You can try cross-pollinate.com for a listing of B & B's in rome and in florence. They are a great service BUT NOTE their cancellation policy and its really a six day notice. I understand, but our travel changed enroute and we had to pay even though we were not there.

Hi! I just booked a trip for my son and I at the end of Sept. from LA to Rome to London to LA through CheapAir ( thanks to this website!) and they were great. I called their # because their site does not support multiple cities. They were very friendly and got me a great price. I have been reseraching this for 3 weeks and found their price to be most reasonable with the times and airlines I wanted. I was in Rome last year at the same time and found it to be wonderful! You might want to try booking an apt. for the time you are there, would be cheaper than a hotel. I personally was not thrilled with Venice but loved Florence and Rome. I found Venice to be overcrowded, many mosquitos (July!) and just not as likeable as other parts of Italy. My personal opinion though. I was only in Naples for the day, we took a train from Sorrento. Loved the museum and Pompeii, did not like the city. If you want more detailed info, let me know. Book that flight sooner than later. Have fun!

a day trip to Venice will take up a good portion of the day with just travel either train or car. If you are not that interested - don't waste your time. Personally I love Venice but wouldn't take time away from Florence to see if my interest was not there. Going on line to the different booking agents will yield you quite a few semi-reasonable rates for Florence. If you want to do a day trip from Florence, why not try Siena, or San Gimingnao (?) which are much closer - both lovely cities and to throw a little "tackiness" into the picture there is always Pisa again an easy day trip - no offense to those who love Pisa but it is a bit tacky but still worth seeing. We are going back next May and are planning our trip now. Can't get enough of Italy

I had been thinking of staying at Orsa Maggiore in Trastevere but rented a house in Rome. When I was there a couple of weeks ago, I went to look at the place, and since I was traveling solo, I really wish I'd stayed there instead. It had a lively feeling with an outdoor restaurant that would be great to relax at after a day of sightseeing. I didn't see the rooms, but I thought the location and feeling of safety, as well as the number of intersting women-related projects and programs taking place would be a real draw.

And I'm another one who loved Venice and couldn't wait to get out of Florence. Yes, the art was amazing, but it felt like a big, renaissance shopping mall with vendors on every street corner, hoards of vespas and speeding cars, and narrow, if any, sidewalks.

That said, there's lots of high end shopping (you said you love fashion) and of course museums galore.

If you don't mind rushing about and changing cities so often so you can see alot, I think your itinerary is fine but I agree that Venice as a day trip won't allow you to appreciate the beauty. It's most magical at night, wandering the streets seeing the moonlight reflected in the canals, St. Marc's square at night etc. I might not bother with it if you only plan to go as a day trip.

Rome is an amazing city and I think you'll love it. It has everything. We stayed at Arco del Lauro http://www.arcodellauro.it/eng/index.htm
a great B&B in Trastevere that I highly reccommend. Have a fantastic time!

MZ,

I'd concur with earlier suggestions about only doing 1 night in Milan. Between the cathedral and the Last Supper, that's the best of Milan (IMHO). I'd say your Venice time is about right at 3 days (although Venice can get annoying when there's all and sundry from one of the almost inevitable cruise ships about) and I'd add at least a day to Florence (if not 2 by taking a day off Rome). Bear in mind that Pisa and Sienna are both easy day-trips from Florence and the countryside around it is magnificent.

HTH
K

Wow, why was this bumped? This trip was literally four trips to Europe ago..

but thanks for the advice :-)

'Cuz at least one certain someone doesn't know the difference betwixt '06 and '07! :)

4 trips, eh? Tough life yer leading MZ. ;)

LOL!

It's a fun life for sure..I work as a temp and earn good money, and can take time off whenever i want to..LOVE IT!