My wife (and friends) and I have loved traveling the world for the last 30 years. The posters to Fodor's and TripAdvisor have been great (well most of them anyway). We have been to Italy 6 or 8 times, however the time is coming to hang it up. I sold my business last year and just turned 75. Planning a last trip to Italy (and Europe for that matter) the first part of October, 2020 and will celebrate my 77th b'day.

We will probably travel with some friends and family. Love Tuscany and Amalfi area. Love great Italian food, wine and countryside. Have visited most of the "must do" museums and churches. Love wines -- idea meal is with friends, overlooking the Tuscan countryside with great Tuscan wines. Am a decent home cook - so time normally spent looking at churches - could use for cooking class. Love to keep rooms to $300 per night but will increase for that special place. Have shortened our normal preliminary itinerary to 11 days. Will have car in Tuscany but otherwise, will retain private guide or walk. I am obsessive and will make most of my reservations a year in advance. We travel business class using AMEX miles.

Here is where I am now:
Day 1 - Texas to Naples

Day 2, 3 and 4 - arrive Naples and have driver take us to Positano. While in Positano plan on Blue Grotto, perhaps cooking school at Il Ritrovo -- perhaps Paestum (never been). Loved eating at Il Ritrovo last trip. Will probably use Rainbow Limos. Looking at cooking class at Hotel Boca di Bacco and Mamma Agata Cooking Class as well. ANY IDEAS?

Considering Hotels Eden Roc, Buca di Bacco or Covo Dei Saraceni. Want view of beach / downtown Positano area WITHOUT the 150 steps. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Day 5, 6 AND 7 - Frecciarossa (Executive) to Florence. Considering Casa Cornacchi Country House in Montebenichi or Il Borro in San Giustino Valdarno. ANY SUGGESTIONS? Will visit Siena and San Gimi. Looking at Antica Osteria da Divo in Siena and La Giostra in Florence for lunches/dinners. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Day 8, 9, and 10 - Frecciarosssa (Executive) to Venice. Stay Pensione Accademia and eat Taverna San Travaso. Again, love to cook, so thinking cooking class in Venice. ANY SUGGESTIONS? Any performance not to be missed?

Day 11 - Addio Italia and Texas bound!

Please share your experiences, suggestions, etc.

Well just about trains - book well in advance to snag big discounts over full fare - Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia and www.italotreno.com- 2 competing rail companies running trains on same tracks and to same stations - and for long rides like that check first class too - you don't seem to be on a budget and especially for older folk more relaxing- www.seat61.com has sage advice on booking own tickets online -general train info like 1st v 2nd class check www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts. You may find taking a ferry to Salerno and getting trains from there to Florence better than going back via Naples.

Yes! to Paestum, see entry at post 18 and photos at 27, Solo in Italia May 2015: Sorrento, Amalfi, Paestum, Naples, Rome.