My husband and I are going to Italy last week in May for 2 wks. Better to fly to Milan or Rome? which is safer? Want to take trains all over the place: Bologna, Parma, Pompeii, Venice, etc. Should we get train reservations at AAA in U.S. or through Slowtrav.com? Also, we are getting a global phone? Any tips about that? And of course, anything we should know on our first trip to Italy? Thanks, love this site!!

Well where to fly in and out of depends on where you are going. Keep in mind that every time you change locations you lose at least 1/2 a day. So for 2 weeks you mat want to limit your destinations to 3-4 places at most.

Have you been to Italy before?

"to fly to Milan or Rome? which is safer?"

Safer as in less likely to crash??

Look at a map. Decide where you want to go and for how long in each place. Pick a place to go first. Fly somewhere near that. Decide where you want to go last. Fly out of somewhere near that.

"Should we get train reservations at AAA in U.S. or through Slowtrav.com?"

Neither. Get them at the train station in Italy.

i agree about the train tickets... i was told to wait and buy them in italy, but like a proper idiot i didn't do what i was told because i was worried we might not get a space...

so i bought tickets in canada for at least 2x the price. its easy and cheaper to wait and get tickets there... seriously!

Agree with vjp's recommendation, but I also factor in where I'm flying FROM with respect to airfares and schedules. For example, if I were equally happy flying to Milan or Rome, I would check (a) fares and (b) whether or not I could fly nonstop. Sometimes (b) comes before (a) in my book!

Whoa! You're going in May and don't know where yet? You have quite a bit to do, so you'd best run out to the bookstore or the library and start reading. Buy a map.

I don't understand your question about the airports. I can't think of any safety issues. You should fly into wherever you want to begin your trip.

Buy your train tickets in Italy.

What kind of tips do you need for the global phone? Are you buying it here? Will you already have an Italian SIM card?

I don't understand the 'safer' aspect so I will skip that. Assuming you want to see Rome, I would fly in to that city to begin with.

Rome is also the hub of the train network so you can plan to start your trip from there.

You will find much advice re: purchasing train tickets for Italy in advance. My advice? don't bother. In late May you will be able to purchase them from the kiosk at the train station the day before you want to travel (or be like me and thousands of Italians, buy them one hour before you board).

No tips about global phones from me. Search this site for a thread that deals exclusively with this subject.

Your list of cities is not beyond the realm of possibility but it is already a lot for just 2 weeks (and then you have that worrisome 'etc' added to your list!)

Late May is very close for travel plans that include Venice and Rome, two cities where the later you book the less choice you will have. Figure out a budget, get on to a site like venere.com and book ASAP for those two at minimum.

IMHO, you would be very wise to sketch out a travel itinerary with train travel times worked out and then come back to this site for individual info.

Have a wonderful trip!

I don't understand the "safer" question either.

I would fly into Rome and out of a different city,maybe Venice, so you don't have to back track.Get your train tickets in Italy so your plans can be somewhat flexible.You are trying to see a lot in 2 weeks.I could easliy just do Rome and Venice in that time period.Take time to relax and enjoy Italy not race around. Italy is all about taking your time to enjoy.

Either airport is fine safety-wise. This is just my opinion but I think Milan has a less frantic atmosphere. Don't walk around with an open purse in either and you should be fine.

If your trip is in a circle fly in and out of the one airport.

If you are going north to south, fly into one and out of the other. I haven't read all the posts carefully so don't know what your flight limitations might be.

And yes, better get moving with flights and hotels. Good fares/rates go fast.

Since it'll be May, maybe start in the warmer south and work your way north.
Rome (with side to Pompeii)
Bologna (with Parma side)
Venice
You also wrote 'etc.' so I guess I've left out something!

ps-yes buy your tickets there unless you have something set in concrete and you can maybe get a good train deal online.