italy on our own

I've lost count of my visits to Italy, but they've always been planned and executed on our own...no TA involved anywhere. The first think you need to do is firm your dates, buy airfare (either into/out of the same city, or into one city and home from another). Then you can start planning the cities you want to visit during your time there.

Get the airfare nailed down first. Buying train tickets from Florence SMN to Venice is absolutely no problem.

We have been to Italy 4 times and never had a agent, only good ole Rick Steve's books. It was pretty nerve racking to travel in Sicily, because he has no book for that part of Italy. Just plan as much as you can and "go with the flow". We were in our late 60's early 70's when we started.

We have traveled to Italy 16 times, starting in 1984. Initially we bought tickets through an agent, but not in the past 20 years or so. It's really easy to plan a trip now with the internet. If you are not familiar with sites such as skyscanner, autoeurope, and booking.com (there are many others) let us know. Folks here will be more than happy to help you. I do suggest you not buy anything until you check back with the very experienced travelers here.
I have to disagree with the idea of buying flight tickets first. To me, it makes more sense to plan your itinerary; then get flights, especially if you're going to do open-jaw.

My first thought is that if you are set on including the Amalfi Coast, why not fly into Naples? You can get from the airport there to Sorrento by bus. 10 euros/pp, 1 hour. The drive from Florence is long, and a car is fairly useless when you're there. Or, put this segment at the end of your trip, and fly home from Naples.
If you put Tuscan explorations after Venice and Florence, you'll avoid paying for parking while in those cities. If that's the final leg of your trip, you should check out return flights from Pisa, Florence, Milan, and Bologna.

Consolidating this post from duplicate thread:

Posted by Brad
Gainesville, VA
07/05/16 12:39 PM

8297 posts

As you develop your itinerary. I'd probably start by flying into Florence, spend the time you want there. Train to Venice, then train just to the mainland to pick up a rental and drive through the dolomites then down through Verona and into Tuscany. You didn't say your dates, this depends on you being there when it's nice weather. I wouldn't drive through in the winter. Either way, I wouldn't back track to Florence to get your car. If nothing else, train to Siena and start from there.

Have you driven in Italy before? I've driven through without a scratch, or a ticket, but it is pretty crazy in the cities and very tight in small towns - fun if you have the right outlook, scary if not.

If you have a total of 2 weeks and 2 days then I would look at dividing your time as such ...
Venice - 3 nights
Florence & Tuscany - 5 nights
Amalfi Coast - 4 nights
Rome - 4 nights
Note that it is best to do these areas as 4 distinct visits, and a car will only be advantageous for Tuscany.
Book 'open jaw' (multi city) air tickets, arriving Venice and departing Rome or Naples.

Just a little input. I planned our first (and many others since) trip by ourselves to Italy, Germany and Austria. It was a 4 week trip. I started planning then felt so overwhelmed I almost gave up! But, this forum was a great help! I read the posts all the time, asked my own questions, read RS book and took it step by step. I personally think you can plan a trip far better than any TA can because you get to chose exactly what your likes/dislikes are. You personalize everything down to the little B & B or inn you chose. I spend hours (but that is my style) and could never take that time in planning someones else's trip. It is easy, and yet it isn't. Just take it a step at a time, read all you can, and ask the questions you have along the way.

Good luck!

We love Italy and have been there many times. I think if you plan to visit Venice, Florence and Rome, with the Naples area as well, stick to rail travel. I have driven in Italy and found that the tolls on the auto strata (interstate) are very high. Also, fuel is very expensive. If you want to visit Tuscany, like Siena, take a tour or at best rent a car for the day.

Also, we love the Hotel Balestei in Florence. It is on the Arno, near city center and great little hotel.

Also, I would spend more than four days in Rome. It takes two days just to see the Vatican.