Average $$ to plan for

To your original question, $200 seems reasonable, if you exclude lodging. We spend more, but we don't stint on spending money eating in Italy!

On the itinerary, it seems like a lot of travel time to me, too. Keep in mind that "two days" at a location is actually less than that, when you factor in travel time. In planning, sometimes it's easier to plan based on how many nights you'll have. For example, you'll have, it looks like, two nights in the Cinqure Terre, but about 2 1/2 days, there, but if you'll spend two nights in Florence, that will will only one full day, plus the part of the day after you arrive from the Cinque Terre, and then the day that you travel from Florence to Rome.

Given your focus on the Cinque Terre and the amount of time you have, you might want to drop Como. You can very easily relax (and recover from jetlag) in Venice, and definitely in the Cinque Terre. And in terms of travel time, from Como you'll have to go back to Milan to get to Venice anyway.

Based on a very quick review of the trenitalia website (and I'm no train expert), it looks like it would take around four hours from Como to Venice. Seven hours from Venice to Riomaggiore (with two connections). In my book, those are not short travel times.

Consider rearranging your schedule, and possibly cut down on the travel time. If you visit Florence on your way from Venice to the Cinque Terre, then you won't be backtracking. From the Cinque Terre, you can go directly to Rome.

To me this looks like:

Day 1 arr Milan, enroute Como

Day 2 Como

Day 3 Como to Venice

Day 4 Venice

Day 5 Venice

Day 6 Venice to CT

Day 7 CT

Day 8 CT to Florence

Day 9 Florence

Day 10 Florence to Rome

Day 11 Rome

Day 12 Rome

Day 13 depart for home

You're spending more than 1/3 of your time in transit which can turn a fantatic trip into an endurance contest. You might want to consider droping L.Como (which doesn't hold a candle to Deception Pass, anyway) and hunker down in Milan so you can see it or grit your teeth and go straight to Venice, loosing jet lag on the train. I'd probably drop CT as well or substitue a Tuscan/Umbrian hill town for it. Although the place is UNESCO-listed, it has a fairly low importance of places to see on a first trip. Stopped by a couple of years ago and left with a "so what ?" feeling. Probably if it weren't touted by RS, it's economy would roll over and die.

Having butted in whence I wasn't invited, here's the way we figure costs (per person) for Italy. Supper $25. Lunch and breakfast $10 combined (note: we eat out of grocery bag in back of car most days, buying coffe/beer/wine -- the ten bucks includes an afternoon snack or drink. Entrance fees don't average $5 pp/pd, but take this with a grain of salt, since most museums where taken care of years ago. I always drive, so won't venture an opinion on local transportation costs. Not sure if your $200/day incudes transportation and lodging, if it includes only one, you're ok; if it includes both, you're cutting it close, especially with the types of accommodation RS suggests. Try venere.com for Italy hotels and you should be really happy -- I've found their prices excellent and their user-rating system to be absolutely reliable (I try for a rating above 8.2 with a large number of reviewers and have never been dissapointed.)

I agree with Ed that you will spend most of your time on the train and not really have time to enjoy what Italy has to offer. I would spend the time in Milan, Venice and Rome. this will cut down on the travel expenses and also the number of hotels you must check in and out of.

As for expenses, I would agree to 25 for dinner but say about 10 each for both breakfast and lunch. Museums and sites are usually about 6 euros and up each and you will want to see at least a few of them. The vatican museums are 14 euros each.

The train will be your biggest expense. The new price list and schedule comes out on the 12 th of this month so you will be able to check prices then. If you take the fastest trains between cities, which I suggest you do, you will pay at least 60 euros each for the journey between Venice and Rome. This can really cut into your budget which is why I suggest cutting out some of the places you have listed to see.

All in all I would budget at least 150 each for each day. You don't want to budget to tight and not have enough money at the end of the trip to do anything fun.

