12 days in Italy
 

Hi All - I will be traveling to Italy with my daughter (28yrs old) leaving JFK on Sun. aug 28th arriving Rome at 10am on the 29th. We return via Rome on Fri Sept 9th at 2pm.
Here's a tentative itinerary we have planned.
4 nights in Rome arrival the 29th leaving for Venice on 9/2 via Eurotrain; 3 nights in Venice leaving on the 5thSept (again via train) to Florence - 3 nights in Florence leaving for Rome late afternoon on the 8th Sept to return to the states in the afternoon of the 9th, Sept.
One is this doable? We would also like to be able to get side trip in to Pisa if possible.
Did not do arrive and depart different cities due to airfare increase. We are already booked via Delta/Alitalia
Any feedback as to how to tailor this itinerary to accomplish the most and any suggestions for moderate places to stay (safe, clean maybe restaurant/bar on premise or nearby) in all three cities would be greatly appreciated.
I am thinking a trip to a vineyard would be pushing things a bit - am I right? Would consider renting a car but only for a day trip or so. Do not want my daughter spending all her time driving around. (since she doesn't like my driving :) )
We love ancient ruins, UNESCO sites, churches etc., some museums (not too many) good food and wine. Shopping is not a high priority but a little would be nice. Any help, suggestions, beware ofs etc would be appreciated.

Hello, jk. A trip to Italy with you daughter will be priceless!

Here is a thought, if after you arrive in Rome you could take the train to Venice and start your time there and of course go to Florence next and spend your time in Rome at the end of your trip. Or you could take the train to Florence and after visiting there take the train to Venice and of course take the train back to Rome for the end of your trip.

With doing either idea it would save you one more hotel to check into and out of, the last night in Rome. Best regards.

Very good suggestion - since we haven't booked a single hotel yet that makes perfect sense and we can rest on the train going to Venice. Thank you I like that a lot.

You are most welcome, jk! I will be thinking of you two. Although my daughter is much older than your daughter I wish we could take one more trip to Italy together again. But since she ended up marrying a Roman when she goes to Italy it isn't me that she goes with needless to say. P.S. If you two enjoy wine do order the Prosecco wine which is from the Region of Veneto. Refreshing, cool and so good. CinCin!

I am curious about arriving and departing from different cities increasing the fare (enough to consider backtracking to the starting point.) Did you compare two one-way trips vs. one round-trip as oppose to one multi-city trip vs. one round-trip?

In addition to what Grag said, you will have the added cost of an extra trapan trip back to Rome to go home. We have never found the multi-city option to be more than in and out of one city.

good luck on your trip! I'm sorry not to have advice to offer, as this is my first adult trip to Italy (I recall it lovingly from a college glee club group tour of only a few days!) but I am also going there with my daughter, 18, for a post graduation, pre-college gift vacation from my mother in law! We'll be starting in Rome, then touring Tuscan hill towns before and after spending 5 days in Florence, and we're also flying back home again out of Rome. Love to talk more if you like, tho' not sure how to do it on this forum. please feel free to try to contact me on this, or my post about buying train tickets in advance, and maybe I can find a way to get you my email!

Unfortunately our tickets are booked and are not refundable. I am going to be taking LoveItalys advice and go on to either Florence or Venice upon arrival. In the future I will pursue the other options more diligently but for now I would really appreciate some suggestions on places to stay and possibly where to eat in Rome, Florence and Venice. Thanks

Almost every day on this forum someone asks for ideas of places to stay in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Have you done a search for "Florence hotels", as well as for Rome and Venice? The same is true of restaurants.

Also, it would be helpful if you could state your budget for the hotel, so that i
those making suggestions to you would make appropriate ones. "We need a room for two with bath for no more than 200€ per night but might pay a bit more for a hotel with a view." or "We can't pay more than 120€ per night for the two of us."

The most efficient trip is Venice, Florence, Rome.

A 1/2 day trip to Padua from Venice via local train is worth considering.
A day trip to Siena or Pisa (include Lucca in route) is worth the drive as well. Restaurants to consider:

