Please help with Italy first trip itinerary
Jan 17th, 2006, 01:22 PM
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Please help with Italy first trip itinerary
I am in the process of planning a trip to Italy for my husband and myself; this is the first trip to Italy for both of us. I would like some feedback on the itinerary I have put together. After reading some of your posts on this site, however, I think you all may say we are trying to do too much (and perhaps we are!) I suppose there is some sense of “urgency” in wanting to do as much as possible in Italy, as we are planning on starting a family soon and there are so many places in the world to which we want to travel. We have that feeling that we don’t know when/if we will ever make it back. That being said, honest feedback is appreciated!
Some details: 1. Our airfare is booked. 2. We will be traveling in June, and we will fly into Rome and out of Venice. 3. We realize that we will not even begin to scrape the surface, but we really do want to see the things I have listed here. While we don’t mind moving around and we are both very active people, we do also want some time to just “soak up” the surroundings and people. Thanks in advance. I really appreciate your insights!
Day 1
Arrive in Rome in morning
Explore and get acclimated
Day 2
Coloseum, Pantheon, Forum, etc.
Day 3
Vatican/Sistine Chapel
Day 4
Bus to Sorrento
Day 5
Explore Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
Day 6
Train to Florence
Day 7
Uffizi Gallery
Accademia
Day 8
Guided day tour of Siena/San Gimignano
Day 9
Visit Pisa in the morning (then back to Florence in afternoon)
Day 10
Train to Venice
St. Mark’s Basilica
Day 11
Fly home from Venice
Some details: 1. Our airfare is booked. 2. We will be traveling in June, and we will fly into Rome and out of Venice. 3. We realize that we will not even begin to scrape the surface, but we really do want to see the things I have listed here. While we don’t mind moving around and we are both very active people, we do also want some time to just “soak up” the surroundings and people. Thanks in advance. I really appreciate your insights!
Day 1
Arrive in Rome in morning
Explore and get acclimated
Day 2
Coloseum, Pantheon, Forum, etc.
Day 3
Vatican/Sistine Chapel
Day 4
Bus to Sorrento
Day 5
Explore Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
Day 6
Train to Florence
Day 7
Uffizi Gallery
Accademia
Day 8
Guided day tour of Siena/San Gimignano
Day 9
Visit Pisa in the morning (then back to Florence in afternoon)
Day 10
Train to Venice
St. Mark’s Basilica
Day 11
Fly home from Venice
Jan 17th, 2006, 01:29 PM
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Wow. That's a lot. Hope you planned a vacation after your vacation.
But seriously, you could easily spend your time in just Rome, Florence, and Venice and not see nearly everything. If it were me, I'd skip Sorrento this round. I'm not sure I'd visit Siena AND San G AND Pisa either. And I'd find more room for Venice.
But that's me.
But seriously, you could easily spend your time in just Rome, Florence, and Venice and not see nearly everything. If it were me, I'd skip Sorrento this round. I'm not sure I'd visit Siena AND San G AND Pisa either. And I'd find more room for Venice.
But that's me.
Jan 17th, 2006, 01:30 PM
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Hi Molly,
I suggest that you:
Skip Sorrento this trip. Add one day to Rome and one to Venice.
Skip Pisa. Add the time to Venice.
Your current itinerary will leave you frazzeled and unhappy with Rome. It will also leave you far too little time in Venice.
You will go back. Save Pisa for when you take the kids.
Save Sorrento and the AC for when you get some vacation time without the kids.
Have a lovely visit.
I suggest that you:
Skip Sorrento this trip. Add one day to Rome and one to Venice.
Skip Pisa. Add the time to Venice.
Your current itinerary will leave you frazzeled and unhappy with Rome. It will also leave you far too little time in Venice.
You will go back. Save Pisa for when you take the kids.
Save Sorrento and the AC for when you get some vacation time without the kids.
Have a lovely visit.
Jan 17th, 2006, 01:31 PM
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You are basically losing two days to travel for a single day on the Amalfi Coast.
I would suggest that you leave out the Amalfi Coast on this trip and allocate one of the three days to Rome and the other two to Venice.
And I would advise you to leave out Pisa. It really, truly is not worth the time when you have so little of it.
I would suggest that you leave out the Amalfi Coast on this trip and allocate one of the three days to Rome and the other two to Venice.
And I would advise you to leave out Pisa. It really, truly is not worth the time when you have so little of it.
Jan 17th, 2006, 01:41 PM
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Yes, what you are saying makes sense, and this is what I suspected. My husband will kill me for making changes again (I am a perpetual planner), but I think that cutting out Sorrento is best for our sanity and enjoyment of Italy! If we make that change, should we spend a night in Siena or another Tuscan town, or would you recommend 4N Rome, 4N Florence, 2N Venice, with just the day trip in Tuscany? I am feeling less anxious already! Thanks!
Jan 17th, 2006, 02:17 PM
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Unless you're some sort of Renaissance art and architecture groupie, I'd suggest 4 nights Rome, 2 Florence, and 4 Venice.
