First trip to Italy questions

Hi, Kathryn: You're going to get a lot of input, so I'll kick things off with just a couple of observations:

• Your idea of staging out of 3-4 places is a good one to maximize your sightseeing and reduce your stress.
• To me, given your affinity for the outdoors, I think you should spend a few days in the Tuscan region. This would offer some serious hiking possibilities and the opportunity to visit some of the spectacular hill towns. If you choose your accommodations carefully, you could stay in the countryside and still visit Florence.
• You sound as if you're almost dreading Rome - don't! We were intimidated on our first trip, too, and actually stayed in a B&B outside of Rome. Our next trip, we stayed in a B&B 5 min. from the Colosseum and saw a whole other side of Rome. We loved walking around at night and felt very safe. So don't psych yourself out, O.K.?

Have a great trip - no matter what you decide, you'll have the time of your life.

Hi Kathryn, We will be taking our first trip to Italy as well and have planned almost the same itinerary, also starting in Rome and ending in Venice, but more because I wanted to end the trip in Venice on a slower pace than it would have been with Rome. We are doing Rome, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Venice. We have hired Ron in Rome for our first full day to help us get acclimated and make the most of our time in Rome, since we too are somewhat intimidated. I don't know when you're going, but I plan on reporting when we get back at the end of July. He has a great website and from all reports, I feel we have made a good choice.

Hi Kathryn
1st- Rome is amazing and while yes, it is overwhelming, you won't want to "get it over with."

My family and I did a similar trip a few years ago. 3 nights in Rome, 3 in Assisi (hill town in Umbria), 3 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, and 3 nights in Venice- total of 15 nights.

If you like hiking, the trails between the Cinque Terre towns are incredible. I will be returning for the 3rd time in a couple weeks. I've never been to the Dolomites but I would think there's better hiking there then Tuscany.

This pace was really nice, not too fast, not too slow.

Since you say you want to stay in four places max and give 5 options I would suggest that you go the Cinque Terre or the Dolomites but not both. There will be more hiking and other "active" opportunities in the Dolomites than in the CQ.

Kathryn- you don't say when you are going but I will assume it is at a time when the snow will not interfere with hiking in the Dolomites. I've been to both the CT and the Dolomites...good news, whichever you choose you will have an awesome time. A couple of things to think about:

Hiking: We stayed in Castleroto (Casleruth) and hiked 3 days there. Lots of hikes to choose from and it was glorious. The hike between the towns is the CT is great and very unique. So this is a push...good hiking in both

Transportation: You don't say how you are traveling around, but if it is by train this could help you make the decision. We had a car, but I got the impression it was harder to get to Castelroto than the CT (which has a train going right down the middle of it) I have a feeling the CT wins this round. If you have a car, it changes. A car can be a hassle in the Cinque Terre since it is better to leave it in Levanto or La Spezia and take the train. I've done that twice and it has always been fine, but not as good as the Dolomites where you can drive it right to your hotel and keep an eye on it.

Uniqueness-Both get high marks here, however the Dolomites will be very different from every where else you are traveling. It really is more like being in Bavaria than Italy.

It's a tough call, I've searched my soul (and memories) and if it were me....Aaaaahhh too hard. I went to both in 2003 and skipped the Dolomites in 2008. You can't go wrong. Pick one and plan on seeing the other your next trip.

I think you already have great advice on the different places in Italy.

Something to consider regarding flying into Rome and out of Venice. Most departing flights back to the US leave early morning. I think it's much easier to get to the airport early a.m. in Rome (via taxi from your Rome hotel) then from Venice where you may need a private water taxi (more expensive). Whichever city you depart from, go ahead & stay in the city your last night instead of by the airport.

I wholeheartedly agree with starting in Rome. We took a very similar trip to yours and our path was: Rome - CT - Siena/Florence - Venice.

Rome was full throttle. We were supposed to have 4 nights there but because of flight issues, we only had three. When we left there, I was body tired and also burnt out on museums. Going to CT next was perfect. We hiked and relaxed, no rush, no fuss. It recharged me for the next stop. We took a train into Florence, toured during the day and took a night bus to Siena. Stayed in Siena three nights and went back to Florence and toured just a bit more during the day before catching and evening train to Venice.

Ending in Venice was just perfect. The thrill of Venice is not museums so much as wandering around its neighborhoods. I would have hated to have done it in reverse and been tired of museums by the time I got to Rome. And we took the water taxi to the Venice aiport super early in the morning to catch our flight. It was slick. No problems. I was nervous that it would be late or we were at the wrong stop, but we had zero issues.

I cannot give you an opinion about the Dolomites - never been. But agree with the other poster that Tuscany is well worth a stop.

I very much liked the flow of our trip. When were we fresh off the plane and full of adrenhaline, Rome was the place to be. When we were road weary, Venice was perfect.