Fly into Rome, stay five nights; take a train to Venice, stay four nights, take a train to Florence, stay four or five nights, take a train to Sorrento, stay the rest of the trip there, take day trips to Pompeii, Capri, etc., then take the train back up to Rome, fly to London since you already have the tics. If you can, cut out one day somewhere and stay two nights in London. You can walk through Harrods in a few hours, shopping isnt that great, or you can have tea there. It is alot of trouble to get from the airport to Harrods for one afternoon.<BR>Maybe you can go see a play that evening.

Thanks so much for everyone's help. Looks like I need to start over. <BR><BR>Before I start chopping things off, I'm wondering what it would cost for driver from Positano to Assisi. <BR><BR>(FYI: Our plane tix are into Rome, then out of Venice Day 14 morning to London for the nite. Out of London 11am to LAX.) <BR><BR>I wish the airlines didn't charge so much to change routes/days, or I would.

Maybe you could satisfy those who insist on this silly stop in London to shop at Harrod's to do a later trip to your local mall where you will certainly find as good merchandise but at better prices. What a silly idea to fly to London to shop at Harrods!

Then I would reverse the inten. go to Rome, Positano or Sorrento, up to Florence then to Venice. It would cost alot to take a driver to Assisi from Positano. It is about 100 E just from Naples to Positano for a driver. I would have a meeting with the rest of your group (have any of them traveled like this before?) and explain to them the logistics of trains, transfers, etc. It will be disappointing, but you dont want to be rushing around just to get someplace just to rush around to get ready to leave in a day or so. <BR>You can get Assisi in on a train if you have to, I hope you all can keep your senses of humor during all this rushing around.

Lulu,<BR><BR>I agree with the others who have advised you to add a day in London if you can pare it from your Italian holiday. <BR><BR>While it's not the same as wandering the aisles and food halls, there is a large Harrods duty free shop at LHR where you can grab souvenirs.<BR><BR>You're a trooper for arranging this trip. Hope you have a super time.

The plan for London wasn't just for Harrod's (a couple hrs), but to walk around Knightsbridge where hotel is &amp; get a little feel of London, go out for a nice dinner in London our last night of Europe.

Dont worry, you can do London, too. Just enjoy yourself, your tics are already set so go and have a nice dinner and afternoon in London. Put in Assisi too, if everyone agrees. Just pack really light carryons and you will be freer to run and jump into trains. If you are all in good health, agile you can do the trip as you originally planned it. Dont worry, just dont be rigid.

Okay, how's *this change sound:<BR><BR>Days 1-4: Rome, maybe/not including Orvieto daytrip.<BR><BR>Days 5-6: Train to Naples, car service to Positano.<BR><BR>Days 7-10: Car service Positano back to Naples, 9:30am ES train arrives Florence 1:05pm. *Then if anyone wants, we can decide to daytrip by train early one morning to Assisi.<BR><BR>Days 11-13 Venice<BR>Day 14 London<BR> <BR><BR> <BR>9:30am direct train from Naples to Florence arrives 1:05, gives us 4 nites in Florence, and maybe if anyone's up to it, we can day trip by train to Assisi leaving early one day. <BR>

Oops, kind repeated myself there.

Sounds a lot better. Lulu, keep us up to date about your trip by posting your report when you return. Once you get to Rome or Florence or Venice, you are going to wish you had more time in each! Just relax, walk about, take it in slowly and go back again and again next time. I recommend going to the library and getting acquainted with your destinations by familiarizing yourself via the EYEWITNESS Travel Guides. They are good for learning about the things to see and they are in all color and easy to read. For what is going on in &quot;the scene&quot; Time Out travel guides are really on the money. Each exist for all the cities you are visiting and their environs. If you want to get any more pointers, you can email me. I love talking travel.