Itinerary assistance

Posted by mish44 on 05/21/16 09:39 PM

Hi Everyone,

We are planning a 22 night trip to Italy and would love some help on our itinerary. We fly into milan and out of rome. Here is what we have so far:

9/8-9/11 Lake Como (rental car) 1.5 hr drive from Malpensa
9/11-9/14 Venice (drop off car on arrival) 3 hr drive from Varenna
9/14-9/17 Verona (arrive by train from Venice – 1 hr train ride)
9/17-9/24 Tuscany (rent car in Verona to drive to Tuscany lodging—est. 2.5 hr drive)
9/24-9/28 Florence (drop car off in Florence)
9/28-9/30 Rome (train to Rome 1.5 hr)

We would like to go to Cinque Terre for 2 nights and wondering where would be best to fit it in? We are travelling with a 5 year old so we do need to be sensitive to schedules and train times. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Posted by Gordon

Portland, Oregon, United States

05/21/16 10:51 PM

907 posts

Alternatively you have to drive through Verona to get to Venice. Stay in Verona, drop car, train to Venice. Rent car in Venice and go on your way (rent at airport or at Piazalle Roma). There are lots of places to see between Venice and Tuscany. Otherwise this looks good.

Posted by David in Brisbane

Brisbane, Australia

05/21/16 11:27 PM

7175 posts

I'm not sure a car is beneficial for Lake Como where the most pleasant way to get around is by ferry.
Two nights is sufficient for Verona, stopping off on your way to Venice.
If you bring Florence forward you could pick up a car here for your week in the Tuscan countryside, dropping it off perhaps in Orvieto before proceeding to Rome.
To include Cinque Terre, it would need to be at the expense of time in the Tuscan countryside. If so, head there after Florence, and pick up your car in Siena.

Posted by Chani

Tel Aviv

05/22/16 03:47 PM

15798 posts

It's also a bad idea to drive after a trans-Atlantic flight (the effect of jetlag is about the same as being drunk). Rent the car when you leave Verona. . . . or switch Venice/Verona and rent from Venice. Or go from the north to Florence, then rent the car for Tuscany, return it to Florence and train to Rome.

Posted by Charlotte

Fort Lauderdale, FL

05/24/16 02:11 AM

1246 posts

I would suggest NOT getting a car in Milan. Take the train to Varenna. Like it was mentioned before, you will be jetlagged, much like being drunk, not a good idea.

Verona can be done in a day trip from Venice (add one extra night), then you would have time for Cinque Terre, either before Florence/Tuscany, or after, before Rome. All doable by train.

Posted by Steve

Columbus, OH, USA

05/25/16 02:37 PM

68 posts

I'll just echo the suggestion to skip a rental from Malepensa. We took the bus to Milano Centrale, then hopped a train to Varenna-Esino. That was a brutal last stretch and a tough way to start a vacation. Were we to do it over (especially with a 5YO), we'd take a cab right from the airport to your hotel on Lake Como. Cheap it is not, but that bus ride will really test your kid's ability to hold his/her food down. And the train up to Como is NOT a Frecee (nice high speed). If you deduct the cost of a rental car for 3 days (more if you read on) and the cab/bus/train to get you to Lake Como (where you won't really be using it anyway), cabbing it will actually save you a ton of money and even more hassle.

One thing you may already understand about driving in Italy is that, unless you're going to be traveling off the beaten path, a car is a liability. Given ease of train travel where you're going to/from, a car is really unnecessary until you leave Verona. That's also when it would make the most sense (geographically) to hit 5Terre. A week is a long time to be in the Tuscan countryside, so stealing from your Tuscany time on the front end to fit 5Terre in will likely make for relaxing, meandering discovery.

Very jealous!