Hi- I'd like to ask for your advice again on my itinery for the upcoming Italy trip in late September 2010 with my friend. This is going to be my first time to visit Italy and I am more than excited! I have 13 days in Italy starting from Rome. So far, we are thinking:
9/19-21 (2 nights)- Rome
9/21 - to Florence by train
9/21-9/23 or 9/24 - to Tuscany by car (renting from Florence)
9/24-26 - to Amalfi Coast / capri either by train or car (which transportation would you recommend?)

I need to be back in Rome on 10/1 evening as I'm flying back from Rome on 10/2. I originally planned to squeez a few days-trip to Dubrovnik in between somewhere above, but the transportaion ( flight or ferry ) was approx $500 for 2 people, which I thought was pricy. So I looked into other domestic options, maybe visiting Milan or Venice, but unless I drive there, the train tickets are as expensive as Dubrovnik option.
So here I would love to get your opinion and advice as to what I should do. I'm not sure if any of you have been to Dubrovnik, but (1) should I consider Dubrovnik over other nothern italian cities, or (2) should we extend our stay in each of the cities that we've already decided to visit (Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Amalfi coast/ capri) instead of trying to visit another city. I just did not know if our plan is even doable. Are we being too aggressive....? Any suggestion or opinion will be greatly appreciated! THANK YOU!!!

Chiaki

My opinion is to stick to Italy. As it is, you have just 2 nights in Rome - everyone here will tell you that is not enough to see the city properly, and just a day in Florence - which may be enough if you are not interested in art/architecture.

Your itinerary is quite complicated. You're flying to Rome, then going north, then going south, the going to Rome. It means quite a bit of backtracking. You might want to focus on fewer areas - for example, include Venice and leave out the Amalfi Coast. Or see if you can change your flights.

But that is your choice entirely = )

This recent post might help you.

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...y-169599-2.cfm

I would extend your stay in each place. The two-night stays you have planned means you have only one full day in a place—plus each time you switch hotels, you will lose at least half a day to checking in and out, traveling by train, and so forth.

Since you must return to Rome to fly home, I suggest you maximize your time in Rome by putting it all together at the end of the trip. This would also eliminate one hotel change. You might switch a day between Tuscany and Amalfi, depending on your interests.

Your itinerary might become:
9/19-arrive Rome; train to Florence
9/19-9/22 - visit Florence; then Tuscany by car (4 nights)
9/23-9/27 - to Amalfi Coast / capri (4 nights)
9/27-10/1-Rome (4 nights)

oops! posted too fast

our itinerary might become:
9/19-arrive Rome; train to Florence
9/19-9/22 - visit Florence; then Tuscany by car (4 nights)
9/23-9/26 - to Amalfi Coast / capri (4 nights)
9/27-10/1-Rome (4 nights)