please comment on itinerary
 

Okay, this is my second post now that I have a sense of what to do and where to go (thanks to all your help!!). We are arriving in Milan after spending 5 days in Turkey for my brothers wedding. We won't have jet lag so we won't have to worry about that. I really want to head down to Cinque Terre even though I know it is far. I think the kids would really like it (we are a family of five with three girls, oldest 15, youngest 7). So...<BR><BR>Day 1 arrive in Milan, sightsee in Milan and spend the night (we can also save this for the end and take the train right away after Day 1 but thought we could use walking around this day)<BR>Day 2 Train to Cinque Terre - spend rest of time there<BR>Day 3 - All day in CT<BR>Day 4 - Train to venice (not sure how long it takes but am giving it the day - I think it should take 3-4 hours - is that right?)<BR>Day 5 - Venice<BR>Day 6 - Venice<BR>Day 7 - Drive or Train to Verona, Spend day in Verona and sleep in Verona<BR>Day 8 - Head out stopping at Lake Garda and then drive to Lake Como<BR>Day 9- Lake Como<BR>Day 10- Lake Como<BR>Day 11- Lake Como and leave for Milan<BR>Day 12 - morning flight from Milan home (boo hoo!!)<BR><BR>So, does it sound crazy or doable??? Would love your ideas. Also, I was thinking maybe we should try to stay in an apartment in Venice. Has anyone ever done that?? We did that in Australia and the middle east with the kids but I haven't done it in Europe. Thanks for your help. Sandy

I think it sounds pretty well thought out. I would favor rental car over train for days 7-11.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

I agree with the car rental for latter part. You might consider a night in Sermione on Lake Garda. I was there in 1990 and still remember enjoying the fort that has been converted into a shopping, food, outdoor concert, etc. area. I'm sure the kids would enjoy it.

Thanks for the advise. My husband also thinks we should rent the car so that sounds good. Nancy, I heard Sermione was a good place that the kids would probably enjoy, that is actually where I was thinking of going on Day 8.<BR><BR>Thanks for your advise. No thoughts on apartments in Venice?? Sandy<BR><BR>

Didn't see the question on apartments. The challenge with an apartment is to find a &quot;short stay&quot; choice. No exp[erience with these, but if these are not too expensive for your family, you might find something you like here:<BR><BR>http://www.venice-rentals.com/venice/index-psg-list.html<BR>

Is there a reason you are zigzagging across Italy? If you start in CT after arriving why not then go to Verona, Garda, Como, Venice and the Milan and home? <BR>I think renting a van would be nice too upon leaving CT.

Rootcher - Day 4 is a long day travelling: CT-Venice takes 6-6.5 hours with 2-4 changes. <BR><BR>I'd probably re-arrange it to avoid such a long journey. Maybe in this order:<BR><BR>- CT<BR>- Lake Como<BR>- Verona<BR>- Venice<BR>- Milan<BR><BR>I'm not convinced about a car for Lake Como, but that's a personal choice.<BR><BR>Steve<BR>

Thanks for all your advise. Where can I get info on how long the train rides are? How long is it from CT to Lake Como? 6 hours sounds excessive. I thought it would be about 4. I'll try to check another site to get train ino. Sandy

You can find all train journey times and timetable info on<BR><BR>www.trenitalia.it<BR><BR>CT-Como fastest journey time is approx. 4 hours 15 mins - but some trains take much longer.<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve

I also need help for a similar trip to Italy. We have not been to this part of Italy, and don't think we'll be back there soon. We're booking our hotels and so can be a bit flexible with time. We've also booked a car for 1 week for the latter part of the trip.<BR><BR>Please comment on our itinery, is it too aggressive? Also, are we missing anything obvious along the way? Thanks.<BR><BR>Day 1: arrive in Venice<BR>Day 2: Venice<BR>Day 3: Venice<BR>Day 4: Train from Venice to Florence in morning<BR>Day 5: Florence<BR>Day 6: Drive from Florence to Montecatini Terme and stay there overnight<BR>Day 7: Drive from Montecatini Terme to Pisa, and then later to Milan<BR>Day 8: Milan<BR>Day 9: Drive from Milan to Lake Como area and stay in Menaggio<BR>Day 10: Menaggio (probably tour around the lake)<BR>Day 11: Menaggio<BR>Day 12: Drive from Menaggio to Milan late morning for flight home<BR>

Am I missing something??? Milan and Venice are only 3-3½ apart with many easy direct train connections. Why aren't these two being done together, either at the beginning or the end of the trip?<BR>

Seems to make more sense to put Milan at the beginning or end of your trip rather than spending an extra day in the middle there (even though I think you are using it as a middle point). we are actually doing very similar trips. I decided (actually hubby did) to put 2 days of Florence in between CT and Venice to break it up, then from Venice to Lake Como (giving a day to travel and stop in Verona) then our last day in Milan where we catch our flight. Just a thought. sandy

It would probably be best to see Venice since you'll be up north in Milan. No sense taking a 3 1/2 -4 hour train down to the Conque Terre, then having to take another train 6 hours back up to Venice! But it is do-able if you want to make a full circle. Note that an early morning train out of Milano Centrale Stazione transfers in Genoa or Sestri Levanti, then goes from there into Cinque Terre, arriving by early-mid-afternoon. I usually catch a 9:30 am train out of Milano and don't arrive in the CT until close to 3 pm. I would recommend staying in Riomaggiore while in the CT, as it is the southernmost of the 5 towns and provides a good base for exploration. Additionally, it is close to La Spezia, Portovenere and other towns for train connections, etc. Check out Villa Argentina in Riomaggiore (http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Liguria.../index.uk.html), rooms start at 70euro per night and include an ample breakfast, served from 7:30-10 am in the hotel.

I'm wondering if I did something wrong. I went on line to check trains and saw there was a 2:10 train leaving Milan and arriving in Monterroso at 4:51. That make it less than a three hour trip. But...you are saying that it will take most of the day. I'm not sure how I got my information wrong. We will be arriving in Milan at about 12:30 and wanted to head straight to Cinque Terre. Let me know what you think. Sandy

I'd just like to say that Lake Como is probably one of the prettiest places I've ever been. Also, driving in Switzerland was fascinating. Not sure how much there is to do near Lake Como but definitely linger there for a day and just take it in. Have a great time and don't stress too much! Sometimes it's too to just see what happens.