Italy on a budget - time and funds needed for this trip?
 

I'm going to frame this up as loosely as possible. My husband and I are trying to see if Italy is doable for us in the next year or two.

A little background on how we travel. We like to see highlights of the cities we're in - we don't like to go to every museum and look at every item in those museums - just give us the highlights. If a destination is truly skippable, then we'll skip it or be happy spending a few hours or only a day there. We don't mind driving or traveling to get where we need to be and don't mind staying one night at each stop. We've even battled through a full day of jetlag to get one destination out of the way in the past.

In Italy, from what I've read, we would like to see the highlights of Rome and Venice and maybe Florence. Would like to see the leaning tower before it collapses. Would love to visit Cinque Terre. I think Tuscany would be nice to drive through and spend a day or two. And I'd love to get down to the Amalfi coast for some beach time as well.

My questions for you all are,
1. How many days would you recommend for a trip like this?
2. How much should we budget each day?
3. What are the cheapest (while still being clean and comfortable) places to stay?
4. What can we truly skip and what are the highlights we shouldn't miss?
5. How should we travel from place to place?
6. When is off-season and will that save us some money?

Thanks.

Hi Y,

You haven't given us much to work with.

>...we would like to see the highlights of Rome and Venice and maybe Florence. Would like to see the leaning tower before it collapses. Would love to visit Cinque Terre. I think Tuscany would be nice to drive through and spend a day or two. And I'd love to get down to the Amalfi coast for some beach time as well.<

My questions for you all are,
1. How many days would you recommend for a trip like this?

Rome 3 days, Florence 4 days (includes Pisa), Venice 3 days, CT 2 days, AC 3 days, Tuscany 3 days - and that is pushing it and you won't see very much and you will remember less.

2. How much should we budget each day?

What's your usual bar bill?

3. What are the cheapest (while still being clean and comfortable) places to stay?

In florence, I can recommend the B&B Peterson. www.bedinflorence.it

4. What can we truly skip and what are the highlights we shouldn't miss?

Impossible to answer.

5. How should we travel from place to place?

By train and car

6. When is off-season and will that save us some money?

August is low hotel rates, but higher air fares. April and Oct are good.

You might find this thread helpful:

Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

After you have done some research on what you would like to do, when you would like to do it, and how long you will be in Italy, bring us a draft itinerary and we will be happy to help you refine it.

Enjoy your research.

((I))

Well, considering the big 3, CT and Tuscany, you would need at least 2 weeks, and even at that, it's a lot of moving around.

Rome deserves at least 3 full days, and that would just be scratching the surface of the highlights (there are just so many). Any other major area I think deserves at least 2 full days. You also have to consider travel and hotel check in/getting settle time. You can pick a central location in the tuscany area and take day trips FLorence, Pisa and some other towns.

Nothing is skippable in Italy in my opinion, so that's a tough call. I think you have to come up with a time frame and then from there look at the logistics of it all.

Much also depends on the time of year. The amalfi coat may not be as desirable in the middle of the winter, yet a high priority in the warm weather.

Whatever you do, if you want to do multi-cities, consider an open-jaw air ticket, they tend to be priced very similar to round trips, and make things more convenient when travelling around a country.

Budget is tricky, but there is definitely a wide range a decent lodging and restuarant at all prices. Also the prices vary depending on the season.

I suggest you narrow this to a tiem of year, time frame, and a reasonable itinerary for that timesframe.

From there people can help you with hotels and dining within a budget.

Keep in mind though, that Sugust may have the lowest hotel rates, but it's also very hot, and very crowded. Most Europeans are on vacation then.

Yale, you probably think you've given us background, and you have, just not enough. I, too, would suggest that you do a little research - I often start by getting Eyewitness guides, or any other book that has lots of pictures, from the local library.

What's a highlight to you - museums, art, sculpture, buildings, leaning towers?

Ira has given you the best answers already, but here's some additional input.

1. How many days would you recommend for a trip like this?

Rome 3 days, Florence 4 days (includes Pisa), Venice 3 days, CT 2 days, AC 3 days, Tuscany 3 days. This is what Ira said; I would generally agree, but remember this includes travel time. To, for example, travel to the Cinque Terre from just about anywhere else will take you about half a day, so your 2 days in the CT would be 1 1/2 days.

