Critique my Venice Itinerary
 

Hi all,

So after lots of angst, I think we've finally decided on a trip.
We are going to Venice!! Although, we decided that we don't want to stay in the city for the whole stretch... its just not our travel style. So, we want to combine Venice and the Lake Guarda/Dolomites region (we decided Croatia merited its own trip).

I wanted to post my itinerary and get some feedback. I am thinking of flying into Milan because its easier and cheaper to get a direct flight there from NYC. What does anyone think? From there we want to do our roadtrip portion of the trip driving through the lake region and Dolomites. Then we'll end the trip on a relaxing note in Venice.

Please comment on how this itinerary looks. Does it seem to crowded or jampacked? Do we need an extra day - if so where? How does the route look? Should we go a different way? Different stops? The drive times between destinations I got off googlemaps, so hopefully they are accurate. okk here it is....


DAY ONE: Depart NYC
DAY TWO: Arrive Milan in am, rent car and drive to Malcesine (2.5 hours) Overnight Malcesine. (Is there another stop that would be better?)
DAY THREE: explore Malcesine in am - scenic drive to Trento (1 hour). Lunch in Trento. Drive to Balzano (40 minutes). Overnight Balzano at Schloss Hotel Korb.
DAY FOUR: Explore Balzano with scenic drive in Dolomites to Castelrotto, Brunico, (suggestinos here would be appreciated). Return to Balzano overnight at Schloss Hotel Korb.
DAY FIVE: Depart in am, scenic drive to Venice (3 hours) Route suggestion would be appreciated. Return car and overnight Venice. Hotel unknown.
DAY SIX: Venice (typical tourist stuff) & overnight Venice
DAY SEVEN: Venice & overnight Venice
DAY EIGHT: Lagoon Islands & overnight Venice
DAY NINE: Depart Venice 1pm.

I have stayed at Schloss Korb and I would prefer to stay in Castelrotto or Ortisei--look at Hotel Grones in the latter.

Thanks bob, your advice on this board is always appreciated! Why the preference?
I don't want to move around too much... so would Castelrotto or Ortisei work for a two night stay?

What do you think of the itinerary other than the hotel?
Suggestions appreciated

I just love the Val Gardena and found the Scloss to be stuffy. At dinner we felt like outsiders at a German social club---and I look Germanic.

Haha, that's an awkward experience.

Does this itinerary look too ambitious though? Im getting nervous. I think the Dolomites look gorgeous and I really want to see them -- but maybe its too much?

Ten years ago we drove from Verona, up through Balzano and Ortisei and on through the Dolomites in a single day in May, stopping for lunch in the mountains at a place that was open, then continuing on to leave our car at a long-term lot for Venice, where we stayed 3 nights. As we cruised along the Grand Canal toward our hotel, the sun was just setting (the resulting photos were extraordinary). All told, it was a day of total visual over-load -- in a very GOOD way. Ortisei was a stunning place, and someday we may be back to stay there a couple nights.

If you like mountains, you don't want to miss the Dolomites. Your idea is a home run.

Wow you did it in a single day! I guess three nights seems more reasonable then!

Do my stopping off points seem good? I was thinking Malcesine and Bolzano, but did get recommendation for staying in Ortisei. hmmm.

Was just reading bobthenavigators trip report for 50th anniversary in Italy. Its wonderful.
Wish I could squeeze in Lake Como too considering its a favorite!

You might choose Lake Como instead of Lake Garda. The scenery is similar. Plus, after an overnight flight from NYC to Milan, the trip to Lake Como would be shorter. You could still rent a car and head to Menaggio at mid-lake, which is a good place to stay with a car, and recover from jetlag there.

good suggestion, but then what?
I have two more nights to play with. Should I drive from Menaggio to Bolzano area and do two nights there still?

Sure, that's still possible. Or you could head north along Lake Como and then east through the mountains. At this point, I'd start playing with maps.google.com, plotting routes between places and dragging the routes onto other roads that look interesting.

It's really up to you. At some point, you just have to finally decide.