4 nights after Rome. Venice or Lucca or Lake Garda?

What mosquitoes? Been many times, never saw any in Venice.

1. Rome. A week in Rome is a long time (IMO at least). Consider day trip(s) to somewhere within a reasonable distance (e.g. Tivoli, Ostia Antica, Orvieto, Naples, Pompeii etc. all of which are within 1-2 hours by public transit). 2. Venice. You don't need to spend all 4 nights in Venice. Go there early (4 hours via high speed train from Rome) and you can spend one or two nights. Mosquitos will be a problem everywhere in Italy if you go in summer. If price is an issue, consider staying in Venezia Mestre or Padua, in the mainland. Just minutes away with very frequent regional trains. 3. You can spend two of the 4 nights in Verona or Lake Garda (close to each other) after you depart from Venice. Verona/Lake Garda are just over an hour West of Venice by train. Not having a car at the lake is not such a big problem. There is plenty of bus service around the lake. Grocery stores are in every town within walking distance from hotels within the town, therefore no need for taxis. Camping without a car would me more of a problem since campground tend to be outside of the towns. Besides why do you want to lug around Italy the camp gear for just a few nights? Unless you travel in July/August, hotels/B&B won't be that expensive. 4. If you opt for Tuscany, Lucca, albeit very pretty, is not the best choice as a base from a logistical point of view. Pisa or Florence are the two transportation hubs and would be better suited as a base for day tripping. Day tripping from Lucca with public transit is not optimal.

When are you going? That makes a huge difference. We've been to Venice three times (once in September and twice in May). Never saw mosquitoes.

We have been to Venice in the months of Sept, Oct and Nov and never saw a mosquito. I would opt for Venice, there is nothing like staying on the island itself and it will be a trip to remember! also, for a first trip to Rome, it's better to take your time and not rush, then you'll have time to enjoy the atmosphere in Rome rather than just go from sight to sight. Have a Great trip

We are going in June. I was told to pack a mosquito net to sleep under. That they are really bad there. If we get an apartment in Venice what are some inexpensive dining options besides making our own dinner and breakfast? The Vaporetto is pretty expensive when you have to multiply everything by 6. So I think we will be doing a lot of walking.

A mosquito net? Are you going to Italy or Florida? Actually mosquitoes may be a problem anywhere you go, except for high in the mountains, however I wouldn't bother with carrying a mosquito net.
Just buy a clip on bug repellent at a store here (you can clip it to your belt). and ask your hotel for a little VAPE burner and some tablets. They are very popular in Italy, so I'm sure they have some to lend you at the hotel. http://www.vape.com/en/schede_prodotto/piastrine_30.html

Have been to Venice in April and in August - no mozzies! Or at least if they were there they kept away from me and I am like you - I attract them. I think they need still water to hatch their eggs - the canals and lagoon are not still. Stay in Venice - there are cheaper hotels than those around San Marco and hostels. Vaporettos are reasonable if you buy a pass - check the website by googling Vaporetto or Rick's Italy or Venice Guides. Lots of good info on Venice on the web. But you can walk everywhere on the Island - as everyone says on this site - get off the main streets and piazzas and get lost in Venice. There are some interesting restaurants in the back alleyways - a couple of supermarkets if you want to do it yourself and of course the Rialto Market for fresh fruit, veggies and seafood. If you choose to rent an apartment and have a kitchen. Robert's suggestion for Padua is a good one - a nice city with lots to see and about half-an-hour or so by by train from Venice. Mestre perhaps not so much - pretty industrialized. I would say three days in Venice and then maybe Lucca, Sienna or the lakes. I personally liked Lucca a lot as it is perhaps less touristy and it is handy for a quick trip to Pisa by train.

You can buy pizza pretty cheap on the streets. Even sitting at a restaurant that is casual and getting pizza is reasonable. Soda is expensive, even water you pay for, so keep that in mind. Love, love, love Venice! I've heard it can be hot and crowded in summer, even too hot to be packed into a vaporetto, so walking might be nicer anyway. Just stroll away from the crowds and you will love it. There is nothing like Venice!

