Italy travel planning

The only advantage to buying train tickets in advance is to save money if you can get a cheap fare. I often buy my train ticket a day in advance to avoid a long line at the ticket window or machines right before departure. That can happen at a busy time, like morning/evening rush hour and especially Friday afternoon. I missed a train while waiting at a machine - you'd think it would be fast, but only some machines take cash (US credit cards often don't work) and there are tourists who will spend many minutes trying to figure out how to use the machine instead of just asking for help. Also some people are buying tickets for other days and are comparing times and prices, some are just looking up train schedules.

I'd stay in Bologna and day trip to Padua, Ferrara and Ravenna (or even an overnight in Ravenna). Color me curious - why not Venice? It's probably a good idea to reserve your last night as well, especially if you have a morning flight. If you are flying out of Milan, it does have some good sights for 1-2 days. If you have an an afternoon or evening flight out from there, you could go straight from Verona. In that case, I'd probably buy a train ticket to Milan in advance.

I'd suggest checking the hotel situation in Bologna online ahead of time just to be sure you're not going to hit some sort of special event that will make for a really tight hotel situation. I believe the city gets a lot of business travel, presumably no less in November than earlier in the year. In the distant past I twice had to get right back on the train in Bologna for lack of budget-class accommodations. Twice burned, last summer I booked my Bologna hotel a bit farther ahead than my usual 24 to 48 hours. I enjoyed the city a lot on my third attempt to see it, and it makes a great base because of its transportation links.

It's easier to travel on the fly if you carry a lightweight Chromebook with you. You can always find somewhere to stay on Booking.com or one of the mega websites.
I agree about at least taking a day trip to Venice if you're as close as Verona.

Hi Chani, thanks for your info. Reason for not including Venice is that I have visited Venice in a previous trip, I might still visit Venice if my schedule allows a day trip but it will be at the bottom of my list. Cheers.

I would imagine that late November is a pretty slow period in the Po River valley. I don't think you'll have to hard a time finding lodging in any city north of Florence with the possible exception of Milan.

If you plan to stay a day or two in the Padua area, a side trip (30 minutes via regional train) to Vicenza is worthwhile. You can hit the highlights in just a morning on your way to Verona.

As for the comment "(US credit cards often don't work)", I had no problem using either true "Chip and PIN" cards or the more common "Chip and Signature" cards issued by U.S. banks. Just make sure you know the PIN for each and they should work just fine in Trenitalia ticket machines. (While my true "Chip & PIN" card automatically came with a PIN, I had to request it for my "Chip & Signature" card issuer - and they called it an ATM PIN.)

I travelled intensely thru the region over 8 days in 2012. Siena >> Ferrara >> Padova >> Vicenza >> Verona >> Mantova >> Milan. I had previously been to Florence, Bologna, Venice. I think booking just your start and end points will be fine. No train reservations are needed as local trains are cheap yet still pretty quick.

From Bologna, visit Ferrara, Ravenna, Parma, Modena.
From Padova, visit Vicenza, Venice.
From Verona, visit Mantova.

Hi David, if I wanted to visit Milan, which base town should I use to visit?

Be aware that many things are closed on Mondays. I went to Mantova on a Monday and it was dead. I day tripped there from Verona. Verona had a few more things open.

I spent 3 weeks in Italy in May, after spending 3 weeks there another time. I've spent 25 weeks in Europe over the last 10 years. I spent a day/night in Milan this last May as I was flying out of there. I've been to many cities and Milan is the only one I would hate to return to. If there is something specific you want to do there you should go. Otherwise I would skip it.

I must say that I don't understand the reason why would anyone skip Milan and why is that the only town to hate to return to, as someone said above. I was there also in may this year an for me it is a beautiful city. See film below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MEbYPLkrQI
Maybe it is vibrant and bustling, more bussiness oriented than some other smaller cities but it has its quite and tranquill parts, large parks in the middle of the city rich museums, incredible Arco della Pace, breathtaking Duomo, one of the largest churches of the world (and its not only the size, see its facade in the film), Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II oldest and probably the most baeutiful shopping mall in the world, bohemian quarter Brera, Navigli and much much more.

If you fly out of Milan, you should spend a couple of nights there so you have a full day to visit it. Although known more for being the financial capital of Italy and one of the 3 fashion capitals of the world (along with Paris and NYC), there are numerous relevant things for a tourist to see (Duomo, Galleria, La Scala Opera house, Pinacoteca di Brera, Sforza Castle and its museums, Leonardo's Last Supper, etc.).

Reservations aren't mandatory, as all those cities have plenty of accommodations and November is low season, however you will need Internet access via phone or tablet so that you can quickly search accommodations, otherwise you will waste a lot of time walking from hotel to hotel trying to find a suitable one. Milan gets busy when there are major conventions or business events in town, which is often throughout the year.

Let me just correct Roberto.
There are four major fashion weeks - New York, London (last week), Milan (this week), Paris (next week). I'm sure it was unintentional for him to forget our London Fashionistas.

I too like Milan and definitely consider it worth a look before a departure flight. The Last Supper and Duomo roof are 2 fantastic experiences.

You will probably need an advance reservation for Lronardo's Last Supper in Milano.

I love Milano and usually fly in to or out of it.

Good to hear some respondents who are interested in fashion. Can anyone tell me where in Milan I can find less known Italian designer products? I am not interested in seeing globalized big designer cloths that can be found everywhere. Cheers!

Via Montenapoleone is the major fashion street, and it includes many smaller design houses as well. The side streets in that area would probably be good hunting ground as well.

I traveled in this region last September and October. During the period I traveled solo, I booked hotels two days in advance using booking.com, and didn't have any problems. There can be festivals and other events scheduled, even in the smaller towns, so it is important to check availability online before you arrive.