If you really can only spare one day for Venice, I'd skip it and give it more time on your next trip.
If you really can only spare one day for Venice, I'd skip it and give it more time on your next trip.
Jan 17th, 2006, 02:34 PM
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Hi molly, your airfare is booked and you will be flying into Rome and out of Venice. That is good.
My vote goes for the itinerary Rufus suggested or 5 nights Rome and 3 nights Venice with the 2 nights in Florence. Depending on your interest of course.
Molly, the one way to not enjoy Italy is to spend half of the time there travelling from area to area. You will be back, no doubt with your children when you have them. BTW, Italy is a wonderful place to visit with children.
Do give yourself the time to enjoy each spot you are at in Italy. You want to come home happy and relaxed not tired, stressed and overwhelmed. I have had friends and family members that have arrived home in that kind of mood and it always makes me feel so sad for them. Just my thinking. Best wishes to you.
My vote goes for the itinerary Rufus suggested or 5 nights Rome and 3 nights Venice with the 2 nights in Florence. Depending on your interest of course.
Molly, the one way to not enjoy Italy is to spend half of the time there travelling from area to area. You will be back, no doubt with your children when you have them. BTW, Italy is a wonderful place to visit with children.
Do give yourself the time to enjoy each spot you are at in Italy. You want to come home happy and relaxed not tired, stressed and overwhelmed. I have had friends and family members that have arrived home in that kind of mood and it always makes me feel so sad for them. Just my thinking. Best wishes to you.
Jan 17th, 2006, 04:19 PM
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Thanks, everyone, for your replies. Given your feedback, I have changed our itinerary to reflect:
Rome - 4 nights
Florence - 3 nights
Venice - 3 nights
I think this will be perfect. This will give us an excuse to go back for Amalfi Coast!
Rome - 4 nights
Florence - 3 nights
Venice - 3 nights
I think this will be perfect. This will give us an excuse to go back for Amalfi Coast!
Jan 17th, 2006, 07:19 PM
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Molly,
The great advice given by others (most of whom have far more travel experience than I do) is worth it's weight in gold.
My wife and I went to Italy in September 2004. We only had nine nights on the ground, and I first was inclined to spend three each in Rome, Florence and Venice. The advice I received from some of the same people who have offered it to you was to "slow down" a bit and enjoy things more. We took the advice and spent five nights in Rome and 4 in Venice.
This turned out to be the best vacation either of us have ever had - due in large measure to the "slowing down" we did. This is a lesson that will not be lost on future trips.
Enjoy Italy - it's great. Sit and sip espresso - watch the world go by - eat gelato - watch the world go by - you get the idea ...
- dwz
The great advice given by others (most of whom have far more travel experience than I do) is worth it's weight in gold.
My wife and I went to Italy in September 2004. We only had nine nights on the ground, and I first was inclined to spend three each in Rome, Florence and Venice. The advice I received from some of the same people who have offered it to you was to "slow down" a bit and enjoy things more. We took the advice and spent five nights in Rome and 4 in Venice.
This turned out to be the best vacation either of us have ever had - due in large measure to the "slowing down" we did. This is a lesson that will not be lost on future trips.
Enjoy Italy - it's great. Sit and sip espresso - watch the world go by - eat gelato - watch the world go by - you get the idea ...
- dwz
Jan 18th, 2006, 07:39 AM
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There is one issue to be careful of when planning to visit the Uffizi Museum and the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy. I once visited the Gallery in the morning and planned to do the Uffizi in the afternoon. As it turned out, the Uffizi was closed in the afternoon but the Gallery was open both morning and afternoon. If I had known, I would have planned my itinerary in the reverse order. Also, be advised of "reposo" where museums close at 12:30 pm and often do not reopen until 2:00 or sometimes 3:00. This was my experience several years ago so someone who has been there more recently could advise if this tradition is still being observed.
Jan 18th, 2006, 08:20 AM
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Molly,
My wife and I visited Italy in September, spent 3 nights each in Rome and Florence.I would definitely suggest that you arrange a driver and guide there. They will take you to the front of the lines and we did your days 2 & 3 in 1 day and they will help you plan out the rest of your visits. You should also plan on having a tour guide for the Uffizi and Accademia, otherwise you may spend your whole day in lines
My wife and I visited Italy in September, spent 3 nights each in Rome and Florence.I would definitely suggest that you arrange a driver and guide there. They will take you to the front of the lines and we did your days 2 & 3 in 1 day and they will help you plan out the rest of your visits. You should also plan on having a tour guide for the Uffizi and Accademia, otherwise you may spend your whole day in lines
Jan 18th, 2006, 09:42 AM
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Thanks for the tips about doing Uffizi Museum and the Accademia Gallery in the same day. We are planning on making advance reservations, so hopefully that will help. I really appreciate all the feedback, and I will be sure to show all of your comments to my hubby (who was reluctant to change the trip!)
Molly
Molly