Donna

Thank you, Donna! I was concerned about the travel but since we're just doing backpacks and comfortable shoes, we're walking everywhere once there. We chose short train hops so we don't spend too much time on the train. From Venice we're going to 5terre, probably through Florence. Once in the 5T, we're walking from town 1 to town 2 and staying the night. Next day walking to town 4 and staying the night...all the while shopping and enjoying the sights. On our way to Florence for the night we are seeing the last town and then train to F...with the average walking time between towns, this is a relaxed journey...or so I've been told.

Hopefully the expensive, long train journeys will not happen...at least that's how I'm seeing it...but I could be wrong.

I'll keep thinking. That's why this is so great to be able to ask people who have been there! THANK YOU!

Lydia - After many years touring Italy with small groups I like your plan - yes it's busy and yes - there's transport time BUT - you will get a taste of many sections and will be able to return and spend more time in your favorite's!!
As for one of my favorite's - Le Cinque Terre - please make it a point to walk the section of trail between Manarola and Riomaggiore known as the Via-dell'amore(lover's path) It is one of the nicest sections - relatively flat and extremely scenic with a cafe half way for a cold drink - It is only about a 25 minute walk and I guarantee you will love it.

Ciao, Greg

Thanks, Greg. I don't think the plan we've set up is too much since we're taking mainly short trips. Half the fun is seeing the beauty, too...so not only will we be experiencing the towns and their incredible beauty, but the countryside as we go from place to place.

The Cinque Terre is a highlight for us. We're walking the whole thing but splitting it up into 2 full days by walking from Riomaggiore to Manarola and staying the night there, then walking to Vernazza to stay the night there, then finishing up walking to Monterosso and getting on the train to Pisa to see the Tower.

We'll definitely plan to enjoy the walk since we're doing it deliberately slowly.

Thanks again. I appreciate your input. My hope is to go back many times...this is a dream come true for us. My daughter turns 18 and graduates from high school and I turn 50...all in 2010...so this is a celebration for us!

Thanks again!

Lydia

Hi Lydia,

It sounds like 2010 is an eventful year and it is wonderful that you are honoring yourself and your daughter with a sensational and memorable trip.

Lucky you to attend RS Italy classes. Undoubtedly they were filled with a lot of valuable information. IMHO, $200 a day sounds very doable, especially because you are excluding lodging.

Additionally, I respectfully suggest getting a guide in Rome, even as part of a group. While the books are great, and I've always traveled with mine, Rome is a city seeped in history and I think your can get more out of your trip with guides. I went to Rome several years ago with a group and learned the value of guides. Therefore, when I go in June, a guide in Rome will be my "splurge" during my three weeks in Italy. I have been to many cities/countries in the EU and Rome, I feel, warrants a guide.

Also, if you are interested in touring the excavation site at the Vatican, you are required to make advanced reservations. They are very prompt at getting back to you. But viewing is limited, so if you would like to see them, you may consider doing this asap. I have mine for my June trip. cost is about 12 euro.

Enjoy the time with your daughter. She is fortunate to have such a great mom!

Take care,
Jan

Thank you, Jan. I appreciate your comments so much. The guide is an EXCELLENT idea and I think I'll add that into the budget! Any suggestions on where to find them and which are best?

I'm jealous of all you travelers who go "all the time" or yearly...I've been waiting 20 or so years for this. Scotland was great (4 times) and I'd visit it again in a heartbeat but I want to expand my borders over there.

I'm actually planning to teach English as a Foreign Language around the world wherever I can in about 5 years when my daughter is out of college...I think it would be a blast and cool to live in a country doing good and getting immersed in the culture. I can't wait!!!!

Thanks again. Please add to this if something else comes to mind.

Thanks, Lexma...you have a great comment and I'll definitely consider moving things around. I think I thought the train trip would be a bit shorter from Venice to Cinque Terre but I hadn't made firm plans based on train schedules just yet. I'll look closer at that and then decide. The reason for Como is that my daughter did a home stay in France with a very nice family and we're trying to meet up with them. They're from the Monaco area. In looking at the map, I'm wondering about Genoa first, then Cinque Terre, Florence, VEnice, Rome. What is your opinion about that? Would LOVE to see Como area but could do just about anywhere in Italy and be fine!

