We're planning our first trip to Italy this Sept. and will be on the ground for 11 days.
We're landing in Rome and leaving from Rome (no open jaw avialable w/AA awards for landing in Venice). We were thinking of 2 or 3 days in Rome to start, travel around and end up in Rome the last 2 nights. Wife wants to roam around Tuscany and see the Cinque Terre; I want to see Venice and Florence. I don't think we can do it all so something will probably have to go, but what? Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Rome, Venice and Florence would be my choice. From Florence you can take a day tip to Siena and if you rent a car rome around Tuscany a bit.( something for the wife and something for you!)

Hi Doug,

How about:

Fly into Rome and take train to Florence - 2 nights
Train to Venice - 2 nights
Rent car and drive through Tuscany - 4 nights
Drop car in Orvieto in AM, see Orvieto, train to Rome - 2 nights.

See www.trenitalia.com for train schedules, tickets, etc.

See www.autoeurope.com, www.novacarhire.com, www.gemut.com for car rental.

Enjoy your visit.

Not to scare you but depending on your budget, I would get moving on reserving Rome reservations. We're going in September and I'm finding that all of the decent priced Hotels and Residenzas everyone recommends on SlowTravel, Fodors, etc are booked through September. I'm down to 3 hotels and am now looking at B&B's.

I'd consider Ira's itinerary -not alot of backtracking. Similar to what we are doing.

ANother options would be to book a quick flight to Venice upon arrival in Rome, then work your way south from Venice back to Rome with a tuscany/flornec stop in between. I don't htink you have time for CT.

LP & MF,

I agree with both of you. I think CT will be the stop that gets pushed to a future trip. Also, starting the trip in Venice and working our way to Siena/ Orvieto/ Rome is the way to go...literally!
We have a hotel (Marriott Grand Flora) booked in Rome for the last 3 nights so we're covered there, but I see your point about booking hotels now. I just checked a recommended B&B in Florence near the train station and it was sold out for the whole duration of our trip!

Thanks,
Doug

Rome, Florence and Venice are a must. We were there in November. Venice was particularly romantic...misty, high tide...Just as imagined. The entire 11 day trip was fantastic. Rome has quite a lot to see...don't miss anything. We were there 2 full days and could have used another. We did a day trip to Sorrento on day 3. Then on to Florence and Venice.
Tuscany is beautiful and a must.

We are planning our third trip to Italy (Sicily) this coming October.