I am planning my to take my wife to Italy on her 40th birthday (march 8th)and am looking at opinions on which city in italy would be the best location for this. I was planning on doing Rome to Florence to Venice trip over 10-12 days.
This is a suprise and is her ultimate vacation and would our first trip to europe.

In your opinions which city/ restaurant would be the perfect location to celebrate at?

Also has anyone heard or stayed at San Giuseppe della Montagna convent in Rome?

Thank you in advance for any and all help.

Hi R,

10-12 days for Venice, Florence and Rome is very good.

I would fly into Venice and out of Rome.

Train schedules and prices are at www.trenitalia.com.

You won't need a railpass.

What's your budget for the birthday dinner and for hotels?

Well for the whole shooting match I was looking at $4000 including the airfare which it looks like is $566 a person on air canada.
Is that enough to enjoy ourselves and not leave wanting?

Well, that figure leaves you with approximately $285 per day for 10 days after airfare is paid, and you would have to get lodging, meals and spending money out of that.

Of course, it depends on your travel style and how much you plan to spend on those things, but I would think you would need more like $5,000 for 10 days.

Hi... and welcome to the forum.

I see that you already have some responses/dialogue going here - - and at the same time, that you are new here - - how did I know that? click on your own name (this is one of the numerous useful tips that Fodors fails to tell you when they send you that first e-mail confirming your registration) - - we'll assume that you have also not taken the time to read the "HELP" (little tiny red letters in the upper lefthand corner) - - another oversight that Fodors fails to recommend to you to do.

Anyhow, you owe it to yourself to take a look there: http://www.fodors.com/forums/faqs.cfm - - especially http://www.fodors.com/forums/faqs.cfm#Q6 - - which I have listed below, in excerpt form, for you (my own emphasis added):

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Finally, create a title - make sure it is concise and clearly describes your message (<b>and destination</b>, if applicable) -- and write your message in the space provided

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Thus, when you re-post - - and you really should do that - - be sure and mention <b>Italy</b> in your message header.

Best wishes,

Rex

You're a good husband, Reckoning, what a wonderful birthday surprise for your wife.

I would agree with Ira that flying into one city and flying out of another is a great time/money saving idea.

Although I would reverse the order and go with Rome, Florence and then Venice. I have been to Rome and Florence but not yet Venice. When I was in Rome and then Florence I enjoyed the order because I found that Rome was so much busier, more spread out, seeing Florence after Rome was a real treat, is it is more compact, had more of a little town feel walking around rather than a large city. Either way, it will be lovely.

One other idea, research your hotels now and book asap, my husband and I are traveling to Florence and Venice during the last week of January and first week of February 2006, and when we booked accommodations, they confirmed rates for us that were still consistent with 2005 pricing, no 2006 increase due to our booking this early, they may do the same for you.

This forum is plentiful; I know you will find it very useful.

Happy journey, Tiff