Rome, Florence, Venice and Positano in 9 days?

You will be doing this itinerary at a dead run. That is not my idea of experiencing the Italian vacation. You will be flying all night and may have jet lag to one extent or another. I have been traveling to Italy for 30 years I never begin traveling the day of arrival. I go to the hotel and sleep until 4:30 or 5. Then I do my evening activities until about 11 p.m then go to bed. The next morning my body clock has adjusted and its time to see stuff. The day you fly home is lost to traveling and it will be a long day.

Another strategy you could have used is flying open jaws. This means flying into Roma and departing from Venezia. This eliminates time consuming back tracking and sometimes this is a little cheaper. Maybe you could inquire into changing your tickets if it is not too costly.

Amalfi is something you could do on your next trip to Italy. Italy does a lot of things to travelers and one of those things is to seduce you while you are there to return again. Keep in mind that you have travel time between each location which must be factored into your itinerary. Plus, you must navigate your way around each city to visit some of the sites.

Spend some time in each location to absorb the culture and not just run as fast as you can. The Italians have a saying, "Il dolci far' niente." This means, 'The sweetness of doing nothing."

Buon viaggio,

RB

You will definitely be sleeping when you get home!

It's rushed but doable. If you are going to squash Positano in there, either add a day to the trip or cut a day from Rome. There's no point in going to Venice or Florence for only one day.

If your heart is not 100% set on Positano, consider swapping in Orvieto instead which is on the train line between Florence and Rome. You could either just do a day trip--leave Rome in the morning, stop in Orvieto for the day, then continue onto Florence, or stay overnight.

It sounds like you already have your plane tickets which unfortunately means you can't fly open jaw into Venice and out of Rome or vice versa. If you decided to do Orvieto instead of Positano, I'd leave Rome immediately and head directly there to spend the night in a small city, then continue onto Florence, Venice, and either take the fastest train or a budget flight from Venice back down to Rome to finish out the trip.

Thanks so much for the input so far and for the suggestion of flying open jaw! I have not booked our flight yet, and I just checked and there are reasonable connections if we fly out of Charlotte direct to Rome and then fly out of Venice - thanks for the suggestion! Hubby was trying to only take six days off work so we were flying out Friday night May 14th for arrival in Rome 9:30 am on Saturday May 15th, and then flying home on Monday, the 24th. I think I will persuade him to fly take that 7th day off and we can fly out on the 25th. So, that gives us 10 full days - Sat-Mon and then Tuesday to fly home.

My friend who has traveled the world says the same thing - that we should save the Amalfi coast for another trip. I am just afraid with all the rest of Europe to see, we won't go back for along time. She disagrees - she said I will be dying to go back.

Assuming we have 10 full days, and we fly into Rome and out of Venice, what itinerary would you suggest?

Thanks!

I love the Amalfi coast but you really need a few days. We left Rome mid morning and got to Sorrento mid afternoon. Positano is a wonderful ferry away from that and can be enjoyed in a day. I love Sorrento as it has more to it for the second day. Travel time always takes longer than you think. Checking out, walking to the train, waiting, traveling and then finding your way around when you arrive at your next place. I don't think that you need five nights in Rome but I enjoy at least three. With the expense and time of your flight it's too bad that you don't have just a little more time

I think Jeff is right - It takes at least two hours to get through the check in lines at FCO at that time of morning!!!! Even three hours can be cutting it close. Unless you want to miss your flight - stay near the airport your last night.

