My husband and I are meeting our friends in the South of France in April and thought we'd spend the week before in Italy. Neither one of us have been. We're flying into Rome and have 7 days. I have already planned our Itinerary and booked our hotels...but now I'm thinking about modifying it. (giving up the Riviera for Venice~ We really want to see Venice) Here are my two Itinerarys...
(#A is my existing)
A:
-Arrive in Rome - stay 2 nights
-Take train to Florence - stay 3 nights
(day trip to Sienna & San Gimigiano)
-Drive to Italian Riviera -stay 2 nights in
Santa Margherita. (with day trip to Cinque Terra)
-Drive to Nice.
****
B:
-Arrive in Rome - stay 2 nights
-Take train to Venice - stay 2 nights
-Take train to Florence - stay 3 nights.
-Drive to Nice from Florence.

What do you think? Should we give up our 2 nights on the Riviera for Venice???

"Should we give up our 2 nights on the Riviera for Venice???"
Yes
As far as your two itineraries: That's an aweful lot in just 7 days.
A probably works a little better than B.
If you are finishing in Nice and starting in Rome, I'd skip Venice this trip.
A caution I often give is that most people who say they didn't like Rome are those that stayed for too short a period. Since you are going to Nice, why Santa Margherita?
Instead, try 3 nights Rome and 5 in Tuscany? You could base in Florence or Lucca (or split time between them-not my personal preference)and see all you want to.

Thanks jabez...the reason we selected Santa Margherita is, we thought it would be a nice base to see Portofino and Cinque Terra.

Have you considered the drop charge for the car? I prefer the A itinerary but would forget the car for now. Save Venice when you have more time.

Thanks Bob. If we forget the car...how would we get to Nice from Santa Margherita? How much are the drops charges? I hadn't thought about that...

April on the Italian Riveria and Cinque Terra??? Do you know that both of these locations are north of Milwaukee, Wi??? We were in Southern Tuscany the last 2 weeks of March last year - and it snowed one day. It could be overcast & cold while on the coast - but it could be nice also.

Venice is unique - nothing like it anywhere else, and Florence will have fewer crowds than it will just 1 month later. I would do plan B - except, I would spend 3 days in Rome & 2 days in Florence. Most people need about a day to recover from jet lag. Your first day in Rome might be tough, and that leaves you with only 1 day to enjoy Rome - not nearly enough.

Also, are you aware that a car rental in Italy costs about twice as much per day as it does in France - plus you will have a couple of hundred dollars in drop-off fees. We're doing the Italy then France trip next year. We plan on driving to either San Remo or La Spezia in Italy, turning in our Italian car, then taking the train to Nice (don't need a car while there), and then renting a car for the remaining 3 weeks of our trip in France.

If this were my trip, I would fly to Venice, stay 3-4 nights there, then take the train to Florence and spend 3-4 nights there with some day trips to San G and perhaps Siena (only 1 N). If the weather is nice, leave Florence 1 day early & take the train to La Spezia/Cinque Terra or the Itilian Riveria. Then take the train to Nice. You will save hundreds of dollars (perhaps a thousand or more)in car rental & insurance fees if you can avoid renting a car in Italy - especially if you plan on using the same car in France.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu, That's good advise about the rental car. I think we will consider taking the train to Nice. Our flight to Rome is already confirmed. We're using miles for free business class tickets and I don't think we can change it. If we do go to Venice, we'll need to take the train. We plan on returning to Italy again...so there will be plenty of time to see more of Rome. For this 1st trip, our objective is to see the highlights and then decide where we want to return next time. 2-3 days in Venice sounds irresistable....I wish we had more time....

Hi diane,

Since you really want to see Venice -- GO.

I would skip Rome.
You have much too short a time there. You will be jet lagged.
It will be unfamiliar and confusing.

Excellent advice from Stu.