Hello,
My wife and I have booked our flights to Italy for Sept 2011 (flying into Rome, out of Milan 12 days later). A rough schedule is as follows:

Rome: 4 days
Florence: 2 days
Venice: 4 days
Milan: 2 days

As I’m beginning to research hotels/apartments and sites to see, I was hoping for any advice that might help me navigate the sea of information for these cities. I’ve used sites such as VRBO before, with good results, and wondered if that’s the best way to go for these cities. Or, due to the abundance of hotels/B&Bs, would it be best to forget apartments and the worry that comes with handing over money before seeing a private residence? We are looking for clean, less costly places…luxury isn’t a priority. I plan to read forum threads and reviews to find places to eat/stay/visit…unless directed to a better method.

Trains seem easy enough. From Rick S’s website, it looks cheapest to buy point-to-point tickets from kiosks without reservations. Is that assumption correct?

Soccer fans: we’d really like to see a match, either in Milan or Rome (pending match schedules). Any advice for securing tickets and attending?

I know it’s difficult to give advice to strangers, but any help would be greatly appreciated. A little about us: we are very excited for this trip as we’ve never been to Europe. We are young, active (ie. walking long distances is enjoyable), and wanting to see/do lots and save relaxation for another trip. We recently visited NYC and loved it (didn’t find it too dirty, crowded, rude, ect). Thank you much.

After 16 trips to Italy, my best advice is ot include a non-city destination. Perhaps rural Tuscany or Lago Como.

We were curious about a doing that but figured we'd tackle the big cities first. I'll look into both of those places and see if we can add one to our trip. Thanks.

My husband and I and another couple are planning a similar trip for May 2011, with a few variations. I've always found the apartments I needed on www.homelidays.com for France and Italy. You may want to try their site, but it all depends on your needs--do you plan to cook, or want to wash clothes in your apartment? Then, an apartment may be the better deal than a hotel room. Or, you could mix up hotel and apartment stays.

As for the trains, we've never had a problem with buying point-to-point tickets in the 20 years we've travelled in Europe. Just be prepared (in case the kiosks are out of service) to go directly to the ticket agents.

I agree with Bob, that it would be a good idea to include some countryside destinations. We are renting a car from Rome, then driving through Tuscany, staying just outside of Florence and catching a train into the city. Then off to Venice, and then to Lake Maggiore for the last leg, driving or training into Milan for day trips.

Oops! I meant to add that we have 18 days, so we would not be as rushed. Also, we have been to Venice and Milan/Lake Maggiore several times, so we will not be spending as much time there as Rome and Florence/Tuscany.

abs004: You are covering Italy's greatest hits in these cities (although you're a bit short on the rural charm). There is a lot to see in both Venice and Florence, but unless you have particular reasons for doing so, it wouldn't hurt to give each of them three days. Apartment rentals may not be feasible for short stays, so I think you're best staying with hotels/B&Bs. I think your strategy of finding information about places to stay/eat/visit on the forum is a good one.

We've been very happy with the Alimandi in Rome. It's a stone's throw from the Vatican, has reasonable rates (140-150 euros), and has a bit of a quiet neighborhood feel that's absent in some of the hotels in busier areas. Also they will pick you up at the airport. You'll have to walk a ways to get to the Forum, Pantheon, Campo di Fiori (among the many places you shouldn't miss), but you'll see a lot on the way. Two wonderful places to dine in Rome are Ditirambo (Campo di Fiori) and Dar Poeta, a pizzeria in Trastevere. Dar Poeta has little more than pizza, but it's wonderful pizza, and the neighborhood is certainly lively at night. Ditirambo has been, in our experience, the equal of many fancier restaurants in the quality of food, but it's casual and not high priced.

Similarly, avoiding the immediate San Marco area in Venice for accommodations will also give you a bit more neighborhood feel (although it's questionable how many parts of Venice are populated by native Venetians these days). We loved being in Santa Croce, and it wasn't too far to San Marco. It's easy to get lost in Venice's tangle of streets, but you'll invariably find signs pointing to the train station or San Marco, so you'll get where you're going sooner or later, but the charm is in the wandering,

Two restaurant suggestions in Venice (also including a pizzeria; neither expensive) are La Zucca and Ae Oche (the pizzeria). Both are in the Santa Croce/San Polo area.

