one month in Italy
 

I will be spendign a month in Italy and this time will be my second trip back, but my husnads first. We wpould like to enjoy our trip and soak up as much of the Italian lifestyle as we can.

I would like to fly into Milan
Travel to Lake como for 2-3 days
go to Venice 2-3 days (Venice Film Festival)
Travel through Tuscany and stay in Florence for 5 days. From Florence things get tricky. I would love to do the cinque Terra, Rome, Siciliy and Naples, but am not sure how to allocate my time without feeling rushed. Any assitance would be greatly aprpeciated.

How many actual travel nights do you have?
When you say "travel through Tuscany and stay in Florence"...is that two segments or are you counting Florence as your Tuscan segment?

Is budgeting a consideration? Will you rent a car?

You can't do all of Italy in a month.

You'll have to leave Sicily for another time.
You will be so tired of packing and unpacking that it will ruin your trip.

Do Venice, Milan, Florence, Genova, Cinque Terre the first two weeks.

Then head south and do Napoli, train it to Sorrento rent a car and do the Amalfi coast, and finish in back up in Rome .

This way you'll be in Rome at the end when the weather should be cooler.

Hi IP,

With a month to see Italy with DH, only 2-3 days in Venice?

((I))

I will have 30 travel days. I was planning on staying in Tuscany and in Florence. Budget is not to much of a concern. I am not sure about renting a car yet. I am planning on traveling in August and Septmeber of 2008.

I think that you are right with doing Sicily another time. I have been to sicily and thought that it would be fun to take my husbandd, but I recall that it took a long time to get ther and I don't want to wast time traveling on a ferry. Good point we'll save that for another time.

You have proposed a great Itinerary. I like the idea of spendign two weeks in the southern region and endign in Rome. Thanks for your suggestions.

How long would you spend in Venice?

Hi IP,

Over the years, I think we have spent about 4 weeks in Venice.

For one visit, at least 3 nights.

Can you put off your visit until after Labor Day? I think that mid-Sept to mid-Oct is better than mid-Aug to mid-Sept.

((I))

I assume you want to be in Venice sometime between Aug 29 and Sept 8 for the film festival? Any particular days?

Here's a rough itinerary to play around with:
DAY 1 Milan to...
Lakes for 3 nights

Venice 4 nights

--Train to Florence & CT
Florence 5 nights
Cinque Terre 2 nights

---Rent car
Tuscany 5 nights
Naples/Amalfi 6 nights
I'm not sure if you'd want to drive south...I've never done it.

Rome 5 nights

Leave from Rome


I guess you know we're all <i>pea-green</i> with envy!

Just be aware that during the film festival Venice is packed - and people often have to stay in towns 30 to 40 minutes away. Also - hotel rates are ususally doubled at least. If you don't have one yet try to find something ASAP - but it's probably too late - assuming you mean this year

Also- agree with others that you're trying to cove WAY too much territory. A lot of Italy is about soaking up the atmosphere - not racing rom plae to place like a hamster on a wheel. To cover your list is more like 2 months rather than one. Leave yourselves a little time for la dolce vita.