Flights are scheduled for Italy/France trip. Any suggestions before I reserve hotels?

Seems reasonable, although I am not a fan of one night stays. Can you combine Vicenza and Mantova since they are close to each other? 3 nights in Lyon seems a tad long and 3 in Paris short. Maybe shift a night from Lyon to Paris?

Similarly, three nights in Turin compared to 3 nights in Paris also sounds long to me. (Unless you have plans to drive out into the Langhe and visit some winemakers). I'd take a day from Turin and add it to Paris.

I visited Lyon for first time this summer, liked it very much, but really think, I would take a night from Lyon and give it to Paris.

Thanks so much for your comments! We decided to take 1 night off of Torino after your suggestions, but we moved it to Annecy. I've been to Paris several times, so we're more interested in seeing other locations....but couldn't miss out on a couple of days in Paris!

Yesterday I found out that there will be a large conference in Mantova, so we switched that location to Parma. We may switch Torino to another town in the vicinity; I haven't reserved a hotel for Turin, yet.

You might try emailing the hotels your looking at before booking using their website or another site. Sometimes you can get better prices this way.

Noting you have previously visited Padova and Verona and Bologna.
Vicenza is easy as a day from Padova (or even Venice).
Mantova is easy as a day from Verona.

You could spend several nights in Bologna between Venice and Torino.
Bologna is centrally located to give you easy day trip options to Ferrara, Ravenna, Parma, Modena.

I have done single night hops around this area, but it depends on your preference and amount of luggage.
Venice (3) > Ferrara (1) > Modena (1) > Parma (1) > Torino (2)

Thanks everyone. All of our hotels are booked now. We have a nice variety of hotels with good reviews: an ancient building in Old Lyon, splurged for a nice hotel on Lake Annecy, inexpensive hotels in a few locations - everything in the old center of town. We've been to Venice & Paris; otherwise, every place is new for us. : )

Fly into Venice, arriving in the morning.
Venice - 3 nights
Vicenza - 1 night
Parma - 2 nights
Torino - 2 nights
Annecy, France - 3 nights
Lyon, France - 3 nights
Paris - 3 nights
Fly home from Paris

The gift/book shop at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza has some wonderful stuff. I could have gone berserk.
Well actually, I kinda did !!

It's interesting that you changed Mantova for Parma, as I did the reverse, changed Parma for Mantova.
We'll both be back then I take it.

Jean,
Has Ravenna figured into your planning at all?

Hi David,

Thanks for letting me know about the shop in Vicenza's Olympic Teatro! I love architecture so planning to really enjoy Vicenza. I usually leave my suitcase 1/4th empty in case I see something to bring home besides photos & memories.

I had originally planned to go to Mantova, but we switched to Parma after seeing a large conference is planned the weekend we'll be there, and the hotel prices were twice what we found in Parma. Also, some websites stated that some places are closed or restricted because of the earthquakes they had in Mantova - not sure of the status plan for 2016. I've found very positive reviews for Parma on-line, and in reality, we'll have a fantastic time whichever place we go!

I visited Mantova just 2 months after the 2012 earthquake and most of the Ducale Palace was off limits. Palazzo Te was unaffected and I had it pretty much to myself on a morning visit. The interior of the cathedral was full of scaffolding that was supporting the roof. However, I really enjoyed my visit, staying in a great hotel (Casa Poli) and having a fantastic meal at a nearby restaurant (Lo Scalco Grasso).

Hi Bets, Ravenna would be a good choice, and we haven't been there, yet. Maybe for our next time we're in this area. : )