I know this itinerary will seem backwards- but let me tell you first what made me set it up this way.

I originally planned to only go to Florence and Venice, 5 nights Florence, 4 Venice. But my Frequent flyer miles couldn't get me anywhere near Florence. I did get great flights to Rome and out of Venice.

The trip is for me, my 14 year old daughter, and my 70 year old parents.
I have been to Rome and Florence, but never Venice and would like to make sure I get enough time there.

My 14 year old loves art and shopping.

My parents will love everything, and don't have any set ideas on what they need to see except that my dad wants a few good meals. My mom just wants to see Tuscany for a day.


Mar 30: Arrive Rome 6:30 pm, taxi to Albergo Del senato. Carry on luggage only.

Mar 31: Wander Rome in morning, see Spanish steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon. (Parents may skip this walk and see Pantheon only)
Take taxi to Vatican at 2pm. Go through the vatican museum to see only highlights and escape through back door to St. Peters. Spend night Rome.

April 1: Colosseum and forum in morning, train to Florence in Afternoon. Spend night Florence.

April 2: All day Florence: I won't go into detail but I know where I want to take them. Spend night Florence.

April 3: All day with private driver-
Siena and San G. Spend night Florence.

April 4: Morning in Florence, spend time near hotel which is near train station,
take train to Venice in afternoon.

April 4, 5, 6, 7 nights in Venice.
Three full days and 4 nights to wander and see the highlights.

April 8- leave. Parents go to England to spend time with mom's sister.


I think it would make more sense to skip Florence but that is the area that my
mom and daughter were most interested in.

I also realize we could go straight to Florence when we arrive in Rome. I do think that would be hard, especially for my parents, as we are all arriving from the west coast, but I keep thinking about trying it.
This will likely be my parents last European trip, and they like the idea of at least seeing a bit of Rome. But if it is going to make the trip one big blur, it isn't worth it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi t,

>I also realize we could go straight to Florence when we arrive in Rome. <

Good idea. It's 1/2 hr to Rome TE from FCO and 1:30 hr to Florence.

The additional time won't make that much difference. (My Lady Wife and I are in your parents age bracket, and that's what we did.)

I would much rather see Florence than Rome.

See my trip report for details:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

> private driver- Siena and San G. <

You can get from Florence to Siena and Siena to San G by bus if you would like to save money.

See http://www.sita-on-line.it/
and
http://www.sangimignano.net/bus/

Hi tledford, quite frankly I think your itinerary looks just fine. I always have to fly from the westcoast of the US also and how know what a long flight that is. I would not want to arrive in Rome and than immediately have to take the trains to Rome and than Florence.

I think having a few days in Rome is great, and can understand your parents wanting to visit Rome.

Seeing some of the beautiful sights in Florence is enjoyable..and I am sure you will all be glad you stayed there. And a driver and car for the countryside sounds like a beautiful day.

And you will have time in Venice without feeling rushed.

Again, I think you planned out your time in Italy very well including keeping everyones desires in mind.

Wishing you and your family a beautiful trip.

Go for it; your itinerary sounds great.

Since there will be 4 of you, you might want to reserve seats on the various trains. You can do this at the RR station. Best to reserve one day ahead of departure.

Dear Ira, I couldn't stand the thought of arriving in Rome and not spending some time. I would be crying on the train to Florence, LOL. Also, you don't have to fly to Italy from the westcoast. One is normally tired after the flight. Take good care.

Thank you all for the feedback.

LoveItaly, I'm glad you think this is doable, but you did catch that we actually only have 2 nights, one day and a half in Rome?

I do promise that we will not rush around. We will see what we see and skip the rest. I felt the same way as you that it would be very tough to actually be in Rome and skip it entirely.

Can I get the train tickets somewhere besides termini in Rome? I hate to waste part of that one day going all the way over there. Can I get them at the Spanish steps American express office? (I don't have an American Express card) If I'm going to try to do this, I will have to make sure it is planned well.

Thank you all for your quick responses.

Your itinerary sounds fine to me. I always try to spend at least one night in Rome before moving on to allow for jet lag. We weren't able to this trip thanks to the great incompetence of British Airways (let them eat haggis) and immediately took a six hour train trip to Brindisi; we've both relatively young and in good shape but it was exhausting.

Don't reserve your trains in advance. There are so many trains daily between Rome and Florence, Florence and Venice that you can always find satisfactory seating. Trains have a habit of getting cancelled in Italy on short notice and getting a refund and reticketing can be frustrating even if you can speak a little Italian.