Anyone out there been to Genoa and thing that's a good jetlag spot that would allow us to meet up with a French family for a day?

Hi Lydia. Your trip sounds great but I agree that you're moving around too much & you will spend a lot of time in transit from one place to another.

I would cut Como from the trip (it's a fantastic place but I would save it for another trip plus it might be too cold in March). I would fly into Milan & go directly to the Cinque Terre. I would add a day to the CT (3 days total). I was there for 3 days in Sept & it still wasn't enough for my taste. You could also visit Portofino & Comogli on the third day if you've seen enough of the 5 CT towns. You could meet your French friends in the CT.

I would visit Venice next and again on your third day, you could take a boat to Murano & Burano if you've seen everything you want in Venice.

Head to Florence next; 2 days is enough there.

I would add the extra day that you cut from Como to Rome. In my opinion, there is SO much to do in Rome. You could take a day trip out of Rome to Orvieto on the 4th day; it's a lovely town approx an hour out of Rome by train. Or, you could take a day trip to Ostia Antica or Tivoli (Hadrian's Villa or Villa D'Este).

I think even if you cut Como out of your itinerary, your trip will still be fast-paced & interesting but just not as rushed. Have a great time & plan to return!

As others have pointed out, one trap people fall into is trying to do too much. I agree with the earlier posters that you'll be doing a lot of travel, probably more than you expect. Which may be ok with you, as long as you know what's coming. A 2-4 hour train ride isn't just part of a day, it really consumes around 1/2. You need to pack up and check out, get to the train station with some leeway, find your new hotel, check in and get your gear for the day. There are different travel styles, and some are happy with seeing a few top sights and then moving on. My personal preference is for fewer places but more time in them to wander, appreciate the ambience, and have time for serendipity. Something catches your eye, there is a festival going on you didn't know about, you'll have time to explore.

If at all possible, since you describe this as a trip you've waited 20 years to do, I'd suggest adding a week to your trip and spending more time in each place. The biggest trip expense is airfare and that doesn't change if you spend another week. By booking cheaper lodging or even considering a hostel you could add time on a budget.

Well, we've all come to the same conclusion about the same time and that's why I LOVE this board! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

We've decided against Como for all the reasons every one has listed but especially to make the French family's travel easier and shorter. So we were thinking Genoa from Milan so they could meet us there, but now I'm considering on of the Northern hill towns as suggested! What a wonderful place to meet up with total strangers speaking foreign languages! My daughter took 3 years of French, did the trip last year but has forgotten much of it. We're taking a conversational Italian class just before we go for about 10 weeks so we'll speak very little Italian. Hopefully we'll be able to converse SOME way! Smiles, laughter, hugs...they work!

You guys are great and I really appreciate everyone's input. This trip truly will be my trip of a lifetime combining my favorite person in the world with my favorite-yet-to-be-visited place in the world! :O)

Chao baby!

Keep the ideas coming if you like! I'm loving this!

Lydia

Thank you, Mike. My daughter and I are taking back packs ONLY...so we anticipate getting off a train from wherever and starting right then to enjoy the sights. We'll keep our backpacks on until time to check in and eat dinner/fall asleep, etc. We're not going to have anything to dump at the hotel.

Same with checking out of the hotel...we'll have our luggage on our backs so we'll sightsee/participate do whatever we want on our way to the train station whenever we want/need to catch the train to the next place. No hurry whatsoever between stops. This is all pleasure. We'll take taxis or buses or trains when necessary.

The more I envision it based on what I know about our plans, the more it sounds perfect thanks to the great input everyone has put in. We're now skipping Como and heading toward Genoa for one of the beautiful hill towns to meet up with our French friends for a few days. Then we'll go down the water's edge to the CT, walking from town to town and staying the night at town 2 and 4,then on to Pisa to see the tower before getting to Florence for a few nights...then on to Venice for 3 nights and then Rome for the rest.

