I have been planning a 22 day trip to Italy for nearly 2 months.I have communicated with the very knowledable Foderites such as Ira,Patrick,Intrepid,Loveitaly,Tex,Rex, these are just a few who come to mind, well you get my point.Bless all, and thanks is not enough so your all invited to come .I only wish.lol.Now that flights and hotels are booked cars are rented etc. what is next?Should I go back to the citys that are my homebase and start booking sidetrips.I have information on tourguides that do the Vatican ,walking tours etc. Or do I wait until I arrive .I know some places I should book in advance. How can I get the major sights online? Google the citys names? I'm almost finished and must say its been alot of work but also alot of fun, well kind of in a quirky way. Thanks again.

I had all my guides lined up before leaving home--what a joy. I never had to "find" anyone, never worried about the cost (had already paid or negotiated), had already read the reviews of each, had the times fixed....We used Vatican Tours and Beyond in Rome (including scavi/5 hour Vatican)/Pompeii/Naples Museum/Florence and were very happy. We used Parmagolosa in Parma for wonderful food tour. Do yourself a favor, take the time to do it now, not when you are in a strange city.

I would look at your trip on a calendar, and pick the days you would like to have set and the days you would like to have free. Book your tours. Make your museum reservations. Leave your side trips for when you get there. Have an idea where you would like to go i.e. - I am statying in Rome, and thinking of going to Pompeii one day and Orvieto another (whatever - just using examples) Have all the information on who and where to go and call, and have your transportation alternatives lined up, and be ready to play it by ear.

On my first trip, I booked up every minute and wound up cancelling some booked tours. Decide which are musts, and which are maybes - your hotel can help you with the last minute maybes.

Things like Vatican Museum tours and the Uffizi in Florence, definitely book now.

Context Rome is the best! (www.contextrome.com)

I have lots of sites bookmarked, if you want to be more specific about what you are looking for.

Have a wonderful, wonderful trip!

Have a great trip, lil.

Hi there lilminkey, it sounds like you have done an excellent job of sorting out your trip to Italy, good for you. It is a lot of work and wellworth it.

I agree with FareDolce, do leave yourself enough time to have "free time". Don't book every hour of every day. And I am sure you had no intention to. Italy has so many beautiful sites but even the Italians have not seen all of them. And for sure you will take another trip to Italy. Part of the fun in Italy is just sitting in an outdoor cafe in a wonderful piazza, enjoying a drink of some kind or a meal and observing the Italian life. And having time to just stroll various neighborhoods without any concern of getting somewhere or what time it is can be a joy.

BTW, googling the various places you will be visiting should be informative and fun, if you have the time.

I wish you a beautiful trip!

Thank you for your kindness,I am going to start my planning ,such as the vatican museum certain walking tours etc,it makes sense to me.I still have 10 weeks before we leave,and loveitaly it does make alot of sense to sit somewhere,relax,and soak it up! I"m really getting excited.