First timer...jumping around Italy...help
 

Hello. I am going to Italy on September 20th. My itinerary is the following with questions: Fly into Naples and going straight to Capri on the hydrofoil--has anyone heard anything about the the following hotels? Caesar Augustus,Flora or Relais Maresca? staying for 2 nights then taking the train to Rome and staying 3 nights there. Then going to Florence for 3 days and then to Venice for a day.

Can anyone reccommend a decent inexpensive hotel in Rome and Venice. Also, should I purchase train tickets in advance or is it as easy to get it there? Is there a any type of discount in purchasing train tickets for multiple visits?

Any tips and recommendations are greatly appreciated! Thanks a bunch.

If you only have one day for Venice, save it for your next trip. Venice is one of the worst places in Europe for a one day visit. Partly due to the geography of the city and sight locations, and partly to the herding instincts of the daytrippers.

We will be in Capri on the 19th and staying at the Relais Maresca. My travel agent recommended it but I haven't been there myself.

As for Venice, it's great but I agree with the previous post about accesibility. If you plan to spend a longer time there I recommned the Hotel American. It was nice and reasonable.

Thank you for your feedback. I am flying out of Venice so stuck there for a day. Tips for the most of Venice in a day would be great.

Cindy- did your travel agent mention any other hotels that I asked about? If you feel your travel agent is "GREAT" and trust them do you mind forwwarding me thier number so I can inquire? Thanks in advance and the feedback is very helpful.

Any tips regarding buying train tickets before getting to Italy or just get them there when I am ready to leave?....

HMY - In my opinion, if you have only a day in Venice, stick to the San Marco, San Polo, and (if you have time) the Dorsoduro areas. Get a good guide book and hit only the must sees, but leave yourself time for strolling and enjoying the atmosphere, as well.

We bought our train tickets once in Italy (with a couple days to spare) and had no problems. I was a bit "iffy" about it, but the members of this board put my mind at ease.

You can also do a text search here for "Veince" or "Venice in one day" and you will probably come up with a lot of ideas to use.

Good luck and have a great trip!

I was just in Italy for the first time in late June. If you can, change it to 2 night FLorence, 2 nights Venice. In Florence check out the Hotel Dali (hoteldali.com). In Venice we stayed at Hotel Galleria (hotelgalleria.it) right on the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro area with the water taxi right nearby. I live in a big city and would pick more time in Venice over Florence if given the chance. You can hit the major sites in Florence in a day or two. Lots of cement, big city but amazing art. Venice is unique! Enjoy!
(as I always say, our favorite part of our whole trip was renting a car and spending time in Tuscany, do that some day!)

Hi
I agree with e_roz. You would be doing yourself a disservice to spend only one night in Venice.

How about cutting a night off Rome &/or Florence?? That would give you 2-3 days to be "stuck" (LOL!) in Venice. It is an amazing place and hard to describe the magic I feel there.

My itinerary suggestion is simply to wander around. San Marco, Rialto Bridge, L'Acadamia, the amazing maze that is central Venice. Ride a vaporetto on the Grand Canal, drink wine and eat lunch in an interesting cafe.