Either Lake Garda or Venice would be a nice four day stay. I wouldn't choose Lucca. It's really not that great, unless you're in a wheel chair and can't negotiate a real hill town (it's flat).

Thank you for all the replies! I booked our apartment in Venice this morning. 4 nights in the Jewish Ghetto. It's just easier with 6 people to stay in one location for multiple nights. Than 2 nights in Venice and 2 in Verona.

The Gheto (one 't' only in Venetian dialect) is great. Also very close to the Santa Lucia station so you can do Verona or Padua or Vicenza or even Lake Garda as a day trip. By the way the word Ghetto was borrowed from the Italian and it comes from the Venetian dialect, 'gheto'. That is the name of that island in Venice where the Jews first settled. The etymology of the word is probably from the Venetian 'geto' (foundry). Apparently in that area there were several foundries, centuries ago, and the German Jews pronounced the word with the hard "g" (as in Go), so 'geto' became 'gheto' and the name stuck for that area.

For a 4 day stay, a vaporetto pass is almost guaranteed to pay off. Unfortunately, there's no 4 day card - only 3 days (technically 72 hours) for 35 euros or 7 days for 50 euros. Since an individual ticket is 7 euros, to make a pass worthwhile you only need 6 rides (for a 72 hour pass) or 8 rides (for a 7 day pass). Some people will make a big fuss that they walk everywhere and never take the vaporetto. I find it's not either/or, but both/and. I walk a lot AND take the vaporetto a lot. So for me, it's a no-brainer to get a pass. Your mileage may vary.

Great decision. But regardless of what so many said, definitely plan for possible mosq if it's warm. The prepackaged wipes work great for me. I was definitely an appealing target Sept/oct this year and last. But it was worth it.

Great choice, Stacey. I for one can never get enough of Venice! You don't just "see" here, you need to experience her. We are going for our third trip there in December. Love the off season! I use citronella candles here in Rome to combat le zanzare. I light them a couple of hours before bedtime and it seems to do the trick overnight. Maybe tuck some in your bag. Also the wipes work well. A week in Rome is great, too! There is so much to do, see and experience! We spent two full weeks here over teh course of two trips before becoming residents, and despite that concentrated time and 6 months as residents (so far!) my list of things-to-do-and-see is growing, not shrinking! Happy happy travels!

I was in Venice four days last spring. I bought a single ticket to get to my hotel from the train station. At the same time, I bought a 3-day pass and used it the next three days. Mosquito problems are often caused by sleeping with the window open. I know a lot of people like the fresh air, but if the window doesn't have a screen the bugs will fly in. In rooms with effective shutters, closing the shutters will still allow fresh air but keep out most bugs. It pays to learn to use the shutters. Some have several adjustments according to how open you want them. When open, they will fasten to the outside wall and not flap around.

Hi Stacey
Glad you decided to stay in Venice. WE rented an apartment for a week. Wear comfortable shoes since you will do a lot of walking. The Jewish Gheto and the area around it, Cannareggio is great. We also did a day trip with a ride to the island of Mazzorbo (had an appetizer with some wine when we got off boat,walked around island then crossed over wooden bridge to Burano.) The pastel colored houses are something to see along with watching lace being made. Had lunch at an outside cafe, then boarded boat to The Lido. Walked down some main street had a half carafe of wine along the way and people watched. Fun fun fun. Got the boat back during sunset hour which was gorgeous. We also went into Casino in Venice, very different from California casinos. For something different and interesting stop by the Bacaro Jazz Club near Rialto Bridge. Women have donated their bras, all shapes, sizes and colors and it hangs from the ceiling. And YES i brought a purple bra from here and it is hanging somewhere there. We did rent a car and drove to Lake Garda for their annual wine festival (festa dell uva) late september early october. Stayed at Hotel Nettuno and walked to festival which was great. All I can say is go with positive attitude, see all you can, stop for a glass of wine and an apetizer everywhere, have gelato and people watch. Bought food from outside markets and sat at apartment to sit and relax. ENJOY!!!

Been to Venice a couple times and never had a mosquito issue. We rented an apartment as hotel rooms in Italy are very small in general but really small in Venice. Easy to spend 4 days there.