Also, the places you name are quite spread out, from the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy to the CT in northwestern Italy. If you think you might be back, I would strongly suggest that you visit only northern Italy (let's say, Venice, Florence, and the CT, and possibly Tuscany as well), and save Rome and the Amalfi Coast (and maybe more Tuscany) for the next time. Then you won't spend so much time traveling from place to place.

2. How much should we budget each day?

We're not budget travelers (any longer), though we're also not out to break the bank. I can't help much here, except to say that if you eat a stand-up breakfast of coffee and a pastry at an Italian bar, then a picnic lunch or pizza, it'll keep your costs down as well as being delicious.

3. What are the cheapest (while still being clean and comfortable) places to stay?

See my answer above.

4. What can we truly skip and what are the highlights we shouldn't miss?

Personally, I would give the leaning tower a miss (even though we visited it); it's just a tower on an angle, and there's not much else in the area for a first-time visitor to Italy who's trying to fit so much else in.

You'll be able to better answer this for yourself after doing more research. You may decide that Michelangelo's "David" is a must-see for you, while the Uffizi is not so important. Or you may want to spend more time in Rome on the ancient ruins, and less time on art treasures (I wouldn't miss the Borghese Museum in Rome, because I love the sculptures, but not everybody would rate it so high.) Guidebooks like Fodor's and Frommer's have lists of the "top 10" in various cities; that should give you most peoples' ideas of what's most important.

5. How should we travel from place to place?

Combination of train and car is the best. If you can fly open-jaws, that's the most efficient. To go between big cities, if you're not planning to visit anything in between, train is the best. And if you're going to rent a car (the best way to get to places in Tuscany and to the Cinque Terre), try to do it on your way out of a big city. The last thing you want is to have to deal with a rental car while you're in Florence, Rome or Venice, where you don't need a car at all.

6. When is off-season and will that save us some money?

Ok, maybe I was too broad. We aren't museum crawlers. We like to see the famous stuff (e.g when you go to New York - Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, etc.), take some pictures, learn a bit of the history, eat some great local food and move on. I know some people on this board are going to look down on that description and I'm sure there's lots more to see, but it's just how we are.

And I want your recommendations on what you think are the not to miss items. I have done some research but appreciate your thoughts as people that I know have been to Italy more than me, which is never.

I was hoping to not have to list what I think are some of the highlights (those things that I think everyone who travels to Italy for the first time must want to see), but here goes (I’m sure you all have other recommendations, but again, we are looking for highlights). Don’t worry about time when you respond – just looking to keep moving and doing this as economically as possible.

Rome
Coliseum
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain
Church of Santa Maria - Mouth of truth
St. Peter’s
Sistine Chapel

Venice
Gondola ride
Ponte di Rialto
Others that I may be missing?

Florence (4 days here seems so long to me)
The Academy to see Michelangelo’s David
Others that I may be missing?

Leaning tower – someone said this is skippable – that’s fine

You aren't planning to see Italy; you're planning to see a list of things that you have seen mentioned everywhere.

The Mouth of Truth at the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin is something people normally go out of their way to see on their fourth or fifth visit. If you visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum is just across the street. The Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain are within walking distance of Rome's loveliest square, the Piazza Navona. St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel (which is in the Vatican Museums) is about half a day.

Venice: You've never heard of St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace or the most beautiful square in Europe, the Piazza San Marco?

Florence: What about the Duomo, one of the greatest buildings of the early Renaissance, and its Baptistery? The Uffizi is one of the most important museums in the world, but you don't like museums, so OK, skip it.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is not going to fall down any time soon; it recently underwent a process of restabilization that lasted several years. It's skippable, unless you see it as part of a beautiful complex that includes the Cathedral and the Baptistery. But you haven't heard of them, so skip it.

So give Venice and Florence 1 1/2 days each, stretch Rome to 2 1/2 days, drive through Tuscany in 1 day (most people spend anywhere from 3 days to a week there...). You can spend 3 days each (including travel time of at least 1/2 day) fighting the crowds in the Cinque Terre and on the Amalfi Coast (which, incidentally, does not have beaches; it's a rocky shore).

Then you can go home and tell everyone you've seen Italy.

