Alice99

My two cents - 3 cities in 10 days is too much, pare it down to two. And cities are pretty easy to do on your own, and it's easy to find walking tours or private guides for part of your trip. As to which 2 cities? That's tough, I love all three. You might consider doing Rome and Venice on this trip and then doing another trip with Florence and other cities in Tuscany another time.

Alice

mjs

If you are limited to 10 days, Alice99’s suggestion is a good one. Given your ages however, it is probable you are retired so a few extra days may not be difficult for you. Certainly would not add much in cost given that your airfare is already paid for. Did I miss time of year for this trip?

trippingalong

Could you please tell me which are your favorite small hotel(s) in Venice? You mentioned one where they serve you breakfast in your room in front of a window on the canal>

TDudette

In that time frame, take the tour. Let someone else do all the housing, ticket, and scheduling schlepping for you! See what the tours offer for the money. Go on your own when you have more time.

Sassafrass

Hotel Galleria, Venice. The hotel location could not be more perfect, right at the foot of the Academia Bridge in Dorsoduro. There is morning noise of boats on the Grand Canal. I loved it, an affirmation that I was really in Venice, but it bothers some people. Rooms are on what we would call the second floor and there is no elevator. If you ask, they can help with luggage. Some rooms have private baths. Some do not. Be sure to ask for what you want. This hotel is booked far ahead, so book ASAP if you want it.

KTtravel

I think Tauck is more "high end" than Rick Steves but Rick's tours seem very well run. This info has only been gleaned from what I have heard from other people.

My husband and I have taken several Road Scholars' tours which we have really enjoyed. I see Road Scholar does have a 12 day tour of Rome, Italy and Venice but the first and last days are travel days to and from Italy so this might fit your parameters. Happy planning!

gentle

I agree , doing it on your own. I’m 70 very fit and go 2 Italy every year for a few months. Rome & Florence are very easy if you have a plan & have SIM card for Italy to use your Map app + WhatsApp as well. I am an Australian so I fly into Leonardo da Vinci airport & I arrange a drive for €50 as it’s alot easier then using the train + a taxi at Rome station to find your a apartment or hotel. I never arrive on a weekend just in case there is a train strike ( happens often) I can give you my contact for Rome & my friend will meet u at the apartment and show you where the supermarket cafés are jen🌻

gentle

I agree , doing it on your own. I’m 70 very fit and go 2 Italy every year for a few months. Rome & Florence are very easy if you have a plan & have SIM card for Italy to use your Map app + WhatsApp as well. I am an Australian so I fly into Leonardo da Vinci airport & I arrange a drive for €50 as it’s alot easier then using the train + a taxi at Rome station to find your a apartment or hotel. I never arrive on a weekend just in case there is a train strike ( happens often) I can give you my contact for Rome & my friend will meet u at the apartment and show you where the supermarket cafés are jen🌻

KTtravel

I usually prefer self-guided tours but, if this is your first trip to Europe, a guided tour might can make sense, particularly as you are planning a relatively short trip.

Mary2steve

Hi, If this forum is still open, wondering if you are willing to share the name of your Venice hotel? I am. 77 and quite mobile although a little vision impaired (macular degeneration in left eye). My husband has average vision but due to multiple knee and hip replacements and worst of all back problems cannot walk very far. He walks with a cane and as long as he can find aplace to sit down or lean against he can make it. We stayed at a hotel on a small hill in Rome on a Viking cruise and it really limited how far we could walk to find a restaurant, etc. wondering if you have hotel to recommend in Rome, not on a hill. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
Mary2Steve

bvlenci

I have a friend who, along with her husband, often took tours with Elderhostel (now Road Scholar). They enjoyed these tours very much. However, they focus on an in-depth experience in one particular place or area, and I don't think they would offer a standard Rome/Florence/Venice tour. They also emphasize an educational experience, and some of their tours are very active. On their website you can see the activity level and whether it's a small group tour. Road Scholar is a non-profit organisation.

I believe the Rick Steve tours are also on the active side, and, as mentioned above, they often involve stairs and carrying your own luggage. You mentioned that you wanted a high-end tour, and I don't think Rick Steves fits your description. Maybe Tauck would be most suitable for you.

I agree that it's easy to travel between Venice, Florence, and Rome, and that you can augment your experience with day tours or half-day tours in each place. However, I wouldn't minimize the difficulties of travel by train, what with crowded stations and unfamiliarity with the information displays. I recently traveled between my home and Florence, and ending in Rome. Even though I live in Italy and have been traveling by train there for more than 20 years, I have to admit that it can be confusing.

I was traveling with my daughter, who has lived in Rome, and returned here often for research. We also had two teenagers with us.

In Florence, even with good instructions and Google Maps, we had some difficulty in finding our hotel, which was a stone's throw from the station. In recent years, the roads around the station have been reorganized, and there are new crosswalks and underpasses, and traffic (cars, buses, and trams) coming from all directions.

In Rome, the station was overflowing with people. It's a huge station, and the exit for taxis isn't immediately obvious. I knew where it was, but my daughter was astounded at the crowds and confusion there, much more than when she lived in Rome. When we got outside, there were no taxis for some reason (not a strike). Using Google Maps, I found a bus that would get us to the hotel in Trastevere, but for over half an hour (under a broiling sun) we waited in vain at the bus stop, although the buses supposedly run every 10 minutes. I decided to ask at the information booth about the availability of the bus, and about alternative routes. However, shouts from my daughter and the kids brought me running back just in time to catch the bus, which, of course, was packed solid with other passengers.

Those who assure you that the solo trip would be a piece of cake perhaps haven't made this sort of trip in a while. I myself can see that before long I won't be willing to take such a trip on my own, and will probably depend on tours and cruises to see the world.

HappyTrvlr

Look at Tauck and Odysseys Unlimited for high level tours.

tracilee

Mary2steve, I’m pretty sure the hotel Sassafras is talking about is Hotel Galleria. I stayed there past May as it came highly recommended by a couple Fodorites. It is a lovely little hotel, right at the foot of the Accademia Bridge. We had their “best room” which has a wonderful view of the Grand Canal. Unfortunately, they no longer offer breakfast but it’s still a gem of a hotel. You do have to take a flight of stairs up to the lobby and rooms, no elevator, so consider that in regards to your husband’s mobility.
https://www.hotelgalleria.it

HappyTrvlr

Why not extend your trip to two weeks? Then add a stay in Tuscany
. You don’t have to travel far from Florence to get a feel for the more rural Tuscany. Siena would be an easy place to stay, near many charming villages you could day trip to.

Sassafrass

Glad tracilee answered your question. Yes it is Hotel Galleria in Venice, and though we loved it, going up and down a long flight of stairs might not be a good fit for your DH. Also, with Covid, they stopped bringing breakfast to the rooms, and you had to go outside to another place for breakfast. so you would also want to check on that. The location next to a vaporetto stop is very good though.
Another Venice hotel I see highly recommended is Hotel Saturnia & International. It has elevators and a roof top deck. One person did say restaurants were a ten or 15 minute walk, but I think there is a restaurant in the hotel.
I did not do proper research on my last trips to Rome and Florence, so was not satisfied enough with hotels to recommend any.

With your DH’s mobility issues, you should post a new, separate thread to get the best advice for hotels everywhere you want. People may not read through an entire older post and see your question, but will see and respond to the first question in a new thread.