Venice Florence Rome advice

Pros: all three are incredibly historic cities full of culture and history.
Cons: all three are incredibly touristy. Be prepared for crowds and lines.

I've been to Italy four times. Never found the need to learn more Italian than a few key words. Most people speak English - either a little or fluently.

Rome is the biggest of the three and has subways and buses.

Florence has buses but is pretty compact, easy to get around on foot.

Venice doesn't allow cars or bikes (so no buses either). People get around by walking or by boat. Vaporetto is a "water bus."

Yes, the streets can be confusing, especially in Venice. Just part of the journey. If you have a smart phone, you can use Google Maps on it to navigate. I didn't have one on my first few visits to Italy and managed just fine in all three cities, but now that I have a smart phone, I find navigating around European cities much less frustrating and less time consuming (also navigates me through the buses, trains, and vaporettos).

I haven't taken this particular tour, but I've been to all three places, so here are some answers to get you started.

1) You can see actual temperature and precipitation data for a given city on the Weather Underground site. For example: https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/LIRU/date/2010-6?req_city=Rome&req_state=LZ&req_statename=Italy&reqdb.zip=00000&reqdb.magic=64&reqdb.wmo=16240

It cools off at night in most parts of Italy, but not dramatically so (not like the high Sierras, for instance). The humidity is usually not oppressive (if you're thinking U.S. gulf coast, it's not like that).

2) I'll have to skip this one because there really wasn't anything I disliked!

3) I think the more Italian you can learn, the more you'll enjoy the trip. Most Italians are not very fluent in English, and most signage is in Italian only. Think of your tour guide and fellow tour-goers as training wheels, not as insulation against experiencing Italy. The great thing about being an American in Italy is that most Italians are delighted when you make at least a little effort to speak Italian.

4) In Venice the geography is confusing. Don't let it upset you, just go with it. In Florence and Rome it is easier to find your way around, but again you're dealing with ancient thoroughfares, streets that may change their names frequently, crowds, etc. You can see a lot by walking, and walking is generally very enjoyable because there's something of interest like every 50 feet. Still, these are cities so some of the sights you'll want to see are far enough apart to require a bus or other transport. One key Italian word is used when you're on a bus and you suddenly realize they're passing your stop! Say "scendo!" loudly. (pronounced "shendo" -- it means "I'm getting off" or literally "I'm getting down").

Have a wonderful trip!

You've received good advice. I would call June in Italy to be about as hot as in the U.S. South. Humid too. Just make sure your hotel is air conditioned.
Rome is a 4 day minimum city. Florence is a 3 day minimum and it would be nice to stay out in the countryside for a couple of days in an Agriturismo with a rental car. Venice would be a 2 day minimum for me, but I've been there 8 times and know the turf.
All of these cities are going to overdose you on history, architecture, art, culture and food. They are best taken slowly. You might want to buy the tickets ahead of time for the Vatican Museum.
You won't need to know any Italian in the touristy cities. But the drive in cashiers in Tuscany may not speak a word of English. I print Google Maps of where I'm staying with all the surrounding sights, restaurants, etc. And I look at maps online on Wifi as I go. I seldom ever need directions anywhere. I don't carry a GPS or smart phone at home, much less over there. I do communicate by a Fire 8 tablet, however.
Public transit is your ally. Study the local maps for the metro, buses and trams. Buses are the best way to get around Rome. Florence is walkable if you're staying in the center city. Venice, it's walking and vaporettos.

Its all manageable. You'll be with a group of people in the same boat. The tour leader will have guidance and tips for you, so you'll never feel cast adrift.

Thanks for all the advice. I had a feeling Venice would be confusing. It's the city I'm most looking forward to, though. I'm sure it will be unlike anything I've ever seen!

I had no idea Rome had a subway until just a few weeks ago. I don't think of subways when I think of Rome. I think of Vespas :)

Just adding a note about #4 - like a previous poster mentioned, you can use Google Maps if you have a smart phone. I'd recommend downloading the maps for the metro areas where you'll be staying (so Venice, Florence and Rome) and saving them as "offline" maps. That way, you'll be able to navigate using them even if you have the cell service turned off on your phone. I did that while visiting Paris last summer and never once had to open a real map! It's so helpful seeing your "blue dot" on the map to be able to confidently navigate around. You can even search for locations, and it will give you the step-by-step directions!

And adding to the thread....

We're indie travelers so haven't taken the tour, and how well one handles the summer heat in Rome and Florence can depend on what you're used to but it will likely be more humid than not.

Pros and cons? None. Been awhile since I've been back to Venice but all three cities are quite different so it's not as if you've seen one, you've seen Italy. :O) All three will be VERY busy, especially at and around the main attractions, so expect crowds. Still, there's some nice breathing room to be found away from the top tourist magnets.

You will have no trouble with language as it looks like you'll be spending all of your time in the cities. Do learn the basic manner words (please, thank you, excuse me, etc.), take a guide book with a translation section for deciphering menus and other odds and ends and you'll be fine.