The train rides between hill towns and CT will be short. The Florence to Venice will be fairly short. The only long one is 5 hours to Rome and we'll have 3 nights there.

I can't wait!!!!! Does this sound better?

Just one piece of advice from me...Schedule your train trips for late afternoon/early evening. You can then check into your hotel, get a late dinner, get to bed and spend the entire next day in your location. On the day of departure, leave your backpacks at the hotel so you don't have to carry them all day and pick them up on the way to the train station. Take a look at the trenitalia site and get an idea of the point to point cost of train tickets, then compare to a rail pass. $200/day will be plenty without including rail costs but may too little if it includes travel also.

Hey Teena...thanks for the advice. The late afternoon train was exactly what we were planning...that would give us the most use of our precious time.

As for cost, I added up all the train costs based on RS rail map and we're looking at about $170 each for the whole trip. Water taxis will be another expense but that's only in Venice.

We leave in the morning from Rome :O(. Tried to get a later flight but couldn't. So we'll have to get up fairly early to leave on time. It's going to be crowded, too, since that's the day before Easter!

It will be fun to perhaps see some of the REAL life in Rome with all the Italians coming to Rome for Easter. We'll fortunately miss out on most of it since we're heading out that Saturday but people will start coming in and that makes for GREAT people watching. :O)

THANKS again! Chao!

Lydia

Your itinerary. Not your question but . . . . I like Ed's break out of the trip. In my opinion as a travel consultant, you are tackling too much and spending 1/3 of your time in transit.

Here is an idea. Get a calendar for the month that you are going. Check out all of the travel times by train and put those on the calendar. Also figure in your arrival day based on how you function without sleep on your overnight flight. Go, go, go day or recovery day. Your last day is usually all about packing and getting to the airport 2 - 3 days ahead of time. This exercise is critical to your travel experience. Only then can you really see what time you would have available at each destination.

Skip Milan and Lake Como for sure. My last 2 clients have said that for Milan there were so many more places they would have rather gone. And I agree. Do Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Rome. Just realize that it is not easy getting to and from the Cinque Terre by train, although I love it. And the coastal hikes and towns are wonderful.

Be sure that you bring rainwear, umbrella, and warm outerwear and good walking shoes. It will be cold and chilly with all of the walking you plan.

Do you have open jaw tickets, arrive Milan depart Rome? That is the way to do it.

Have a wonderful time.

Bobbie

Lydia

Forgot your original question! Dollars to plan for. You should plan on spending more than you would expect for museums and monuments in Italy. There are no discounts for non residents even students and seniors. Check Rick Steves Italy Guidebook for the current museums that you want to visit and he will list the prices.

For meals in March, it is more difficult to eat economically in the winter/spring season. Usually I would buy at the deli, bakery, grocer for lunch and eat outside but that is probably not going to be possible with the weather. Also, Rome particularly has lots of street food or restaurants selling food out of a window. And you are not going to want to go back to your hotel every lunch time.

You will have to plan very carefully to make sure that you spend only $200 a day. And walking everywhere in Rome may be a bit much. But you don't want to be really miserable just to stay on your budget.

Also check out in advance, restaurants/food in Rick Steves guides and other places around where you are going to stay and the tourist spots that you will be visiting. But go just a few blocks away to eat from the tourist spot to eat more authentic and cheap meal. Cheap student places to eat would be good. I found eating cheap particularly difficult in the main Italy cities. This part of your planning will be crucial to your staying on budget.

If you are going to eat in your room, buy a folding knife when you arrive and some napkins at least so crumbs are not in your bed! Try to talk the hotel into letting you eat in their breakfast spot. Stay warm and out of your room.

Good luck! Bobbie

Bobbie, thank you for the info. You have great advice! Not sure how much is known but we're not doing Milan at all except to fly in (cheapest flight combo) and we're leaving out of Rome.

