My husband and I are planning a trip for about 5 nights and 6 days(unfortunately he can't take nay more days off than that much to my distress!)to Italy from London where we are now settled.
As usual am asking all my Fodor friends for advice(your help in the past has been invaluable!).
We are thinking of flying out to venice on the 21st of June-spend 2 nights there, travel to Florence for 2 nights and then spend a night in Milan before catching the flight (easy jet out).
would like to know suggestions for decent budgeted hotels/guest houses somehere central in all these places as we really don't have any clue.Also since we are planning to travel internally from venice to florence an dthen to Milan what are the best ways of doing it-trains or coaches?any other suggestions....

I don't have much advice for hotels in those areas, but I just wanted to comment on your itinerary quickly. I know that it is a short flight from London to Venice, but I would suggest going to Venice for 2 nights, and then going straight to Milan and staying in the Lake Region for the next 2 nights, and then the final night in Milan. Just my idea, trying to do Venice, Florence, and Milan in 5 days just doesn't seem so doable.

thanks so much-could u give me some more info on the lake region?

Firenze isn't all that far from Venezia by train. (Likewise Firenze to Milano). It will be just about the same travel time once you go to the lakes via Milano. Since you don't want to go to the lakes but want to go to Firenze, I'd stick with your plan. Just realize that you are only going to get to see a fraction of what both places offer and don't try to cram everything in.

It can be very time consuming to tour the Doge's Palace in Venice, or tour the Uffizi in Firenze. If you really, really want to do these things by all means do (you'll need reservations) but you can also feel free to pass on them in favor of spending time walking around and visiting churches or smaller gems of museums (like the Accademia in Venezia or San Marco in Firenze).

What's your hotel budget? You should start by looking on Tripadvisor and Slow Travel in your price range, since you will need to book very quickly.

I just wrote up trip reports on both Venice and Florence, including good little hotels we liked in both, and restaurants. You can probably search my name and find them easily, for details. Better hurry, though, if you mean this June!
We had three nights in each city, which was perfect for a very tight itinerary. Take the trains between them for simplicity. I think your time-frame is do-able, as long as you have realistic plans, as suggested above. I wouldn't choose a night in Milan, though, unless you really have to. Could you do three nights in Florence, then an early train from there? Or fly home from Florence? Maybe cut out Milan altogether?
Having just seen the Doge's Palace and San Marco Basilica in Venice (I hope I don't start a food fight here!), they don't compare to the art you'll find inside the Uffizi and Accademia museums in Florence.
Given your short time-frame, and if you're interested, I'd allow at least two hours for the Uffizi, with a definite reservation; and an hour for the Accademia, also reserved. Both easily done in the same day.
My thought would be to see Venice mostly by strolling around and enjoying its charm, its outdoor art and architecture. Save museums for Florence. If you haven't seen Michelangelo's David, you owe it to yourself. Likewise, Botticelli's (sp?) Birth of Venus. Just IMHO.

I would cut out Milan and have an extra night in Venice. If you can get the time, you could go to Milan for a weekend another time flying with easyjet or ryanair.

Carolena

Sorry,
I re-read your post and see that your flight back if from Milan. In that case, I would save Florence for another time!
Regarding internal transport, the trains are very good and fast in Italy.

Carolena

If you are only spending a night in Milano to catch a morning flight, I agree with the advice to try to arrange your air travel so you fly out of Firenze or Pisa, and skip Milano altogether.

But if you would like to see Milano and eat some great food and enjoy some marvelous bars, by all means go. I often feel it is a great way to finish a trip in Italy where I have been wandering among the antiques for several days (or weeks). It's quite enjoyable to come into this stylish, wealthy, modern city, see the Duomo, the Last Supper and then relax over cocktails at an outdoor bar on the via Brera, and head off to a great dinner. Milano has some of the best food in Italy.

thank you so much-the only reason we are doing milan in this trip is that there are no flights out from florence or pisa so we would have to go back to venice and so decided that we might as well go to milan instead of going back the same way.I know its really crammed but since we don't know ehen we can go back next to italy thot we could catch a short glimpse of all these cities.I do think walking around and getting a feel of the place is better than doing all the sight seeing stuff so like suggested will probably do that in venice.Didnt know accomodation was so frightfully expensive-thought england/london was expensive with stay but can't seem to find any thing reasonable less that about 80 pounds per night which is definately expensive.... and even at this rate the hotels don't seem to have mixed reviews!really suprised..

Just back from Venice and FLorence. Have included some links for information. We used apartments in Venice because there were 4 of us and we had 3 nights which made it much cheaper than hotels. I would not want to be in a different city on the day of my departure and then travel there to get a flight out. There is a link below to strike updates on transportation. The trains are a breeze and there are many each day between florence and venice and you can make your reservation in advance on line. Worked perfectly for me. In choosing a place in Venice I spent way too much time looking at the different areas and trying to get it perfect. Everything is an easy walk and it is all much closer than it looks. For example going from San Marco to the Rialto bridge is about a 7 minute walk. I would caution though that carrying a lot of luggage away from a water bus or taxi stop is a hassle. Also, it is nice to stay realively close to a landmark as it is easy to get lost. In florence whatever accomodation you decide ask them to get you tickets to the museums in advance. We did and there was a 3 hour wait in line for "david" for those without an advance reservation. In Florence we stayed at the HOtel Maxim which was a PERFECT location, totally central to everything. It got mixed reviews on trip advisor but the best price for a quad room. Booked it on venere.com and it all worked perfectly. Simple, clean place, light breakfast included. If you want to email me any questions send to [email protected] and put fodors in the subject section.

cross-pollinate.com is a service that books b $ b's in florence, rome, and venice.

Transportation strikes:
http://www.whatsoninrome.com/strikes.php#papa

Things to do in a short time in Venice.http://www.travelplan.it/venice_guid...es_weekend.htm ..and also http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/venice/re_todo.htm

Are you saying all flights from Florence/Pisa to London are booked? Easyjet/Ryanair/Meridiana/BMI should have flights that would keep you from wasting time traveling to and from Milan. www.whichbudget.com

there are no flights out from florence at all on ryan and easy jet-so had to book it thru milan- any suggestions of where to stay in milan for a nite?