All three cities are easily walked, and that's my #1 recommended way to do them although parts of Venice may require a vaporetto (boat) trip now and again. Yes, Rome has a metro system but it doesn't travel through a large central section of the historic center or Trastevere area so buses or your own two feet will be your mode of transport there. Still, we've spent a total of nearly two weeks in Rome over several trips and only felt the need to use transport a couple of times, to further-afield places most tourists don't usually get to on a first, short visit. We didn't use any transport at all in Florence.

All three are very old cities with few straight-shot streets but we've done just fine with old-fashioned paper maps! I buy good ones before a trip and mark locations on our must-see list. Take a wrong turn? That's half the fun, and it usually doesn't take much to get back on track. Central Florence and Venice are pretty compact, and central Rome isn't really all THAT huge either: attractions in Paris and London, say, were much more spread out.

You'll have a great time!

If this is your first RST, I for one, think you have made an aces choice. VFR was my first RST, mid to late June -gasp- 10 years ago! Temps were warmish/moist Venice, climbing/drier Florence, steaming/whew! Rome. AC capability per accommodation ranged from exactly what was needed to drat, wish that unit wasn't so high above the doorway for it to do me some/any good at ground level whilst wrestling with my bedding. Loved putting my limited Italian to work and enjoyed attempting it with gusto/exaggerated pronunciation. I don't think you go wrong attempting speaking a foreign language with a flourish, particularly in Italy. Definitely get the RS Italian phrasebook. Check out Duolingo app, I like its ease of use. Take Alilaguna from Venice's Marco Polo airport to San Marco, and do your best to follow RS directions to the first hotel in La Serenissima's fabulously tangled lanes. Florence is a jolt to return to streets with automotive vehicles but is absolutely a walking joy for a visitor. Rome's metro is helpful if limited in scope and your feets will get plenty of action so make that footwear count. Taking the bus is taking the bus as in any big, noisy, crowded, busy, heavily touristed city. Quite the adventure of your adventure. Pros and cons for each of these amazing Italian cities? Pro, they're in Italy. Con, they're only in Italy. Buon viaggio, Theresa

I haven't done this particular RS tour but I've been to all 3 cities on other RS tours.

Here are my thoughts:

1. To me this depends on your frame of reference. Where do you live? I live in the Inland Northwest and the times I've visited were May and September and those months felt hot and humid to me, so June would be hotter and humid as well. If you're from FL you may find it cool and dry, lol!

2. Pros - Wow, iconic cities and sights. Cons - because they are iconic there will be other tourists there. Staying city center as you do with Rick's tours allows you to get out early and late if you want to see some areas with fewer people. I'm thinking Venice in particular here as people will dock on a cruise ship then be gone by late afternoon.

3. A few important phrases will do you well. You'll get a $100 voucher for Rick's store so you can pick up one of his pocket phrase books which is about all you'll need. Your guide will probably also do some language lessons as well.

4. The beauty of the RS tours are that he wants to teach people to manage independently thus you'll have a transportation lesson in each city (well maybe not Florence as it's walkable) and navigation lessons in Venice as well. I find Venice streets very confusing but your hotel will likely have a map at the desk you can have (or purchase for a small fee). I also have the Streetwise Maps of Venice and Rome. I think I just used the hotel map in Florence.

Here's what you didn't ask that I think important:

1. Try to arrive in Venice at least the day ahead if not 2 days before. There is PLENTY to do and it will help you hit the ground running when the tour starts if you are over jet lag. Agree with taking the Alilaguna in from the airport. Water travel is amazing. I like to stay in the tour hotel just to cut down on moves. If you decide to do this, book that hotel right away as they do fill up.

2. Do some research on what you might want to see in your free time in all 3 places. Your guide might suggest something you hadn't thought of OR you might see something you didn't know about on your walk thru the city but do have some things in mind.

3. Heed the "pack light" mantra. Venice is the toughest place with luggage. Getting on and off the Alilaguna from the airport you've got to manage your bag in a crowded situation, then when you depart you'll take a vaproretto to the Tronchetto parking garage to meet the bus so off and on a crowded boat there as well. The bridges in Venice are steps not ramps so with a rolling bag you'll have to lift it up and over each one. In Florence you might have to walk a few blocks to your hotel. In Rome the bus will probably be able to get pretty near (at least in the RS tour hotels I've stayed in in Rome they could get to the front door.)

4. Take a waterproof layer with you. I travel with one everywhere I go in Europe and have used it on every trip.

5. Make sure you have good supportive shoes and that you can walk 6-8 miles in them. The most I've ever walked on a tour were in Amsterdam and Rome when we put in 10-12 miles in a day. If you live where you can walk hills add that in. If you live where it's flat, add flights of stairs. You will not believe how many stairs there are in Rome.

6. Book, go and have a fabulous time!

Thanks for all this helpful info! Very much appreciated!
I'm kind of eyeing the Heart of Italy tour, now. Ha, ha. So hard to decide :)

Happy Traveller,
Excellent responses to your queries! We have been to Italy 3 times. Can't speak to the RS Tours of Italy, but our first tour included a combination of both "The Best of and Village Italy."
Our most recent visit (September) we spent our entire time in Venice. I don't think you could go wrong with your choice. In addition to the informative responses you received, the RS Italy Guidebook is a valuable resource.