We will be traveling to Italy in September and have begun planning our trip. Using FF miles on United from West Coast, which means we just about have to fly in and out of Milan. Our tenative agenda works is as follows:<BR>Day 1 Arrive Milan - spend the night to get over jet lag.<BR>Day 2 Travel to Venice by train<BR>Days 3,4,5 Venice<BR>Day 6 Travel to Florence by car<BR>Day 7,8 Florence<BR>Day 9 Travel to Siena by car<BR>Day 10,11 Siena/Tuscany<BR>Day 12 Travel to Rome by train<BR>Days 13,14,15,16 Rome<BR>Day 17 Travel to Cinque Terre by train<BR>Day 18,19 Cinque Terre<BR>Day 20 Travel to Milan by train<BR>Day 21 Return home<BR>We understand that we are not going to see Southern Italy, the Amalfi Coast, etc., but have decided to do that on another trip. Any comments or suggestions on what we have planned.

Sounds good. You are very wise to spend night after arriving and before leaving at Milan and to stay multiple days in the cities. Some try to see too much in too short a time. Me, I would cut out part of it, maybe stay in Florence and take day trips to Siena, etc, although have never done that. Or, save the CinqueTerre partfor next time. But if you are comfortable with traveling around so much, it sounds pretty good.

It looks very, very good. For my money, I would allow a liitle more "rural" time - - maybe at the expense of one less day in Rome or Venice or both.<BR><BR>You'll need to plan your arrival into Florence (by car) carefully - - and think about where you can park. Same for Siena.<BR><BR>Plans for hotels coming along? What ages are you? what budget? Consider Villa San Michele in Fiesole (Florence) if you would entertain a few days' splurge. Still "within the city" as far as city bus service etc. But sits up on a high hill with fantastic views of the city, day and night - - and more moderate temperatures even (known for this, since the days of the Romans).<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Great itinerary. My only suggestion would be to not bother renting a car just to get from Venice to Florence as the Eurostar train is easy. You won't need the car in Florence so you'll either have to park it for two days or will have to hassle turning it in and renting another.

Sounds great. We did a similar trip in reverse, renting a car at the Milan airport and driving into the Cinque Terre (not recommended!!) and then around Tuscany for several days. Turned the car in at Siena, took bus to Florence, train to Venice, train to Milan (we did Rome and the south on a different trip). Thought I'd let you know in case you want to lessen the number of days you have the car. It's great to have a car for driving around Tuscany, but Italy's train and bus system is so good that you don't need it elsewhere in your itinerary (it's a hassle to park, navigate the narrow streets, and read the signs--such as the time I directed my husband, who was driving, into the old center of Siena where cars are forbidden).<BR><BR>I have photos and itinerary info from two Italy trips at http://www.correctedenglish.com.

Dear EAK,<BR><BR>Your trip sounds great - but I would 2nd getting your car at the end of the Florence stay.<BR><BR>As for the Academia (to see David) wait until 5:30 and you'll have a intimate gallery time (non tour bus time).<BR><BR>Enjoy!

Lorraine, I love your web site and have many of the same shots. Why have we not seen it before--great stuff.<BR><BR>EAK, I like your itinerary with small changes. Do not get the car until you leave Florence, and consider training to Venice on day one. Good luck !

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Dear EAK:<BR><BR>Yor agenda looks good- I too think it would be wise to use Eurostar from Venice to Florence, and would recommend an additional day in Florence (day 7,8, 9). Take the bus from Florence to Siena and consider renting a car the day after arriving. Spend one or two nights in Siena, two to three nights based in either Pienza or Montepulciano, exploring Tuscany countryside during the day. You can then drive south and drop the car in Orvieto and take the train to Rome (one and one half hours).<BR>You may want to consider spending the remainder of your time in Rome, allowing for train travel back to Milan for the trip home. Having spent two weeks in September in 2000 in Rome, Flonence, Venice and Tuscany, the trip to the Cinque Terre seems too ambitious...save it for the return trip. Bon Voyage!<BR><BR><BR>

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful comments. After listening to everyone and doing some more research, we have revised our itinerary as follows:<BR>Day 1 Arrive Milan - spend the night<BR>Day 2 Morning train to Venice<BR>Days 3,4&5 Venice<BR>Day 6 Morning train to Florence.<BR>Day 7 Florence<BR>Day 8 Morning train to Siena<BR>Day 9 Siena<BR>Day 10 Rent car - Head into Tuscany<BR>Days 11&12 Tuscany ending in Oriveto<BR>Day 13 Train to Rome<BR>Days 14,15,16,17 Rome<BR>Day 18 Train to Amalfi Coast<BR>Day 19 Amalfi Coast<BR>Day 20 Train to Milan<BR>Day 21 Afternoon flight to States.<BR><BR>We are still filling in exactly where we want to go and what we want to see in Tuscany and Amalfi Coast. What do you think?

You've made a wise choice not driving into Florence. I would consider one revision, which is to spend 2 nights in Siena. Our honeymoon was in many of the places you mention and Siena was our favorite place. If you enjoy wine, do not miss the fortress wine museum. Also go to Panzano & Montalcino, if you hadn't cosidered it. Both are wonderful Tuscan villages. Enjoy! Gregg

Anyone else?

EAK, don't know if you've started planning the Amalfi coast part of trip, but train only goes so far....you need to consider options for reaching Amalfi Coast....train to Naples or other, buses, pvt car or hydrofoil from there. You'll get plenty of help here on the best way to do it to fit your plans.<BR><BR>It's a fair amt of planning for that portion of the trip, is all....heads up!<BR><BR>-Laura-

Try to make it into Volterra, during your Tuscany time. There was a reference here recently from the nytimes about it.<BR>

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Hi EAK:<BR><BR>My comments on your revised itinerary, based on 10 trips to Italy:<BR>1. Try to avoid overnight in Milan. If you arrive in Milan in the morning (usually the case from the west coast) take a train to Venice and crash there the first night.<BR>2. Travel to Rome by car. You could then visit Asissi (sp?), Spoleto, etc. Drop your car off at the rental agency after you check into your hotel. Driving in Rome is an experience, but not much different than downtown LA, San Fran or Manhatten.<BR>3. I don't agree with your addition of the Amalfi coast. Crowds in July will me horrendous, and, as previously mentioned, getting there by train is a logistic nightmare. Suggest an extra day in Tuscany and in Rome. From Rome, you can arrange for a day trip to Pompei and Herculaneum which, IMO, are much more interesting than the small towns on the Amalfi coast.<BR>4. Recommend you use Auto Europe for your rental (www.autoeurope.com). Best rates and great service. Request a diesel; fuel is 25% less, readily available and car performance is as good as gasoline. In July, you will need air conditioning. We have rented a midsize Volkswagen Passat twice and think its a great car for european driving. Be prepared to pay for CDW and theft coverage; required in Italy even with a gold or platinum credit card. Autostradas are the fast way to travel. Tolls average 10 us cents per mile. All the toll stations have express lanes where you can pay by credit card; we have done so with no problems.<BR><BR>Hope this info helps. Have a great trip. You will love Italy.<BR><BR>Ciao, Chet