August: 14 days in Italy , first time travellers

You're on the right track. However, you don't want to try to do Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast in the same day from Sorrento. They're in opposite directions. I wouldn't depend on a night train from Naples to Venice. Stops, starts all night and little slepe. Would cut out Milan and add back time in Venice.

That is an exhausting trip. Have you considered an open jaws ticket or is that too late? Personally thing you have a couple cities too many but it is your trip. Save Capri, Amalfi coast, and perhaps even Sorrento for the next trip.

You need to buy the RS Italy 2011 book right now, and use that as a starting point, especially since it seems you're at the earliest stages. It's loaded with tips on lodging and traveling place to place and answers to questions that you won't even know you need to be asking. And be prepared for very hot weather in August and the fact that many businesses are closed because that's when Italians go on their vacations. Happy travels.

Cindy,
This is indeed an exhausting trip, days 4-7. I suggest you either Sorrento/Naples/Amalfi leg or Milan, and add those days/nights to Venice. Venice deserves at least 3 nights. You could do all you want to in Sorrento area if you stay there 4 nights. You'd need a day for Pompeii, a day for the Amalfi Coast, and a day for Capri. (For Pompeii I am projecting 3 hours of touring the site, plus transit time to and from Sorrento. Won't take the whole day, but most if it, and certainly not enough time to go south, too.) You'll also be surprised by the need to just relax, shop, do laundry, do something you hadn't planned, take an afternoon shower and nap. Don't want to overstuff your days. Milan pales by comparison to the other places on your list. If you are after a viewing of the Last Supper, be aware it can be difficult to get tickets. If you are building 2 nights around that possibility and the tickets are not available, what would you do instead? Even if you are successful, the Last Supper is a very short tour. Very short. IMHO not worth building 2 nights of a 2 week trip around. Now if you are in Milan to see family and friends, I'll be quiet. :-) Night trains are not as practical as you might think, nor as common. Last train from Naples to Venice is at 7:57PM, arrives 5:26AM. What will you do at 5:30 in the morning? Will your hotel accept you for check in? Stay the night in Sorrento, get an early train to Venice if that is the route you decide. You'll arrive early afternoon and be able to check in. Take a look at Rick Steves' itinerary planning guide here http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/itin.htm. He's done this for years and has lots to offer.

Don't go to Italy in August. It's too hot! That is when Italians take their vacations and go up North.
Trains in Italy are cheap. I would just buy tickets and not get a rail pass.

If this where my trip to plan, this is how I would do it: 1. Fly into Rome, immediately get to Naples, to get to Sorrento and stay in sorrento 2. Sorrento: side trip to Pompeii 3. Sorrento: Side trip to Capri 4. Early train to Venice, stay in Venice 5. Venice 6. Venice 7. Leave early for Milan, see Duomo & last supper (make reservations very soon, call them), leave after noon for Florence, stay in florence 8. Florence 9. Florence 10. Rome 11. Rome 12. Rome 13. Rome
14. Leave to go home On my trip, I landed in Milan and stayed only 1 night. I saw what I wanted to see and only stayed there to get over the non-existent sleep that I experience on transatlantic flights. One could see the last supper, view the Duomo in a few hours total. I think it is worth the trek.

Whoa, why does every new European traveler think they have to do it all in one shot? Cut your itinerary in half otherwise all you will do is run from place to place and not experience it.

Exactly as Lisa sez. You just cant do it all. You're going to be spending all your time moving and traveling. I would say for a 2 week trip to sleep in just 4 cities, 5 tops. Kenny's i
itinerary above is more realistic. Less time in Milan, more in Venice, especially with a 12 year old. Good luck. For me the planning is part of the fun.

Kelly has a good plan except I would do an open jaw into Venice and home from Rome. That would be easier and probably less expensive.

I agree with Kelly and Frank above, though much as I would like to see the Last Supper, for first time in Italy, I would skip Milan. Spend more time in Tuscany (Florence) or Venice -- have some days to relax. And since it may be quite warm and crowded, just hanging out and not being in the tourist throngs or catching a train may be a welcome break.

I'd take Kelly's improved itinerary and elminiate Milan entirely and spend the extra day in Florence with day trip to Siena or another Tuscan town. It is also possible there is a convenient flight from Rome to Naples on that first day.

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to respond and offer suggestions. I really appreciate your inputs! I agree with the Milan suggestion. We will skip Milan and spend more time in Venice. Thanks again!! Cindy

What about days 4-6? You really need to rethink that too.