1st trip to Italy

Brenda, What a fantastic surprise for your husband! Although you indicated what you're not interested in, it would help to have some idea what you do want to see? For such a short time frame, I'd suggest limiting your trip to Rome and north. The "usual" destinations would be Rome, Florence and Venice but with careful planning you could probably fit one or two other locations (ie: Cinque Terre, Siena, Orvieto, Lago di Como). If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd suggest starting by pre-reading Europe Through The Back Door and then having a look at the Italy 2011 Guidebook (I'd pack that along on the trip). The Guidebook has listings for inexpensive and reliable Hotels in the cities you'll likely be visiting, and provides websites and E-mail information. Be sure to allow adequate travel time between locations, taking into account that you'll need to allow time for checking in/out of Hotels, finding the new location and getting settled. If you focus on northern Italy, most of your rail trips will be relatively short. Using open-jaw flights would be a really good idea (perhaps fly inbound Milan and outbound Rome)? The "best" time of year that I prefer is either the spring (May / June) or fall (Sept. / Oct.) shoulder seasons. The weather is usually quite pleasant and while it can be "busy", it's not as crowded and hectic as July and August. Are you located in Lynden (Whatcom County)? You might consider taking a drive to Edmonds and spending a few hours, as you'll be able to use the free Library at ETBD, purchase any Guidebooks you need and perhaps have a short chat with Rick's expert staff. You may also be able to view the videos of Italy from the PBS-TV series. Good luck with your planning!

And what's your travel style? Are you "on-the-go" sunrise till dawn? Pack in all the sights? Or are you "slow and steady" with rest stops and early nights? That will make a difference to how many destinations you can enjoy comfortably. And each hotel change means packing/unpacking, etc., which can eat up a lot of a 10-day itinerary. Even though is really easy to get from place to place by train, it still takes time. I think Venice is the best place to start, where you can enjoy the atmosphere while adjusting to the time change and recuperating from the long-haul flight. And it is one of my favorite cities anywhere. Can you flight open-jaw with your miles? That will certainly make a difference in your route. Time of year - hmmm. I've been in October (very warm, lots of tourists) and February (weather not so great, but the hotel prices were really bargains and not many tourists). I'd say definitely not between June and September (hot and expensive and crowded), and not during holidays - but with a lovely large family you probably aren't considering an Easter or Christmas trip anyway.

Dear Brenda, If you can be time flexible, try to go in late March-early April or late Oct-early Nov. These "shoulder" seasons offer reduced crowds and reduced lodging costs. Have a great trip!

Every question you asked is covered in Rick's Italy book. Buy it, read it cover to cover (even the places you think you're not interested in) then come back here if you need more specific questions answered.

Hi Brenda, I sent you a private message so make sure you check your box!

Coming from Seattle you'll leave on day and arrive the next, probably very tired, so figure that into your planning.

As a frequent traveler in Italy I suggest you use venere.com and tripadvisor.com to find hotel accommodations once you select the cities in your itinerary. Each site will provide countless hotels, pricing, map locations, and client reviews by people who actually stayed there. You could also look at other travel books to cross-reference info. Buon viaggio,

First, good for you! This could be a wonderful experience for you guys. But are you sure your husband wouldn't want to be in at least a little on the planning? I'm assuming by "surprise trip" you mean you're going to plan it all on your own and then just take him to the airport. Maybe consider getting his input at least on the main places to go, then you can plan out the details. On the other hand, he might really love having someone else do all the planning and then just go along for the ride. Obviously you know him best. As for your questions, I think the best times of year to visit are May-June and September. And the standard first trip is Rome-Florence-Venice for a good reason. Definitely get the RS Italy book and read it cover to cover. Good luck and have a great trip.

When to go, where to go, etc. Sounds like you need more information than anyone can supply in a few paragraphs. The RS book is an excellent resource, or if you prefer talking to somebody then a great trip consultant is just a few clicks away. Go to http://www.ricksteves.com/about/consulting.htm