I'm completely new to travel and I'm currently planning a trip to Italy for early summer 2008. I hate to be I go to Italy. That being said, I want to do it all. I'd love to do Rome, Venice, Florence and Tuscany but I'm not sure if that's too much. I really have no idea where to start with planning this trip and I don't know how long I should expect to stay to cover these 4 cities (I was thinking 10-12 days). I would love any and all suggestions for getting started in planning this trip. Thanks so much!!

The first place you will want to start is with a guide book so you can determine roughly what sites you want to see and then determine how long you think would be good to see them. I might cut out one of the cities if I were you.

Not sure what this means:I hate to be I go to Italy.

In 10-12 days you can have a very nice trip to Italy, including all 4 locations you mention. Longer allows you more time, of course, so if you can swing 2 full weeks all the better.

In 10d

4 nights Rome
2-3 nights Venice
3-4 nights Florence.

That would make a very nice trip if that's all you can manage. Many will tell you that's too much moving around, but I've seen (and done) worse myself.

If you wish you can do a day trip from Florence to Siena, or an organized trip to Chianti area, etc, but you don't have enough time to explore Tuscany or spend the time to soak in the charm & relax. For 10days I recommend staying just in Florence as opposed to somewhere else in Tuscany, as you'll burn 1/2 day every time you change hotels.

If you add 2-4 days, then you can tack on one night in Rome, spend 3 nights in Venice, and/or spend a few days somewhere in Tuscany.

To minimize backtracking many people recommend flying an open-jaw ticket. Into one city and out of another. I'm assuming you are coming from the US. You can fly non-stop from JFK to Venice, then out of Rome back to JFK, as one example.

You should also know your total budget in US dollars right away and convert that to Euros. That way you can understand what you daily budget will be for hotels, food, museum costs, trains etc..

I think three cities, Venice, Florence, and Rome, is about all you can do in 12 days. Bear in mind that the first day is pretty much a waste and that you'll spend two more half days in internal travel in Italy assuming you fly back to the US from your last city. Also, I suggest starting your trip as early in the summer as possible to avoid heat and crowds. Finally, and this may not be to your taste, my wife and I derived a lot of benefit from reading about Roman history and art before our trips to Italy.

I truly appreciate all the suggestions I have gotten.

vjpblovesitaly: I should have proofread what I wrote...I meant to say "I hate to be negative, but I might only go to Italy once." I have no idea what I was typing

For all you helpers out there, is it best to book my airplane first and then search from there?

J62: Thanks for the ideas. I was planning to fly into Rome and out of Venice (seems to be cheapest).

Do you recommend driving in between these cities? Or is there a train that works just as well (and perhaps a bit less stressful)?

Do NOT drive between the cities! The train is the most efficient and direct way of travelling between cities.

A car in any of these cities is a headache; parking is difficult, and getting in and out of the cities is stressful. So, no question, use the train.

In 10 - 12 days, the Big 3 (Rome, Florence, Venice) makes the most sense. Tuscany is a region, not a city. You could take a one-day busride from Florence to Siena, which would take you through the region and allow you to see the countryside.

If you were in Italy for longer - or you really wanted to stay in one of the towns of Tuscany, you could add a stop. Then I would consider renting a car for the area; you could pick up the car in one city, keep it while you drive through Tuscany, and drop it off in another city.

I love all 3 cities, and am usually of the mind that it's not good to try to do too much, but I think you would enjoy a couple of days in the Tuscan countryside. Still, I wouldn't do it if I were there for only 10 days (12-14 days, on the other hand....). Either way, you'll have a great time.
Paule

I am planning a similar trip for early May 08. I thought I would have 10 days and had planned on 3 in Venice, 3 in Florence and 4 in Rome. I just got word that some ff seats I was waiting for opened up but it means adding on 2 extra days. I decided to go for it and now have to decide how to use them. I'm thinking one extra day in Florence (with a side trip in Tuscany for a day) and one extrra day in Rome, making it 3(V), 4(F), 5(R). Also feeling overwhelmed but allowing lots of time to plan. Keeping notes on all suggestions so keep them coming!

