1st visit to Italy, should we scoot over to French Riviera while we're ther

I would save Fr Riveria for another trip while in France. Lake Como area is not to be missed. Milan warrants one day for hi pts. Fr. Riveria is jammed packed with places to see and lots to do. It is also crowded and takes lots of time to get around in summer. I spent 5 days in Fr Rivera in summer 2007 and i was very busy seeing as much as possible but still missed St Tropez.

Nice is not so close - probably at least 4 hour by train to Nice from the CT. You're already going to be spending a lot of your trip on the train.

There are more than enough beautiful, fantastic areas to see in Italy. I would not worry about Nice at this time -- relax and enjoy Italy.

Someone in my travel group made a quick trip from CT to France, just to go. I'd say No. It's a long train ride. (But I haven't been to France.)

The CT for 3 or 4. I haven't been to the others, but I'd love to go! Enjoy yourself! The CT is very relaxing and beautiful.

Last time I traveled with a baby, he didn't sleep well. He was 6 months! Oh, I just noticed you're in Atlanta! I'm planning a trip to Germany in July!

Ashley, I have to agree with comments from the others, in that perhaps Nice would be better left for a future visit (as Rick says "assume you will return"). With such a very short visit, using perhaps 8 hours (basically a full day) for travel back and forth to Nice would be a waste of valuable vacation time.

Regarding your other stops, unless there's a lot you want to see in Milan, I'd suggest maybe one or two days there (or drop Milan entirely and spend the time in Varenna or Bellagio). You'll have to allow for some travel time between locations, depending on which places you choose.

As you'll be travelling with a baby, limiting your stays rather than moving every day or two is probably a good idea (I can vaguely remember what that was like!).

Happy travels!

You mention Como/Bergamo. I've not been there, but I know the lakes are beautiful. (We'll probably go there when we're in Milan later this year.) I'd certainly suggest the lake region over just catching a glimple of France in Nice. You won't catch much of a glimpse anyway. Another possibility would be to spend a little time in Verona and/or Padua on your way to Venice. They're on the Milan-Venice train route, so you wouldn't have to go out of your way. Or, from Pisa you could hop over to Lucca, or, if you want to go a little farther afield--but not nearly so far as Nice, you could do a couple nights in Florence. We Americans often get caught up in "seeing as much as possible" and forget that this approach to travel doesn't allow us to really get familiar with the culture we're visiting. As a rule, neither does this approach allow much opportunity to relax, savor, and reflect.

I know there are many people who love the French Riviera. I did not even like it! We were planning on being there for 3 nights last June and it was so crowded we left after one night! Nice was not nice as far as I am concerned.

Personally, I wanted to concentrate on one country at a time and did not go to other countries that seemed close by. I have not seen the French Riviera, but I'd have to assume it wouldn't be a whole lot different of a view than the Italian Riviera. The Sea is the Sea; it's all beautiful. But I think I'd keep the variety and see the Italian Riviera, and then head for the Lake.

When you get there you will find, as we did, that there is just too much to see in Italy to try and get in the south of France. Besides, that area along with a few nights in Paris is a much better combination for another trip. I'd recommend starting in Rome for three nights, then on to Florence for three or four nights based on what you want to see (possibly a side trip to Siena).

Venice/Milan/The CT??? I think you have to chose two of the three based on their location. Milan would be one of them because it in the middle, and if it's relaxation you want, go to the CT after Florence, and then Milan. Try to fly open-jaw into Rome and out of Milan, or the reverse if you choose Venice over the CT. We did the CT last and took the night train from Milan to Paris which worked out well. We did NOT make it to Venice during our 10 days in Italy, but did the rest of what I described. Obviously what your baby can handle will have to factor into the decision, but as others have said, more nights in a single location will make it easier on all of you.

Best of luck with your trip. It will be wonderful, and don't worry if you miss something. After the first few days you'll already be thinking about the return trip.