The cool thing about our plan is that we're only taking a backpack each so we'll check out of our hotel at whatever time with our luggage on our backs ready for the whole day available to us. We'll not need to check into the next hotel for the same reason...our luggage will be with us. We're not planning to spend a lot of money on "things" but more on the experience of being in Italy living their life as much as you can experience in a short 2 weeks! :O)

Eating from delis and grocery stores was our plan with a nice meal at a local non-touristy favorite spot (or one from Ricks' book) every couple of days as we want to.

The rain gear is a must and I have my lightweight jacket already picked out. I have comfortable shoes that should keep my feet dry while helping me to not look slobbish. :O) Same with my daughter. I'm going over there without jewelry and plan to buy/wear as I go so that will be my souvenirs from the trip, not adding any extra weight or space in the backpack. I also want to buy scarves as i love to wear them.

This trip will be all about ME/US so not many gifts will be purchased. :)

Milan to Genoa-region-hill-town-not-yet-decided to recoup and visit with French family. Train to CT for 2 days walking from town to town slow enough to get the full experience. CT to Florence for a few days including a cooking school for pizza and gelato! Train to Venice for 3 days. Train (longest of the trip) to Rome for last 3 days.

I'll check out the times of train but the last time I did it, it was a nonissue with our lack of luggage and free spirit traveling attitude.

Thanks again!

Lydia

Lydia

You and I have similar traveling styles! Research ahead of time but leave time for serendipitous experiences.I spend all my money on the trip and have little left for myself or gifts. Jewelry and scarves are perfect, though. Check out the markets for both.

Remember that part of the European travel experience is cafe sitting and eating in restaurants (those long walks do add up for your feet!). I have always thought that RS's suggestion that you get your drink at the cafe counter and stand a little one sided. I want to sit down and people watch and rest. Unless you walk and stand 8 - 10 hours a day every day in the US, your trip will be a very different and athletic experience.

Can't remember if I mentioned before that it is best to try and stay 2 nights in every hotel. It can be very disorienting to keep moving every night.

The Cinque Terre hike will not take 2 days. My husband and I did everything except the last portion in 2/3 of a day stopping for lunch and not going to Corniglia (town). The northern most section is the most difficult. The hike is spectacular with the path overlooking the very edge of the coastline. I liked Monterrosa least because it had a carpark and train station that were right on the beach.

Can you still say Bon Voyage if you are going to Italy?

Bobbie

Hey Bobbie. The hiking is just a general comment about our trip. We do plan to sit and people watch which is one of the most fun things to do anywhere, especially in a foreign country!! So we'll do plenty of sitting, eating, walking, shopping, etc.

The CT is meant to be an "experience" in that we're walking from town to town, but stopping in each town to take it all in (including eating, shopping, sitting, tasting wine, etc.) so we won't be rushed through the towns. I realize the whole walk can be done in 5 hours (or so the books say), but we want to experience it in a slower paced way. That's why we're starting at the top (coming from the hill towns and our French family friends), will start off at the top town and walk into the 2nd town to stay the night. Then we'll walk into towns 3 and 4 and stay the night there at #4. Then we'll walk to the 5th town, pick up the train to Pisa and see Pisa a little before getting to Florence for the night.

From what I can tell, the trains we're taking from Milan through to Florence are just short hops not taking a big portion of our day when we're on one. By the time we get on the train from Venice to Rome, we'll be ready for a sit-down break for 5 hours!

With the mix of activities that we have planned, I think for us it could be as near perfect as can be. But I'm still listening to advice from this board if more comes. I'll prebuy as much of our lodging as possible if I can get a discount through venere.com...great website! That way the least amount of money changing/handling will need to be done there. Less worry!

When do you go over next?

I'm a little confused about your plan of staying in a hill town between Milan and the Cinque Terre, or possibly by Genoa, to meet up with the French family. (The meeting-up part sounds great.) I'm not sure what town that might be, or where. When people say "hill town," they're usually talking about towns a bit further south, that are actually located on the tops of hills. Where will the French family be coming from, in terms of coming up with a location that's easy for them and interesting for you? (I take it that they don't or can't meet you in the Cinque Terre.)

