Ciao. My mom and i r visiting italy for the 2nd time. We have visited sicily and rome. We have 14 days and want to see as much as possible. We are looking at may 22- june 3, or there abouts. Your books are fab and we would love to do your "italys best 3 week train/bus trip" but want to do it in 2 weeks! We could eliminate rome, milan and poss the dolomites, wanting verona. We love the rest of that itinerary. What would u suggest? We are flying from jfk, ny.
Thank you so much
Susan
Keep in mind this forum is talking to other travellers not Rick Steves so it is easier and quicker for us to answer if you spell out your itinerary rather than hope people look it up
Susan,
If you could provide more information on the places you want to see in Italy, it would be easier to offer more specific suggestions. I don't know what the "best 3 week train/bus trip" consists of but I'd forget that and just tell the group here which parts of Italy you want to see.
Fly in and out Milan. Alitalia is showing $888 rt, although maybe Emirates will start another price war and get that down.
From Milan Malpensa head to Verona by way of Milano Centrale Verona and spend a night, all by train. Next morning, train to Venice. I see it looking something like this:
Verona 1 night
Venice 3 nights
Florence 4 nights, day trip to Siena by bus
Cinque Terre 3 nights, stop for a few hours in Pisa on the way if you want to visit the Tower
Varenna 3 nights
Fly home
Adjust the number of nights to suit you. All of these are connected by frequent trains.
Although there are many additional places in northern Italy that I really enjoyed, I think what Sam has laid out would make a very, very nice trip.