I can't give you advice about attending a soccer match. We've seen a lot of soccer on TV in Italy because we've been there during the playing of the World Cup and the European Cup (we seem to get there in even numbered years), and it's great fun to watch those with the locals, who are certainly enthusiastic about the game. I'm sure the atmosphere will be even more passionate at an actual match.

We've spent a fair bit of time in Florence, but we've always done so by daytripping in from nearby towns in Tuscany (where we've rented apartments). I'm sure you'll get other suggestions for Florence hotels and Milan hotels, where weve stayed only in an airport Novotel at Linate (had to make an early flight) that was convenient but rather antiseptic in the manner of most airport hotels.

Enjoy your trip and post specific questions after you do more research.

Thank you all for the replies. Midnightsun, great info and if I wasn't already looking forward to the food, I sure am now! I'll start researching smaller towns around Florence, as well as other rural day trip ideas, as they sound like excellent ideas. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions...thanks again.

Wow that is going to be great, sounds like you will be very busy, I am interested in seeing how it all turns out. Have fun! I am soon planning a trip myself and find this site extremely valuable in my research Thanks to all!

Will be a great trip, We travelled Italy in 2007 but used a car so we could stop at the little towns so we could see more than just the cities.
Just some ideas to consider.
Rome
We stayed at Accademia hotel on Piazza Accademia di San Luca which is very close to the Trevi Fountain, we found location very good for walking most places and used underground to get the otherside of town. Great restaurants very close to hotel.
Venice
We arrived by train, short walk 100m or less and then on to water bus on Grand Canel and stayed at Savoia & Jolanda at 4187 Riva Degli Schiavoni, great hotel, close to St Marks Square and all the activities.

Consider staying in at least one small town in Tascany, we stayed at Greve (haert of wine country).
We also at Hotel Subasio In Assisi, both great locations and interesting, but I think you would need a car.
Check other towns out that you can get to by train if you stay with that form of transport.
KiwiPete

Another question: our trip is set for Sept 2011. When should we have apartment/hotel reservations made by? I'd like to do quite a bit more research but I'd hate to make it more difficult to book rooms because I waited too long. Is there a rule of thumb for when reservations should be completed? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks.

We've used this apartment in Venice on two occasions, and it works well for us. I'm not sure if a very short stay is possible, but for four nights, it may be available.

http://realvenicevacationflats.com/

Apartments need to be rented longer ahead of time than hotels, especially in the high season. There are fewer apartments than hotels rooms. And it's hard to find apartments with equal facilities for 2 couples. Usually they're set up for families.

Maybe for this first-time trip with its relatively short stops just stick to hotels. Then you have somebody to answer questions and recommend restaurants.

We at this forum don't have any problem at all giving advice to strangers -- as you can see from your quick replies.

Accommodations: You probably could find an apt. for 4 days, but as Mimar points out, for a first trip, it helps to have the guidance offered at a hotel. If you do want to look at apartments in Venice, we used venicerentals.com, and it worked out well for us.

If you decide to modify your plans and take a tour of Tuscany, be aware that many people here (including me) have used Luca at hillsandroads.com as a guide. Very reliable and helpful, and speaks excellent English.

Re:

Rome: 4 days
Florence: 2 days
Venice: 4 days
Milan: 2 days

The plan is sound. Ignore advice to go to the countryside. There are many reasons. You don't have time for that. It's hard to rent a car for fewer than 3 days. Driving is very expensive and a real headache. If you haven't been to Europe before, you have no idea how much more difficult it is to drive there. Very narrow, windy twisty one-way streets, no street signs, etc etc. Oh, yeah, then there's Italian drivers. In contrast, it's very easy to go from city to city by train as you plan. Get on the train, drink coffee, relax. Beats driving by a long shot. Stick with the train as much as possible.