On taking backpacks everywhere, it seems like that would get old really fast. I don't know for sure how much a backpack might weigh (when we go hiking, I don't weigh it first!), but can't imagine enjoying wearing it all day. And remember the security issues with having your valuables on your back - keep your valuables in front, in a neck pouch or the like.

Last thing, something you can DEFINITELY save money on. Water taxis in Venice are extremely expensive. For example, for the ride from the airport to our hotel in Venice, we spent 105 Euros. There are a number of much cheaper ways to make that trip. While in Venice, you can basically get everywhere by walking. We've made a number of trips to Venice, and the most we've ever done is take the water bus (called a vaporetto) from our hotel to the train station (and the aforementioned taxi). So while lots of people do take the vaporettos to get around within Venice, you don't have to. We prefer to walk, and see the wonderful side streets and canals up close.

Thanks, Lexma...I haven't picked a hill town yet but it will be between Genoa and the CT. It will be closer for the French family and easier to get to for them. Mairi and I don't care where we relax as long as it's in Italy, so the Genoa/hill town was a perfect switch for us. I probably should have called them Riviera Towns...that's how the RS book describes them. I'm considering Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sestri Levante. Closer to Genoa would be best for meeting up.

Then we'll take the train to Monterosso to start our CT walk/shop/visit/eat/sleep in Vernazza and Manarola.

Our backpacks will be pretty comfortable (we have them already and use them) so I'm not worried about that. We already have the neck pouch and will keep our important stuff there inside our clothing.

I missed the Venice comment...thanks for that, Lexma. We do plan to take the vaparetto or whatever inexpensive transportation we can find but will probably take one expensive gondola ride. HAVE to do that in Venice once, right???? :O)

THANKS again! Keep the comments coming!

We stayed in Santa Marghrita and thought is was beautiful. Easy walk to train to get to CT and 45 min walk to Portofino for a look

You're kidding! 45 min walk to Portofino??? PERFECT! That is fantastic. I can't ever tell by the maps how long an actual walk would be. I'd love to see Portofino! Too expensive to stay there but Santa Margherita Lingure sounded lovely. Still a bit pricey but I am searching for a reasonable priced hotel. Rick's book has one but venere.com hasn't been checked...yet. :O)

THANKS again!

Lydia

Hi Lydia
Do you have your accomadations in Rome booked? Holy Week in Rome is busy (and considered a premium week so prices take a jump).

Hey Maggie, I do not just yet. I'm wanting to book and pay for ahead of time (it's the way I prefer to travel) and have been looking at several nice places. One is E90/night and was a great location...I think I'm going to book there. I have the name on my laptop and I'm not on the laptop now to remember the name. It was very nice, big, clean. I found it on Venere.com. GREAT site.

Any of your favorites?

Lydia

Lydia,

I've been trying to follow all the replies in this Thread, and hopefully I've got the facts straight. Given the circumstances and time frame, I'd arrange the trip along these lines....

Day 1: Flight to Venice

Day 2: Arrive Venice. Depending on what time you arrive, you might be able to see a few sights before jet lag takes over.

Day 3: Venice

Day 4: Train to Cinque Terre. I searched a connection for Monterosso and the time was 6H:04M with one change in Milano (reservation compulsory).

Day 5: CT. Are your friends from Monaco going to stay with you for a day or so, or just visit for a few hours? If you stay in Monterosso, they could either meet you there, or you could meet in Genoa. If you want to stay in one of the other villages, it's easy to use the local train (NOTE: the CT will probably be "quiet" in March).

Day 6: CT.

Day 7: CT. Possibly a day trip to Portofino or Santa Margherita Ligure?

Day 8: Train to Florence. I found one train departing La Spezia (take the local train to La Spezia Centrale) at 08:06, arriving Firenze S.M.N. at 10:33 (time 2H:27M, reservations compulsory, one change in Pisa - you could stop and see the Tower if so inclined, but that will reduce time in Florence).

