leaving in 5 weeks! Last minute suggestions?

Reservations depend on how popular the restaurant is. There is no shortage of restaurants in the cities you mention, just get some recommendations from people on this forum or ask your hotel for suggestions.

Dean4177, leave some room for sponteneity! Don't feel the need to pre-plan everything, just the biggies and it looks like you have those covered. The fun of traveling is coming across something unexpected or looking for something off the beaten path that you wish to explore more. As you travel talk to others, locals and tourists, and ask them for recommendations. They may suggest something that you were not even aware of and is worth a change in your prescheduled itenerary. Remember to let your bank know you will be making transactions overseas and while in Italy always ask to be charged in euros, not dollars. I am in the "pack light" camp and can travel for six weeks with one 20 inch carry on bag. Remember that if you take it you are going to end up hauling it yourself and big bags get heavy. Enjoy your trip and let us know how it all went when you get back. Springtime should be a lovely time of year to visit but be prepared for cool weather.

Dean I agree with Pat! Just let some things happen! You won't believe the things you will run into just walking these cities and sitting having a glass of wine in a Piazza! That is the way to go. You have covered the big stuff now you just need to enjoy. We always go down neighborhood streets looking for a restaurant. Stay away from the ones in high tourist areas. If the local like it then you know it will be great.

Do you need to make restaurant reservations far in advance? Generally no. But I have noticed from our many trips to Italy, that the better restaurants like reservations. I feel that we have received better service when we have made a reservation in advance. And I don't mean days in advance. An hour or two seems to work just as well. If we want to hit a special restaurant we will often go by the day before or earlier in the afternoon just to make sure we can find it. Will stop in and make the reservation. Sometimes we have walked by at 5 and make the reservation for 7 or 8. This may be an unfounded perception on our part. Where is Roberto when we need him.

Unless there's a very specific restaurant you want to go to, I wouldn't worry about making restaurant reservations. There will be plenty of restaurants to pop into! Have fun!

You might want to get tickets to the Galleria Borghese before you go. It is really spectacular, but you need to reserve well ahead.

You might want to get tickets to the Galleria Borghese before you go. It is really spectacular, but you need to reserve well ahead.

You might want to get tickets to the Galleria Borghese before you go. It is really spectacular, but you need to reserve well ahead.

Hey dean4177, 5 weeks isn't last minute, no way. Some people haven't even decided what continent they're going to visit 5 weeks before they travel. 5 hours before take-off, now that might be last minute!

Uhm, advance reservations for the Borghese are mandatory.

Great. Thanks everyone for your insight. We will go with the flow when we get there.

Glad we could help.
If you "go with the flow when you get there," you won't be going to the Borghese. Maybe you don't need to. Just so ya know before ya go.

Double check your passports are not expired? I had a friend stopped at the airport for that and had to drive to Miami the next day to get one from the office so he could fly out. Missed a couple days of his trip for not checking his passport