Hi - I need your help! I?m in the very early stages of planning a honeymoon to Italy for 17 nights (May ?04). This will be our first visit to Italy. I?d like to hit the highlights, but not be constantly on the go and have some time to relax. How does the following itinerary sound?

Fly into Milan
Varenna/Lake Como ? 3 nights
Venice ? 3 nights
Florence ? 3 nights
Cinque Terre ? 3 nights
Siena ? 2 nights
Rome ? 3 nights
Fly out of Rome

Do you think we?ll be too rushed trying to fit all this in? If so, what part(s) would you recommend we leave out (or, add to)?

Would you recommend taking the train from city to city throughout the entire trip, or renting a car for certain parts?

Thanks in advance for all your help and feedback!

Mimi

IMHO, I'd reverse the itinerary and put Venice last just because it's such a relaxing city to end a trip to Italy, after all the hustle and bustle of a lot of the other cities. However, others might have better opinions.

Good luck in your plans.....and congrats!

I love it--what a great trip.
One minor change. I would not stay in Siena but day trip there from Florence.
I would use the extra day in Rome. Make the CT your last stop before Rome if you are using trains. Buona fortuna !

Thanks for your feedback! I think I'll take bobthenavigator's suggestion and not stay in Siena, but add 1 day to Florence (for side trips) and 1 to Rome.

I'm also considering renting apartments for part of the trip so that we don't have to eat out every meal. I'm thinking about doing this in Venice, Florence and Rome, but staying in hotels in Varenna/Lake Como and CT. What do you think?

Thanks again for your help!

We just rented apartments in both Florence and Venice and don't think that we'll ever go another route. Privacy, laundry facility, fridge, more space.....the positives are numerous. We overall felt that it really saved us a bundle.

Great idea if you can find a good one for only 3 nites. Look at Villa Olivia in Rome--great location.