I would suggest Rome as your starting point.
Easy access from the airport,Leonardo Express, 2 per
hour 11,00E ea.
Are you staying in hotels or apartments?
On your first day, pick one attraction you want to see, then a fine dinner and call it a day.
3-4 days in Rome for a first time should be plenty.
You need to figure out which sights you want to see,
then go from there. Check out Roma Pass. it
You haven't said how you are traveling from one city
to another. Train...Rail Europe. Car...Kemwell
Advantages of car, you're on your own schedule, by
train you just sit and watch the countryside go by.
I would add an extra day to Florence, just so you are able to enjoy it. Lines are l o n g to major sights. This also gives you the option of visiting
Seina or one of the other Hill Towns. Or split this
day as your travel days...Rome-Florence 2Hrs 30min
Florence-Venice 3hrs-3hrs30min
Adjust accordingly, relax, and have a great time

Thanks for all the help! Well, unfortunately the open jaw flight I saw yesteray is now $400 more per ticket, so we'll have to go back to roundtip Rome. Please honestly tell me what you think about this itinerary:
May 15 - arrive Rome 9:30 am (I know from experience that we will not go to bed when we arrive - our adrenelin always kicks in so we'll just push it, eat dinner and crash by 9pm)
May 16 - Rome
May 17 - Rome
May 18 - Rome then 3pm train to Naples/ Sorrento - dinner in Sorrento
May 19 - Sorrento, bus ride to Amalfi or Positanto, ferry back to Sorrento - dinner somewhere?
May 20 - early morning train to Venice - 5 hrs -arrive 1:30 pm
May 21 - Venice
May 22 - Venice - take late afternoon train to Florence - dinner in Florence
May 23 - Florence
May 24 - Florence
May 25- early train to Rome for 10:45 am flight home

Thank you!

That's a pretty fast-paced trip, but if that matches your personality, it looks do-able.

I, personally, don't like traveling into my departure city on the same day as my flight -- I strongly prefer to stay near the airport the night before I fly out -- but that's a comfort level issue you've got to answer for yourself.... or... maybe you're HOPING you'll miss your plane and HAVE to stay in Rome one more day... ;)

Jim, I was actually a bit nervous about that and I wondered if we should actually start our trip in Florence (i.e. land in Rome and hop the train for the 1.5 ride to Florence since it's only 1.5 hrs by train and then do Venice, then Sorrento, and end up the trip in Rome for the last four nights so that we are in our departure city. HOWEVER, a few people have said we should definitely start the trip in Rome, and that we wouldn't feel like hopping off after a 9 hour flight and onto a train for another 1.5 hours to go to Florence. Do you have an opinion on this?

I have two opinions on it....

First, from the sound of your approach to life getting off a 9-hour flight and right on a 1.5 hour train would be a breeze -- I've done it many times... but I agree with their recommendation for a different reason... start in Rome because the 'direction the flavor of your cities' flows makes more sense that way.

If it were me, I'd take one night away from Rome at the start of your trip, shift the whole trip 'up' 1 day, and do 1/2 to 1 day of Rome right at the end. Call it 'a last look at the Empire' after seeing everything else on your trip in Italy. You can decide, literally, on that last full day in Italy how much time to spend in Florence and how much to save for Rome -- based on what you've seen so far and your mood that day.

We do lots of our 'loop trips' that way -- splitting the start city to be a 'start/end' city. (We plan to do Lisbon that way in 2011 when we do Portugal/Spain... I think....)

This may help in your overall planing. I took a look at the train schedule for May, and it looks like the first train out of Florence back to Rome doesn't leave until 5:50am, and arrives Termini at 8:24am. Fastest you can get to FCO would be 09:23am on Leos Express. Really cutting it close for a 10:45 Departure. May have to stay your last night in Rome, to make your 10:45am flight.

10:45am flight? You can't get there from Florence in time via train. They don't always run on time and they are prone to strikes, you have to get to the Leonardo Express which is another 30 minutes.

I tried to do the same thing--our flight was at 1pm and even then I was nervous about it working out. We ended up changing flights for a different reason and I was very relieved! Train to Rome the night before. You don't have to stay near the airport, so use it to enjoy the Eternal City one last time.

I also don't think it is strictly necessary to start your trip in Rome. Many people prefer to do it at the end of the trip after they have acclimated to Italy and gotten over jet lag.

