My wife and I, very active senior citizens (70 yrs young) are spending 19 days in Italy starting Feb 20, 2001 with Grand Circle Travel Agency. We are and have been very pleased with GCT for past 7 trips we have made with them. This time we will have some free time on our own and would surely appreciate any recommendations or advise or comments (both good and bad) about the following itenary: lst day in Rome; 2 days in Sorrento; motor coach to Amalfi Coast and Pompeii; l full day free in Sorrento; one day in Naples; drive to Montecatini - l day there and then drive to Florence for two days; l day in Pisa back to Montecantini then 3 days in Rome. We have specific questions about probably weather; crowded sites/events (Sistene Chapel; Assisi; etc). As usual, we have always had GREAT luck from Fodors and am naturally looking forward to your comments. THANKS LOADS...

Brad, I have been to Italy twice in the past two years. You will love it!! I stayed in Montecatini in May and would like to suggest that while you are there, that you take the tram up to Montecatini Alta. It is the "old town" of Montecatini and is wonderful. The view at sunset are oustanding, and the cafes superb. We ate most of our dinners there and had one great meal after another. Very local foods, the waiter even sat at our table for a bit and told us about his Tuscan favorites. Each time after that, when we would walk among the cafes, it was like seeing an old friend. He would wave and he would tease us about our attempts to speak Italian to him. Wonderful memories. Thank you for allowing me to share them with you. Rome is sparkling this year. We spent 5 days there and can't wait to return. I don't imagine the crowds will be bad at all. Bring a good map!! Have a wonderful trip!!

You might consider a spa treatment while you are in Montecatini. My daughter had a mud bath while we were there in August and she said it was wonderful. There were also men there. I didn't schedule one for myself and since we were only there for the afternoon did not have the opportunity to have one. I am sorry I missed it.

Thanks to both Nancy and Sherry. Both comments are certainly welcome and will seriously consider doing all you have recommended. Again, Fodors people are the GREATEST. Brad

Hi Brad - we were in Sorrento in late February/99. That was a La Nina year which apparently was cooler than usual. Daytime highs reached 60 degrees F. Rome was cooler - 50F. <BR> <BR>Re the Sistine Chapel. We got there half an hour before opening (8:30am at that time) which put us about 50th in line. We were pressed for time as we were flying out that day so we proceeded directly to the Sistine Chapel where we spent about an hour - for the first half hour there were only 20 people there! It was marvellous. <BR> <BR>Have a lovely holiday. <BR> <BR>

Brad: we went to Vatican M and Sisitine <BR>C. on a Fri. mid Oct.; arrived 11:30 and no crowds to speak of, so no wait. If time permits, try to make advance reservations and see the Borghese Museums and Gardens. You will not regret it. Afterwards, you might like to stroll the Via Veneto and look in all the shops and perhaps eat in one of the glassed-in sidewalk restaurants the line the streets. You might consider getting a copy of City Secrets: Rome for some ideas of the not so touristy things to see and do. Enjoy; Rome is a fabalous city!