This may not be doable, but thought worth checking.

We will be visiting Italy for the fist time mid-May 2005. We are using Delta Frequent Flyer tickets, and on the advice of Delta are flying from Boston to Milan, and then on to Naples via Alitalia. We are spending 5 days on Capri and 5 days in Positano. That may seem alot to most, but factoring in travel time, jet lag, and the fact we just want to hang out and read, eat, walk and shop, we find that to be the time we need to unwind and sightsee if we want. We don't want to feel rushed. We also plan some daytrips here and there.

I have always wanted to see Venice, and wondered after checking Michelin map if seeing Venice would be a possibility this trip on the way home - perhaps flying back to Milan, then training to Venice and flying out of Venice? I don't know what is allowed with FF miles, and haven't talked to Delta yet, but just thinking about it.

We would only be able to spend @ 3days in Venice, so wonder if this is even worth it, or too much hassle and we should plan on seeing Venice as part of another trip.

Why not fly to Venice, stay 3 days and then either fly yo Milan to catch your flight home or take the train? If your ticket doesn't provide the possibility of flying to Venice, check the site of Air One. This is a relatively new airline, affiliated with Lufthansa that flies mostly witin Italy. They have great rates. This is their site:
http://www.flyairone.it/en/
I have used them, their service was very good.
If time is no problem, go to Venice. You will enjoy it!

Hi

It is a fairly short distance between Milan and Venice...my wife and I went to Italy last year and we took the train from Milan to Venice and back and it only took 2-3 hours each way. I have posted a trip report with pictures from our trip on my personal homepage gardkarlsen.com by the way Maybe you can find some useful information there.

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Gard, thank you. I will check out your web site!!

How many days/nights were you in Venice?

Hi

We stayed in Venice 4 nights

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
www.gardkarlsen.com

Gard, yur website is awesome! Thanks.

Do you think 2 nights/3 days in Venice is too rushed to do it justice and we should save it for another trip?

Five days in Positano with side trips seems good planning to me. However, five days on Capri IMHO is excessive and some of those days would be better spent in Venice. Is there a chance you might consider changing your plans somewhat and extending your time in Venice, which is such a wonderful, unique place? Capri is lovely but a couple of days I think would be plenty of time spent there.

We have taken the train from Venice to Milan and found the trip a pleasant couple of hours, so should be easily incorporated into your plans if you wish to fly out of Milan.

I would also suggest flying into Naples so that you are close to Positano and Capri, and then out of Milan or Venice if Delta will accommodate your request for open jaw tickets. Transportation between the Amalfi Coast and Venice could be easily done by either train or air.

I agree with Giovanna. We spent three days on Capri last summer, and it was plenty! Positano, however, is another story. We've stayed there twice, and the time there is never enough!

Why don't you check with Delta and see if you can change your tix? I know that Delta flies to Venice nonstop out of NYC, but don't know what the schedule is out of Boston. My suggestion would be: Venice-Naples, then home from Rome.

Also wanted to mention that if you have your heart set on certain hotels, it may not be too early to e-mail them and inquire about availability for next summer. Hotels along the coast fill up quickly, and repeat guests tend to re-book during their vacations.

Good luck with your planning!

Thanks, yes, I was worried about booking the hotels, and tried to book them now, but both places we are staying - La Minerva on Capri, and Villa Rosa in Positano - told me they could not book 2005 until this August.

Hi wanderer,

I also think 5 days on Capri is too long.

If you have the chance to do 2-3 nights in Venice I urge you to do so.

I agree that 3 days/2 nights in Venice is usually perfect for most people. Heck, some people do it as a day trip. We spent four days in Venice last summer, but one day was taken up with our vow renewal. We still managed to fit in most of the "must sees" on our list in the remaining three days, however.

I agree with Ira...I'd urge you to see magical Venezia if you have the chance.

statia -
where did you renew your vows - how romantic!! what was the process you had to go through to do that?

wanderer, we renewed our vows on a gondola in the evening just before sunset, and everything was just as we'd dreamed it would be. The process was quite simple, actually, because I had a wonderful planner to assist with every detail both before, as well as after, our arrival. You can find my trip report of such at
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

I hope the link works. Just scroll down to July 9 for that particular day if you are interested.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have or give you my consultant's contact info if you are looking to do somethings similar.

Looks like I just can't copy & paste anymore. Try this one and if that doesn't work, then just do a text search for "Statia Trip Report."

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...amp;dirtyBit=1

Well, I guess either I'm tired or I've become computer illiterate. That brought up Laurie's trip report even though I pasted it from my own previously saved thread link which I have posted before and it worked fine.

Just do the search if you wish to read it. Sorry 'bout that.

And, have a great trip!