Traveling in Italy
 

My wife and I are planning to spend 18 days in Italy in early May starting in Venice and working our way down to the Amalfie Coast. The idea is to travel by rail and stay over at night in each of the different destinations. The idea is that we would spend the following days in each of the following places -
Venice 2
Bologna 1
Florence 2
Pisa 1
Rome 3
Naples/Capri/Sorrento 3
Amalfie Coast 5
Has anyone got any better ideas for us regarding where we are going and the method of travel. We might hire a car when we get to the Amalfie Coast. Any suggestions on value for money, good accommodation along the way? What are the not so obvious highlights of each of the places that we are visiting including nice local restaurants? We are experienced travelers so will not be booking anything in advance other than Venice and would love suggestions for a great place to stay there as we would like to book this one hotel as we will be arriving from Amsterdam and don't want to have to bother looking for our first nights accommodation.

Eliminate the night in Pisa as you can easily visit from Florence.

I'm not a big fan of changing hotels as often as you are planning. Given the relative proximity of Bologna and Pisa to Florence, and the advent of higher speed trains, my recommendation would be to drop the overnights in both of those cities and spend 4 nights in Florence, or add one night to Venice.

You could stop by Bologna on the way from Venice to Florence. You can also make an easy 1/2 to 1 day trip to Pisa by train.

Wow---you must like to change hotels!
Here is what I would do:

Venice--3
Florence--4[with day trips to Pisa and Siena]
Rome--4
Naples--4[ with day trips to POmpeii and Capri]
AC---4

I would end in Rome if you fly home from there.
I would have reservations at each city.

I'm surprised that experienced travelers would want to hop around to so many different places, some of which are in close proximity to each other, without reservations. On those 1-night stops I imagine you'll be spending as much time seeking out accommodation as you will in touring. I think Bob's itinerary makes a lot more sense.

I vote with Bob!

Agree. May in Italy is already fairly busy and with your plan you will spend half your time finding lodging.

Bob's plan looks pretty good to me as well. I'm all for being able to change plans as you go but May in Italy is not the best time to be looking for lodging for a few nights.

Amalfi Coast by car? Parking nightmares in season? Bumper to bumper traffic on only coastal road?

boats go between all key Amalfi cities in season and buses run 2-3 times or more an hour along the coast.

5 days in Amalfi is sweet for those who like to sit in an old town and soak up the dolce vita but for others it would be boring

i'd add a day each myself to Venice, Florence and Rome and combine the Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi thing all together into five days. Sorrento makes if not the dreamiest base the most practical from which to hop along the Amalfi and also to Capri, Ischia, Naples and Pompeii and perhaps Mt Vesuvius

I can't imagine having nothing booked in advance (I wouldn't want to spend precious vacation time trouping around looking for a hotel in each new city); I personally would hate moving around so much, with such a short time in each place.

For good value for your money I'd do a lot of research online and book in advance (or at least have a short-list going in of places you would want to stay, if available).

Without knowing your budget, for Venice these two are highly recommended:

www.lacalcina.com/
www.locandaorseolo.com/

ritchie67:

If you're traveling in early May, you better act now if you plan to (and should) make hotel reservations. Someone, for example, has mentioned La Calcina and Locanda Orseolo, two popular choices in Venice. I made my reservation for the latter a month ago, and La Calcina could only offer me a variety of different rooms for my stay. By now, both may be completely booked, as might other desirable hotels, not just in Venice but in Florence as well.

Other Fodorites are right in discouraging you from doing as much hotel hopping as you initially planned. Right now your itinerary sounds like something constructed by a tour group.

Richie,

I completely agree with Bob's itinerary. My exact thoughts were that you needed more time in the major cities and less on the Amalfi Coast area. 8 days there would be MORE than enough, but only 2 days in Venice and 3 in Rome NOT nearly enough.

Highly recommend res in advance!

I am surprised the OP doesn't appear to have come back to comment on the question.

pity about another "one post only, hardly mentions trips except to praise tour operator" ADVERT.

Whoops, Must make clear that the advert I am commenting on is Stevejoels post, and not ritchie67's