Please do not miss the Frari Church in Venice, it is stunning and a treasure. I found it even more impressive than St. Mark's Basilica. You would also likely enjoy the Secret Itineraries tour of the Doge's Palace. It lasts about an hour and is interesting and entertaining. Not too long so that you'd get bored, but it gives you the highlights of Venetian history and shows off some areas of the Doge's Palace that are off limits to the general public.

It sounds like 1 month would be good for what you want to see:
1 travel day
5 Rome
1 Pisa
3 Florence
5 Venice
3 CT
5 Tuscany
5 Amalfi Coast
1 travel day

Not necessarily in that order.

Winter is off season, summer high season, spring/fall in between.

A combination of train and car rental.

Get Rick Steves book on Italy 2006. He has itineraries that usually involve short stays in major cities which you might find helpful. He also includes budget accomodation and restaurants. Overall his books are geared to first time Europe travellers. Many of the travellers on this board, myself included, enjoy lingering in Europe as much as possible to soak up the culture and ambience rather than simply seeing the sights.

After reading your second post, here's my second suggestion...

Skipping the country side you could really scale back and speed up the trip and keep expenses low. Fly into Rome, stay 3 days, train to Florence stay 1 day, train to Venice stay 3 days, fly home. One week total.

Although overview trips can be fun they are exhausting. As is adjusting to a new language and culture.Plan on a couple resting places where you can just hang out and relax as well as see something on your list.
We did this in Tuscany while recovering from jet lag.We leased a car and proceeded from Milano south to Genova, on to Tuscany (San Gimignano is wonderful,as is Sienna, Pisa was ok) then to Rome. Stayed there 3 days but wish we had had more time...the Amalfi coast was beautiful to behold(even in November--off season) then across to the Adriatic side and up up up to Venice.
See what grabs you and stay there more days. Sometimes you get better rates at B&Bs when you just show up (with cash) in the evening.
In any event do more research and see what you think would really be IT for you in all the places you mention. Get a good map and start estimating time and distance. We had 16 days.I wouldn't go with less if I had a say in it.More is better.
Good luck!

Eloise,

Thanks for your sarcasm. That's why I hate posting on this forum sometimes. Honesty (about not being a museum crawler on this occasion) can almost always guarantee a remark like yours.

Unfortunately we can't afford to go back to Italy year after year. It may be 20 years before we get back. I'm sorry that I'd like to see the famous stuff this time around, but I don't know when or if I'll ever get back.

That said, thank you for pointing out some of the things I may not have known we should see. That's the kind of information I am looking for... along with the most economical forms of transportation and accomodations.

Would you consider an organized tour for some of part of the trip? Because I believe they can manage to cover more ground in less time seeing more famous places than you can do independently, often at a reasonable price.

I agree with suze. An organized tour might best meet your needs. If not, try the Rick Steves books. He's not a favourite on this site but we used his recommendations for Italy last May for budget accomodation, restaurants, museum hightlights, etc., and we had a great time. I would recommend you use Eyewitness or Fodors books as well for more indepth planning. And this site can be great too but you have to have a tough skin!

Thank you Suze and Lily. I will look into those.

Some initial research on this site seemed to indicate tour packages are pricier than doing it yourself. I am open to recommendations though.

This site strongly leans towards do-it-yourself-ers maybe is why you have that impression?

Certainly it depends on the kind of tour company you choose to use and their level of ammenities and prices vs. planning on your own. With a tour you'd know up front your expenses but on your own you'd have more control as you went along as far as type of hotel, how much you choose to move around, where you want to save or spend money. But it's alot more work to put the trip together.

My suggestion for a tour came more in response to your wanting to see lots of well known places at a fast pace, so my thought was more for the logistics of the thing as much as budget considerations.

Hi Yale,


First, because of the flight expense/jet lag, I can't imagine you would want to go unless you can manage at least 10 days. The itinerary you mentioned really merits a month, but we've never been able to manage that much time. This year, we'll be there for 10 days (but we have free flights) and only move once, between Venice and Rome. We find every move costs at least 1/2 - 1 full day on route (though the journeys can be nice too).

