Re: My First Italy Trip Itinerary - Thoughts?

New Itinerary but with this adjustment-
Fly IN to Venice, out of Rome- it is much easier to fly IN to Venice than out of and Venice is a great place to get over jet lag- whereas Rome is a bit chaotic as a start for a first timer.

You can do a day trip to Pompeii- just know that it will be a long brutal day. Use the fast trains. Or consider Ostia Antica instead.
When is this trip? Heat could be a deciding factor on if I would go to Pompeii.

I think it is a good plan- very similar to our first Italy trip
3 Venice, 3 Florence, 2, 2, 2, in Tuscany/Assisi w/car then 5 in Rome. No days trips from anywhere.

Alternatively look into flying IN to Venice OUT of Naples and end your trip in Naples?

I agree with ChristineH. There are many advantages in flying into Venice and out of Rome. I see from your original post that your trip is planned for next spring. And while temperatures will be more moderate than in high summer, dont underestimate how exhausting a day trip to Pompeii can be. Be prepared: bring water, and sunscreen and wear a broad brimmed hat. Pisa/Lucca will be an easy day trip from Florence.

Suggest you consider Ostia Antica rather than Pompeii to satisfy your 'ancient Roman town' visit. Saves a lot of extra travel that your schedule really doesn't have time for.

Have you checked what time a flight would leave Venice for home? Getting to the Venice airport in the early morning is inconvenient or expensive or both.

Enjoy your travels

I remember your original itinerary, this looks much more manageable & frankly fun, because you won't be rushing so much. About that budget - Have you considered staying in monasteries? There's a lot on the Forum about them, (use search bar above) and which ones were the most welcoming. Joby liked her monastery stays, here's her recent TR - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/trip-report-stresa-florence-and-rome

Info for arriving in VCE.
Getting to Venice from Marco Polo Airport. [Make sure you have seats on the right/starboard side of the aircraft, for a view of Venice as you fly into Marco Polo.]

A paper map of Venice is the best three euro you will ever spend. Sure, people say that getting lost in Venice is fun. Getting lost, hauling your luggage and not being able to find your hotel is nobody’s idea of fun. Buy that map at the Tabac or bookshop at Marco Polo.

Do take a look at your hotel website – there may be info there. Otherwise,
Water taxi will get you close, maybe to, the door of your hotel. Can carry about ten people, will cost about €140 for the boat. No need to book, taxis are waiting at the Marco Polo dock.

Shared water taxi. Minimum of two people. Book in advance, wait at the desk in the terminal for the others sharing the taxi. Costs about €30 per person. Google “shared water taxi Venice”, use the venicelink dot com web site. Will get you to a vaporetto stop near your hotel.

Alilaguna ferry, as per below.

Bus to Piazale Roma, then walk to your hotel, or take vaporetto to the nearest stop. Buses leave from the outside the terminal, tickets at the machine.

Water transport in Venice.
Gondolas. Only for pleasure, not for transport. 90 euro for half an hour for the boat, more for evenings.
Traghetto – big gondolas, two oarsmen, about ten passengers, for crossing the Grand Canal. Found at Rialto, San Toma and a couple of other places. Cost 2 euro per trip, can save a heap of walking.
Water taxis, which are like a floating limo, costs to match.
Vaporettos - ACTV. Are like a floating bus, operate on a bunch of routes. Get the app Chebateo for routes and schedules. Vaps do not service the airport. Vaps are not water taxis.
Alilaguna ferries, service the airport, run from Marco Polo via a bunch of stops to the main part of Venice, Murano and Lido. They stop at some, but by no means all, vaporetto stops.