You all are so helpful, and I wish we just had a full two weeks to play with, but it is what it is. I think the more I look at my proposed itineraries, the more confused I get! Taking your advice of spending our last night (monday) in Rome, I've redone the itinerary, but can't decide if we should do two nights in Sorrento (could do Pompeii and an afternoon in Naples) or add on an extra night in Florence. At any rate, this is what I'm looking at now, pleae let me know what you think about this:
Rome - Sat, May 15- Mon 17; Tues 18th am to Naples/Sorrento for 2 nights (can do Pompeii, a little time in Naples, bus ride down coast to Positano and ferry); Thursday 20th early am to Florence (3 hours) for 2 nights; Saturday to Venice for two nights and then train back to room around lunchtime on Monday. OR, I could shave one night off of Sorrento (just spend one full day and evening enjoying the coast) and add a thirdnight to Florence - this way we would have a little more time in Florence and Venice and could head back to Rome early morning on Monday and spend a last full day there.

Also, can you settle something else? I have one friend that just keeps insisting we stay in Naples or spend a day there. I have found a hotel in Sorrento stuck in the cliff that looks wonderful and just feel I would like the flavor of the coast if only for a day. In your opinions, is it a mistake to not spend time in Naples. It's so hard, because obviously we can't do everything.

Thanks again!

Oops - I meant "Rome" not "room". ;o)

Ignore your friend who "insists" you stay in Naples. After all, it's your trip not his. FWIW, this is a common phenomenon. You tell someone you're going to Italy and they say "Oh, I've been to Italy! You simply have to [insert their anecdote here]". Your friend obviously had a good experience in Naples - it doesn't mean you will as well. You can only be in one place at one time. By definition you'll be missing all sorts of incredible experiences and places. So what? You'll be creating your own memories, not trying to relive someone else's.

April, spend a few hours in Naples but stay in Sorrento.

Lools like Positiano is calling you.

Try booking into Naples (NAP) and out of Venice.

AA airlines has a flights into Brussles then directly

into Naples.

Train from Naples Central Station to Sorrento 70min.

Some people love Naples, some don't. I haven't heard anyone who complained about staying in Sorrento though.

When you say Rome Sat 15th, I assume you are flying out on the 14th and the 15th is your arrival date? If not, you're off by a day.

As I recall, the Archeological Museum in Naples is closed on Tuesdays (please someone correct me if this is wrong). Therefore, I would not suggest making this a Naples day. Instead, I'm going to make two different suggestions, depending on how comfortable you feel about just plunging into Italy.

Idea #1: Fly into Rome, go directly to Sorrento. Stay in Sorrento Sat, Sun with a day trip to Naples. Mon train up to Florence. Stay Mon/Tues. To Venice for Weds/Thurs. Back to Rome for Sa/Sun/Mon. You'll notice I left Friday out because I've lost track whether you are flying out Monday or not. If you are, I'd go to Rome on Friday.

If not, and you have all of Monday to spend in Rome, you could either add a night in Sorrento or Florence and push everything back a day or stay the extra day in Venice.

Idea #2: Fly into Rome. Train directly to Florence and stay Sat/Sun. Mon train to Venice, stay Mon/Tues. Train or budget flight to Naples on Weds, stay in Sorrento Weds/Thurs. Finish up in Rome again as described above.

Michael...well said!!!!

Liz, yes we leave Charlotte at 6:45 pm on the 14th direct to Rome for 9:30 am arrival. I really like your 2nd idea a lot, that was my original thought (to head N to Florence since it's just 1.5 hours) but now I have stuck in my head that we need to do Rome first...okay, guess I'll go do some more reading and sleep on this, and then try and get my hotel reservations made for each place. I'll probably be creating a new post w/ questions on that. I've researched and narrowed down using Trip Advisor but still not positive. I'll search the archives here as well.

Thanks again everyone!

Ugh. We stayed in Naples.

Stay in Sorrento.

