Visiting Italy in June

My recommendation is to fly open jaw into one place and out of another. Where in Greece do you want to go? I suggest looking at flights I this order:

DFW to Athens to Venice to Rome to DFW
OR
the reverse.

Look at prices for each direction. It may be cheaper to buy a multi-city flight DFW to Athens and then Rome to DFW and purchase a one way between Italy and Greece. You will need to fly between Italy and Greece (look at sky scanner.net for this leg). You can take the train between Rome and Venice. You can buy super economy tickets up to 120 days in advance if you know when you want to travel. If you have more detail about what you want to see, your budget and how much time you have, you will get better, detailed help here.

Not sure where to go in Greece, is going to be our 1st time to visit Europe but any suggestions will be appreciate.
Also can't wait to meet you at the Travel Adventure Tour here in Dallas this weekend.

We want to go for about 12 to 15 days, and budget is limited since we are a family of 4 and this trip is for my 50th birthday present.

All of those stops in 12-15 days is a tall order. I hope you can lean toward 15! If you think in terms of nights, as in how many nights you will sleep in each city/location, it helps to plan the full days you have for sightseeing, and view travel time between the various locations.

If you do 4 nights Venice, a great place to start a trip, you get 3 full days of sightseeing

If you stay 5 nights Roma, you will have 4 full days to tour

That could leave 5-6 nights for Greece, probably one location? I don't know Greece, but it seems a shame to spend the money to fly all that way for less than 5-6 nights.

You can easily build a 12 night trip in Italy alone, totally by train, which is economical and easy. That would save on having to make that flight between Italy and Greece.

Another budget tip for a family is to look into renting apartments. For 4 people that is usually less expensive than hotel rooms.

Do you have Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door?" Excellent read for a first time European traveller.

By the way, based on your comment about the travel show, Mr. Steves does not monitor this help line. Just us fellow travelers here to help!

There is plenty to do in Italy for your time. Yes, I know it sounds exciting to visit multiple countries - but if you start in Venice (northern Italy) and end up somewhere in the south of Italy touring the beautiful Amalfi Coast you could minimize your long haul travels between countries. Venice -> Rome -> Naples -> Sorrento/Amalfi Coast and then fly home from Naples.

There is no other city like Venice. Please do not miss it and DO find accommodations on Venice Island and not in the industrial mainland of Mestre as some unfortunate souls do to save a few Euros.

Since you want to visit Venice, Rome, and "Italy", how about--
Fly into Venice, 3-4 nights.
Then train to Florence, 4-5 nights, with day trips to Lucca/Pisa, or Siena.
Or 3 nights Florence, 2 nights Siena, with a countryside tour.
Rest of time in Rome, with day trip to Orvieto.
Fly out of Rome.

All of this is very easy by train. Save Greece for another time since it is farther away.

Wow thanks to everyone for the great advices, If I leave Greece out of the trip then the 15 days will be enough? Family want to visit The Vatican & I want to visit Venice and son Rome. Again I'm so confuse which airport is more convenient from the US?

Thanks

P.S. Is the book available to buy at the Travel Adventure Show in Dallas this weekend?

Yes, 15 days will be enough for Venice -> Rome -> Naples -> Sorrento/Amalfi Coast if you leave out Greece.
Most convenient airports are Venice and Rome. We've also flown out of Naples from the Amalfi Coast but that particular flight required a connection in Rome.

Vatican City is in the middle of Rome so doesn't involve a physical pack-up-and-move to visit. Tourists are only allowed to see the museums, the basilica and a couple other sections of the complex, and all but the basilica require tickets and/or tours. In June, advance tickets to the Vatican Museums are a MUST as the city will be very busy. The same applies to the Colosseum, and Galleria Borghese - where advance reservation are always required. We can provide links for pre-ordering tickets once you have you itinerary set.

I think concentrating on Italy will not only save you some $$$, but you will also get to see and enjoy more.

Start in Venice for 3 nights, then train to Florence for 3 or 4 nights, train again to Naples and on to Sorrento for 4 nights, before your final stop in Rome for 3 or 4 nights.