Could anyone help us out with a realistic itinerary. If we can afford a 3 week journey, could we do WEEK 1: Greece/Islands , WEEK 2: Southern Italy, and WEEK 3: Northern Italy? We are going May 1.

We would like to get a good blend of city culture and landscape. We love islands and beaches, countryside and mountains. We are travelling on a small budget so we don't mind making lodging sacrifices. (ie. hostels, B&B's in smaller towns, etc.)

Make a long story short, Can anyone suggest where we MUST GO in this short time and a suggested route. We could also use some help with cheap places to stay or to homebase from.

Finally, I need a good map to plan this itinerary out on. Is there a certain European map that anyone recommends.

Again, thanks for all the great help and advice.

Hi ss,

I use www.multimap.com

To get started, try the miniguides to Greece and Italy at www.fodors.com.

When you say "southern Italy" do you mean Sicily and the area around the toe and heel of the boot or Naples and the Amalfi Coast?

Your proposed itinerary is perfectly reasonable.

Also see
Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

Thanks for the info ira.

In response to "When you say "southern Italy" do you mean Sicily and the area around the toe and heel of the boot or Naples and the Amalfi Coast?"

I'm not sure I guess. I was thinking Naples and Amalfi coast. I haven't read much on Sicily and the far south. What would you recommend?

soulseven, a hint for posting since you seem to be new...

I noticed you posted the same message an hour apart, probably because no one responded the first time. A better tactic would be to "top" your previous message by adding another entry like "please, anyone have an idea?" or such.

This way there would be only one message for you to check for answers and a real discussion could be generated among posters.

Click on your screen name at the top of the page to bring up all your old messages.

Hope this helps.

Sorry, I know nothing about Greece. Also "must go" is relative, especially for me.

Hi SS,

I haven't been there yet, but many people have fallen in love with Sicily. Molto Mario loves Puglia.

We loved Naples and the AC. See my trip report

Ira?s Trip Report
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

and

Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

The Penguin map is good because you can see all of Europe on one side.

Online, this one is pretty good, especially if you can print it out on large paper - - http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/europe_ref02.jpg

But maybe what you need is really just a map of Italy. And confine your trip to Italy?

Best wishes,

Rex