Great report! And I'm so glad you included info about Milan, making it seem more accessible than I thought.

Thanks, y'all!

annhig, of course!
kybourbon... there's a thought. :)
elnap, Milan was more accessible than I thought too. I was picturing a crazy big city with lots of traffic, but it actually felt quiet. Not as interesting as somewhere like Rome (to me, based on our limited time), but not intimidating either!

Brava! Your report was so much fun and it really sounds like Italy "grabbed" you as only Italy can! You photos are super as well.

Great report jen! I remember your dilemma about choosing a new hotel on Lake Como, so particularly enjoyed reading that portion. Sounds like you made a good choice based on your interests! Your conclusion about Lake Como was interesting to me: "it doesn't seem like people come here to do things. It seems like they come here to sit and drink wine and look at the lake." Yep, and I loved Lake Como for exactly that reason. However, I visited for the first time when I was around 40 -- it makes me wonder what I would have thought about it when I was 30, and what you'll think about it in 10 years! Anyway, glad you both had a good time, and thanks for sharing your adventure here.

Great report from start to finish! And you are a very talented photographer. Thanks for sharing your trip with everyone here. I look forward to reading and seeing more of your travels.

You might be too late for George.
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...ith-george.cfm

Loved reading your report! We are going to Italy in May 2013, and I can't wait! We are actually neighbors! My husband works in Nashville, and I work in M'boro.

Thanks, all of you!

TD, it did, after those first few days!

MoonGirl, I do think Bellagio was the best choice for us for this trip. I guess it was because we weren't there during the highest season, but Varenna just seemed SO quiet. Even Bellagio was quiet, but since it is more "touristy" there were more options, it seemed like. If I were going back in July or August Varenna might be more appealing, though!

jwood, so funny! I've been here six years and love it.

kybourbon... drat. ;)

Ciao, jent! I had a difficult time finding your trip report but I did find it and I just spent a lovely time reading about all your adventures in Italy.
I will view your pictures while enjoying a glass or two of wine.

Jent, I am so happy to read that your "Last Supper" in Milan pleased you two. I am always hesitant to recommend any restaurant but somehow from your post I thought that you two would enjoy the Ristorante al Mercante. I am relieved and so happy that you did and I loved the story about your arriving early, the server directing you to a table and coming out some minutes later in his spiffy waiter's clothing. You were in my thoughts. That restaurant is very special to me for various reasons and again I am so pleased that it was a good ending to your wonderful time in Italy.

What a lovely report! I'm hoping, hoping, hoping to get back to Italy next year and you've given me some great ideas if we do get this trip off the ground.

jent103, Fantastic trip report.We are going there in just a weeks time and your trip report helps a lot.After reading your trip report I booked our venice connected passes and planning to use the rome cabs from airport to hotel

Loveitaly, the restaurant was wonderful! Thank you so much again for the quick response to that other thread.

cathies and Sarahliz, so glad to have helped! Enjoy your trips so much!

Just found this. Can't wait to read!

Terrific report! And your photos are wonderful. We leave for Rome in 30 days and I am grateful to you for helping me mentally prepare. I will go in "strong" and try to do some additional map study in advance.

I am hoping you have another adventure in the near future. I will be watching for your next report!

Hi - I know this is an old trip report, but I had a question about your rental of the Piazza del Fico apartment. When you say only "warm" water, does this mean the water doesn't get very hot, or you didn't have cold water? also when you say one "not so great" bed - is there anything that could have been done to make it better? was it too soft, too hard or what? I've booked this apartment for May and your review is now making me wonder if I should find a new place. Thanks.

Great trip report...our trip is coming up in a few weeks!

Thanks so much, suz!

Hi Robinista - sorry, I've actually been in Paris for the last week, so I'm just now seeing your question. The water just didn't get super hot - no problems with cold water that I remember. My bed was a little firm but also wasn't even - like one of the supports was off or something. It was just me in there, so I could move around and get comfy, and I don't have back issues or anything so it didn't bother me much. Basically, the positives of the apartment (location!!, layout) far outweighed the negatives *for me*, but if you do have a bad back or anything, it might be a consideration. I'd definitely recommend working with Sleep in Italy either way.

Oh, Robinista - one more thing. As I mentioned above, the apartment is right across from a bar which seemed very popular with the locals. :) I'm a light sleeper, but with my earplugs I was fine, and it was kind of fun to people-watch. If I'd forgotten the earplugs it would have been very noisy. Just something to keep in mind if you're a very light sleeper.

Jent103 - This is a fantastic post! I've printed it off to use as a reference for our trip to Rome at the end of April. How did you find your experience with sleepsinitaly.com? We've rented two apartments with them (one in Rome, one in Florence) - this will be our first experience with them. Thanks so much for all of your info!

parisinspring, I highly recommend Sleep in Italy - they were really great to work with and very responsive before our trip, and everything worked out as they had promised. All the apartments are owned by individuals (the company is a broker of sorts, for lack of a better term), but our owner was very helpful once we got there. I found out about them from various posts here.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the report and honestly jealous that you get to go - I'm just back from Paris myself and, while I had a good time, being in Europe just made me miss London and Italy a LOT. I hope you have a great time!