Hello:
We will be in Rome the same time you are. If this is your first trip to Rome, three days is not enough time to enjoy the city. We took a day trip to Florence from Rome and got to do a lot in 1 day.
We will also be in Sorrento the same time you are, but staying 9 days, using Sorrento as a base so we can take in as much of southern Italy as possible. I also wanted to take a trip to Sicily, but you need to spend the night to get it all in and I really am not aware of any way you can budget that within the restraints you have listed. With the Euro 30% stronger than the dollar, everything is going to be expensive this year.
Good luck....

Just remember...you are going at the HEIGHT of the tourist season. CRODS beyond your imagination! I personally think you are trying to cram WAY too much into too short a time. You don't seem to realize the VAST amt. of travel time it takes to get to and from these cities. Try to limit your # of cities. You should enjoy a few cities either north or south of Rome and include four days to see the highlights of Rome. Don't try and see this country in less than three weeks. You'll be disappointed and frustrated!

I think it would be difficult to tackle Sicily even if you eliminated another stop or two. We are planning our 6th trip to Italy and are going to Sicily for the first time. There is so much to see and so much territory to cover that we need at least 10 days. If Sicily is a deal breaker for your TC, why don't you consider part of the trip together and part on your own. However,
I really think Sicily could be saved for a later trip after you have seen Florence, Rome, Venice, etc.

Checking in and out of hotels takes time. Is there a reason you are changing from Sorrento to Amalfi? They are only 20 miles apart.

topping for Livi because I'm insterested in the replies and different people's tolerance for slow or fast-paced travel...

I appreciate everyone's feedback. My friend has decided to go with my plan after a night on her own to try and plan it out. =). As for how much time in each city, it's funny because no matter what schedule I list, I'm either alotting too much time in some places or not enough. It's her second trip and my first. I'm not big into museums even though I'm a teacher and she doesn't have to see them all either so I thought seeing parts of each city is better than getting "museumed" out. My plans are very flexible in that we are staying in hostels that only requiring 24 hours notice to cancel. We can redo the schedule while there or we can do day trips out of the cities we are staying at if we get bored. If there's not enough time, Amalfi will be cut (we were strongly encouraged by a mutual friend who goes everyyear to stay in a particularly place in Amalfi for the night thus why we are doing it that way). I'm sure the itinerary is not perfect but I doubt one ever is. I just like to have a base game plan in case we get there and there is no place to stay. As for the peak season, we can't help that being teachers, it's the only time we can get off of work. =). Thanks again for all of your comments and feedback. I appreciate them greatly. NOw, if any of you could possibly suggest a fairly cheap yet respectable place to stay in Cinque Terre, I would be greatful. I refuse to stay at the hostel there, Cinque Terre Holidays as I've heard terrible things about it.

livi360
If you want to stay just outside the Cinque Terre park, the hostel in Levanto looked okay from the outside...I stayed in a hotel (the Europa) in Levanto 3 years ago and really liked being in that town. Most of the other tourists were Italian and German, which was interesting. It's just a few minutes by train into the Cinque Terre, or a long hike.

If you are interested and can't find the hostel information, let me know and I can probably find it for you. Again, didn't stay there but it looked ok.

t

Wow! what great feedback you have here Livi! I have been planning a May trip to Firenze &CT for the past wk. or so, and have come to the realization that cinque terre is about body to body at almost all times of the year now, but especially in the summer. You may be better served to take those days and put them into Florence, Rome and Venice, and their environs. Ever been on a popular hikng trail where all you see is the butt end of the person in front of you, and in front of them, and in front of them once again, and on & on? Well, CT sounds like it could be like Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite in the summer, or Bright Angel Trail at night in the Grand Canyon... I wouldstrongly suggest slowing down, staying longer in fewer places and really being absorbed by your surroundings...BUT, all 1st trips are spectacular!! Yours will be too...!