Wanted to hear critique's/suggestions on our itinerary for a May trip to Italy.
Fly from Tampa-Munich-Rome on May 15 (we had enough miles to do rountrip 1st class!!)

Rome, 4 nights:

Staying at Hotel San Carlo based on suggestions from this board. As of now, we have reserved a tour with Context Rome (John Boyden) for the Vatican. Still waiting to hear back from Scavi Tours for St. Peter's underground. Trying to decide whether or not to use a tour for ancient Rome.

Train to Orvieto, pick up rental car

Siena, 3 nights:

Staying at Palazzo Ravizza. Not set but planning day trips to San Gimmi, Pisa and other towns

Florence, 3 night:

Dropping off car in Florence. Staying at Tourist House Ghiberiti (may change to Hotel Davanzati)

Train to Venice

Venice, 4 nights:

Staying at Hotel Novecento. We had a hard times with hotels during this time. All of the suggested ones on this board and other boards were fully booked.

Fly back from Venice to Tampa and settle into state of depression that vacation is over.

Wow. What can we say? With the exception of the flying back to Tampa part, the whole thing sounds about perfect. (Including the first class and the open jaw flight). Although I'm not familiar with any of your hotels, it sounds like you've done your homework.

Sounds terrific! The only hotel I know personally is the Palazzo Ravizza (do get a room facing the garden), but if the rest come close, you've made very good choices.

Buon viaggio!

Your itinerary sounds great to me, too.

Could you tell me how you arranged your car rental? We want to rent a car in Orvieto and return in Florence, too (3 days). Both auto europe and avis show no availability on any of the numerous date options I tried, Jun - Oct.

my wife just booked the car from yahoo using Hertz. I can get more specific info regarding price. I tried to use AutoEurope but like you said, couldn't get it on that date or if they do that at all.

I had the same problem with Auto Europe trying to pick up in Orvieto and drop off somewhere near CinqueTerre. Does anyone know why? Are they booked up or do that not cover those locations?

I know this is difficult to imagine, but if you pick up a telephone and call AutoEurope you will get an answer to problems you can't get answered on the internet. It's really easy and it's free.
1-800-223-5555

Never trust online systems for your answers--call them direct.

Hmmm ! I never knew they had gators in NJ. However, I do like your itinerary.

lived up in Jersey for 3 years. Grew up in Florida, went to University of Florida, hence the gator in the screen name. Thanks for the replies everyone. Its gonna be a painful 2.5 months waiting to go to Italy.

It sounds well planned and terrific to me with one exception--we rented from Hertz in France and it was a nightmare. Other Fodorites have had awful experiences with them as well. I agree with Patrick and other posters--call the 800 at Autoeurope. We've also had good experience with Avis in Italy.

We're going to be in Italy in May too (earlier though).

Have a great trip.

Very good itinerary, nj.

In Florence, do take the no.7 bus up to Fiesole, have a glass of wine at the Bar Bleu and watch the sun go down.

You have to phone AutoEurope to get info and make reservations to pick up or drop off in Orvieto. They don't display info about this particular location on their website, even though their drop-down menu lists Orvieto as an option.