We appreciate some help on developing an Iternary for our northern Italy trip for early May. We are a real Rick Steve's fan and use this site as a bible for our trips so your help is appreciated. Please let us know if you think this itinerary is sane and doable. May 4 arrive Milan airport drive to Lezzano where we will be staying for a few days. May 7 leave for Milan for 1 day stay. Just want to see a couple of sites here and stay one night. We want to see the 5 towns and enjoy the sites. May 8 leave for Cinque Terre until the 11. On May 11 leave for Venice. Stop and see Verona for half a day to walk a little and see the colloseum. Go to Venice latter in day. Leave Venice on the 14 for home. We can stay an extra day somewhere along the way. Where would you spend it? Our plan would be to rent a car in Milan airport when we arrived and drop it off we we get to Venice. Thanks in advance your help is appreciated. We did Rome, Florence and Amalfi a two years ago and this site was great in helping. By the way would you start flip the itinerary and start the trip in Venice.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Lezzano? Did you mean Lezzeno at Lake Como? A car at Lake Como and the Cinque Terre may not be the best choice - Lake Como is best seen by boat, there's nothing to do with your car at the CT, and overnight parking can be a challenge in both places. A thought would be, if you can change the trip sequence so that you're not forced to have a rental car at Lake Como or the CT.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11680 posts
Tom:
The short version I understand is you have 3 nights each in Lezzano, the CT, and Venice, 1 night Milan. Doable whether you start in Venice or Lezzano. You say you have "an extra day somewhere along the way." I don't see where that is. I would not add another stop and I would not want a car in the CT. Can you use a car Milan to Lezzano and back, drop the car, take the train to the CT, train to Verona and then to Venice? Much less hassle and may be less expensive especially if there are only two of you. (I've said that without knowing much about Lezzano and whether or not there is a train option. I would not rent a car unless it is impossible to get where you want to go by train. )
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
Webmaster question. This duplicate post phenomonon happens to me and others from time to to time but I can't figure out a way to avoid it. At first I assumed that I was clicking or taping multiple times w/o noticing but I ruled that out. I use the ios GUI as well as a pc desktop mouse GUI. The duplicate (actually nplicate) posting problem is cross platform. Is there a possibility that the RS site might be a factor? Not saying; just asking :)
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
The Webmaster is more likely to see your question if you send it to him at: http://www.ricksteves.com/about/contact_form.cfm?recipient=web Duplicate posts can be removed in seconds using the Delete button.
Posted by
OP
Farmingville, New York, USA
381 posts
I appreciate the feedback. Yes I was talking about the Lake Como Lezzeno. When I mentioned the extra day it didn't mean we had an extra day in the itinenary I listed but that I was thinking of adding a day to the trip and if I did where would you suggest I send it. I do understand the issue with the car. We are staying at Vrbo rentals with parking. I enjoy driving between destinations but ususally park the car once I get there. I just enjoy the sites along the way when I drive and if I want to stop along the way to look at something it gives you the flexibility. I do understand your issue with parking. 2 years ago we drove from Florence to the Amalfi coast. It was the spring so traffic not bad yet. It took me a day to get use to the narrow roads but after a day it was alright. So, the driving wasn't the problem but the parking was. We got lucky and found parking in each place we stopped but it wasn't easy. By the way in my itinerary the Milan stop would he brief. Maybe see the Last Supper and one other site. Thanks for you help. Any other feedback is greatly appreciated
Posted by
California
494 posts
I would simply add a day in Venice since you will only have two full days there. But then I cannot get enough of Venice. ;-)
Posted by
Denver
799 posts
First, yes, it would be better to start the trip in Venice. Many of the flights FROM Venice to the U.S. leave very early in the morning, creating a challenge to get to the airport easily. So avoid that, and fly into Venice. Besides which, no better way to begin a trip to Italy than to ride over the water to La Serenissima. We prefer to drive, too, when it makes sense to do so. Arrive in Venice, pick up a rental car as you leave. Make the short drive from there to Verona. Verona has numerous public parking lots just outside the city walls. We didn't have difficulty parking in the lakes region, then of course rode the boats to visit various places. We've also driven to and from the Cinque Terre. There's a municipal parking lot in Monterosso (manned 24/7, I think). Some hotels in Monterosso, such as Villa Steno, have their own parking. Then end your trip in Milan, and drop the car as you enter the city. Take a cab from the city to the airport on your departure day. I would also devote another day to Venice.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15773 posts
I would spend more time in Verona. There are enough sights to occupy the better part of 2 days and it is lovely in the evenings.