And yes flying into Venice, train to Florence, train to Rome to fly home is a perfectly nice one week itinerary.

I was not yelling. On my original post I never said I was going to all of those places in a week.
I said I was deciding between, Paris, Athens, Italy. I was looking for input on a 7-8 day trip. What would be the best place to see the most in a short time. No one could see all of that in one week.
I was just trying to decide where to go Milan vs. going right to Paris or Milan and stay a few days or forget Paris and just stay in Italy since I have grown fond of it.
Nothing against you.

Gee you guys are rough on new people. I'll be sure to tell others to just read here and not to post unless they have to or they might get eaten alive!!

YeGlad you think Venice and Florence sounds good. I am still flying in to Milan unless I can connect to Venice, I doubt it. Then out of Rome home. It will be much closer than Milan again. Plus I hear the Milan airport is way out of the way.

Suggesting that you're qualified to be a "heartbeat away" from leader of the western world... is "rough on you"?

I did not say you were rough I said some of you are rough. Hey you brought up the hazing. Admit it, you guys have your own "family" and you really don't like others busting in on your turf.
That's fine I understand. I am new at this. I should stick with ebay huh?

Not at all. Fresh new registrants are the lifeblood of this forum. Without you, we are dangerously close to just talking to ourselves.

Oh yes I have been there. Yes I have.
That's nice. Glad I could help all of you!!

I think new posters may get the impression this is more of a "club" than it is.

Just because a majority happens to agree about how much is reasonaly possible in a short amount of time that doesn't mean we are ganging up against a new poster. Truly you are taking it WAY too personally.

If you enjoy posting and reading and stay here past your trip current trip planning, you will see that is true for yourself.

I am really not taking it personally,
Yes I will stay on. I mean how will I ever get this trip planned if I don't?HA!!!

You guys haven't seen anything yet. I have not even started with hotels yet or sights!! Hotels in 2 cities!!!

Better sit back and grab your tylenol.

or popcorn, It can be entertaining I am told.

With that all being said. I need some ideas for hotels in Venice and Florence.
I have looked at the Savoy. I got a pretty good rate until they told me about a portable wardrobe to make the room have more space?? The room must be a closet I imagine.

I do not need 5 star hotels just nice,clean normal hotels, not budget but in between.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Venice - Florence and a hotel in Rome near the airport or close by. And.. in case a hotel in Milan near the airport. (From what I understand if I have an early flight home from Milan I need to be near the airport)

I am going to try and switch my flight maybe in and out of Rome.
Thanks!!!

Start with www.venere.com or its (sub-selections) little sister website www.eurocheapo.com

I would not advise any hotel in Rome near the airport. Misses the point of being in Rome, and taxis can get you to the airport (especially for early flights, when there is little or no traffic on the roads) very expeditiously.

For Milan, there seems to be split opinions on this; nothing about Milan nightlife (nor even walking around at night) jumps out at me as particularly compelling ... as far as a reason to stay in the city or not.

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34584242

Originally I was going to stay at Le Meridian. I heard great things about it (in Milan) now I am only going to need to stay there if I can't redirect my flight home.

As far as Rome. I hoping to end the trip with Florence and then take the train to Rome early Saturday so I guess we sould have 1 day in Rome and our flight is Sunday morning. I guess the airport is close by so I can stay in the city.

I know I know 1 day in Rome but it will really be just because we are flying out of there. I am not sure if I want to give up a day of Florence for 1 crazy day in Rome. It will be to overwhelming - wanting to see so much in one day.

It will have to wait untill my next trip. I will see what I can for the day we are there.I might even consider taking the train from Florence to Rome Friday evening so then we have all day in Rome on Saturday.

What do most people do with their luggage if they check out of their hotels and are site seeing all day until their trains leave??

Will the hotels store it?

I'll check out that link, thanks.

<Heck, it take an hour once you get TO Venice... to get anywhere IN Venice.>
First of all, I am living in Italy and have been for the past six months. Some general observations I have are:
1. Trains GENERALLY run on time, to the minute. If it is to leave at 14:47, by GOD it will leave then, even here in Italy. If you are to arrive at a certain time, generally you will get there within 10 minutes of the ETA.
2. Travelling to Venice: you arrive at S. Lucia, cross the street, and catch a vaporette. Walking across from San Marco to the Rialto bridge is around 20 minutes.
3. For hotels on a budget, try Venere.com or hostelworld.com. They give a great range of hotels, complete with user critiques.
Happy travels!

Also use tripadvisor.com to check on hotel reviews.

In Venice, I highly recommend Locanda Orseolo. Even reading the reviews on Trip Advisor didn't prepare me for our stays there...magical.

Room #15, Pulcinella, is gorgeous.

Pensione La Calcina in Venice
www.lacalcina.com

Yes hotels will store your luggage.

Also try http://www.veneziasantalucia.it/indexf.cfm
This gives you a site map where there is a left luggage place with its location in the station, hours of operation, and cost. To get there, after you open the page, click on "the station today", and go to "left luggage/lost and found". It will map out everything for you. Hope this helps!

Has anyone ever heard of a hotel called Hotel Davantazi(sp?) in Florence?? It is family owned hotel??

Forget it, I found it on someone's trip report to Florence.
But ..if anyone else has stayed there I welcome and feedback.
Thanks!!!