Planning an itinerary, opinion on days/cities
 

Hello,

I'm just beginning to plan an 17-is day trip to Italy--kind of late in terms of planning for some, I know, but I recently found out that I've earned an international ticket, so I'm going for it! I wanted to run my itinerary past some travel-seasoned eyes and see what people think.

Fly into Naples, arriving early evening, stay 3 nights (2 full days); ferry to Positano, 3 or 4 nights; ferry/train or bus/train to Florence, 4 nights; train to Rome, 4 nights; train to Venice, 3 nights. Fly home.

Does this seem like too much? I've been to these places before, but not for a number of years, and am happy to be revisiting them and having new/different experiences. I am interested in food and wine, art, history, walking around and just looking at everything, some shopping, and a little beach time. I have visited Pompeii, Ercolano, and Paestum, but that was (gasp) about 20 years ago. Same for Venice. I visited the other locations in 2010, but there is so much I haven't seen or done.

Other details: I don't plan on having a car. I would like to revisit Florence, but also do a couple daytrips (I've been to Pisa and the Cinque Terre...thinking more about some of the other nearby locations). I enjoyed Positano very much, but if anyone has another suggestion for an idyllic location like that, my ears are open.

Thank you for any and all suggestions you can offer!

Candice

gah...a 17-day-ish trip...where's my proof reading??

Hi Candice

Having been to Italy before you obviously know that this is quite a busy trip but you know that already I think.

Just one thing occurred to me immediately - your current itinerary has you going from Positano to Florence and back to Rome then to Venice - is that what you really want to do? Positano - Rome - Florence - Venice would make more sense, surely?

You say it is late to plan, but I don't see the dates for the trip.

Thanks for your replies!

Annhig, you are correct--Positano-Rome-Florence-Venice.

Sassafrass--leave it to me to omit the very important detail! I am looking at going around June 4, landing June 5. Returning home around the 21st-22nd.

It does feel a little busy, and I think I get travel greedy and want to do it all. When I went in 2010, I spent 4 nights in each of three places (Florence, Positano, Rome), and that felt pretty good. One hotel in each location, so not a lot of moving around. The earlier trip, I was a bit younger and didn't mind the frenzy so much!

I wonder if saving Venice for a northern-Italy and other locales trip is a better idea. Or, skip Positano and add a day or two to Florence or Rome, and have a beach daytrip? Or, or, or...ack!

thank you!

Candice - I always travel faster when i am by myself - so if this feels right to you, go for it.

if OTOH you feel it really is too much, that may be a clue to you to cut back a bit. After all, there are plenty of day trips that you can do from, say, Rome if you want to, including Florence.

I would not however go for a beach day trip - I'm of an age when after a swim I want to go back to my hotel and have a shower and relax, and not to have to get back on a train or bus while I'm still all sticky.