I have the pleasure of taking 5 weeks in Italy in October. I want to see Rome, Venice and Florence but not sure if I should rent an apartment in one city and use it as a base and spend a few nights away in each city or stay in hotels for a week in each city plus a few more days. What have others done?

How lucky to have 5 weeks in Italy! I would rent apartments for a week in each place (or maybe more depending on your total itinerary). I would not try to day trip to Venice from Rome and even from Florence as a daily day trip takes too much time. You can decide on how to spend the other 2 weeks; perhaps in the countryside outside one of the cities. But definitely rent apartments rather than stay in hotels. You'll have laundry and cooking facilities and this will save money. Even if you don't plan to cook full meals you can keep snacks and drinks.

I would rent apts. in each of the 3 biggies, to include day trips from Florence to Siena and Lucca.
Then, I would either spend a week at Lake Como or the Amalfi coast but not both.
Go to slowtrav.com and for great info about apt. rentals and much more.

Sounds fantastic. No, I would not rent an apartment (say) in Rome to try and see Venice and Florence. I'd move around and pick a central apartment in each place.

Hi J,

I would
fly into Venice - 5 nights
train to Bologna - 3 nights
train to Florence - 6 nights
train to Rome - 6 nights
train to Naples - 2 nights
train to Amalfi Coast - 5 nights
train from Naples to Palermo - 7 nights

Lots of opportunities for daytrips from all of the cities.

Rent a car for your week in Sicily.

Enjoy your visit.

Be sure to plan some down-time somewhere - a vacation from your vacation if you will. A week in Tuscany would be great. You can escape the hustle/bustle of the big cities, and have time to slow down and smell the grapes.

I want Ira's itinerary!

Oh, to be able to go for 5 weeks...

We were in Italy, this past Sept/Oct for 31 days, and it was wonderful. We did 3 days in Venice(we had done 6 two years ago). We had a week in Lake Como, two weeks in Tuscany(the same place we went two years ago), and a week in Praiano(we stayed in Positano, three years ago). We rented apartments everywhere, except Venice. If you're going to Venice, please stay at La Calcina, it's in the Dorsoduro, a lovely hotel, and in a quiet neighborhood. If I can answer any questions, let me know. Ciao for now.