Help with 10 night Itinerary

Yes, it sounds like a great schedule. It will allow you to explore Rome with a day trip to Naples and not feel rushed. You'll also have plenty of time to explore Venice. Donna

very smart of you to limit yourselves to two places. We love Venice so might do more of a 6/4 night split on a first trip, but it depends on your specific day by day plans. Get an apartment if you can for a long stay in Rome. Really worthwhile as a place to relax and "live" when you are there for an extended stay.

I'd also suggest a 6/4 split as well. Also try apartments in both spots. You might want to investigate reversing the order. Fly into Venice and depart from Rome. Venice is a great spot to recover from any jetlag. Flights departing from Venice Marco Polo (VCE) can also be very early if you are connecting again in Europe for the flight home. Rome departures tend to be a bit more reasonable. At least pay careful attention when looking at flights.

I think the 6/4 split is a great idea as well. And, if you find yourself wanting to see something beyond Venice you could take a little boat trip to Burano for lunch. I would probably skip Naples in exchange for another location, but I don't care as much for big cities... try for a village to add another dimension to yur trip.

Just throwing my two cents into the conversation. If you like to relax then Rome and daytrips to Naples is not all that relaxing! They are busy trains with travel times and hectic franetic places. Which are fun but not relaxing. I would pick one city and one off the beaten path place. Also you are going to Italy in the summer so the seaside is wonderful. Of course I have weakness for the Cinque Terre because it is peaceful and beautiful and whenever I meet travellers who pass through they always lament they didn`t stay in the area longer. So I would rome for a few days, then Cinque Terre, then venice. Just an idea. Feel free to direct message me for any Cinque Terre advice cause I lived there as my hubby is from the region.

A day trip to Ostia Antica might be fun while you're in Rome. I would also recommend a day trip to Padua from Venice (get a reservation for the Scrovegni Chapel frescoes).

Hi Jennifer, We'll be leaving Rome the day before you arrive-I'll leave a light on for you LOL. I'd like to get a feel for what you're looking for in your Italian experience. Are you a foodie, a wine lover, an art or antiquities person, spiritual journey, history, scenic views, candlit dinners? Are you and your husband in good shape for heat and walking? The decision to make a home base in two cities for ten days is a sound one. The rule of thumb is that you lose at least half a day every time your relocate. Do keep in mind that not all accommodations have ac and some that do don't always turn it on. For seven nights in Rome an apartment is an excellent suggestion. Do try to travel as light as possible. There are plenty of laundries and self serve landromats in Rome (or your apt may have a washer). We preplan our laundry stops into the itinerary, it's a nice break to have lunch or a snack, write some postcards, write in our journals (or pick up email since some of the laundromats have internet cafes) and chat with locals. Do get the Rick Steve's book and read through for tips that will make your trip hassle free and memorable!

My idea of a great vacation used to be renting a car and seeing how many miles we can driveand how many attractions we can visit. Big mistake @ $3.85 per gallon for gasoline. We're trying to slow down in our retirement years. With 10 days, I'd suggest 3 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Tuscany hill country (with a car rental) and 4 nights in Rome. Travel between cities by train.

David, can you tell me where to get fuel that cheap in Europe, please. Most places I am aware of it is twice that price.

Hi Jennifer, My family spent a week in Rome last February, and we loved it! Of course, hot and crowded might change things, but we enjoyed taking our time...my daughter and I had one whole day for shopping, we took time for long lunches and didn't feel panicked, etc. We did one day trip to Naples and Pompeii, then slept in a little the next morning, etc. We saw a lot of the city and did not feel rushed:) We all agreed it was one of our best vacations ever! Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip!