Itinerary HELP!

Stay in Florence and do Siena as a day trip. Naples can be done as a day trip as well. Avoid staying anywhere for only 1 night.

Ditto. Are you using trains?

Thanks for your advice. I agree a day trip would be better and yeah I was thinking of trains whoever Iv'e never been so I really have no idea! Have you been to Italy? If so what do you recommend? Where did you like best!

Trains are easiest, speeding along from city to city. They don't get lost or accidentally drive into ztl's. And it can be super duper cheap if you buy the "mini" fares in advance, as low as 9 euros. The bus is best from florence to Siena and back. I was in Italy about this time last year, and I've been dreaming of going back ever since! I saw Milan, Stresa, Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Siena, and Rome. It was a bit of a whirlwind, next time I will slow down and smell the gelato...

Kathy, you're covering a lot of miles and a lot of destinations for the time you have, and you are going to be spending a significant part of your trip in transit... I'd suggest dropping one destination. Plan on losing a half day (or more) each time you change location: getting to and from transit, checking out of and into hotels, getting lost, and actual time on train/bus/road. Subtracting out your planned day trips, it looks to me like you only have, at best, 1.5 days in Florence and Venice and 2.5 days in Rome. I've never been to Italy in July, because it is hot and crowded. But from one visit to Rome at a very crowded time (at election of Pope Benedict), my lasting impression is how very long it took to get anywhere/do anything (even though I had been to Rome several times before). I'd drop Sorrento since it's farthest away from everything else, and do it on another trip. You can see coast/mountains on day trips from Venice, the smaller islands around Venice offer quiet/relative isolation/nature, the rural areas outside of Florence are beautiful, and there are lovely hill towns you can visit from Florence (or Orvieto, an hour from Rome by train). If you want to keep Sorrento, I'd drop Rome, only because you have so little time to visit a huge, complex city... and because it's July and will be hot and crowded.

Katie, I agree with the others that your Itinerary is too "busy" with too many location changes. You're going to be seeing Italy more from the windows of a train than enjoying it in the "slow" fashion. Have you reserved hotels? As this is your first trip, there are some potentially expensive caveat's to be aware of when travelling by train (more on that in a separate reply). Regarding your Itinerary, would something like this work.... > Fri. Jul. 12th- Depart home > Sat. Jul. 13th-D1: Arrive MXP (N1) Assuming you're aware how to get from airport to city? > Sun. Jul. 14th-D2: Milan (N2) > Mon. Jul. 15th-D3: To Venice, stop in Verona (N1) > Tue. Jul. 16th-D4: Venice (N2) > Wed. Jul. 17th-D5: To Florence (N1) If you're planning on visiting Uffizi or Accademia, reservations HIGHLY advisable > Thu. Jul. 18th-D6: Florence (N2) > Fri. Jul. 19th-D7: Florence, day trip to Pisa (N3) > Sat. Jul. 20th-D8: Florence, day trip to Siena (N4) Civita is not a good option, as it takes some time to get there > Sun. Jul. 21st-D9: To Sorrento via Pompeii (N1) Have you researched trains on that route? > Mon. Jul. 22nd-D10: Sorrento (N2) > Tue. Jul. 23rd-D11: Sorrento - day trip to Positano OR Naples (N3) > Wed. Jul. 24th-D12: To Rome (N1) > Thu. Jul. 25th-D13: Rome (N2) > Fri. Jul. 26th-D14: Rome (N3) > Sat. Jul. 27th-D15: Rome (N4)
> Sun. Jul. 28th-D16: Flight home from FCO There are many ways this could be arranged, and this is only one suggestion. July will be BUSY and HOT. Pre-booking Hotels would be a REALLY good idea. Happy travels!

