Nika,

I agree with adrienne.

Your latest plan looks fine and you'll have a wonderful time. Don't change a thing.

Disregard your travel agent's comments. With the day trips from Florence ( by train or bus, I hope) you will have plenty of nice sightseeing without the burden of moving your accommodations. And there's tons to see in Rome, including day trips to Ostia Antica and Tivoli. This will mean you do not have to rent a car.

I am surprised you are able to change your flights so easily. I hope you get your tickets ASAP to avoid the high cost of last-minute ticketing. Also, I hope you will book your accommodations soon.

I think you are fine -- however the Tuscan countryside is perhaps the most scenic anywhere, and it's a wonderful place to relax. You do need a car however. Myself - I would do two nights in Florence and 2-3 at a farm or small hilltown, just to unwind from the hectic city. From here I would visit vinyards, castles, walk the countryside, and just relax on the patio.

actually i agree with both charnees AND zoots. it all depends what you like to do. if you want to be able to come back to the same place every night, try the different restaurants of Florence, and really get to know the city, go for staying in Florence with day trips.

OTOH, if you like exploring little villages and hill towns, driving, [including up and down those hills] and moving around a bit more, go for the zoots option.

only you know what you like to do best.

I think Cinque Terre is vastly overrated. I much prefer the Tuscan countryside. It's absolutely gorgeous, and very accessible by car to other towns ( Siena) and Florence. If you don't want to have a car, and it's within budget, you can also hire small private companies to take you on day trips or wine tastings.

So if I was going to revamp your itinerary,it would look like this:

Venice: 3 days

Florence: 3 days with a day trip to Pisa/Lucca and San Gimigiano ( there are tour companies that will arrange this for you by bus from Florence)

Radda, Chianti, or Montepulciano: 3 days with day trip to Siena

Rome: 6 days with possible day trip to Orvieto by train

Assuming this in next month, I'm guessing you already have your air flying in to Rome and back from Milan, correct?

I agree, Italy is SO diverse that you will have a great time just sticking to Italy. Looks like you will be flying into Rome, so start there. Give yourself 4 nights, because you will be jet lagged at first, and you ought to take it easy that first night. (or do you already have hotels lined up for any other number of nights?)

You can easily train to either Florence or Venice from there, but if you already have accomodations arranged in Florence, that is fine. Otherwise, I'd suggest 2 nights in Florence and 2 or three nights, WITH A CAR, in Tuscany. You can drive to Venice via Mantua, dropping off your car in Venice. Spend 3 nights in Venice. Train to Lake Como. Spend a couple nights there, then train to MXP and fly home.

However many nights you spend in each destination is up to what you can get at this date.

Oh dear, now i see you have changed your flights. I agree with Adrienne and Charnees. I spent 8 nights in Rome last September and we didn't think it was too much at all. I highly recommend a daytrip to Ostia Antica, if you want to get out of Rome on an easy daytrip.

Thanks so much you guys for everything. I will be sure to "give back" and post anything that's worthy checking out or any gems we stumble upon, after we return. We leave this thursday (yey!) fly into Venice and make our way to Rome, via Florence and La Spezia, then fly home from Rome. We definitely plan to do some day trips, maybe even rent a car and go to Tuscany for a day, as some have recommended - while in Florence. This is our final (lol) itinerary. I will also check out some of ther day trip suggestions posted on this thread. Thanks again!
OCTOBER 12 - Venice - 3 nights
OCTOBER 15 - Florence - 5 NIGHTS OCTOBER
OCTOBER 20 - LA SPEZIA - 3 NIGHTS
OCTOBER 23-29 - Rome - 6 NIGHTS – HOTEL ROSE GARDEN PALACE

Looks good - have a great trip and report back.

I probably would have gone for a less luxurious but more central place in Rome (west of Via del Corso) but you'll be fine at the Rose Garden Palace. Plan on some buses and taxis to save yourself some walking.

huh. Our friends just went to Italy in Aug 2012 and stayed there and loved the hotel. I thought the location was great, but now it seems you're indicating otherwise...? I doubt we can make the change now, but I can look into it. Any specific recommendations (west of Via del Corso)?