My suggestion is plan for a budget of $350 per day for a couple (lodging ~ 160 Euro) and food and sightseeing (95 Euro each on average). EXPENSIVE tours like Context Rome will cost more than 95 E per day (doesn't sound like your cup of tea) but days in the parks, walking will be less; EXPENSIVE restaurants with wine will cost more. Obviously you could go WAY higher and POSSIBLY cheaper in youth hostels or truly budget hotels or convents, but this is about half our budget for our family of four for our upcoming trip (we have to spend double what you would because the teenagers will need a separate room and eat like adults). Our hotels are not 5* but get rave reviews: i.e. La Calcina in Venice, Daphne Inn in Rome. Transportation is extra, souvenirs extra.

So, $350 x N = Between $3500 (10 days) and $10,500 (30 days) plus transportation and souvenirs...I'd prune the itinerary depending on what your budget is....either according to what makes sense geographically or the places you've dreamed of seeing most!

Oops, better make that 350 E x N days or my scheme won't work...

I have used the Rick Steves Italy book extensively and have always had luck with the hotels. I've had mixed results with the restaurants. The books do a GREAT job of giving you a taste of every city, hitting the high points and making recommendations on what to see when you don't have much time.

Yale, anything is doable if you really want to do it. Look into packages for airfare and hotel to find a deal. Some airlines have great packages and will allow you to be quite flexible. You really cannot beat some of them and if you get a fantastic deal ( mostly in the off season), you have only to worry about the incidentals. It will take research to discover entry fees and public transportation costs, but it is not difficult. There are always good inexpensive restaurants in every city - or buy food at the local store or deli or street vendor. The point is that you will not starve. I cannot tell you what to skip - you really need to determine what you want to see then make your budget. There are so many great things you can see not enclosed in museums and best of all they will not strain your budget.

I enjoy reading the journals of travellers that can give me specific facts, (rkkwan, for example) ie.how much is the ticket, what bus do I take and where is it located. Those things help me save time and that is a valuable resource on vacation.

Hi Yale,

I have read your original post, and all the ones that followed. Ignore the ugly.

Almost six years ago I took my first trip to Italy, and I was on a tight budget. These are the things that helped me save money:

1) Staying in hotels that are out of the city limits a bit drastically reduced the cost. Some hotels have complimentary shuttles that get you into the city, you may take the bus, or if a taxi. Even with the fee of a taxi, I saved a considerable amount of money.

2) It is not difficult to find a good meal for a fair price in Italy. I always do my research before I go, and then ask the hotel I am staying with for their recs.

3) Watch the airfares from your city of departure constantly. You will then know what the norm is for your area. Buy when you think it is low, when it is within your budget, and don't look back. Fly open jaw (into one city and out of another) this will save you the expense of training back to your point of origin, and it will save you valuable time. Open jaw tickets used to be quite a bit more expensive, they now can be about the same price as a regular ticket.

4) Italy is one breath taking moment after another. That was my souvenir. I had no desire the first time to purchase anything except some small sketches that to me were priceless.

5) Start saving now, it is amazing how much you can put away!

6) Trust me, while there you can budget accordingly, I came home with $500.

7) Do go, and do enjoy!

:) Tiff

1. How many days would you recommend for a trip like this?
10 days because it will take you at least a day to get there from the US.
2. How much should we budget each day?
100-120 Euros a Night for B&B's. Try venere.com. and 80-100 for Food & Other Expenses. If you take guided tours they are more expensive.
3. What are the cheapest (while still being clean and comfortable) places to stay?
B&B's or Apt Rentals.
4. What can we truly skip and what are the highlights we shouldn't miss?
You can skip Pisa, Amalfi coast (for your first visit) and Cinque Terre. Just hit the main three, Rome, Florence and Venice
5. How should we travel from place to place?
Either by Train or Rent a car. If you rent a standard car it isn't that expensive.
6. When is off-season and will that save us some money?
Off Season is Winter. Fall is very busy and October rates are still high. Your better off going in the Winter or Spring but the weather will be iffy.

The best way to get to Italy cheaply is via London or Paris. These are cheap gateway cities. Fly from wherever you are to London and then take a low cost carrier to your first city. You can then take the train or a car to your next 2-3 cities and fly back on a low cost carrier to London and then back home. The open-jaw flight will save your lots of time and money. Try Ryanair.com and Easyjet.com.

