I thought I finally had Italy figured out....
 

Which one do you think makes more sense? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I think I have the hotels picked... just need to finalize!

Thanks so very much!


Fly JFK to Milan
travel to Lakes
travel to Venice
travel to Florence
travel to Positano
travel to Rome
Fly Rome to JFK

or

Fly JFK to Rome
Stay in Rome
Travel to Florence
Travel to Lakes
Travel to Venice
Travel to Positano
Travel to Rome for a night
Fly out of Rome to JFK

Both are good.

If you haven't been to Italy, then I say start with the North and end in Rome. You start out in the relaxing north and end in the bustle and busyness of Rome.

What month is this for (please)?
Have you thought about starting in Venice?
I hope that you at least two weeks for this.

Have a good trip.

Before making any recommendations, I think it would be helpful if you let us know the total length of your trip and how many days you plan in each location. Why? There's a chance that after reading your schedule, some of us might think you've planned too many stops. (To me, that many stops almost demands a minimum of 2 1/2 to 3 weeks.)

We decided to stay in- unfortunaly cutting out Lakes...

Rome- 3 nights
Florence- 4 nights
Venice--3 nights
Almafi-3 nights

Where should we start... where should we end....

Of the two choices you listed, I think the first one is much better. The second has too much traveling back and forth. Also, the lakes are lovely as restful destination while you recover from jet lag, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go to that area in the middle of a trip. (That is a minority opinion, however.)

I just saw your revised itinerary--looks good. Can you fly to Venice and fly home from Naples, or will that make your flights too expensive?

VitaAnn,

Your plan is a sound one.
But do you what know you want to see and do in Florence. (Why does Florence get the most days?)

For most people jet lag really screws up the first day (yes, there are photos of me sleeping on the top level of a London double decker bus). The first day is almost a lost day.

We hope to go to Amalfi/ Positano someday. Have not been. But we have been to Lake Como and it is beautiful and pleasant, with a relaxed pace. Sorry that you dropped it.

Again, what month are you planning to travel. Rome and south will be warm/hot from late June to Early September (depending on what weather you are used to).

Hi V,

>Rome- 3 nights
Florence- 4 nights
Venice--3 nights
Almafi-3 nights<

You will have a much more relaxed and pleasant trip if you leave the Amalfi Coast for another visit.

I add the nights to Venice and Rome.

I would fly into Venice and out of Rome.

You could put The Lakes back in instead of the AC.

((I))

I agree with Ira. Would it be possible to fly into Rome and out of Milan? That way, you could easily train between Venice-Milan- lakes, then fly home from Milan.

Two full days in Venice is plenty. I'd cut out one night in Venice and add one to Rome.

>Two full days in Venice is plenty. <

For some people. Others of us find new things to see in Venice each time we visit. :)

Not to mention, just liking the city.

((I))

Please allow me to clarify myself: I certainly didn't mean to imply that two days in Venice would do it all. What I meant was that based on VitaAnn's very limited amount of time and what could be a one-shot trip (not everyone has the luxury of traveling to Europe a lot), there is more to see in Rome than in Venice--you can spend 2 days alone at the Vatican.

I'd say two days in Florence are plenty. Add one to Rome and one to Venice.

Here we go again: time in Venice v. time in Florence v. time in Rome. Lakes v. Amalfitano. VitaAnn, you really should figure this part out yourself based on what you want to see/do.

She DID figure this out herself. She posted where she intends to go (Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi area) and how many days based in each location. But now people are posting to tell her to change her selection of places or change the number of days in each according to their own preferences. The way I read it, all she is asking is in what sequence she should stay in each of the four locations she has chosen. If she is able to fly to Venice and fly home from Naples, I'd suggest this sequence: Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi area.

Well, north to south v. south to north. Still her choice, although everyone here will have an opinion.

Everything's her choice, but the part that she asked for suggestions on is the sequence. Here's her last post:

<<We decided to stay in- unfortunaly cutting out Lakes...
Rome- 3 nights
Florence- 4 nights
Venice--3 nights
Almafi-3 nights
Where should we start... where should we end....>>

When you come to an open forum, you're going to get people's opinions on all sorts of stuff.

VitaAnn,

Just to add to the unsolicited advice:

Rome's population is eight times that of Florence and it has (at least) ten times the number of tourist attractions. You might take this into account when planning how many days to spend in each city.