We are taking our family to Rome for thanksgiving and planning a day trip to Florence. Should we take a walking tour or can we accomplish this tour ourselves. Are reservations necessary for David at this time of the year.

DeniseQ - Hi.

I've been to Florence a couple of times and both times I have done all my touring on my own with my travel companion. I think you can easily achieve a good tour on your own with a good guide book and a map - and then you can see things at your own pace, linger longer at the places you enjoy - move on at those you don't find so interesting. A good guide book should give you interesting facts about a place that should make it more "alive" for you. Other than that most of the main places of interest have their own tours that are conducted every half hour/hour or so and you can join these as you get to each place.

It is a lot of fun just to grab your map and wander around, get a bit lost, you'll "discover" your own interesting places.

I don't think you'll need to reserve to see the statue of David, nor anything for that matter. The key really to the galleries is get there early particularly the Uffizi where the line ups can be gross.

Thanks for the insentive to do our own touring, any advice on weather in late Nov for Rome and Florence. I am hoping the the lines for David will be short and I will have time to see the Pitti Palace. Resturant suggestions for a moderate price would be appreciated.

You should have no problem getting into to see David at the Accademia. When we were there one November, we walked right in.

I was in Florence for three weeks last november and no reservations were needed anywhere. It is the time of year that the italians visit their own museums, less foreign tourists and maybe it made it even more interesting so think you will enjoy it 'out of season'.

I've been in both Rome and Florence for Thanksgiving a number of times. Rome will have moderate autumn temperates--think leather jacket, perhaps adding gloves if it gets chillier. Florence can be the same or much colder, depending on weather patterns. Last Thanksgiving in both cities I wore a leather jacket over a shirt, with the jacket open most of the time. The last few days I added gloves and zipped the jacket. DO be prepared for rain. As others have said, we walked right in to every museum, even the Vatican, with no line. It's a wonderful time of year for tourist sites.

CALL the museums before you get on the train to Florence. The Accademia (where David is) or any other must-sees in Italy can close unexpectedly at any time of the year for no apparent reason. I was in Florence last year in December, and David just happened to be on strike on a particularly nice (weather-wise)day(hmm... wonder if there's a connection there).

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. Does anyone have a favorite resturant to suggest for dinner. A moderately priced one since Mom and Dad are picking up the tab for this entire trip for their adult chrilren. Lunch suggestions also. Thanks