Planning a trip to Italy in May...trying to figure out what to do in a short period of time. Is it reasonable to think we could do the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and possibly the Mausoeum of Augustus in 1 day?? Has anyone been to the Baths of Caracalla?

yale - I'm no expert in travelling to Italy (maybe expert in researching though) because I'm planning myself, but reading your questions makes me suggest the following based on what I've came upon. Base yourself in Rome for a week in an affordable apartment where you can plan at least plan one meal a day, pack picnics and stock snacks and water, etc. Maybe pick another city (Venice or Sorrento) and find an apartment where you can take day trips from there. Buy a train pass if your day trips surpass the cost of point to point train tickets. Research previous threads with "budget" in the titles. Do google searches to find out admission costs and passes that combine several entrance fees. Go just before, or just after peak season.

I, too, think you should get Rick Steves book. They fit your style of travelling very well and will give you enough information to figure out what would be of interest to you. He does focus on the kind of regional highlights that I think you'll find helpful. Really. And he gears it to budget trravelling, so you will get good information on where to stay, too. Although my style of travelling isn't quite like yours, I've found his books helpful in providing an outline for my own plans.
Paule

I've never been quite as "fast" a traveler as you are, and I've slowed down even more after several trips, but I do understand what you are asking for and don't think there is anything wrong with that travel style if that's what you like. Certainly all the tour group people do it all the time. I personally hate tour groups and would definitly suggest you NOT do that. Sounds like you are independent enough to do it on your own, and it will be MUCH less expensive.

Ira's 18 day plan is just about right but if you really need to shave some time off I think you could get by with:

Rome 2 nights (if you skip the Vactican, other wise you will need three). In two days you can see all the things on your list. Be sure to spend time in Piazza Navona).

Florence - I spent 6 nights there and didn't feel I had enough, but I know some people who have seen the highlights in 2 nights. If you are trying to shave time skip Pisa. It's not going to fall down and it looks exactly like all the pictures you've seen of it. Nothing in Italy has disappointed me, but if I had to pick something, Pisa would be it. I'm glad I went, but it wasn't on my first trip and I had plenty of time.

Venice - 3 nights. You don't need to do any museums to have a wonderful experience in Venice. Just wander around. Obviously Piazza San Marco, the Grand Canal, the little canals, and there are some wonderful small churches with great art in them (same is true for Florence - small churches with art at least as fabulous as that found in museums).

Those three can be done by train. To see much of Tuscany you need a car. For two people it's a toss up if renting a car or doing the whole thing by train would be cheaper. You have to price it out. But if you decide against a car you could do Orvieto and Siena easily by train and day trips to San Gimignano, etc. It's just a different experience and most people prefer to do it with a car. If you do get a car for the whole trip remember to factor in the cost of parking in the cities.

CT can be seen with one full day.

Hotel prices are definitly cheaper in July and August than in May, June, Sept and Oct. By a lot! I've been to Italy three times in July and will do it again. I stay away from August because I guess I believe all the stories about how crowded it get in August. July wasn't too bad.

I've had no trouble finding double rooms in nice, clean hotels and pensions for under €100. Start with Venere.com, itwg.com, et. The biggest money saver is food. Eat pizza (this is Italy!) and lots of picnic meals. And when you do go to restaurants only get the pasta. Even my husband who is a big eater was usually satisfied with just a plate of pasta. Fill up on gelato. With breakfast included in the room rate, we easily eat for under €50 a day for two. Obviously, you can also easily spend three times that.

Slow travel can be wonderful - there's a whole web site devoted to it. But there is nothing wrong with a "highlights" trip either - you will very likely decide there are places you want to return to.

re: what not to miss. You have some good detailed advice here! More thoughts:

Venice -- don't miss wandering around for hours soaking up the atmosphere. Listen to the sound of the water lapping, look at the amazing colors of the buildings, watch the Venetians going about their business. Early morning and late at night are magical. In addition to sights others have mentioned, I like the church of Santa Maria della Salute for its amazing location on the mouth of the Grand Canal.

Rome -- Nightime is great. Walk around (Rick Steves has a good night walk of Rome in his guidebook) and check out the lit-up monuments and fountains and all the other people, Romans and tourists, who are out. Eat in a cafe that catches your fancy. Have a nightcap or an espresso or a gelato in the Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori or any other bustling piazza.

By the way, the Mouth of Truth (not open at night) is not that out-of-the way, so go there if you loved "Roman Holiday" and want to take a photo with your hand in the mouth. (I did!) As for churches, San Clemente is one of my favorites -- a church built on top on an ancient temple. Layers of history!

