Santa Maria dei Miracoli is the most beautiful church in Venice!

A really good restaurant in Burano is Gato Nero!

The most beloved Fodorite hotel in Rome is Albergo del Senato.

Others: Portoghesi, Modigliani, Parliamento, and Aberdeen.

Good luck,
Thin aka JoAnn Gucci

Last trip I loved Hotel Nerva in Rome. I'm trying a new hotel next week and will report back if I can recommend it.

I was just in Venice last week. I was there taking a class so stayed in an apartment. Have stayed at La Calcina before and liked it. For me Venice is more enjoyable away from San Marco and Rialto (Dorsoduro, Canareggio away from Strada Nuova, others can provide additional suggestions), but if this is your first visit you will probably want to see those sights.

With four days in each city I wouldn't have time to squeeze in day trips but that's just me. You may be more energetic and ambitious than I.

Again day trips can be in flux - no need to pre-plan or buy train tickets for regional trains that take you to nearby ones.

Play it by ear.

Let us put an end to verbal vandalism!

Down with Verbal Vandalism! Up with Lovely Literature! Up with tennis talk by David Foster Wallace!

I don't think St Cirq was being a bully by asking about specifics. OP's questions were very vague.

For example, where in Rome does she want to stay? There is a huge difference between Parioli and Monti!

So you some of you need to chill!

Thin aka JoAnn Gucci

<And please, be honest: re-reading massimop's comments on this thread and others, none ever approached St. Cirq's for sheer vulgarity.>

St-Cirq I think was not referring just to this post but to a pattern of caustic my way or the highway posts made for eons seemingly under different names.

Dearest Thin,
I totally demand a photograph of your good self in a full length mink coat.

Verona could also be a very viable day trip from Venice - great old city and Lake Garda for a day.

Rome - want to visit a classic hill town besides Orvieto - try Viterbo - also easy train ride away.

Plenty to see and do in Rome and Venice, I wouldn't do any daytrips other than the islands from Venice, and maybe Ostia Antica from Rome.

So I agree, play it by ear, depending on weather, etc.

(sometimes the bickering just makes this forum more entertaining) ;)

Well this is fun. Thanks for the advice I am getting here by just reading. Like the OP, I am trying to plan my first trip to Italy too, likely in May 2018. We will finalize the dates this week. I am going with a good friend, so if anyone knows some hotels that have 2 double/queen size beds instead of one king, let me know. $200 - $300 a night range. I will also go over to that other hotel thread to ask. We are planning Venice, Florence and Rome.

Thin- I want to see you in a full length mink too! ;)

Pal I thought you invented Fodorgarch :)

Bankbabe I don't think I've ever seen two doubles in Europe. Usual choice is a double or a king or a twin, which is two twins either pushed together or separate, which should work for you.

http://www.lacalcina.com/
I loved this hotel, in your price range, but when I checked no 2 bed rooms (which is strange because I don't remember having to share with my travel partner when we were there).

Chime in in favor of Torcello from Venice, because you don't have to plan for it, but I don't think you have time for any day trips from Rome.

Torcello and Burano make for a lovely day or half-day trip.

Look into a multi-day vaporetto pass when you get to Venice. Be sure to validate it on first use.

Bankababe I remain loyal to Locanda Orseolo but one room is tight quarters for two unless you go up a notch in price and get deluxe room--which depends on your dates.

But also consider Domus Orsoni if you don't need full hotel services. I've stayed in one of their rooms that had twin beds (but I was single use) for 130 euros in high season.

Don't know La Calcina but it sounds good --

Thin is the pantomime dame of Fodorville!!

Edna Everage has nothing on me!

Thin aka JoAnn Gucci

first time I've heard <Fodorgarch> but rather like it!

Palenq yes an interesting term and rather entertaining...You once called annhig the most polite Fodorgarch of all time! That's still got me laughing, well I think we'd all agree with the most polite term at least. ;)

Well to me Fodorgarch is not necessarily a negative word-especially for annhig.

For some the Lido in Venice may make an interesting divergence - some neat older modern architecture like the circa 1900s Grand Hotel des Bains made famous by Thomas Mann's novel Death in Venice.

Or for a swim!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Hotel_des_Bains

PalenQ would you really advise Lido over Burano/Torcello, or a short trip on the Mainland?

I guess I just never really "got" the Lido. Maybe if there for the film festival I'd feel differently.

No - no in general -note I said "for some Lido...." -those spending lots of time in Venice. Lido is just a typical Italian seaside resort -those looking for really cheap hotels will find in off-season really low prices on the Lido - only about 20 mins or so by boat from San Marco.