mantapup

WOW! Thank you all for your responses.

We have drawn up a rough route now, and so far it looks like this:
Start in Venice - 3 days
Bologna - 1 day (a stop over, unsure of staying a night, mainly want to experience the cuisine)
train to Florence - maybe 4 days (incl side trips to Siena and Pisa)
train to Rome - 5 days
train to Sorrento or Naples or Amalfi(not sure which) - 4 days.

I am now leaning towards having a relaxing time by the Amalfi Coast at the end of my trip because although I'm not planning this as a beach holiday, I could use some R&R before we leave for London.
Definitely removing CT now. Have decided it will be done on another trip, with Turin and Milan perhaps.

Regarding the rail fares - yes, as PalenQ said the train tickets are cheap right now but have seen some prices shoot up already! And on that note, how expensive is Rome for hotels!? I mean I dont mind paying more than your average budget backpacker but those fancy hotels seem too many and too expensive.
We are going to finalise our dates and itinerary of the main stops (as above) this weekend and start booking rail tickets and air fares.

Can anyone suggest where should we base ourselves to best see Naples/Sorrento and Amalfi - any towns or cities I could use as a base to explore these cities. I dont think Naples will make a great base just because it would be too hectic - thoughts?

kja

Much better!

Does your time in Sorrento / Naples / Amalfi include the day of your flight? Because that might mean that you really have 1 less day. IMO, that area deserves closer to 6 days, but it really depends on what you want to see and experience.

I love Naples, but it is not a place that I would call "relaxing" -- it is vibrant and dynamic and energetic and full of life.

kawh

from sorrento it is easy to catch a boat to places, a bus down the coast or up the hills, a train to pompei etc. i would base in sorrento just for ease of getting about. if you stay in a charming town further down the coast, you have to deal with the roads each time you want to explore. is that what you were asking??

PalenQ

kawh makes a great point that I concur with 110% and though Sorrento does not offer dreamy sea views - it's actually on the sea but high up and the sea is hidden from view from much of the town but it is a pleasant watering hole with many nice hotels and a certain ambience at night with folks out strolling about, etc. but the utilitarian nature of its transit links are key to reducing travel time like from more remote places on the Amalfi itself.

Pompeii just a few minute train ride - Ascending to the Vesuvius crater easily done from nearby train stations - lots of boats to Capri and Ischia and even along the Amalfi and the world-famous buses plying constantly the rugged Amalfi Coast - ubiquitously listed as amongst the world's most thrilling bus rides!

sarge56

mantapup- since you'll be in Rome 5 days, you might want to consider renting an apartment. My experience is that they are much more cost-effective than a hotel.

Alternatively, if you really want to budget small, consider staying in a convent or monastery. They are no frills (no tv, no phone, no internet), but you get clean beds, your own bathroom (at most of them) and sometimes homemade jam and bread for breakfast. Here is a link you might find useful: http://www.monasterystays.com/ (Please make sure you note any "curfews". [Hey, some nun or monk has to stay up to lock the door after you! hahah])

You're going to love Italy!

kawh

mostly no dreamy views in sorrento ... but hotel la minervetta does offer one of the best views from bed i've ever had in my life... and for a view place in sorrento, you really do want the cliff side... otherwise you are above a very busy road. anyway... minervetta was kind of a flop house when we stayed there over 10 years ago... now it's out of our budget, but maybe not yours. if not... you will wake to a view of heaven!

SkipHudgins

Manta pup
At the risk of joining your party late, I like your new plan a lot. Hits all the great first time in Italy places. You will have chance in future trips, and there will be future trips, to make it to other places like the Czt.