Katie, When travelling by train in Italy, there are a couple of VERY IMPORTANT potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of. When using Regionale trains which don't require reservations, it's VERY IMPORTANT to validate (time & date stamp) the tickets prior to boarding the train. This includes the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. The validation (Convalida) machine will either be bright yellow or blue & gray, with a small digital display on the front. These are easy to find and located near the tracks. If the machine is out of order, writing the time & date on the ticket may be acceptable (ask the Conductor as soon as possible). Those caught with unvalidated tickets may be fined on the spot! The fines start at €50 per person and if not paid on the spot, they DOUBLE and increase from there! The same fines apply to those travelling via Bus in Rome and other places (in that case, validation machines are often located ON the Bus). Conductors are now carrying portable debit/credit card Terminals, so payment of fines WILL be easily accomplished! Those travelling on the "premium" trains such as the Freccia high speed trains MUST have a valid reservation or again may be fined on the spot! These fines also start at €50 per person, in addition to the cost of the reservation, which is currently ~€10 PP. Reservations on these trains are compulsory and are specific to a particular train and departure time. It's NOT POSSIBLE to simply buy a ticket with reservations and then board any train. The ticket or reservation will specify the train number (ie: ES 9718), so it's important to verify that before boarding. Cheers!

Katie, One final thought...... You may find it VERY HELPFUL to pack along a copy of the Italy 2013 Guidebook, as it has an enormous amount of good information, and may help your trip go more smoothly and also save money and aggravation (especially at that time of year). It's also available in E-book format, if you'll be packing along an iPad or other Reader. It would be a good idea for both of you to wear Money Belts (especially in July, as the scammers will probably be as thick as flies). If you'll be taking Cellphones, Cameras or other electronic gadgets, you'll have to be aware not only of the costs of using them in Europe, but also the details for charging on 220 VAC electrical systems (you will of course need Plug Adaptors). Cheers!

Hi Ken, Thanks so much for your advice. No I have not booked hotels yet because I havent finished the itnerary however I like yours very much. Should I book the whole two weeks because I feel that is a little too intensive. I was thinking of booking milan and venice before I leave and the rest when we get there. I am flying into Linate in Milan instead of MXP. I have a few questions. Would Naples be a better day trip from Rome or Sorrento- it seems a little far from Sorrento. Do I have to make reservations for train tickets or buy them in advance- I was thinking of just going to the train station? Do ALL need to be validated and will someone let me know when I get there? Also I dont want to stop in cities (like Verona) on my way because I realize I will have my luggae is there somewhere I can store it before I leave? How do I make reervations for the museums ahead of time? In Venice can I walk everywhere rather than take the vaparetto? Where else can I walk to places instead of buses and such? I have the Italy 2013 guide and that is where I am getting most of my ideas however I still am super stressed!

You only need to validate train tickets if the train you are taking does not need a reservation. Like the regional train from Florence to Pisa. If you book a specific train and have a seat reservation (like on a fast train from Milan to Venice), you don't need to validate. A conductor will come and check your ticket. Buying the tickets in advance can possibly save a LOT of money. You can get just about anywhere in Venice by walking, but it's easy to get lost. You'd better have a REALLY good map! And it'd probably take half an hour minimum to get to San Marco from the train station if you can find the quickest way. The vaporetto is fun and scenic, when it's not overcrowded. And it'd be the only way to get to places such as Murano or Burano island. You can get passes for multiple days. Most train stations have a baggage check where you can store your stuff. I haven't been to Naples so I can't answer that. Hopefully someone else will chime in! You likely only need reservations to see the Last Supper in Milan, to climb the leaning tower of Pisa, the accedemia and Uffizi in Florence, and the Borgeshe gallery in Rome. RS Italy guide book will have all the info you need to contact those places.

Katie, It occurred to me after posting my suggested Itinerary that it might be possible to stop in Siena for a night between Florence and Sorrento (rather than doing it as a day trip) as you're heading in that direction anyway. I don't like one-night stops, but it would allow you to experience the city in the evenings, which are really nice. As you'll be in Siena on July 20th, you should miss the Palio crowds (July 2 and August 16 this year), but it will probably still be busy there! The easiest way to get from Florence to Siena is to take the SITA Bus, as it drops passengers in Piazza Gramsci in the main part of town. If you travel by train, you'll be at the bottom of the hill and will have to take a Bus or Taxi up to the city. If you decide to travel by Bus, DON'T forget to validate your ticket prior to boarding the Bus or you could be nicked with a hefty fine! July WILL be busy and hotels may be at a premium in many locations, so I'd recommend booking AS SOON as you've settled on an Itinerary. The Guidebook has listings for good hotels in each place you're visiting. It will take me some time to work out a reply to your latest questions. It's getting late, but will try and answer a few tonight. Hopefully the others will have suggestions too. Cheers!