Day 9: Florence

Day 10: Train to Rome in afternoon (via fast train from Firenze to Roma Termini, it's only 1H:35M)

Day 11: Rome

Day 12: Rome

Day 13: Rome

Day 14: Take Leonardo Express from Termini to FCO for flight home (35 min., €11)

I'd suggest taking day trains as you'll get to see a lot more of the country (especially through Tuscany!). Except for the Venice leg, most trips are short.

You might want to read the "Rail Skills" chapter in Europe Through The Back Door or download Rick's PDF Rail Guide from this website.

Were you planning to pack along the Italy Guidebook? I always pack a copy, as it's a great source of reference during the trip.

Buon Viaggio!

Lydia,

"Any of your favorites?"

I usually get Hotel listings from ETBD Guidebooks. I consider both the price range and the area of town that I want to stay. As I'm usually travelling by train and also travel with a Backpack, somewhere close to the central station is usually my preferred spot.

Some possibilities you could have a look at in Rome:

Hotel Aberdeen (fairly close to Termini)

The Beehive Hostel (operated by an American couple)

Casa san Guiseppe (Trastevere area - taking a cab from the station would probably be best).

If you want to be try a Hostel, Alessandro Palace is an easy 7-10 minute walk from Termini and as I recall they had some double rooms. Check their website.

In addition to the Guidebook listings, you could also check TripAdvisor.

BE SURE to wear a Money Belt and watch your valuables, especially in Termini or on a crowded Metro! Also, the #64 Bus has a bit of a reputation, so be especially vigilant if you use that.

Regarding your question on expenses, US$200 should be enough for both of you, as long as you're careful with your money. At today's exchange rate, that's about €136 (but of course that will be different at the time you travel).

If you're planning on visiting the Uffizi and/or Accademia in Florence, reservations are usually recommended although you may be able to get by without those in March. If you think you might want reservations, you could ask your Hotel to book them for you. Reservations are compulsory at the Borghese Gallery in Rome.

One other note regarding Museums, Galleries and St. Peter's - you'll have to go through airport-style security with an X-Ray scanner so travel light! The Borghese is especially strict and doesn't allow ANY daypacks, purses, large Cameras, etc.

Cheers!

Thank you, Ken! Actually most of my route has now been pretty well picked over and set up. Tickets have been purchased for flight arrangements. I'm looking into lodging now and will plan to pay in advance for it. We're only taking a single back pack for each person and we're keeping our clothing load light, doing laundry at a few of the choice hotels we're staying at..so our clothing will be basically fresh the whole time unless we get a ton of rain. Jewelry and scarves will be my personal souvenirs to keep everything lightweight.

The trip goes like this:

Fly into Milan early morning, sightsee a little there, train to Santa Margherita for 2 nights. We'll meet up with our French family there. We'll plan to walk the 45 minutes to Portofino while there.

Train to CT (top town) and leisurely walk to town #2 for the night. Next morning leisurely walk to town #4, shopping, eating, photographing along the way between all these towns. Stay the night at #4.

Walk to town #5 catch train to Pisa to see tower/town, train/bus/whatever to Florence for 2 nights. We're doing a cooking class in Florence!

Train to Venice for 2-3 nights (not sure how long yet).

Train to Rome for rest of trip. May do a day trip from Rome but not sure.

So we're now pretty well set with itinerary and just working on the details of lodging and tours, train schedules, restaurants, etc.

We are taking the book with us for recommendations.

The above keeps our train travel to a minimum with the longest trip being Venice to Rome. I'm assured by everyone who has been to Italy that I'll not have any trouble catching a train to my next destination. With no luggage except what is on our back (and it will be light compared to most backpacking trips since we're staying at hotels, not camping), we'll maximize our sightseeing time. Comfy shoes a must and we're breaking them in now!

Thanks again, Ken...I'm open to any other suggestions!

I can't wait!!!