Order of Travel?

Posted by mdreuben (Cleveland, Ohio USA) on 12/27/14 04:55 PM

Hi All,

I'm new to this forum, but have learned a tremendous amount so far from the site and from the Rick Steves' books. What's really nice here is the helpfulness and civility among the participants.

We're planning a 2 - 1/2 week trip from Cleveland in mid-late April. My only struggle so far for is to figure out the best order of travel for the areas we want to visit. My girlfriend's family is from Sicily in the southwest side of the island, so a few days there is desired, Other areas we want to visit are Rome (shorter time, Florence (longer time) and Venice. Also the Amafi coast.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions as to where to fly in and out of, and what order to visit the areas listed.

Thanks so much!

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

12/27/14 05:04 PM

11852 posts

I am inclined to say fly into Venezia and out of Roma.
Venezia - 3 nights minimum to recover from jet lag and otherwise enjoy springtime in La Serinissima

Firenze - 4 nights

Rome - 4 nights

fly to Trapani (cheap flights from Ciampino) and spend 5 nights wherever the girlfriend likes. Lots to see and do so ask for details. You will need a car here.

That's 16 nights. You could fly to Naples and then fly out of there for home, although you will likely be routed through Rome anyway. Not sure you have time for the Amalfi Coast. While it is between Sicily and Rome, it is a whole different challenge to get there. You can fly to Naples from Sicily then transfer to the A.C. before flying out, but less then 4 nights seems a waste of time to me. You'd need three weeks to make all of this work, IMO.

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

12/27/14 05:05 PM

11852 posts

I have to add that less than 4 nights in Rome is a shame. It is vast and complicated. Do not shortchange it. To try and rush through Rome will leave you frustrated.

Posted by Nancy

Corvallis OR

12/27/14 05:15 PM

7180 posts

With only 2-1/2 weeks I would definitely try to get an open-jaw flight rather than waste time returning to an arrival airport. I would try to fly into Venice, then go to Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, and end in Sicily and fly home from Palermo, or do a reverse of that.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

12/27/14 05:37 PM

34352 posts

An advantage to starting in Venezia and finishing in Roma, instead of the other way around is that while inbound flights to Venice arrive at civilized hours most flights connecting back across the big ocean leave Marco Polo Airport pretty early in the morn. We get no end of questions here on the Helpline about how to go in the middle of the night to the airport for a 6 am flight or some other breakfast buster. While it can be done, and is of course done by hundreds of thousands every year, it is not fun to take the first Alilaguna or wheel your bags to Piazzale Roma for an early bus.

Rome, on the other hand, is both easier in terms of many flight times but also only half an hour by taxi if you do happen to have an early departure. No lagoon to get in the way, see?

I do agree with the other answers you have had before mine, above.