It may too late to find a room for 6 nights - or maybe not.

Here are a few to look at - all within walking distance of most sights. Bear in mind that you won't get quite as nice a room for the price as the Rose Garden Palace - you're paying for location with these. That said, the Rose Garden Plaace is not a "Bad" location, you'll need to take some short (10-15 min.) taxi rides, it's just that these are better. Either way, you'll have a good time.

www.residenzacanali.com

www.albergocesari.it/

http://www.hotelgenioroma.it

http://www.hotelteatrodipompeo.it/

http://www.hotelteatropace.com/

There's nothing 'wrong' with the location of the Rose Garden Palace on Via Veneto, but as bardo1 points out you may end up using a few more buses and/or taxis than someone staying farther west.

It's hard to give recommendations without knowing your budget. It may be buried somewhere earlier in this thread, but please re-state.

Coming to this late but I'll add my two bits (Canuck)

As adrienne said

"Do you think that a country bordering Italy will be substantially different?"

Having been to Monaco (because we were staying nearby), I would say that it's a nice place to park your yacht but not really worthy of an out-of-the-way diversion.

"I would use a train between Rome & Florence. After Florence, rent a car and explore Tuscany for a few days, staying at an agriturismo. Return the car, take a train to Venice."

Following up on zootsi's comment, absolutely! Rail between Florence and Rome is like low-level flight without the pat-down. I can't imagine air being worthwhile unless there's a short lay-over with your flight from somewhere else.

As others have pointed out, open-jaw flight is the only way to go in such circumstances. We went Toronto-Paris, Paris-Venice , (Venice-Florence and Florence-Rome by rail) Rome-Amsterdam and Amsterdam-Toronto never retracing steps.

"Before you get to Florence, book your tickets for the Uffizi Gallery so you are not wasting your time in line. Rome deserves at least 4 days...get tickets for the Vatican and Galleria Borghesee(spelling?) ahead of time. One tip about dinning. Usually all you need is to go 2 or 3 blocks away from the main tourist attractions and you will get really good food.

As nana5 advises, I'd second the advice. Uffizi and Borghese advance tickets for sure (and definitely do both; you won't be sorry). And the further away you get from the main tourist thoroughfares, the more memorable you'll find the food and the experience.

"The travel agent sent me a NOTE saying "too many nights in Rome and Florence. I recommend breaking up with country side Tuscany (must have a car)"

The travel agent is perhaps well-meaning but,,,,

If anything, IMHO I'd spend more time in Florence than Rome. But first time out, that's for you to decide which resonates more with you.

"For Florence, our plan was to do some day trips to Pisa, Lucca, Siena, in addition to seeing Florence - which seems like we will have plenty to see/visit (couple days worth for sure)"

Your plan's a good one. Next time we're to Italy, we may well go straight to Florence and spend all our time there. Rome and Florence have a completely different dynamics and it really depends on what appeals most to you.

"This is our final (lol) itinerary. I will also check out some of ther day trip suggestions posted on this thread. Thanks again!
OCTOBER 12 - Venice - 3 nights
OCTOBER 15 - Florence - 5 NIGHTS OCTOBER
OCTOBER 20 - LA SPEZIA - 3 NIGHTS
OCTOBER 23-29 - Rome - 6 NIGHTS – HOTEL ROSE GARDEN PALACE"

Sounds pretty good. While I don't know La Spezia, your schedule sounds balanced enough that you'll know where it is you want to come back to and spend your time for the next time

u

Just back in Rome after 7 nights in Sorrento and would recommend it highly. The peninsular is beautiful, the people are charming and warm and very relaxing. We drove from Florence, but returning to Rome caught the bus which takes just 3 1/2 hours and is direct from Sorrento to Rome for 20 Euros. Nothing could be easier.

Italy is wonderful. Would recommend Verona too. A picture-book town with a lovely ambiance.