finalized itenary Thx for help everyone!

Tulan, I see a few "issues" with your Itinerary...... > Day 0 - why are you being "limo'd in a van" to your apartment? Where is your apartment? Would Taxi not be easier? I'm not sure you'll have the energy for a 2 hour private tour that evening! > Day 1 - If you're staying IN Rome, you won't be able to take a "train" to the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), or do you mean Metro? Whether to use Bus or Metro will depend on where your apartment is located. One important note regarding the Galleria Borghese - regardless of whether you have a Roma Pass, YOU MUST make reservations for a specific time. If you miss your time, you won't get in! > Day 2 - For driving in Italy, I assume EACH driver will have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used with your home D.L. Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! You'll also need to be extremely vigilant to avoid Zona Traffico Limitato areas (especially in Florence) as STEEP fines will result for each infraction. > Day 3 - that seems a bit rushed. I'm not sure you'll have half a day to "drive around"? > Day 4 - Travel between the towns in the Cinque Terre is best via the local trains. Bus service is probably not the best idea. You can use the car park near the station in La Spezia and take the train from there. You may not be able to "hike two towns" unless you use the upper (and longer) trails, as all the No. 2 trails are still CLOSED. I'm sure the others will have some comments to add. Cheers!

limo'd - means a van arranged by our apartment owner. 5 euros pp. the place is on the other side of rive from old rome and treveri fountain. in between coliseum and treveri fountain. what i meant was to talk the bus or metro. most likely it will be a bus since there is a bus station right outside out apt. I am aware of borghese gallery reservation issue. yeah we will e getting our internation driving permit from AAA and we are not driving into florence at all. i have heard pisa and lucca are very touristy and dirty and it is only the fact that we will see the pisa and the church and that is it. no plans of going up. so def will have some time i am sure. Cirque terra i am still trying to find more information on what to do and what trails are open and stuff. i hope i can find it in another thread i will post later thank you.

As a part of our RS Heart of Italy, we biked along the wall around Lucca - in the rain. It was pretty fun. Also, there is a boat that connects the Cinque Terra. You might be interested in checking that out.

Tulan, Thanks for the clarification. I assume you're planning to use the Roma Pass to cover fares on public transit during the short time you're in Rome? Be sure to wear Money Belts and be especially vigilant when conditions are very crowded. There WILL be pickpockets and scammers working! I'm sure you're aware that the Passes need to be validated on the first use. Also be vigilant at the Trevi Fountain, as that's another location that's often very crowded. Regarding the Cinque Terre, you'll have to check shortly before departure to see what conditions are like at that time. Even if some of the No. 2 trails are still closed, you can: > Explore the 5 towns via the local trains or boats > Hike a few of the higher trails that are still open (depending on your time availability) Cheers!

Pisa dirty and touristy. Nope. Lucca dirty and touristy. Nope. Pisa has lots of tourists, just like all 6 of you, around the Field of Miracles and the leaning tower and Baptistry. Of course it does. That's why you're going, right? Dirty? I didn't see that. In fact one of my favourite espressos over the years has been at a little place just off the Field of Miracles. Never saw "dirty". Lucca, to me, is not an especially touristed place relative to other places. Tourists go there, just like all 6 of you will. Dirty? Nope, never saw that. Had one of my favourite Gelatos just down from the composer's house. and for rainy day we might just abort the pisa lucca day i think
How can you know that the day you have set aside for Pisa and Lucca will be the rainy one? Hope your van is a big one for 6 people and all the luggages. You will need to keep the luggages and all other possessions out of sight when you park the van and go sightseeing with all the other tourists. Beware the dreaded ZTLs.

Great information regarding the boat from lucca to cirque terre.. def the option worth looking into it. WE are definitely getting a small money belt/ pouch that we wear inside our tops which will hold most of money and passports and stuff.. Regarding Pisa and Lucca being touristy and dirty obviously everything in italy is touristy with people like us and we love that . But what i meant was lot of people that i know what have been to italy said that Pisa specially was very very touristy and dirty. Now i dont know what dirty meant but i was suprised first too but many people said the same thing and i was like maybe it would be something like that who knows. Lucca i did not meant that it was just added to usually habit of saying pisa and lucca in same sentence since they are together on same day on our itenary. regarding rain day i know what will happen when we go to pisa and lucca and rain comes after that and that is good point and i am changing my last day to pisa and lucca and bringing arezzo and cortana ahead. YOU KNOW I STILL AM WAITING FOR YOUR ADVICE ON THAT LAST DAY TRIP. WHICH IS THE BEST PLACE TO EXPLORE. I AM GOING TO MOVE THE UP TO PIS AND LUCCA DAY BUT ANY SUGGESTION

Ken we are not getting a roma pass yet . I was thinking get online reservation for coliseum to avoid lines and for unlimited transportation there is a 6 euro on day pass which will work great i think

Great information regarding the boat from lucca to cirque terre. I don't think that Ken meant a boat from Lucca to any of the Cinque Terre villages - it isn't possible. Lucca is in-land and 30 km from the coast - to say nothing of the fact that it is well over 100 km from the southernmost village of the Cinque Terre.