When you go to the Pantheon, about two blocks behind it is the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva which has Michelangelo's 'Risen Christ' - don't miss this. It's the only Michelangelo left that I know of that you can actually go up and touch until some maniac takes a hammer to it and they have to encase it is plexiglass.

The forum is really pretty uninspiring, you might want to take the time to go to the Campidoglio and visit the Capitoline museums instead. You can also get a great view of the forum from there.

Hi t,

I also fly from the west coast, now from the Rockies, but I think your plan is great.

In Rome, see the Coliseum and Forum, the Pantheon, and the Vatican museums if you can. The Spanish Steps are entirely skippable. Piazza Navona is near the Pantheon and nicer than the Trevi. Just my opinion.

Really, your plan sounds just right for your objectives.

Buon viaggio!

Tledford

I like you plan, too. And if you can afford the driver, I think it is a great way of seeing SG and Siena. It will be much easier on your parents to be picked up and dropped off on this busy day.

As for buying train tickets, there are two good options: you can get them all at FCO where you get the train from the airport into Rome, or you can get them at any travel agency in Rome that sells train tickets (there are many of them) with no added cost.

You can ask you hotel for the nearest agency that sells train tickets. I always visit the trenitalia.com website, print out the trains I would like, and take the print out to the ticket counter or travel agency with me. Makes it all quite simple.

Also want to add that shopping in Florence will be a dream for your daughter, I wish you had more time there, but that's life. There is fun shopping in Venice, but not as easy to access as in Florence. And the street shopping in Florence is so excellent.

I'll dissent from the majority and suggest you steal a night from Venice and add it to Rome. Two reasons:

I love Rome the best of the three, but even if you decide you don't, you need a little more time, just to do the things you have listed. Rome rushed is awful - I disliked it the first time possibly because I was so rushed. Plus, the Vatican, even on a quick trip, needs to be carefully planned. I haven't my guidebook handy but I seem to recall that on some afternoons the museum closes as early as 2 p.m, depending on the time of year, etc. - yet your itinerary has you planning to start your visit at that time. The VC museum is also (deservedly) very popular, and you might need to have extra time to cope with crowds (yes, a possibility even in March - lots of Italian schoolkids on trips). Yes, the VC museum is absolutely worth it, crowds or no (rent the CD guide at the entrance - it's great), as is St. Peter's. I've seen many cathedrals/basilicas (basilicae?) in Europe, and that one takes the proverbial cake. It will knock your socks off. DO NOT LET YOUR PARENTS MISS ST PETER'S, especially if you can join one of the English-speaking volunteer tour groups that on my last visit were held on Wednesday afternoons.

An extra day in Rome is also handy in order to allow for the unexpected, such as a flight delay or other mishap.

Last time out, it was possible to buy train tickets at the airport wicket near where you board the special train into Rome.

Hello tledford, yes I did understand that you will have two nights and a day and a half in Rome. I really did study your itinerary, especially because you will have your parents with you and because we (you, your family and I) have to fly from the westcoast of the US.

tledford, I truly think that staying in Rome for the first two nights is an excellent idea. I think your dear parents will be so glad to not have to travel onto Florence even though it is only a 90 minute train ride. But waiting for the train after getting into Rome proper, 90 minutes on the train to Rome, getting to the Florence hotel, checking in, probably taking a shower etc. will put you all at the point it would be to late for dinner. And I would imagine that all of you, but especially your parents, would be to tired and jetlagged to eat anything.

I consequently felt that staying in Rome will allow all of you to train into Rome, get to your hotel (by taxi no doubt), check in, a quick shower and change of clothes that will make everyone feel better, a light dinner that night and then a good nights sleep.

If your parents are really tired the next day they can just relax and enjoy the "day to day" life of Rome, even if they do not feel up to any sightseeing. Or they may feel energetic in the morning and want to take a siesta after lunch the next day (I have many friends of all ages in Italy that enjoy a siesta). Or your parents could sleep in, have lunch with you and just take a nice stroll after lunch.

By the next day I truly believe you will all be feeling perky and your parents will be up to the 90 minute train ride to Florence and getting settled in there.

Most teens I know, including my daughters when they were teens, really love Rome btw.

Regarding train tickets, you have been given some good information here. I would ask the hotel in Rome for the closest Travel Agency that sells the train tickets. That would keep it simple. I like Tuscanlifeedits thoughts about printing out the schedule and taking it with you. That would certainly simplify everything.

And I truly love the idea of your renting the car and driver for the countryside of Tuscany. That should be a beautiful and relaxing day for everyone including you.

I really meant it when I said IMHO you have planned a good itinerary. Best wishes to you and your family. Hope you will have time after returning home to give us a trip report. I imagine this will be a trip all of you will remember. And such beautiful memories for your daughter. Not too many young ones get to experience Italy with their grandparents. How beautiful for both generations! Wishing you a happy and safe time trip.

Hi Sue, I agree with you except that tledford has been in Rome before and has not been in Venice. Her parents sound like they are just happy to be going on the trip and don't seem to have any particular suggestions except for her mother's request to see the countryside of Tuscany which tledford has arranged. And her mother and daughter would like to see Florence which has also been taken into considertion.

The daughter will have a lifetime to return to Italy. Having a "taste of Rome" will whet her appetite I am sure.

tledford stated in her opinion she would just as soon skip Florence but is going there for the sake of the other family members.

I thought that tledford who is doing all the work planning this trip is entitled to the 4 nights and 3 full days in Venice as this seems to me what she is most interested in. And that sure is not an overabundance of time in beautiful Venice. Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

Skip Florence and spend more time in Rome. Plenty of art and shopping there. Saves bag drags and allows you to get the trip off to a good start.

tledford, I agree with LoveItaly, I think you have planned your itinerary very well. Would it be nice to have more time in Rome? Of course! But your itinerary shows thought given to everyone's desires. And I do think after flying from the West Coast that the additional trip to Florence would be SO long.

Obviously, it would be a lot cheaper to take the bus to Siena and San Gimignano, but having used a private driver myself last month, I highly recommend it, especially with your parents. I stayed in cheaper hotels so I could afford it with my arthritic knees.

We have travelled a lot with my parents and they sound like yours, agreeable to do anything! The only thing is, don't assume this will be their last trip to Europe! Two years ago, my at that time 80-year-old mother and I spent 11 nights in London & Paris and had a great time, and both my parents have joined us on trips to Florida and Mexico in the last six or seven years.

Have a great trip!

You have had much advice...here's mine. I would take off some off Venice and spend it it in Florence. Or split it between Roma and Florence.

The idea of a driver to Siena, etc. is a good one; although you can do it by bus. Given your parents' age, it would be more comfortable for all of you.

(BTW, I am your parent's age,so this is not a slam on age. We took the bus to Siena and back, but with the numbers of you, a driver would be good, I think.)

Read the book 'Bruneslleschi's Dome' before you go to Florence, if not, also, 'The Autobiography of Benvenito Cellini'.
Have a wonderful trip.

Oops...I think it iw...Brunelleschi...not sure.

Hi Loveitaly. It was this sentence that stood out for me: "This will likely be my parents last European trip, and they like the idea of at least seeing a bit of Rome. But if it is going to make the trip one big blur, it isn't worth it."

And I thought, Rome really needs two full days, especially for those not possibly going back, and especially for those who have just arrived from a long plane journey.

But I agree, tledford has worked hard on his/her itinerary, and besides, just look at the responses, some say Venice rules, others Florence, me Rome....In the end what matters is that it's Italy, and really, how can one go wrong?
Salut! (now, where's that wine glass icon when I need it...)

I really enjoyed reading all the responses to my question- it really helped to get the feedback.

I will definitely get a driver in Florence; as the tour guide it will give me time to relax. My mom has arthritis, too, so that will make it easier on her.


I still wish I could fly into Florence and not move around so much. It helped to get some feedback that the itinerary looks like it will work. I'll probably just leave it as it is.

I'll write a trip report when I get back.

Florence is my least favorite of Italy's big three. Unless you are a really huge fan of Renaissance art and architecture (I'm not), it is a rather unpleasant city overall.

Unfortunately, I've had to visit Florence several times, and I dislike it more each visit. If you must experience Renaissance art, then one day in Florence would be plenty--unless you are a Renaissance groupie.

On the other hand, I love Rome. Rome also has tons of Renaissance art and architecture if that's your interest, but, unlike Florence, it has layer upon layer of historical sights, art, and architecture covering just about every important European historical period and artistic movement for over 2,000 years. In addition, the major sights are more spread out in Rome, so you don't get the massive glob of tourists concentrated in a relatively small area as you frequently do in Florence. Though this might not be as much an issue in early April.

Some people love Florence, and that's great. But it doesn't resonate with everyone.

Certainly don't take a day away from Venice. With only 3 days, you will only be able to catch the highlights. We had 4-1/2 days on our first visit and didn't have time to see several major sights.