My wife and I plan to travel to Italy (1st time) with my sister this fall and on to Provence. We plan:

Venice - 2 nts
Florence - 2 nts
Rome - 2 Nts (rent car)
Base in Siena - 3 nts and day trip with car
C.T. - 3 nts (drop car)
Nice - 2 nts then (rent car)
Provence - 3 nts, have to be in Lausanne at end of this drive - fixed date.

Our main interest is to hit the big city highlights, but get a feel for rural Europe. I'm also interested in old roman and etruscan sites such as Pont du Gard, etc.. In reading posts, I'm thinking we may have planned to much time in the C.T. and maybe add a night or two to Tuscany or Provence? Any input?

One last thing, should we venture to pick up a car at Termini in Rome, or get out of town 1st? Second, where would be a good place to drop the car before going through the C.T. - preferably a train station? Thanks.

IMHO you have one too many destinations. Rome is the logical one to drop since it is the south extreme. Do not bother with Rome or Venice if you only give them 2 nites--less if you arrive in Venice. With 17 nites, I would plan a max of 6 destinations. The CT can be done in 2. Good luck !

I'll just concur with most of what Bobthenavigator has said.

Perhaps instead of Siena, stay out in the countryside in either a countryside hotel, or one in a small village. My favorite countryside hotel is just east of Pienza at La Saracina:
http://www.lasaracina.it/menu_eng.htm
My favorite hotel in a small town is in La Quirico at Palazzo del Capitano
http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com/index_eng.htm
San Quirico is just 45 mins away from Siena, but I bet after Venice & Florence, you won't want to visit another large city soon - just stay in the countryside and explore the small villages.

Stu Dudley

Hi.

I agree with Bob. I'm afraid you've got too many stops in too short a time. About half-way through this trip you'll be plotting murder rather than enjoying Italy.

Without knowing your preferences, may I suggest you start in Rome spending no less than three full days (no travel). Get your rental car and wing it northward. Go where and when the spitit moves you. You'll always be able to find lodging, although you will want to book in advance for the big cities.

B.V.

Hi Snabes,

I agree, drop Rome, besides Siena is much closer to Florence than to Rome.

I think you have one too many nights on the CT. I would add it to Venice.

Thank you all for your input. Seems like going to Italy and skipping Rome is like going out to eat and skipping dinner - but I can appreciate the comments. The tickets into Venice are purchaed so Rome would be the logical stop to skip. How about a convenient place to drop a car before going to the C.T? Thanks again, all - this forum has been so helpful.

I would drop it at La Spezia, which is the first city south of the CT, and train from there.

Hi Snabes,

I had the same thoughts as I read your plan. Completely agree with dropping Rome (for this trip), CT 2 nights, add 1 to Venice.

Personally, I would skip Nice in favor of somewhere better. St. Tropez is nice in the fall. Uncrowded, but still nice enough weather. Maybe St. Paul du Vence? Lots of wonderful art galleries there, although very busy with tourists.....oh well, what's a couple more?
Buon viaggio!

Too much time in CT--it's a pretty coastline, but there's pretty coastlines all over the world. Rome and Venice and what they contain--you don't find all over the world.

Hi Snabes

>Seems like going to Italy and skipping Rome is like going out to eat and skipping dinner ...<

Not really.

In this case your buffet is already full. You don't need another main course.

Rome will be there when you go back to Italy.