Don't miss the Sistine Chapel. If you aren't interested in all the other art in the Vatican museums, go anyway, and just walk through everything and then spend as much time as possible looking at the ceiling. A small pair of binoculars comes in handy. Try and nab a seat on the side of the chapel and just enjoy!

Florence -- even if you aren't a museum fan, you can easily see David (and the Slaves/prisoners). Walk around to see David from all angles, sit or lean against the wall and soak it all in, watch the art students sketch...truly a memorable experience. I love art, but at the Uffizi I still beeline to what I want to see. I plan it out ahead with a museum map (again, Rick Steves is helpful here) and head to what I like. If you're not sure, head for the Botticelli rooms.

Pisa -- One visit years ago for one afternoon was enough, but I am glad I did it. Friends I met up with on my last trip this past year had never been to Italy and the husband really wanted to see the tower. They spent a night in Pisa and had a great time. If it symbolizes Italy to you, then go.

re: time and money. Two weeks, three if you can swing it. Start researching places to stay now so you can get an idea of prices.

Someone mentioned eating standing at the bar/counter to save money. I agree, and usually inside is cheaper than outside, so choose your outdoor cafe meals for times you can linger and enjoy. Don't forget the old bread/cheese/fruit picnic lunch, either. You absolutely don't have to eat three sit-down meals a day. Pizza by the slice and other cheap options for a quick cheap meal are there; you just have to look for them!

You've gotten some great advice and I, too, think Rick Steves' Italy guide (and maybe his overview books "Europe Through the Back Door" and "Europe 101") would be good to help plan your style of trip.

I'll second that I've been pretty happy with his hotel recommendations - the descriptions are right on so you know what you're getting, and the locations are generally prime. The restaurants he lists have not impressed.

I agree that if you can't do 3 weeks, you need to skip some of the more far-flung places. I did Rome, Siena and Venice in 12 days and felt it was just right, FWIW.

Ditto San Clemente Church in Rome.
In Venice, we love spending the evening in San Marco Piazza listening to the "dueling" orchestras, usually 3. You can buy an expensive drink and sit at a table in front of one of the orchestras, or better yet, skip the drink and wander around the piazza from one orchestra to the other for free.

Thanks to all for your very helpful responses. I'll post again when I have my itinerary in order.

Yale,
I just came across your post and wanted to tell you not to be discouraged by some of the posts. In September 2004 my DH and I did a trip similar to the one it sounds like you are considering and it was fabulous!! We were in Italy for 9 days and it was a complete whirlwind but so amazing.

Here was the breakdown of our trip:
2 1/2 days in Rome. Saw all the major highlights: Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basicila, Borghese Gallery, Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colloseum, Roman Forum, etc. I'm sure we saw other things too, but I'm not remembering them right now. In addition, we wandered around side streets, did some shopping, sat in little outdoor cafes sipping wine, enjoyed incredible meals etc. In Rome, we stayed at the Hotel Smeraldo for 120 euro a night. Its a great location right by the campo di fiori.

Cinque Terre for 1 1/2 days. We took the train to the Cinque Terre from Rome(we left in the morning and were there by noon). We stayed in Vernazza for 2 nights in a room for rent in a woman's home for 80 euro. That first afternoon we hung out on the beach, drank wine, watched the sunset and had an amazing dinner right on the water. The second day we did the hike to 4 of the 5 towns (we didn't go to Monterosso because it was the other direction). The hike was incredible. Beautiful scenery and it was fun to see all the towns. We stopped for a drink, focaccia and the best grapes we've ever had in Corniglia. Had another amazing dinner and sunset that night.

2 1/2 days in Florence. Took the train through Pisa to Florence and were there by early afternoon. We had to change trains in Pisa and were planning on taking a cab or bus to the leaning tower but there was a train strike that day and the train schedule was very uncertain so we didn't know when the next train would be and we didn't want to miss it. But, you could definitely see the leaning tower this way. In Florence, we stayed at a hotel right in the heart of the city for 100 euro. We saw the Borgello Gallery (I think this is what its called), the Uffizi, Accademia-definitely don't miss the David, the Duomo, the open air market, ponte vecchio, Piazelle Michaelangelo, lots of cool piazzas, ate amazing gelato and even better food.

