help-should I leave Venice off my trip

With high speed trains Venice is not too far out of the way at all. Venice is such a beautiful, unique, and special place that you should definitely go if you have the chance!

How about this order? Rome, Cinque Terre, Florence, Modena, and Venice. You certainly have enough time with 18 night to add in lake Garda or lake Como after Venice, and fly out of Milan... or you can skip those and just have a relaxing time. It's a vacation, right?

Just change the path in a geographical order, Rome (4), Florence/Tuscany(4), Pievepelago(4), CT (3), Venice (3). That's 18 nights. Fly home from Venice. Or Rome, CT, Pievepelago, Florence, Venice. I assume you are talking about Pievepelago in the high Appenines south of Modena.

Thanks for your positive posts, I have been getting alot of negativity about visiting CT, some are saying that it is too crowded and too out of the way to be worth it. Am I missing something, has anyone visited recently?

I would add another night to Venice and spend the rest of your time in Tuscany/Florence. If you aren't interested in visiting Milano, I would suggest flying out of Rome (flip the order); Rome in June is not terribly hot, it's July and August that turns you into a puddle.

Venice is just easier, in my opinion, for the start of a trip. Then you could go to Pieve Pelage, CT, Tuscany/Florence, and Rome. Or go to CT just before Rome - might be a good way to unwind before that final burst of big city touring.

I will definately price Venice airport out? Do you think the Verona - Lake Garda is a good destination to add?

We've been to CT twice - in 2008 and 2012. Both at pretty much the same time in Sept (3rd week). The first trip, we were there thru the week...and we loved it...quiet, the trains we not crowded. In 2012, we ended up staying on a weekend - and we were very disheartened by the amount of people compared to the last time. Crowded trains and streets (I know, we were part of the crowds!). Part of it may have been a lot of people travelling there after the horrible floods in 2011 - that is part of the reason we returned, to contribute to the economy. If that had been our experience in 2008, we would not have gone back. That being said, CT is lovely...if you are there thru the week as opposed to a weekend, it's probably better...and make sure you carry a half roll of toilet paper around with you...had bad public washroom experiences BOTH times in CT with either lack of tp, or the hole in the floor toilets in Monterosso at the train station (OK if you are a dude, not some much for women).

Now, onto Venice- we have been 3 times and are going back for a 4th (I love the place). You want to talk crowds! Whew - but 5 minutes away from the main sights and it's usually quite peaceful. I would personally recommend 3 nights there (we've spent 7-8 nights there over our three trips, and back for another 3 this year). We had 5 nights in Rome our first trip in 2008, and felt very rushed seeing everything (but we did spend a day in Naples at Herculaneum and Mt Vesuvius). We are returning this year for another 5 nights.

We were in the CT the first weekend in June, a few years ago; and I have just one word for it, "appalling." The crowds were unbelievable.

I like Angelas' plan, but would travel to Lake Garda from Pievepelage then on to Venice

Even though CT was on my "must" list I am getting very disheartened fast. Is there another coast town that you would suggest?

You could stay in Levanto and take the train into CT. Or remove it from your list and use the time to discover the lakes (Garda, Como, or Maggiore). There really isn't much to CT anyway, other than cute towns. Hugging the cliffs and a hiking path that is sometimes open.

The Amalfi coast is another option. There is plenty to do there! Stay in Sorrento and visit Pompeii, Capri, and all the gorgeous coastline as far as Salerno, and even visit as far south as the Greek ruins in Paestum. It might also be quite busy in June, so definitely avoid a weekend stay if possible.

I traveled Italy in June. No where were the crowds unmanageable - except Venice. I would skip Venice next time and spend more time in Florence.

Don't discount CT - it is really lovely...2 nights is good...but if your plans would put you there on a weekend, then I'd probably use those 2 nights somewhere else...

Thinking about skipping the Florence area and going up thru pass to Austria. Any thoughts? We will probably drive (even though it will be hefty do fee). We probably do not have enough time but just a thought.