I have been searching this site and have found lots of great advice already, but I can use as much as I can get. Me, spouse and son(18) are going March 13-27. Plane tickets RT Boston-Milan already bought. Son has planned trip so far, what do you think? (Changes still possible except flight.)
Day 1 Milan Hotel San Francisco
2,3,4 Florence Leonardo B&B
5,6,7 Orvieto (rent car in Firenze,return it in Rome) Hotel Picchio
8,9 Rome Hotel Gerber
10,11 Vernazza Tonino Basso (guestrooms)
12,13 Varenna Hotel Vill Cipressi (next)

My first reaction is, only 2 nights in Rome?

MY first reaction is THREE in orvieto???

Message: we are on a budget, I am not totally spoiled but require some conmfort. Varenna is at end of trip because attractions around Lake Como are only beginning to open up at end of March. Husband doesn't want to go to Venice (not sure why). I am worried about getting to Malpensa from Varenna because our flight is at 10:15 am. Do I need to worry about days of week in certain cities? Thanks for helping!

Thanks for the tip on adding to my post!

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Thanks for feedback so far. Staying in Orvieto for 3 nights partly to unwind and room is cheap. Was planning on driving to hill towns in area. Maybe should add a day to Rome if not too late instead...

Hi peggy,

Good idea about unwinding in Orvieto. I would add a day to Rome, however.

If hubby is absolute dead set against Venice, then that's that, but I can't understand going from Milan to Florence without at least a night in Venice.

Are you sure it's not because your son thinks he will be bored if you old folks spend a romantic interlude in Venice? Put him on a vaporetto with 50E and tell him you'll see him in the morning.

OOPS

There was supposed to be a at the end of that.

Our 18 year old son loved Venice--he had his own money and we hardly saw him the entire 4-1/2 days we were there. Later found out he had hooked up with some Venetian students, but he never told us much beyond that.

Thanks Ira and Rufus, I think my husband is worried about floods (he hates to get his shoes wet)- and there was a Nova special on PBS that scared him. I would love to see Venice but almost anywhere in Italy would probably make me happy. Our son is very independent and has offered to stay in hostel if we have a special hotel in mind.

It is March, Peggy. I would not do both the CT and the Lakes in March. I think you should drop Varenna and add those days to Rome.

And I think you should go to Venice and not worry about the floods. It is unique and a real thrill.

YOur reference to returning the rental car in Rome: try to arrange the return for the Airport branch of your rental firm rather than downtown.Its very well signed. Then, just take the train from the airport station into Termini. Will save frayed nerves as you enter the city.

husband is willing to consider
Venice, but if I cut Como, I think I have to rearrange entire trip. Any suggestions? Does anyone know what weather is likely to be mid to late March? Thanks

We were in Italy 2 years ago, from early March to early April. Visited from Rome down to Amalfi coast then up to Umbria, Tuscany, CT and Venice. Weather was surprisingly good, most days cool but sunny. Had about 2 days of rain the whole time. At night wore polar fleece/scarves, sometimes during the day just t-shirts. Hardly had out our raincoats. Occasionally wore a thermal top as a bottom layer, mostly at night once the sun had gone. Hope this helps.
Kay
BTW - loved Orvieto and CT but there is so much to see and do in Rome, don't skimp on time - also Venice is an absolute MUST in my opinion.

March in Milan is high of 54 low of 38.

OK, so I've decided that I could change my plans to be:

1,2 Venice
3,4 Florence
5,6,7 Orvieto (we leave early in the morning from Orvieto)
8,9 Rome
10, 11 Cinque Terre
12, 13 Milan (with day trip to Lake Como)

OR

1,2 Venice
3,4 Florence
5,6,7 Orvieto (we leave early in the morning from Orvieto)
8,9,10 Rome
11,12 Cinque Terre
13 Milan (with day trip to Lake Como)

What do you think?

My wife and I will be in Italy at the same time as you and your family, we have been to Italy before, and were forced to decide where to visit this time, a difficult decision.
We took a tour with Tauck the last time, and visited Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii,Florence, Assisi,Orvieto, San Gimi, Via Reggio, Cinque Terre,Pisa, Venice and Milan in 17 days.
This trip will be self guided, and with another couple. We will be staying in Rome 4 days, and Florence 4 days with day trips to some of the Tuscan hill towns.
We wanted to revisit all that we had seen before, but decided that it would be too exhausting.
There is so much to see and do EVERYWHERE in Italy, that we will be visiting again and again, as I'm sure you will.
Are you aware that you can make resevations at the Uffizi, the Galleria, and the Borghese villa? I would highly recommend you look into this, waiting in line or being denied entrance can ruin a days plans.
In Milan, reservations and tickets are essential to view "The Last Supper". We were unaware of this last time, and took a train to Milan from Venice, only to be shut out.
The best advise for traveling in Italy, that I can offer is: have patience, things never go as planned.

Thanks,CyberUK Just wondering how you decided where to focus on for this trip. I would love to go return frequently, but I doubt if that would be possible. Does anyone know what the floods in Venice are like (aqua alta)? Do they last all day or just a few hours?

We were only in Rome for two nights on the last trip, so we visited the "highlights" we went to the Sistene museum, walked the Spanish steps, Trevi fountain (threw a coin), Coloseum, St. Peter's, and a day trip to the Catacombs out side the walls. We walked Rome at night, and ate in the Piazza Navona. But there was SO much that we wanted to see, we knew we would be back. This trip, we will stay 4 days in Rome, and try to visit some smaller churches, I want to linger at some of the ancient sites, and do it at a slower pace.
The floods in Venice are due to the tides, so no, the streets are not flooded all day.
Enjoy

Hi peggy,

For either of your new plans, I would reduce Orvieto by one day and add it to either Venice or Florence.