Hello,

We are planning our first trip to Italy - 11 days in November. I have read lots of posts and guidebooks but would like to hear opinions on transportation - should we drive or use trains?

We love scenery (photography), hiking, biking, wine tasting, eating and people watching. Of course we'll visit some museums, cathedrals, etc.

Can you also give opinions of what shouldn't be missed (maybe your top 3). Also are there destinations we should eliminate or add?

Thanks for your help!!!

Following is our itinery:
Day 1 To Venice
Day 2 Venice
Day 3 To Florence
Day 4 Florence
Day 5 To Cinque Terre
Day 6 Cinque Terre
Day 7 To Siena
Day 8 Siena
Day 9 To Rome
Day 10 Rome
Day 11 Rome, fly home

Here you go:

Day 1 To Venice
Day 2 Venice
Day 3 Venice
Day 4 Train to Florence
Day 5 Florence
Day 6 Florence - daytrip to Siena
Day 7 Train to Rome
Day 8 Rome
Day 9 Rome
Day 10 Rome
Day 11 Rome, fly home

May I ask? The year 2004 or 2005?

CT will be too cold/rainy in nov.

If possible, it would be nice to add a day in Venice and/or Florence to the revised schedule I posted earlier.

A car in Venice, florence and rome is not needed nor desirable.

Thanks for the response!! - we are going in 2004....

Take the train. Be careful in the train stations. Keep an eye out for any signs about strikes. Sometimes, they have general strikes and the service gets screwed up for one day. These are ususally announced a day or two ahead of time. We were lucky this October not to be travelling on a strike day.

Check out www.trenitalia.com for train times and prices.

I don't think you'll need an entire day in Siena. We stopped in Verona on our way from Venice to Florence. It was okay.

Travel times by train:
Venice to Florence about 2.5 to 3 hours
Florence to Rome about 1.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on which train

Make reservations in advance for the Uffizi and the Accademia in Florence, if you go. Otherwise, it's a 2 to 3 hour wait.

Adnil,
I agree with Degas somewhat...CT might be nasty weather and make that whole diversion a bust. Don't rent a car, you're doing all major cities so no need.

You know what I would do, since you're going in November its low season....go by the seat of your pants, only book first and last night lodging and then wing it, nothing is going to be booked up. Check the weather while you are there then make your plans accordingly...more fun.

Have a great trip.

Hi adnil,

Do you have your airline tickets yet?

Day 1 To Venice
Day 2 Venice
Day 3 Venice
Day 4 To Florence in the late afternoon
Day 5 Florence
Day 6 Day trip to Siena
Day 7 Florence
Day 7 To Orvieto in early afternoon
Day 8 To Rome in late afternoon
Day 9 Rome
Day 10 Rome
Day 11 Rome, fly home

ira, orvieto is a great town, but no fair in creating a second day seven to fit it in!

You are quite right, degas.

Mea culpa.

If you go with the "seat of your pants" idea of not booking accommodations inbetween what I WOULD do is go with some notion of which accommodations you might want to try to get into. Nothing worse than wandering around wondering what the inside of a place is like, etc.

I've been traveling back and forth to Italy for more than 30 years and have yet to hit a train strike..perhaps I've just been lucky.

I would not spend more than one day IN Siena itself (when compared to all there is to see and do in nearby Florence. If this is your FIRST trip to Italy I would concentrate on the places you've already apparently decided that YOU want to see; weather conditions will affect all of these places but since the majority of activity in Cinque Terre seems to be centered on the OUTSIDE, that is the place which would be affected the most by bad weather IMO.