Jeangail: I'm overwhelmed, too. In another posting, someone responded saying the train is totally the way to go...which has also been stressed here on this posting, too. The website for it is: www.trenitalia.com

I think 12 days is probably the most ideal and I like the idea of 3V, 4F (to allow for a day trip to Siena) and 5R...

<i>...is it best to book my airplane first and then search from there?</i>&lt;P&gt;

Not necessarily. It's way early, so you have several months to research for hotels and tourist sites. I like to start with hotels. By reading others' trip reports I start absorbing information about locations, landmarks and what to see. I also get guide books from the library to get an idea what I want to see. Sometimes my library even has good movies. There was one we particularly enjoyed...it was about how they build those Venice palazzos on the water (an A&amp;E productions, I believe).

Start watching airfares. As we get farther into winter, you may see some sales for your dates, but don't count on it. I'm guessing your best time to buy will be in Jan/Feb time range.

ooops, hit that darn button too soon.

Consider flying into Venice, out of Rome. The flights to the U.S. leave Venice outrageously early (6:15 am or so). There have been many discussion here on Fodors about the difficulty and/or expense of getting a water taxi that time of morning.
Flight times out of Rome are usually pretty good.

Thanks, that's incredibly helpful. I always get nervous that the flight prices will go higher, so I was planning to book the flights soon. But, I will trust more experienced travelers and keep waiting!

also, don't sweat the train stuff.

There is no need to even think about it again till next June at the earliest, so put that aside and focus your fun on what you're looking forward to.

If you are staying in Venice, Florence and Rome, then there is no need to even consider a car. Train is cheaper, faster, and easier for all 3 cities.

I booked travel for this past July in Feb, and booked apartments and hotels in March and April and did not have any trouble. The 'best' apartments may have been sold out but there was a good selection available.

I did my air first since I am using frequent flyer miles. I am flying into Venice and home from Rome, both non-stop to and from JFK at very good times. Besides being overwhelmed with how much information there is, I am shocked at the hotel prices. I went to France last year and paid half of what I am being quoted in Italy. I have reserved a hotel in Venice but am still looking for places in Florence and Rome. I would like to stay in the 300 euro range, especially now that I am adding 2 days. I ended up going higher in Venice but can't do that for 12 days.
After driving around France last year I promised my husband we would do just trains in Italy so that is how we will get around.

Not all flights leave Venice at the crack of dawn. Depends where your flying to. Delta has a non-stop to Kennedy (NY) that leaves at 10:30AM, although it was 3 hours late the day we flew and we were told by someone who flies this route often that it is amost always behind schedule.

We did Rome, Florence and Venice in that order and loved it! Venice is a lot more relaxing than Rome and we enjoyed ending our trip that way. We traveled between cities on train and it was simple with all the info available on this site.

Get a few god guide books and start reading the many wonderful trip reports that include these areas to begin to gather ideas and collect information about sites to see, places to stay, and restaurants. If you're interested in my report on Rome, Florence, and Venice, just click on my name and look for &quot;My first (and probably last&quot; Taste of Donkey...&quot; Have fun planning!

Hi teacher,

You've had pretty good advice so far. I'll definitely second progol's comment about driving. Between Venice and Florence, a Eurostar train's traveling at about 150 km/hr and tops-out at 260 km/hr between Florence and Rome. I'm betting that you can't drive that fast.
I think your 3V, 4F and 5R combination's not bad. Being partial to Florence myself, I'd swap the timeframes between Florence and Rome but that's me. Jetlag day in Venice with some mooching about in the first afternoon sounds about right.
Read-up and ask questions of the regulars here. There's a ton to see and do over there and I sincerely doubt that this'll be your only trip to Italy once you come back and realise just how enjoyable it is.

HTH
k

Follow-up:

As much as circumstances permit for you, reserve everything, whatever it might be. Vatican Museum, SCAVI Tour, Uffizi, Basillica San Marco, what have you. I didn't reserve on the Vatican Museum and there was the most halaciously long line that moved at a donkey's pace that I resolved to never have that happen again.

Thank you to all of you for your suggestions. It's so helpful!! I'll keep pickin all your brains for help