Rome or Venice - need to plan anything in advance?

book in advance if you are planning to see Vatican Museum. or go with a guide to bypass lineup

Also book the Borghese gallery in Rome in advance. Reservations are REQUIRED and strictly limited there and it is well worth your time.

Book the Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries tour in Venice - or ask your hotel to book it for you before you arrive.

Don't overload yourself with too many 'must do's'. Leave time to just wander around, get lost, sit and watch the passing parade etc and restore body and soul.

You can avoid the lines at the Colosseum by purchasing your tickets on-line. You can even print them at home. They are good for the entire day specified, so you're not committed to a specific time of day.

Also, in Venice, if you want to see the Basilica di San Marco, you can also book that in advance. It is free of charge, and you are committed to a specific time of day, but you also avoid the line.

If you want to visit the Clock Tower, in Venice, you can only do so with an advance reservation.

In Venice if you do book San Marco's in advance try to get a time around 12.30 as they illuminate the gold ceiling and it gives a totally different perspective to the cathedral.

We agree with Wodonga Pat-- leave yourself freedom to choose things that appeal to you THEN, rather than must-sees you have prearranged.

I'm sort of torn on that advice. We DEFINITELY will be giving ourselves "do nothing" time - but we also want to take in the sights and of course, don't have enough time for everything.

For instance, we have 3 days and nights in Rome. I'm thinking we should bust our butts on day 1, seeing as much as we can. Then on Days 2 and 3, play it slow and just do one thing per day. (We're only planning on seeing the Colosseum/Palatine/Forum and Vatican, maybe the Borghese.)

3 days in Florence, and we booked already the Uffizi and Accademia, and other than checking out the Duomo, nothing else is planned.

2.5 days in Venice, and we'll check out St Mark's Square, probably Doge's Palace and maybe the tower.

So I am not worried about doing too much, because we know we'll be back :-) (Have to have that mentality for travel!)

• Randy

As much as I love the idea of spontaneity, I cannot imagine wasting precious time in lines. So, anything that can be booked in advance, we are taking advantage of.

The lines at the Coliseum are long but by going to Paletine Hill and buying your ticket you can save time.There is no line.

The Boboli Gardens on Florence for a little serenity. It is not for the frail and elderly though, being on the side of a hill. Palazzo on the way in to the gardens. Wherever you are, try to climb a tower for the best view. Watch the scullers on the Arno. Rent a Vespa.

My husband followed the advice Jack just gave you to buy tickets for colliseum. Rick's guide also recommended it. We did plan ahead for the Scavi tour under St. Peter's.