Visit Naples -- IF* you are an ancient history nut-bag.... superb Antiquities Musuem, housing the artifacts of Pompeii and Herculaneum (and Egypt... seems out of place...), a gazillion scooters, two gazillion pizza places, high prices, and seedy back alleys... Really... Naples is a great place to visit, but don't stay there.

(...or, you could stop adding things to your trip -- you'll leave saying "I wish I'd spent more time in Rome", no matter how many days you spend there.)

Follow this link for an open jaw Delta flight Atlanta - Roma and returning Venice - Atlanta: http://www.delta.com/booking/findFlights.do;cohrBkgSessID=hucBB0u6IDKv065#top

The airfare cost is $1175 per person which is a great price. You could check Vayama.com or Expedia because they sometimes have slightly cheaper fares, but might have a few stops.

Taking a morning train from Florence to Fiumacino on your departure day is not a good strategy. Keep in mind that you will be in Italy and conventional wisdom does not apply. Any number of things can happen to interfere with your extremely tight schedule such as spur-of-the moment strikes.

Personally, I think you want to do too much in a short amount of time. However, this is your vacation so do what you want.

Buon viaggio,

RB

I THINK after doing lots more reading last night, and sleeping on it, I will not book any time in Sorrento. We'll just do Rome, Florence and Venice this time. IF we get a wild hair on our 4th or 5th day in Rome, we can always get up early and make a day trip to Naples/Sorrento and could still do the awesome bus ride to Positano, have lunch, and ferry back to Naples or Sorrento and return to Rome in the evening. This way, we are not tied into going if we don't want to leave Rome.

I really need to make my decisions today, as the non-stop $850 flight I found earlier this week had increased to $950 yesterday.

;o)

If you experience the wild hair phenomena and have a succinct desire to head south, check out enjoyrome.com for a day trip to Pompeii. We did this several years ago and it was not too expensive. It is a bare bones bus trip to the scavi and return trip. We left at 7:45 a.m. and departed Pompeii at 3 p.m. It is located on Via Marghera near Stazione Termini.

After traveling in Italy for 29 years, last summer was my first time to drive the Amalfi. We went back a second time and stopped in Amalfi. It is one of those places that you must spend several days in to appreciate the area. You will be back to Italy sooner than you think and you can spend your time there. Italy isn't going anywhere.

Buon viaggio,

RB

I think your thought of skipping the Amalfi Coast this time around is a good one. It really should be done at a more leisurely pace and nine days is just not enough time to do that area as well as Venice, Florence, and Rome (and especially since you are not going to be able to do the open jaw flight). Have fun. You will have a great time and will have a reason to go back.

I like your idea of just doing Rome / Venice / Florence on this trip, but remaining open to a side trip.

We've seen Naples/Sorrento/Pompeii both ways -- by staying there, and as Rome side trips -- only Sorrento loses something by not staying there (something about those smaller cities early in the morning that is magical)... and Rome is... well... ROME...

Good luck landing your good airfare!!

I just wanted to say thanks again for all the help - our trip is booked!!! I'm very excited! I changed my mind again, and we are staying overnight in Sorrento. Jim, I know you weren't trying to talk me into an overnighter, but I just couldn't shake how badly I wanted to be on a hotel balcony in Sorrento when the sun goes down, and waking up to the beauty the next morning!! SO, the final plan is 4 nights Rome, 1 night Sorrento, 3 nights Florence and 2 nights Venice, with the 4th night in Rome being our last night.

That sounds like a great plan -- I'm jealous that you're going before I get to go back!

Two years ago, I tried to do the very same itinerary only over a 2 week period, and I still felt incredibly rushed. You really don't get to experience things or explore as you should because you are spending half a day traveling to get to your destination, unpacking, packing and then going to the next one. If you can, extend your trip a day or two at least. Last year I went back and did the same itinerary only without the Amalfi Coast and spent 3 weeks instead. We did not count travel days as a "stay day" and treated those as wasted days. I will go back next year to thoroughly cover the Amalfi region and the Northern lakes region. You really will have a better and more relaxing time the less travel that you do.