Rome

Bartolomeo
Via Salaria, 215

Da Checco *****
Via Benedetta 10-13

Da Marco e Gloria
Via della Scrofa, 31

Cucina Romana
Da ot ello in trastevere
Via della Pelliccia 47
Pizza S. Egidio 53

Forno *****
Campo De’ Fiore, 22
Bakery & Pizza

Gino ai Funari ***
Via dei Funari 21,
(Piazza Mattei)
06.6874974

L’Antica Birreria Peroni
Via S Marcello, 19

Mille Panini
Via Eudossiana 20

Bakery / Panella *****
Btw SMM / SJL
L’Arte dei Pane
Via Merulana 54-55

Pierluigi Ristorante ***
Piazza de Ricci 144
06/68.61.302

Pontesisto *****
Via di Ponte Sisto, 80
065883411

Ristorante Il Drappo
Vicolo del Malpasso 9
00186
06.6877365

Il Ristorante delle Due Colonne
Via del Seminario 122

Tre Pupazzi *****
GREAT PIZZA
Borgo Fio 183
Via dei Tre Pupazzi 1

Trattoria da Luigi *****
MY FAVORITE
Piazza Sforza Cesarini,24
06 6865946

Venice

Aciughetta
Camp S. Filippo E Giacomo
Tel. 5224292

Alla Madonna
S. Polo 594
Tel. 041-5223824

Alle Testiere
Luca Di Vita
Castello, 5801
Calle del Mondo Novo
Tel. 041 – 52 27 220

Anticlea Antiquariato
Castello 4719 / A
S. Provolo
Tel. 041/5286946

Antica Sacrestia
Calle della Sacrestia 442,
Castello
Tel. 0415230749

Trattoria da fiore
Cucina tipica veneziana
Santo Stefano 3461
Tel. 041/5235310

Friggitoria Cleopatra
Castello 3983
Tel: 041 5227696
(NYTimes)

Osteria alle Testiere
Castello 5801
(Calle del Mondo Vovo /
Salizzada San Lio


Pane Vino San Daniele
Campo dell Angelo Raffaele
Dorsaduro

Snack Bar Borsa
(near Europa)
Via XXII Marzo
Tel. 041-5225017

Trattoria Antica Mola
Di Ma Franzin
Cannaregio, 2800

Trattoria da Remigio *****
Maitre D – Joseph
Waiter - Stephen
MY FAVORITE
Castello 3416
Tel. 041.5230089

Vino E. Vini *****
Enoteca in Venezia
Al N 3301 DiCastello
Fondamenta Dei Furlani
Tel. 521018

Florence

Trattoria Marione
Via della Spada 27R

Trattoria al Trebbio
Via delle Belle Donne47/49 R


Ristorante Pizzeria Dante Trattoria *****
Piazza Nazario Sauro 12 R

Acqua Al 2
Via Della Vigna Vecchia, 40
(Angolo via Dell’Acqua)

Coffee Shop
Maioli
Via Guicciardini, 43

Osteria Santo Spirito
Piazza S Spirito, 16

Ristorante Pizzeria Lorenzo De’ Medici
Via del Giglio, 49/51r
Via del Melarancio 10r

Trattoria Garga
Via del Moro, 48

Trattoria Sostanza – Troia
Via del Porcellana, 25r

Thank you so much Cufflnx. That was vbery helpful and yes I am very much considering doing Venice, Florence and then ending in Rome. I would like to stay in the 120-150E range for hotels, B&B etc. We would prefer two beds and ensuite bath if possible and walking distance to most attractions.
I have been going over many of the previous postings and am still at a loss as to where to consider staying in that price range for the 3 cities. I will continue to read but would appreciate any direction as to what parts of each city would be best to concentrate on.

Has anyone heard of or stayed at the Santo Stefano B&B SanMarco 3450 Calle Crosera Venice?

how is the Castello section of Venice along via garibaldi. Thinking of renting a small apt here for three nights. Any comments

Via Garibaldi is a bit "out of the way" - about 15 or 20 minutes walk to San Marco. But it is an easy walk, and very scenic.

That being said, it is an area less frequented by tourists, with shops that are more aimed at residents.

Thank you - I have found a small apartment for about 90E in that area and am debating between that and a B&B on Calle Crosera for 99E per night. Was not sure of the area and which to go with.

I'd run with the B&B in Calle Crosera - near Campo San Stefano

Once you are there, you will realize that Venice is pretty small...yes, you will get lost occasionally, but that's part of the charm. Being at a small hotel or B&B is nice, because there is someone you can rely on for assistance and suggestions on local eateries.

Thank you - I am finding this a most difficult trip to plan.

Here’s a plan:

Arrive in Rome 28th August

Take train to Venice 28th August – it is about 4 ½ hours.

Stay for four nights, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st August

Take the train to Florence on 1st September

Stay four nights in Florence– 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th September.

This gives time for a day trip to Pisa, and another day trip to Siena.

Hotel Casci (pronounced "Kashee”) is recommended in Florence.

Take train to Rome on 5th September

Stay in Rome on 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th September.

Fly out on 9th September.

jk, If you click on my user name, you'll find a couple of trip reports that I've written about Venice. Not exactly full of useful information, but you might get some hints from them.

Enjoy your journey!