While your plan sounds good, you might tweak it a bit. Cut out Milan and add a night in Siena (1 hour bus ride from Florence) and add a day in Florence so that you can take the train to Pisa (1 hour by hour.) You could also easily slice a day off Venice. If you are arriving in Rome, the jet lag will kill a day, so you might want to add a day there. There are numerous close day trips such as Orvieto, Ostia, Tivoli, etc.

abs400,

I beg to differ with hornet's opinion of driving! I've driven in the countryside and absolutely loved it! Once completely solo. No problem. I would NOT attempt to drive in the major cities.

abs004, Congrats on your first trip to Italy! I'd stick with your original plan because you ONLY have 12 days... and the less time spent getting from point A to point B the better!

Based on the towns you're headed to, you will not need a car. Just take the trains (http://tinyurl.com/riding-trains) - next trip, after you've been acclimated to Italy, you can drive through Tuscany. The good news is... you'll come back! Everyone does - It's how we ended up moving to Italy!

You're correct, the P2P tickets will be cheapest for the three legs you'll be riding. See this link for more info on buying tickets through the kiosks: http://tinyurl.com/buy-train-tickets . For you, 2nd class tickets will be fine - but if you want to slurge, read this on the difference between 1st and 2nd class tickets: http://tinyurl.com/1st-or-2nd

Your timing looks okay. You're not going to be able to see everyhting - so SLOW down and see what you see! Four days in Rome is certainly not enough to "see all the sites." We've lived in Rome for three years and still have more than 100 places to see on out lists! Here my Italian friends always tell me, "piano, piano." (Slow Down!).

Because you are only 2 days in a few spots, you may be limited in getting an apartment. Many have 3 day minimums - and September is peak period. You may find yourself opting out for B&B'sor hotels - which, based on how often you will be moving, is probably okay! I often used www.venere.com for our bookings throughout Europe (also www.booking.com). Venere has good options on different sections of town.

You should look at pre-booking "The Last Supper" a few months before your departure. That's often quite a limited ticket in Milan. Also, the Teatro alla Scala is incredible... Check out their website (http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/index.html) as the Opera House will probably be more impressive than any opera you'll see! We've pre-purchased tickets on one occasion - and on another, bought discounted tickets the day of the show. But often it is sold out! I loved Milan (many people do not), although it does a vastly different feel than any of the other cities on your list.

As far as futbol, you can buy tickets at local distributors or online. The season starts in August so there should be games each weekend in Rome (Lazio and Roma share the same stadium alternating Sundays) and opposite weekends in Milan. Go to the teams' websites to see what matches will coincide with your dates in each city. Again, most games are on Sundays... but I've been to a couple mid-week games.

When you go to buy tickets take your PASSPORT. When you go to the game, take your PASSPORT. You must have ID to purchase the tickets (and you're not EU, so take the passport). At the match they will verify you are the person who "purchased" the tickets, so again, you MUST have ID (your passport).

Tickets range in prices from €15 and up. Going to a futbol match is an incredible way to spend the day. I'm a Roma fan so I've been to a few of their matches at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Unfortunately, AC Milan tickets versus any Rome team are usually SOLD OUT well in advance.

As it's your first time to Europe and to Italy, be careful and aware of your surroundings. Italy is quite safe but there are many pickpockets (certainly in Rome)! This link may giver you some insight into arriving at FCO and what to expect: http://tinyurl.com/FCO-arrive

Since it's your first time - again, slow down and enjoy the experience! You will be back... we all come back... some of us to live in Italy!!! Good Luck!

More excellent advice. I was thinking that we would hit the major cities for our first trip, and the countryside for later trips. Given what I've read so far, it seems quite likely that we'll want to return in the future. Rineurope, great info on the soccer matches (and we'll be sure to say "futbol" when in Italy )...thanks much! Thank you all for the information and I look forward to reading more on this forum (and I'm sure I'll be back with additional questions).

Your plan looks good, but I would personally take one night from Milan and add it to Florence. You can day-trip to the Tuscan countryside from Florence, if you want.

Here are some little hotels I can personally recommend:

Rome, The Domus Julia
Florence, Relais Cavalcanti
Venice, Hotel Riva

All are small-ish hotels, very charming, well-located, good values.

Have fun planning your trip. Italy is awesome!