Wow Ken you have been extremley helpful along with everyone else! Any extra tidbits of info would be greatly appriciated! Should I book ALL hotels ahead of time?! I feel that is too much and would like to book as I go for at least the second week.

Katie, > "Should I book the whole two weeks because I feel that is a little too intensive." For travel in July, I would definitely suggest pre-booking hotels. You'll lose some spontaneity, but that's better than having to wander around looking for a place to sleep, hauling all your luggage. You could also end up having to pay more than anticipated or end up with a hotel that's in a dodgy part of town or "less than ideal". > "Would Naples be a better day trip from Rome or Sorrento" IMHO, Naples is a better day trip from Sorrento. About an hour on the Circumvesuviana (tickets are really cheap). Watch your wallet, as it has a bit of a "reputation". > "Do I have to make reservations for train tickets or buy them in advance- I was thinking of just going to the train station?" Reservations are only applicable for the "premium" trains such as the Freccia high speed, Intercity, etc. If you buy P-P tickets at stations in Italy, either from the ticket desk or the Kiosks, reservations will be included in the price. NOTE that these are specific to a particular train and departure time, so you can't just buy a ticket and hop on any train. If you're caught without a valid reservation for the train you're riding on, HEFTY FINES will be the result. Tickets with reservations don't need to be validated (but it shouldn't matter if you validate them). If you buy tickets at the station, you'll likely pay Base Fare, which is the highest tier. If you pre-purchase online WELL in advance, savings are possible. However, the Trenitalia website is not the most "user friendly" and many people seem to have issues with it. continued......

Katie - next part..... You can determine which trains require reservations and which ones don't, by using either the Trenitalia or Bahn.de websites. You might find it helpful to have a look at the excellent www.roninrome.com website, as there's extensive information there on train travel. You could also check www.seat61.com (also excellent). > "Do ALL need to be validated and will someone let me know when I get there?" Only tickets for Regionale trains need to be validated. That includes the Leonardo Express to the airport. I've never found that anyone will tell you, but you could ask a Conductor if in doubt. NOTE that tickets on Buses in Rome also have to be validated, or again hefty fines. > "Also I dont want to stop in cities (like Verona) on my way because I realize I will have my luggage is there somewhere I can store it before I leave?" SOME stations have a Deposito Bagagli office and some MAY have lockers. Here's information on the office in Verona: www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f6206dab180eb110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD > "How do I make reservations for the museums ahead of time?" Which Museums??? The Guidebook has all the details (I would highly recommend that you pack along a copy). > "In Venice can I walk everywhere rather than take the vaporetto?" Yes, you can walk to most places in Venice as it's hard to get lost. There are arrows on the sides of building that say "Per San Marco" or whatever, so it's easy to figure out where to walk. Of course, if you're going to one of the nearby islands, then a boat ride will be necessary. NOTE that your destination station there will be Venezia Santa Lucia. Continued......

Katie, last part..... > "Where else can I walk to places instead of buses and such?" You'll probably find that all of the cities you're visiting are very walkable to some extent. If you're used to walking, you shouldn't have any problems however I'd recommend that you "pace yourselves" in Rome. I've worn myself out trying to walk everywhere there, to the point where I had to see a Doctor. I now use a combination of walking, Metro and Buses. I usually buy a B.I.G. (daily) ticket which is good for the whole day (until midnight) on all modes of transport, and only has to be validated once. Regarding travelling by train, you may find it useful to watch Rick's "Riding the Rails" video. It applies to travel in the Netherlands and Germany, but it's similar to Italy. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AxtbifeoBY A couple of other points to mention. You might find it helpful to pick up an Italian Phrasebook, as it always helps to be able to use a few of the polite greetings in the local language. Rick's Phrasebook is great, and I believe it covers menu descriptions as well. Regarding restaurant meals in Italy, they're typically presented in "waves" from Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, Contorni and finally Dolci. If you order the "full meal deal" with every meal, your restaurant bills will add up VERY quickly. You'll have to be a bit "selektive" in what you order. As I recall, the Guidebook has information on that. Buon Viaggio!