My husband and I (both 31 years old) are planning our first time trip to Italy (from the US) for Sept/Oct 2009.

We are planning to be there for a total of 12-13 nights/12-13 days not including the night spent on the plane coming in.

I want to fit alot in on this trip (we are very busy travelers---always running around to see everything)and have some questions about certain parts of the trip. I am sure about most of it except the Tuscany/Florence area and Naples/Pompeii/Almalfi.

This is the itinerary we were thinking of doing:

Sat: Leave for Milan or Zurich
(heard that flying into Zurich was easier and is a beautiful train ride)
Sun: Arrival and train to Lake Como
(night in Lake Como)
Mon: Full Day Lake Como
(night in Lake Como)
Tues: Train to Venice in AM
(night in Venice)
Wed: Full Day Venice
(night in Venice)
Thurs: Train to Florence in AM
Fri: Florence/Tuscany/Umbria
Sat: Florence/Tuscany/Umbria
Sun: Travel to Sorrento
(night in Sorrento)
Mon: Naples/Pompeii
(night in Sorrento)
Tues: Almalfi Coast
(night in Sorrento)
Wed: Sorrento 1/2day--possibly Capri and travel to Rome
(night in Rome)
Thurs: Rome
(night in Rome)
Fri: Rome
(night in Rome)
Sat: Fly out of Rome to USA

I know seems like alot but we are good at getting around quickly.

My main questions are where should we stay to explore the Tuscany/Umbria/Florence area? We are planning to rent a car and then drive onto Rome. What can we realistically see in this area in short amount of time that we will be there? We want to see Florience but are not huge museum people---we are more interested in seeing the countryside.

What about in Sorrento? If we home base there, what can we really fit in and what is the best way to get back to Rome? Should we fit in Capri and boat from there to Naples and train to Rome on the way back?

Am I just crazy thinking that we will be able to fit all of this in? I am thinking not but really need some advice....thanks so much for your help!

en,

OK, here goes. Yes, you are trying to do too much. Yes, you can do it, but should you?

My first trip to Italy was also my first to Europe. We went skiing in the Dolomiti for a week and our trip ended leaving us off in Venice. We did:

2 nts Venice (1.5 days)
trained to Florence
2 nts Florence (1.5 days)
trained to Sorrento, bus to Praiano
3 nts (2 days, included 2 hrs at Pompeii)
trained to Rome
2 nts (1.5 days)

Do you see a pattern here? Would I do it again? No. Each trip to Italy has been more and more leisurely, but I still move around more than most here and I confess to being a very ambitious sightseer.

Everytime you change locations, you loose a day. You may think you are good at getting around quickly, BUT you have never visited Italy. The best laid plans....there are strikes, trains & buses are late, you get lost, etc., etc.

If you change locations 4 times in 12 days, you are loosing a MINIMUM of 2 days. These are days spent schlepping your bag (1 ONLY), in and out of train stations (and/or finding car rental offices) and can really be tiring even for 30 year olds.

I would choose one of three plans:

Venice (3 nts)
Lake Como (3 nts)
Florence (1 nt)
Tuscan countryside (5 nts)


Venice (3 nts)
Florence and Tuscany (4 nts)
Rome (5 nts)


Rome (5 nts)
Amalfi Coast & Naples (7 nts)

The only part where you really want a car is the Tuscan countryside. Other than that a car is a liability and expensive.

Hope this helps!

Dayle gave you excellent advice. For a first trip I would do his plan B of Venice (3 nights), Florence/Tuscany (4 nights) and Rome (5 nights). If you REALLY want to you could do Pompeii/Naples as a daytrip from Rome.

It is great that you are very busy travelers as there is so much to see even in those three places - you will not be bored!!

Even though you will not be seeing many of the places on your wish list, don't dwell on the things you won't see but start planning and concentrating on the things you will see.

Also, I don't understand why flying into Zurich would be easier if you are planning on spending all your time in Italy. With such a short time I wouldn't want to spend my time riding on a train. Fly into your first Italy city - that will be the easiest.

"My main questions are where should we stay to explore the Tuscany/Umbria/Florence area".

well Tuscany and Florence I'd stay in Montecatini at Villa Le Magnolie. To see both regions but skip out on Florence then somewhere near Sarteano/Chiusi sun as Villa Fonte Pico. As for Umbria, somewhere near Baschi or Todi is best as the roads are excellent down that way. Norcia is fabulous but frankly too far off the ebaten track and therefore better for a getaway rather than a Grand Tour

Hi, enlehman76 -

I agree with Dayle and jgg - you are trying to do too much! And it isn't just the amount of time you will spend traveling and relocating (and as they say, that time will be substantial), its that each of these wonderful destinations has so much to see that even if you are very very busy travelers, you'll only scratch the surface of these wonderful destinations. I urge you to give some thought to the very good options Dayle laid out.

Hope that helps!

Good advice above. Pls understand, these responses are trying to emphasize the difference between a high speed trip and a relaxing vacation.

