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1st Time in Italy with toddler: 14 nights- please help

Hi everyone,
My husband and I are traveling to Italy for the 1st time and would love some help with our itinerary. We have an almost 2 year old who will be coming with us. He's traveled with us before and leans on the side of being an "easy" baby.
We went back and forth for quite a while because we were trying to create an itinerary according to how we used to travel and wanted to see Switzerland or Salzburg within our trip. After reading the forums, we dropped that idea.
We love nature/outdoors/natural beauty.
Art is great and want to see the main attractions but don't want to revolve the trip around it. Architecture would be more interesting
We are foodies but don't drink (husband is a vegetarian as well)

Can someone let me know if the following makes sense. Is it too much? What day trips should we do from Rome/Florence/Venice?
I have Marriott and Hilton points so does anyone have a favorite in any of the areas
We figured we would rent a car from Florence to the countryside.
We have booked our flights to fly into Rome and out of Venice. We'll be traveling late April/early May for 14 nights
Day1Wed: arrive Rome 2pm
Day2Thur: Rome
Day3Fri: Rome/Vatican City
Day4Sat:Rome
Day5Sun:Florence
Day6Mon:Florence
Day7Tue:Florence
Day8Wed:Countryside somewhere?
Day9Th:Countryside somewhere?
Day10Fr:Cinque Terre
Day11Sa: Cinque Terre
Day 12Su:Arrive Venice (We are thinking of staying at the JW Marriott for the Venice portion)
Day13Mo:Venice
Day14Tu:Venice
Day15We: 950 Flight

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

Posted by
15591 posts

Rome > Cinque Terre > Tuscany > Florence > Venice works better logistically. You could stay in an agriturismo for 2-3 nights to relax and hike without sightseeing. But if you want to visit Tuscan towns, use the trains and buses and enjoy the scenery between towns without having to find parking outside the historic centers (where access is limited to permit-holders only and fines are very stiff and almost 100% chance you'll get them). And your tot won't be immobilized for long periods. You could stay in Florence and day trip to Siena, San Giminagno, Lucca, Pisa.

I looked at the JW Marriott website. You can barely see Venice in the distant background. It looks like a great place to relax and enjoy a spa vacation. But you won't see Venice.

Posted by
32825 posts

The Molino Stucky is a Hilton. Although on Giudecca it has its own fleet to S Marco and is more convenient than the Marriott.