meg

One of the main places I want to see is the Sorrento/Capri area, but here's the problem. I can't decide between just doing a day trip from Rome (we'd be in rome for 3 nights, Florence 3 and Venice 3) OR doing Rome for 3 nights and Sorrento for 2 nights, then 2 nites each in V and F. <BR> <BR>How long is the drive from Rome to Sorrento? This will help me decide whether a day trip is worth it or if I should just go ahead and stay in Sorrento (Im a nature person, I LOVE the water, so I'm thinking I'll prob regret just doing a day trip. Plus Ive heard that area is gorgeous.). <BR> <BR>Thoughts?

Linda

Personally, I feel that adding Sorrento and Capri to your itinerary is a bit ambitious. Actually, with the time you have available (it looks like 10 days), I'd limit it to six in Rome and four in Florence, which will allow time for a day trip or two to Sienna, San Gimigniano or Fiesole. However, If you must do all four areas... <BR> <BR>Two nights in Venice could be enough to get a flavor of the town. There will still be a lot you want to see, but you can at least get the feeling that you know a bit about Venice. <BR> <BR>Take the night train from Rome to Venice, as this will optimize your time in the cities. <BR> <BR>You'll need every bit of those three nights in Rome and be sorry you don't have longer, so plan on spending your entire thre nights time there. Make Sorrento/Capri a separate time. Stay for two nights. That will give you time for a day trip to Capri. You can then see Pompeii on the return trip from Sorrento to Rome. <BR> <BR>By the way, the drive from Rome to Sorrento is between 3 and 4 hours, depending on traffic around Naples. <BR> <BR>Have a good trip, and say "hi" to Italy for me.

topper

other opinions? <BR>

diaz

Way too ambitious! You could do all 10 days in Rome and not be enough. We did two weeks in Rome, Florence and Venice with one day trip each Pisa and Siena and not nearly enough. Concentrate on your must see for this trip.

meg

This itinerary isn't nearly as 'ambitious' as most of the escorted tours I've seen, and they go by motorcoach which isn't as fast obviously as a train. Have you seen some of these - they see upwards of 9-14 different places in less than 2 weeks. Besides, I've heard just the opposite from many on this board, that they felt they'd seen Rome in 2-3 days and wished they HADN'T planned on such a long stay there. If I can see the bulk of Rome's sites in 2 days (which many on here have said is possible) why isnt a day trip to Capri on the 3rd day doable?

xx----xx

Meg: <BR> <BR>TECHNICALLY, a "day trip" from Rome to Capri is do-able. And yes, those escorted tours do run people around cramming as much into a day as can be had --- don't forget that it's "escorted" and so you're sitting in the bus as a passenger, not driving in a strange city and dealing with unfamiliar roads/traffic patterns or trying to be the navigator. <BR> <BR>If you want a more reasonably paced trip, then choices have to be made --- and since you're a self-confessed nature/water person, I do suggest you arrange your visit to include Sorrento/Capri. And that would mean dropping either Venice or Florence from your itinerary. Having been to Italy four times in the past five years, I know of what I speak. <BR> <BR>Let me offer another option to consider --- without knowing if you've purchased your airfare, I'd suggest that you fly into Rome --- stay there for 3 nights; head south to Sorrento/Capri/Amalfi Coast --- 3 nights there - area is SO beautiful, and it's a nice change of pace from Rome; finally head north (& if you've taken a rent car, then turn it back in @ Rome) and take the EuroStar train to Venice (flying out from Venice). <BR> <BR>You can return to Italy on a subsequent visit to include Florence & Tuscany region.

meg

Thanks, but one correction. I'm not renting a car. I was planning to take the day trip to Capri w. one of the tour companies that goes there from Rome, in which case I would be on a bus not worrying about navigating/driving.

Holly

Having been to Italy 6 times in the past 5 years, but never having lived there and not having been there hundreds of times, I know NOT of what I speak, but I would suggest this: 2 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Sorrento, 2 nights in Florence, and your final 3 nights in Venice (you'll see why once you get there). Then you'll know what area(s) you want to concentrate on when you're planning your return trip.

