naples, train to Pompeii, leave luggage at Pompeii and tour sight (lunch somewhere), get to Positano (bus or driver), check into hotel, dinner, sleep
Day 6: Positano
Day 7: Positano
Day 8: pack, check out of hotel, ferry/bus/driver to Salerno or Naples, train to Rome, get to hotel, check in, lunch, afternoon in Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: fly home

Too much moving around for me, but this trip is yours, not mine.

lemsd

I appreciate all of your responses... One thought I have is sadly dropping Positano, but then taking a day trip from Rome to Pompeii.. is that a doable option?

ekc

That is a very doable option. It will be a long day, but much less tiring than your itinerary proposed above. If you drop Positano (which I think is a good idea for this trip, even tho it is my favorite spot in Italy) you could add a day each to Venice and Rome. You need a minimum of 3 days (4 nights) in Rome, not including your Pompeii day trip.

So now your trip would look more like this:

Day 1: arrive Rome 12: 30, baggage, immigration, get to train station, 4 hour train to Venice, get to hotel, check-in, have dinner, sleep
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Venice
Day 4: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 2 hr train to Florence, get to hotel, check-in, lunch, afternoon in Florence
Day 5: Florence
Day 6: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 31.5 hr train to Rome, get to hotel, check into hotel, afternoon i Rome.
Day 7: Rome
Day 8: Pompeii day trip
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: fly home

kybourbon

>>>>Day 1: arrive Rome 12: 30, baggage, immigration, get to train station, 4 hour train to Venice, get to hotel, check-in, have dinner, sleep

ekc

One small benefit to having a long stretch of transportation after an overnight flight (i.e. the 4-hour train ride or, in my case, a 3 hour car ride) is that it is an excellent opportunity to have a little nap, which will help get you through the rest of the day and help you get to sleep later, which is good for the jetlag.

caroline_edinburgh

If your time in Positano is also to include daytrips to Pompeii and Capri, I wouldn't even go for 3 locations - I'd stick to Rome & Positano (given that that area is important to you).

CarrieAnn40

I know you specify Pompeii but have you considered Ostia Antica http://www.ostia-antica.org/, just outside Rome, as an alternative?

There is loads on info about Ostia Antica on this site including exactly how to get there and a detailed guide. Just type in Ostia Antica in the Search the Forum box at the top of this post.

lemsd

Still toying with our itinerary...

Day 1: fly into Rome around 12:30 and go to Positano via Naples and either Sorrento or Salerno
Day 2: Positano - Capri
Day 3: Pompeii in the morning and then train to Florence
Day 4: Florence
Day 5: Florence w/ day trip to Pisa
Day 6: Train from Florence to Venice
Day 7: Venice
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: Airport

Sounds busy... but we will have to keep our kids moving! and we want to cover as much ground as we can! Thanks.

kybourbon

There is a bus that departs FCO for Salerno at 3:20 which would be easy after a long flight, but you would have a bit of a wait after arrival.

http://www.buonocore-group.it/tratte...orto-fiumicino

jamikins

I am not a kid but I would think kids would rather be kept moving seeing something interesting, like sights of Rome rather than the inside of trains.

The train ride will be fun the first time, but you will be spending the better part of day 1, day 3, day 6 and day 8 in transit.

Day 2 and day 5 will be have travelling involved and day 11 you fly home.

So that leaves day 4, day 5, day 7 and day 9 and 10 as the only whole days of seeing these places without spending/wasting an awful lot of time in transit.

What you are proposing is possible, but I wouldnt want to spend that much time moving a family of 4 around. With 10 days I still recommend selecting 3 places max and dropping Positano.