16 day itinerary for northern/central Italy, plus Paris

Ashley, My first impression in reading your proposed Itinerary is that it would be a good idea to add time to Siena and Orvieto, and perhaps take day trips to the "random hill towns". IMO, that would be preferable to changing locations so frequently. Rather than take a night train to Paris, I'd suggest heading for Rome and using an EasyJet flight from FCO to ORY. It will not only be much quicker (flight time about 2H:05M), but probably cheaper as well (flights currently shown as low as €49.49 PP). Orvieto is only about an hour from Rome, so it's relatively easy to get to FCO. The Guidebooks have good suggestions for "cheap, comfortable, well-located hotels or B&Bs". You should be able to find copies at your local Library. A few hotels you could consider.... > C.T. - Villa Steno > Siena - Albergo Bernini > Orvieto - Hotel Corso > Paris - Hotel Duquesne Eiffel or Hotel Muguet As you'll be driving in Italy, note that each driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. Failure to produce an I.D.P. if requested can result in fines on the spot! You can easily obtain an I.D.P. at any AAA office for a small fee (Passport photos required). You'll also need to be aware of the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in Italy. Passing through these zones can result in expensive fines! Recent posts here would seem to indicate that authorities in Italy are becoming more aggressive in collecting the fines from foreign drivers and there may also be charges from the rental car firm for providing renter information to law enforcement. Happy travels!

Ashley: Your main trip is to Italy, with Paris as a sideline trip. 8 places in 16 days is a pretty fast moving trip, especially since Italy has so much history, art, architecture, culture and food to digest. Remember you're losing a day on front and back end dealing with airports and jet lag. Have you considered flying open jaw'd into Venice and out of Rome; dropping Paris? You'd probably be changing planes on the U.S. East Coat. My suggestions: 1. Venice 2 nights 2. Train to Cinque Terre 3 nights 3. Train to Florence 4 nights; take a day trip by bus down to Siena. (Siena is a very congested city with poor parking.) 4. Rent a Hertz car @ 60 Sansovino, Florence (as you leave town,) and move south into Tuscany (20-30 miles) to an agriturismo for 3-4 nights. Do day trips visiting Volterra, San Gimignano and other hill top cities. 5. Drive the 75 miles down to Orvieto. Visit that hill top town and the incredible Civita a few miles southwest of Orvieto. 6. Drop your rental car across the street from the Orvieto train station and take the train into Rome. (I'd hate for you to be so close to Rome and not take in some sights you missed last time you were there.) 7. Fly out of Rome FCO on a mid day flight. (Don't fly out early @ FCO.) If Rome is out of the question, you also could fly from Rome to Paris and return from there.
Sometimes trips are better if they're taken just a little slower. An agriturismo is a good change of pace in the middle of a fast moving trip.

Thanks for these suggestions! We decided to connect in Paris instead of the east coast because that will get us home on Monday by 2p. Connecting at JFK or ATL didn't put us back to Cincy until around 11p. We were thinking of the overnight train to save on a hotel room as well, but I'll explore the flight from Rome to Paris. Thanks again!

Thanks again for the advice. We are going to do the following: Venice - 2 nights Cinque Terre - 3 nights Florence - 3 nights (possible day trip by bus to Siena) (pick up rental car when we head to Tuscany) Tuscany - 3 nights Umbria - 3 nights (drop rental off before train to Rome) Rome - 2 nights
Fly home