My family and I are planning a trip to Italy this summer. We have 17 days to plan, which does not include our travel dates to and from Italy. We are planning 4 nights in Venice, train to Florence spend 3 nights,We have to do Pisa for the kids and Mom and dad would like to travel daily in Tuscany.We will rent a car. Train to Naples,rent a car drive to Pompei and from there find a nice place to stay on the Amalfi Coast to stay for 4 nights then either train or drive to Rome where we will spend another 6 nights. How does this sound? are we trying to see to much? None of us has been to Italy before.<BR><BR>Do we have enough time in Florence? We will be touring some wineries, driving and spending time in as many small towns as possible. Of course Pisa will take up half of one day.<BR>Thank you

You do have time if you combine your Tuscany/Florence into one location.<BR>You will have 15 nites in Italy. Here is what I would do:<BR>Venice--3<BR>Tuscany/Florence--4<BR>Amalfi coast--3<BR>Rome--5<BR>Get you car in Florence and keep it until you return to Rome--drop it at the airport and shuttle to your hotel.<BR>It is easy to drive to Sorrento, and that may be your best location for the coast. You can hit Pompeii enroute.<BR>That is a good start. Good luck !

I think if you want to get a taste of Florence, explore the medieval streets and the bridges, and visit several of the churches and museums, and also visit Siena and some of the samller intersting towns in Tuscany and enjoy the Tuscan countryside and go to a winery in the region, 3 nights will definitely not be enough time in Florence/Tuscany.

Bob, Thanks , We actually have 17 nights. I will change the number of nights spent in Florence and the Amalfi Coast. That was my first instinct anyway. I will go with 4 nights Venice<BR> 4 nights Florence<BR> 3 nights Amalfi <BR> 6 nights Rome<BR>

Hi<BR><BR>sounds like you have great answers. My first reaction was that you weren't giving yourself enough time in Florence AND Tuscany - you want to give yourself enough time to explore Florence and still see the various sites outside you've selected. <BR><BR>Venice is simply magical, but if you want to focus on Florence and environs give yourself maybe one more day. (but you can surely fill your time in Venice &amp; even the local area if you choose).

Flygirl, I have us staying in Venice for four nights because we arrive so late in the day. We leave our home around 5:00 and wont get to our hotel in Venice until the same time the next day.<BR>Thanks

I actually like your travel plans of 4 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Florence/Tuscany, 3 nights in Amalfi and 6 nights in Rome. I would cut out one night in Rome for Tuscany but otherwise it sounds perfect. I too would just rent a car out of Florence to tour Tuscany and drive it to Amalfi, than to Rome where I would drop it off. I will comment that renting a car in Italy is expensive and that with a family of ?4 or more with luggage you will need either a van or station wagon.<BR>The other option than would be to base yourself in Florence and do a few day trips with a small rental car to explore Tuscany and rail to Naples where you could hire a car/driver to explore the coast. You could rent a car out of Naples but I do not recall seeing any car rental signs at the train station but I am sure there must be something close by. Good luck.

You are fine as is. I don't like Florence at all so I'd only spend 2 nights there, but the art is wonderful and if you are into the Renaissance at all you will want more than 2 nights.