Any suggestions of things we can't miss along our way would be appreciated. Our plans have been constantly evolving for a couple months now but I think we have finally nailed down at least all our stops and hotels. Now it is just making sure we maximize our short stays along our route.

I received a lot of great tips and information even getting to this point and thank everyone that helped. As I stated in my last thread I know our itinerary is not for everyone, but I think we are very pleased and will enjoy seeing so much...even though I did end up removing our visit to the Lake Como region.

Thanks in advance for any insight that would help us have a truly unforgettable experience. Art galleries would not be high on our list. Food, sights and culture would be our focus.

Here it is:

Friday September 28th, 2012

Day 1 - Sat. 9/29 - Arrive late & stay in Rome
Rome55

Day 2 - Sun. 9/30 Morning in Rome: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps & Pick up car rental at Termini - Travel to Positano
Hotel Maricanto
Day 3 - Mon. 10/1 Positano
Day 4 - Tues. 10/2 Positano

Day 5 - Wed. 10/3 Travel to & stay in Montepulciano
Palazzo Carletti
Day 6 - Thurs. 10/4 Montepulciano: Drive to hill towns
Day 7 - Fri. 10/5 Montepulciano: Cooking class(?)

Day 8 - Sat. 10/6 Travel to & stay in Florence
Grand Hotel Villa Cora
Day 9 - Sun. 10/7 Florence: Day Trek to hike Cinque Terre (8AM-8PM)
Day 10 - Mon. 10/8 Florence: Museo Galileo, Duomo & Boboli Gardens / Dinner at Leo's

Day 11 - Tues. 10/9 Travel to Bevilacqua
Relais Castello Bevilacqua

Day 12 - Wed. 10/10 Travel to Ortisei
Hotel Grones
Day 13 - Thurs. 10/11 Ortisei: Cable car & Hike

Day 14 - Fri. 10/12 Travel from Ortisei to Venice (Return rental car)
Ca' Dei Polo
Day 15 - Sat. 10/13 Venice: Gondola ride and wandering
Day 16 - Sun. 10/14 Early morning - Fly Home

Monday October 15th

You have 15 nights and have changed hotels 7 times. I suggest you drop at least three of those. You are going to be spending your time checking in and out of hotels and traveling between them.

I assume you've been to Rome before since you haven't allowed any time there?

Craig,

I don't remember if I already mentioned this but one of my highlights for the southern Tuscany area was visiting Sant' Antimo for the Gregorian chants. It' just outside Montalcino.

Personally I would choose that and more hilltowns over a cooking class. I would choose a cooking class ona longer visit!

Sounds like a fun trip. More of a drive by than I would do, but my first trip to Italy was a whirlwind and I loved it. Wouldn't do it again though!

You aren't seeing Rome's most important sites, The Forum, Colisseum, Vatican and St. Peter's to name a few. Give Rome more days as you'll be jet lagged on arrival day. I love the Dolomites but they are so far north; save them for another trip.

If you haven;t already seen a lot of Rome - you have left yourself without any time to see it. And after that whirlwind is a kind description of your itinerary.

IMHO in the time you have you should stay in no more than 4 hotels (go from the airport to your first stop instead of wasting half a day hanging around Rome) and cut way back on the day trips.

Italy is about la dolce vita - what you have planned is a mad rush with no time at all to relax and understand what Italian life is about.

Although I could never do that type of trip (I like to "experience" a place, rather than "see" it) I will offer 2 suggestions. In Positano, book a tour with Christine of www.discoverpositano.com. In your 1 day in Florence, have lunch at Sostanza.

Any other things I could recommend would require you spending more than 1 day in any particular place.

Thanks for the advice ky, but we are good with the changes and travel, it is part of our experience and something we enjoy. We have not been to Rome but do not have a desire to do it this trip. We hope to return in a few years when our kids are a little older and introduce them to Rome and all it's history.

Thanks Dayle, I have seem some shorter cooking classes and thought maybe one that was a couple hours would be cool, but had not decided for sure. I will look into the Gregorian chants.

I agree with the others about whirlwind pace. Unless you just dislike churches and museums, it looks like you are leaving out all the important ones.

In Venice, I would save the gondola for the evening, between 6-7:30, depending on the time of sunset. It will be cooler, it's nice to have a gondola ride at dusk, and that will free up more time for sight-seeing during the day.