There is nothing in your plan that can't be done. But one point .. "heard that flying into Zurich was easier and is a beautiful train ride". While it may be beautiful but have you ever experienced jet-lag? Some people are heavily affected by it. How many hours is the Zurich to Varenna,Italy train ride? How long ZRH to the Zurich train station? How? The flight to Milan might be more simple.

Have you ever heard of Ostia Antica or Orvieto. Both are nice day-trips from Rome.

My comment would be that, currently your two week trip has eight days of sightseeing (days where you are not changing locations). You could change things some and have nine or ten sightseeing days. The trip will still cost basically the same.

With all due respect to Big_Red, even if you do prefer a high speed trip to a relaxing vacation, I think your plans are too ambitious! IMO, there is simply to much to see in these locations for the time frames you are alloting.

I don't know if a person can be "good at getting around quickly"... there are certain realities that I believe you are overlooking.

I think it is a barely doable itinerary that will spend most of your time on train rides and checking in and out of hotels.

At least fly into Italy, not Zurich! Why in the world would that be "easier"?

My suggestion is take your proposed itinerary and in a column next to each line, put *realistic* numbers for each day. Includes 1-2 hours each time you check out of a hotel and have to go to a train station, then the real length of the train ride (i.e., 3 hours between Venice and Milan), then 1-2 hours to get from the train station and checked into your next set of accomodations.

This will quickly illustrate how the bulk of your time will be spent in Italy. And it's not sight-seeing

Thanks so much for all of your advice. I know this itinerary is jam-packed, but I wanted to see as many parts of Italy as possible to know where I would want to go back one day. My hubby and I don't have kids right now and can therefore "extreme" vacation and move fast. Our plan is to get back to Italy later in life (perhaps with kids) and explore different places.

Shoule we just explore northern Italy: Lakes, Venice, and Tuscany and skip Rome/Almalfi for a first trip? I don't know...I guess I am afraid that we will not get back and I don't want to miss anything.

Can you all please rank your favorites in order and give some pros and cons: Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Tuscan Countryside, Rome, Almalfi Coast.

Thanks!

We've done three trips to Italy - all were 11-17 days in length. One the first trip, we were in munich for a week and then drove to rome for a week. the second was Florence/tuscany/Venice; the third was Venice/Cortina
Bolzano, Riva Del Garda, Milan, Verona and back to Venice (this was the 17 day trip and we drove). we took trains when possible and we are also very ambitious travellers. however, there is just so much to see in each city or area that you'll end up with a blur of memories, nothing specific. I also agree that with transfers, potential strikes, etc, your first itinerary could be too rushed. On the first trip, I'd probably do a rome/tuscany (montalcino or there abouts), Florence. Or, Florence/Tuscany/Venice. Assume you'll lose the first day on the ground to jet lag and the last day packing up and getting back to the airport for departure.

en,

Think of Italy as an all you can eat buffet. If you try to eat it all, you end up sick, and not enjoying any of it.

I'm one of those who has really loved everywhere I've visited in Italy (Florence a little less than all the others, but I would go back).

I also strongly believe in mixing countryside and city time. I think you would really have a great time if you balance your time and don't try to see everything.

Even if you spent 12 weeks, you still wouldn't "see everything." You will return, almost everyone does!

HI En,

> I am afraid that we will not get back and I don't want to miss anything. <

A: You will go back

B: Italy is too big and has too much to see in less than 6 weeks.

C: In two weeks, why not do what millions of others have done before you?

Fly into Venice - 3 or 4 nights
Train to Florence - 4 nights
Train to Rome - 5 nights
Fly home.

After you have seen the Big 3, you can go further afield on your next 4 visits.

Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Tuscan Countryside, Rome, Almalfi Coast.

Coments:
I have only seen Rome (once), Venice (twice), Lake Como (three plus times).

Have not seen: Florence, Tuscany, or Amalfi coast. However, we are looking at a few days in Tuscany for our next trip.

For 12-13 days, I would land in Venice, add Lake Como, then Rome and fly home from Rome. Research Rome and figure out how many days Rome has to have. Then you can timeline your other stops. Also, use city tours and tour guides where offered. They are very efficient.

To travel "extreme" in Italy is not in keeping with its culture. Nevertheless, "la razza" may be done, however, others correctly point out there is so much to soak in in Italy "correre" through Italy is not advised. Everyone goes back!

If you want to travel extreme fly into one city and out of another - like fly into Venice and out of Naples to make your extreme "la razza" work.

IMO, Lake Como and Milan are way out of the way for this trip.

If I wanted to be busy I would consider Venice 3 nights, Rome 5 nights Naples 4 nights.

I'd plan on walking a lot. No shortage of stimulation. If 3 or 4 nights really is too much for you then add Tuscan hill side.

Tuscan Countryside is very nice and relaxing. Much to do and see, enjoy the incredible food and wine and absorb a lifestyle that is 2500 years old.

Amalfi Coast is also gorgeous and may be very relaxing. Scenery out of this world, Capri same, and we have always enjoyed Naples. If you do not want to stay in Naples, check staying in Amalfi, Positano, Ravello rather than Sorrento.

Buon Viaggio - you'll have a great time and if you slow down you may remember some of it ;-)