Cindy

We just got back from Italy, and I would highly recommend staying in Sorrento, vs a day trip from Rome. We stayed in Positano, and did a day trip to Capri and Sorrento. It was a full day just to see everything from Positano! From Rome, it would have been a real stretch! <BR>I also love the water, and the Amalfi area was my favorite stop of the entire trip. I would propose an itinerary of Rome 2, Sorrento 2, Florence 2 and Venice 3. <BR> <BR>

Howard

Two days to cover Rome? That's the "If this is Tuesday, it must be Belgium" school of travel! <BR>I'm from the school of travel that thinks that visiting a city is more than rushing from one high spot to another! As for Rome, considering the fact that it should take the better part of day just to visit and truly experience the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's, I don't know how anyone can say at 2-3 days in Rome is more than enough! <BR>Four destinations in 9 nights is doable, but that's a lot traveling in a short time! The ideal answer, of course, is to eliminate one and definitely plan to go back to Italy!

lisa

Meg -- I think even just doing 3 nights in Rome, 3 in Florence, and 3 in Venice is ambitious enough for this trip. I would not add even a daytrip to Capri or try to do Sorrento on this trip. Have you been to Rome before? If not, you will want every minute of your three days in Rome to spend on Rome itself. There is so much to do and see that you will wish you had MORE time in Rome, not less. Promise yourself that you will go back another time for Sorrento and Capri. <BR> <BR>Or if you MUST see Sorrento and Capri, then drop Venice and Florence from your itinerary -- but I think that for this trip you would be better off sticking with your existing itinerary and saving Sorrento and Capri for another time.

Diane

We were in Italy for 3 weeks this May, and had a car for all but the last 3 days. When are you traveling? Between Oct-March I would suggest leaving Sorrento/Capri for another trip during warmer weather. Otherwise, since you will have to structure some of your leaving/arriving around train schedules, I would drop Florence as another poster has suggested.

elaine

If you want to see Sorrento and Capri, then I concur that you should consider <BR>dropping Florence or Venice. I love Florence but I LOVE Venice; nevertheless, Florence is much closer to Rome and would make everything easier, unless you have no particular interest <BR>in art/architecture, nor in seeing anything of the Tuscan countryside. <BR>You need to remember how much time you lose in traveling from one place to another,checking in and checking out, packing/unpacking, even when the two places are relatively close to each other like F and R.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Meg, It is really simple math and logistics. Given your time in Italy you can feasibly do 3 destinations. You need to decide if you want Sorrento more than Venice--that is the choice. I have planned more than 60 customized itineraires to Italy and the biggest mistake is doing too much. Where do you depart? You will lose more than a day just in travel time. Forget the day trip. Spend at least 2 nites in Sorrento, 4 in Rome, 3 in Florence with a day trip to Siena. Good luck !

Heather

Since you didn't ask for a critique of your travel methodology, acknowledging that your time is limited, and taking all of your other comments into consideration, how 'bout the following: <BR> <BR>Fly into Naples (or Rome) <BR>Train directly to Sorrento and stay 3 nights (you seem most excited about this area -- and you can see Pompeii, visit Capri, avoid city frenzy while you unwind from jet lag) <BR>Train back to Rome for 2 nights <BR>Train to Florence for 2 nights <BR>Train to Venice for 2 nights <BR>Fly home <BR> <BR>Yes, a person can stay for 9 nights just in Rome (or Venice, or Florence, or the Coast), but that obviously isn't what you want to do and it's your vacation. My first vacation in Europe was 10 nights in Italy (3 Florence, 3 Venice, 3 Bellagio [not planned ahead...just had a rental car and "found" it], 1 Milan) and I felt rushed but knew that I would go back. Even if I hadn't, I didn't regret the choices made in advance. <BR> <BR>Good luck & have a wonderful time!