First time in Italy, where should I go?

Megan... Do you have your flight yet? That would be helpful to know what cities you are already locked in to. If not, you had probably better try and secure that before making too many other plans. Tons of advice can be give here once there is a bit more info. Will you be driving, or all trains?

Hey Terry,
No, I haven't booked anything yet. I was afraid to. I'm crazy, right? Haha! I am mostly going to rely on trains and maybe buses for transportation. I probably won't ride a bus, unless it's my only option or something like that. I will be taking trains a lot. I don't want to drive, because I'll probably crash and drive on wrong side of the road. :) Does this help? Need more info?

Do you have the Rick Steves Italy book yet? If not, get it and read it. It will be the smartest money you spend on your vacation.

Megan, Michael is right about getting Rick Steve's book(s) and reading the relevant ones if you haven't. (If you have an ipad or kindle you can immediately download his ebooks from Amazon- wish I had done that instead of all hard copies!) Also go ahead and figure you will not see everything, and just put in your head that it's ok because you will come back. Have you seen Rick's Europe Through the Back Door PBS Italy broadcasts? They got me hooked 20+ years ago and they're very helpful in getting a sense of favorite places/sights, as well as about Italy travel in general. Hulu has them airing currently. As for flights, I don't know if it is available for March, but I have taken a nonstop flight on US Airways from Charlotte (CLT) to Rome (FCO) roundtrip. It was wonderful because no layovers, etc. I think it may only run part of the year, however. This year I am flying out of Raleigh (RDU) to Rome (FCO) open jaws with my return out of Milan (MXP) so that I can travel north and not have to spend time and money back tracking to depart from Rome. (I'm flying American with a departure of 7pm from Raleigh; it goes through London. My return departs about 12:30pm from MXP.) You may want to think about doing an open jaws flight, even if it is a little more expensive because of the travel time & money you'll save. You could fly into Rome and out of Venice or Florence, though I haven't done that. Are you traveling solo or do you have a companion? Especially if you are solo, convents can be a good choice.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Hey LaVee, I am traveling with a friend. I thought about using RDU airport, because it seems that flights from there are the cheapest.

Just so others can learn from your experience, I hate to tell you that you have unfortunately missed out on the least expensive train tickets by waiting this long. The best prices become available four months before the actual date of travel. Savings can be HUGE for those, as in 9 euros instead of 70 euros.

Megan, March 2013 is only a few weeks away, so it would be a really good idea to get some planning done SOON! At the least, you'll need to get flights booked (preferably open-jaw) and at least your first hotel. In planning your time, keep in mind that you'll lose the first and last days in flight times. You'll generally arrive in Europe the day after you depart, and the last day will be spent on the flight home. With only 14 days, you'll need to plan carefully, as you won't have time to see everything. "Tuscany" is a region, so it would help to have some idea which places in Tuscany (besides Florence) you're interested in. In the same situation, I might arrange the trip along these lines..... > Flight to Venice, 1 day > Venice, 3 days > Train to Florence > Florence, 3 days (possible day trip to Lucca or Pisa if you're interested) > Bus to Siena > Siena, 2 days > Train to Rome, 4 days (Pompeii can be done as a day trip, although it will be a LONG day) > Flight home There are lots of ways the trip could be structured, and this is only one suggestion. Happy travels!

Don't forget about Easter and the implications of being in and around Rome at Easter, and that there will be a new Pope and all the implications of that. We only have 2000 characters here to type answers, and we're all volunteers so it is difficult to give really verbose and detailed guide book stuff. The advice to immediately get the Rick Steves Italy, and perhaps the smaller Rome, Venice, or Florence ones is the best free advice you'll get all day. Both you and your friend need to read and study them. Today. Stay up all night. Get flights booked or they will be so expensive you won't go this year.

Buon Viaggio! You said you were afraid you were going to miss something - you will! Italy is amazing, there is too much to see and see well! As one example, I've been lucky enough to go to Florence four times and I still haven't seen it all. Don't miss Florence! Read the books (Rick's and others!), do your research (lots!) and decide what is crucial for you to fly away happy with your time in Italy. Then, plan your time carefully so you don't spend time going from one end of Rome to the other. Group activities together to maximize time. But don't forget to wanderyou'll have amazing unscripted experiences that way. Don't be afraid of taking buses. They are often the best way to get somewhere. Train tickets are inexpensive and can be bought minutes before departure when the mood takes you on a day trip. Just use the ticket machines at the train station (they have an English language option). Have fun!!

Thanks everyone! This is my first time ever doing something like this, so I have a lot to learn and mistakes to make. But I appreciate the advice! It means so much, and I needed the help!

Megan, in Venice, consider visiting some of the other islands in the lagoon. Torcello is my favorite, mostly deserted, with a couple of lovely early churches, one with great mosaics (as well as a few restaurants and some lodgings). Burano is also lovely, as are some of the much less frequently visited small islands. A web search for islands of Venice lagoon will give you a complete list, with descriptions.

Thank you everyone for helping me out on all my questions. I am firm believer in asking questions. I was never trying to start a riot or cause any harm. I guess you could say that I am a real young person who's just starting out, and I never had any guidance on major events such as this. My parents never had the money or opportunity to do something like this, and so they can't help me. I like how every single one of you are positive and wise! I appreciate the advice, I really do. I guess I just have to quit over thinking everything and live life. It's just that when I think of the world I feel so small compared to it. And, If I can't ever manage to go beyond the limits of my own home town, then I'll never go anywhere or do anything with my life, and I don't want that. I want to be brave, strong, and experience the world. I will stop posting from now on and just go with the flow. Thank you all for being so kind. You have really made this easier. I wish you all luck and joy for years to come!! Farewell.