2 1/2 days in Venice. Took the train from Florence to Venice. Left around noon and got to Venice by late afternoon. We stayed at a cool B&B right by the Accademia in Dosudoro. We had a room with a view of the Grand Canal for 120 euro. In venice, we saw San Marco's piazza and Basilica, took the boat to Murano, went to the Jewish Ghetto, the Jewish Museum, and wandered a lot down little side canals. By the time we got to Venice, we were pretty burnt out so we mostly sat in cafes and wandered down little side streets. We discovered many cool out of the way places.

I know that this itinerary isn't for everyone, but it is definitely doable. We were like you, we wanted to see everything we could possibly see and not break the bank. Most of our hotels served breakfast and we'd get something on the go for lunch. For dinner, we'd splurge for a nice meal. Beleive it or not, we did have time in each city to explore some side streets, to wander and just relax. We weren't sure when we'd be back so we wanted to pack as much in as we could. We used Rick Steves' Italy book and he seemed to fit our travel style really well. All of the hotel recommendations were exactly as he described them. We found that September was a great time to travel. The weather was still great and it didn't feel very crowded. In general, I think that September is a great time to travel.

Sorry, this kind of ended up as a trip review, but I wanted to let you know what we did and that it was an amazing experience, and definitely worth it.

Have fun planning!! :)

It's hard to find budget accomodation in Venice thats actually in the city - but here is a nice place to stay that gets good reviews. It's 50 -55 euro / night for a double and right next to the train station.
http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/italy/venice/7495/

We used to travel for 14-17 days but as a manager I am having a harder time getting away from the office for a longer vacation.

Travel is my true passion in life and I believe that when given the chance you have to pack a little more into a shorter time frame in order to see the highlights...just don't make the mistake of not leaving time to savour the places you choose...this is the main fault of many bus tours. We are planning a 10 night trip in May and will spend 1 night in Orvieto (day of arrival drive from Rome to Orvieto), 2 nights in San Gimmy visiting Siena enroute, 3 nights in Montalcino, 3 nights Spoleto Umbria, last night Rome. We are not budget travelers..usually 3 star hotels or B&B. We managed to stay within an average cost of 100.00 Euros per night...larger cities like Rome, Venice and Florence will cost a little more while smaller centers like CT you can sometimes luck out. Venere is a good site and we also found many of our hotel recommendations on the www.slowtrav.com. We usually budget another 100.00 Euros per day for food and sightseeing (excluding transportation and gas). Some days you'll be under because your traveling and it will help to even out those days where you may spend a little more for a sightseeing tour. We usually do a picnic lunch, slice of pizza, Panni sandwich etc and will have a dinner out...not 5 star dining but usually a nice local trattoria establishment. Leave a buffer as you will likely go over budget. Amalfi is quite costly and really is going to add travel time to your holiday plan. If you are going to CT, I would skip Amalfi.

My plan for your trip would be:
Fly into Rome and spend a minimum of 3 nights (4 would be better if you think you will never return as St. Peter's and the Vatican will chew up one full day and you really do not want to skimp on time here).

Train from Rome to La Spezia in CT and continue to one of the Five Towns -spend 3 nights

Train from La Spezia to Pisa (stop for a few hours) continue on to Florence.
2 nights in Florence would be plenty for me...Duomo, David, Boboli Gardens. Uffizi was not my bag but if you really like Renaissance Art you will need to make time..a half a day.
I would perhaps do a side trip from Florence to Siena and San Gimagnano to see a taste of Tuscan Hilltowns and either stay in one of the two or stay in Florence for an extra 2 nights and do a side trip or two.

Florence to Venice on train. Stay 3 nights in Venice...do not miss the Doges Palace..very interesting. Venice is great to just wander around. Fly out from Venice.

That would be approximately two week holiday. You may want to look at the cost of a Italian rail pass and compare point to point tickets as well. The cost of rail in Italy is very cheap in comparison to other countries. The Eurostar trains are great and you will need to make a reservation for those trains. The trains in the CT were not exactly run with precision as far as time schedules go so be patient.

Air travel can be a very costly depending on the season...April/Early May or October would be slightly lower as would hotels...but it is not low season.

Rick Steves gives some good advice on lower cost accommodations. I believe for a two week hoiday you are looking at approximately $6000 or more. Can it be done for less...probably if you cut out some restaurant meals in the evening and select a few key museums.