First time to Italy in October--by myself!!

Considering your priorities maybe do Venice, Florence, and Rome with more time scheduled for Rome. You can see the rest when you return!!

Congratulations on completing your nursing degree--that's quite an accomplishment!

There is lots to see in Italy, more than you can fit into 12 days and still be going at a comfortable pace. If you're flying into Milan and out of Rome then I'd suggest concentrating on the north this trip. My suggestion is 3 days per area. For example on arrival go to Venice for 3 days, then Florence for 3, CT for 3, and end with 3 in Rome. With 3 days in each place you'll have the chance to do day trips if you'd like, and also the flexibility to rearrange the activities in each area based on the weather. While storms can last more than 3 days, at least you're giving yourself a fighting chance compared to being (for example) in CT and having just one day you could hike the trails.

Since you are flying into Milan, you will probably see the sites upon arrival (maybe the Last Supper--get reservations) and stay one night. Then spend nights 2&3 in Venice and nights 4&5 in Florence. For days 6&7 you could then do the CT or Tuscany--I don't think you have time for both if you want to spend time in Rome. So, for Rome you would have days 8,9,10 & 11 with day 12 being day of departure(?). Just some ideas. Congrats on your Nursing degree. Our country needs dedicated, skilled nurses like yourself.

First, congratulations.

Second, you might want scale back you plans a bit given the time you have available. With probably 11 nights on the ground, you have 6 destinations, some of which you could spend to whole time in and not run out of stuff to do.

If you could pick say 3, it might make for a more enjoyable trip.

Wonderful!....I did alot of travel to Italy alone so I am familiar and can give you tips:)....Power to you:)

I've got his 2010 Italy book; there's just so much I want to see I don't know how to prioritize. I had originally planned to focus on Tuscany, Florence and Venice and not do Rome this trip. Should I stick with that plan? I've also been told I have to see CT.
Thx,
Terry

Terry,

First of all, congratulations on getting your degree! I imagine that with a degree, you'll probably be working in a "managerial capacity".

As the others have mentioned, I don't think you have time to "do Tuscany, CT, Florence, Venice and Rome" with only 12 days to work with. Keep in mind that you'll lose the first day in flight times and the last day will be spent on the trip home. Given the circumstances, some compromises will be necessary!

In the same situation, I'd probably consider something like this:

Day 1: flight to Milan

Day 2: arrive at MXP - Shuttle to Milano Centrale and then train straight away to Florence

Days 2-3: Florence - touring

Day 4-5: Train to CT (probably via La Spezia - which of the five villages are you planning to stay in?)

Day 6-7: Train to Siena (take Taxi into town from the station)

Days 8-11: Train to Rome. Plan your touring carefully, so as not to waste any time!

Day 12: Flight back to Boston

This is only one possible Itinerary. It's important to allow for adequate travel times between destinations, which is a good reason not to pack too many cities onto your list.

Happy travels!

I've not made my airline reservations yet and with all these ideas may need to rethink my trip. I can't believe how helpful you all have been and given me some great ideas. I'm beginning to think maybe I should bag Rome on this trip and concentrate on Tuscany, Florence, Venice. I'd also like to tour a vineyard; is that hard to arrange? I HAVE to come home with a beautiful Italian leather bag. Keep all the suggestions coming and thanks so much!
Terry

Terry, since you don't have your flights yet, how about flying into Venice and out of Pisa? I like to use the German rail site to figure out train connections and the order of the places to visit--such as Venice, CT, Siena, Orvieto, Florence and leave out of PSA (or FLR but I've usually found flights out of Florence are more expensive.)

Aw, Italy.... I agree, there is too much to do in one trip. And with 12 days, you have a few choices: do a quick, once-over slice of Italy tour. Or spend more time in just a few places and plan on coming back later. What is apparent, is doing Milan, Tuscany, CT, Florence, Venice, and Rome on one trip is off the table. In my opinion, for a blitzkrieg trip, I think CT and Tuscany are out. They are two places best left for "the slow life", or used as a change of pace in a much longer trip.

With this amount of time, I would simply start in Rome, and make my way to Venice via Florence/Sienna along the way. Skip Milan, and spend the extra time anywhere else. Although by yourself, you could conceivably spend way less time per destination that most people. Maybe I would book an open jaw trip starting in Rome and ending in Venice. That way you could leave Rome whenever you get bored, and head to either CT, Florence, Sienna, or Milan. When you get bored there, you simply head to a different place. Just book your first 2 nights hotel in Rome, and last nights hotel in Venice, and appropriate airfare, and go spur of the moment for the rest.

With 11 nights, and total freedom, this would be my trip: Fly into Naples, and spend 3 nights in Sorrento. Do day trips to Capri, Pompeii, Amalfi, or Naples.>>>>>> Spend 3 nights in Rome. You could easily fill 3 weeks in Rome, so 3 nights will fly by.>>>>>>>>>>> Spend 3 nights in Sienna. From Sienna, you can day trip to Florence, Pisa, or other Tuscan hill towns. Plus Sienna at night is simply magic.>>>>>>>>> Final 2 nights in Venice.

Terry,

As you haven't yet bought your tickets, I have a few comments to add to my earlier reply.

Using open-jaw tickets into Rome and out of Venice (or vice versa) would be a really good idea. You'll probably find that there's a greater choice of flights from the larger airports.

With such a short time, you might consider:

• Rome, 3 nights (you'll need a day or two to recover from jet lag)

• Sienna, 3 nights (that will give you time to take at least one day trip as well as look around Siena)

• Florence, 2 nights

• Venice, 2 nights

Travel times to each of those locations is relatively short, so that will provide as much sightseeing time as possible (rather than spending a lot of your time travelling).

Cheers!

Florence is the place to find the Italian bag. I have a leather briefcase I bought there a few years ago, and every morning when I go to work and pick it up I remember my trip! BTW be sure to ask about the VAT rebate; they give you a form, you drop it postage-free in a mailbox at the airport after having customs stamp it, and you save significant dollars!

p.s. what is Braintree like? Have seen it many times on trips to Cape Cod, always wondered what is off that exit...

Terry, Congrats! I was in Italy last October, and it was great! But, it was my SECOND trip. I was there by myself for 14 days in 2007, also after I finished my degree! Italy is wonderful alone. Safe, and when you're not traveling with someone I think you tend to notice more around you!

I do agree with the others that you are maybe trying to fit in a bit too much. I did just Rome, Venice, and Florence, with minimal daytrips at that. If you can avoid Milan since it sounds like you don't actually want to tour there, that would save you time. I skipped CT on my first trip and finally went back this fall. I was frankly underwhelmed. But more importantly, to really savor the best of what Italy has to offer, in my opinion, you MUST allow yourself some time to enjoy the little things - taking breakfast standing up at a cafe like the locals, having a long lunch, multiple gelati A DAY, and really just in general taking it easy. You've just gotta tell yourself you'll be coming back sometime soon. That's how I justified skipping CT and other places my first time around. I hit CT, Volterra, San Gimignano, Bologna and Parma (all on my loooooooooong italy must-see list) the second time around. Italy Part 3, which I am already starting to think about for 2011, will include some of the other places I've yet to see. I know it's hard to limit because you want to see it all - that was my problem. But think of it this way (besides the fact that you WILL go back!) - staying in one fewer city and then equally splitting the 12 days between the "big 3" will allow you to see each of those places so very much better. In the end, by limiting yourself, I bet you will actually get to see MORE!