Am I crazy??

If it's beach time your son wants, I would scrub Cinque Terre completely and add a couple of days to Venice. They've got a beach there on the Lido. Cut out all that travel time.

Sure it's doable, as long as you do not have any premonitions about getting to fully experience each city. If you just want to get a basic experience of each place, as you have mentioned, then this can work. Just be prepared to want to come back to spend more time in the future!

I'm not clear. Are you arriving in Prague on the 14th, or is that the date you were set to leave Prague?

Either way, it sounds like it's verging on a bit too crazy, mostly due to so much transportation involved. I would maybe pick two of those three. It's still a bit rushed then, but if you're up for it, then that's great!

We are arriving in Prague on the 14th. I have not booked a flight to Italy yet. I can fly non-stop to Milan for $97.00, on July 16 or 17. Then I have no plans, other than my son wants beach time, and I thought it would be great to at least sample a bit of Venice and Florence, to get a taste for future travel another day. I am afraid I am going to regret not seeing Venice and Florence...

Any recommendations on where to stay in Cinqe terra, and is 4 days too much to spend there?
Many thanks!

Wow - for $97.00 can I come with you? Have a great trip!

Hi Laura,

We will be in Italy in September and are kind of doing a reverse version of what you want to do. We will be in Venice for 4 nights then take a train to Florence - the cost is $99.00 for a 1st class ticket. From Florence we go to Rome (but you could easily just go to Cinque Terre)via the train and the cost of that is $97.00 for 1st class, pick up a rental car and then off to Siena and Cinque Terre for 4 nights. We are staying at a gorgeous villa (www.villainlirici.com) that is overlooks the Bay of Poets (has a swimming pool, etc) and is about a half hour from Cinque Terre - the prices are excellent!!! When we leave Cinque Terre from La Spezia we are taking the train to Milan to fly home and it is costing us $40.00 for a 1st class seat.

Like I said it is a reverse of what you want but I know that to get from Florence to La Spezia would not be a big deal at all. You may want to rent a car in Florence and drive to Cinque Terre - you can drop it off in La Spezia prior to taking the train back to Milan.

Why not fly into Marco Polo airport and start there ending in Milan. We are staying at another cute apartment - let me know if you want those details.

Hope that this helps you even a little!!!

SkyEurope flies from Prague to Venice-Treviso airport for fares ranging from 25-44 Euros everyday except.....Tuesday.

I'm not really sure of your schedule but spending a day and a half in Florence is ok for a quick trip, the same with Venice. It's not an ideal choice of corse but you can certainly see quite a bit.

For where to stay in the Cinque Terre, I had a good experience with Mar Mar rental agency in Riomaggiore. Use the accommodation request and they will email you back with what is available.

To be honest, I would cut one day off of the CT and add it to Venice.

^^I agree with Michael.
Fly out of Prague to Venice (3 days), visit nearby Jesolo for the beach (1 day),then head to Florence (3 days), and finally back to Milan for your departure.

Thank you for all of the replies. It seems I am traveling at the busiest time, as most all places tried in CT are booked. I am not looking in to the longer Venice, beach day, Florence stay instead.

Italy bound, hotel or no hotel!!