Italy in late July/August

Near quite sure how to respond to this type of question. Sure, anything is doable -- it just a matter of the compromises or trade off you would have to make. First, do you have truly have nine days in addition to the arrival and departure days. Now, look at a map -- there are some distances involved between the various locations. We always factor in a half day and sometimes more of lost time when shifting from one city to another -- checkin/out, packing/unpacking. finding train stations/hotels, orientation to new location, travel time, waiting, etc. From your suggestions it could easily be four or five location changes and a lost of three or four full days of productive time. And then sites like Pompeii/Vesuvius can easily consume a whole day by themselves. It will take a day to get to and from Capri.

As I said, it is doable but at what price? Fly into Romoe and home from Venice/Milan and see Rome, Florence, Venice very well and save the rest for the next trip.

I have the same thoughts as Frank in the above post. Your question bumps up against the issue we often see here: something that is technically do-able but may or may not be the best choice, for you, for the quality and type of experience you're looking for.

You have 5 or 6 location changes in 8 or 9 days. We rarely see that many location changes in that short a time frame, on this forum.

A location change eats up 4 hours, not including the travel time: getting to the train station, waiting for the train, finding the next hotel, etc. Same thing if you're driving, a location change eats up 4 hours, almost half a day, not including the travel time.

Sometimes less is more. Only you can decide what is right for you, but maybe these observations and thoughts will help you make the choices that will result in having the trip you want.

The link below takes you to a topic that was written to help travelers facing your kind of choices and decisions

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/30357/bhelp-with-itinerary-planning--travel-timesb.html

Thanks for all of the good input. In response to what you have both asked however, we will have 9 full days, not including the travel to and from Italy. Also we are willing to take trains in the evening to get to our next destination and for the Capri, Mount Vesuvius and Pompei part of the trip we are looking at getting down to Naples and then taking a day drip from Naples for Mount Vesuvius and Pompei and then for Sorrento and Capri there is a 15 hour day trip that I had been looking at from Rome and back

OK, I'll be blunt, and will say what everyone else is too polite to say (even though I know you're all thinking it).

No, you can't "do" all those places in 9 days. That's crazy talk. You might be able to pass through all of those places, but you won't see ANYTHING.

Nine days. Italy in the hottest, most crowded part of the year. The math is simple.

Pick no more than three places, and spend a few days in each. You'll actually have a little time to see some of them, and stand a decent chance of actually enjoying the trip.

Your original plan is a recipe for misery and a waste of time/money.

Sorry, I know it's not what you want ton hear. But it's the truth.

David: Yep. Reading the OP's reply to all of our good but too tactful advice, it looks like she's going to have to learn the hard, expensive way about 6 location changes in 9 days.

I find your replies very interesting as just last night I was reading Rick Steves' book on Rome and he suggests if you have 7 days in Rome to take two of those days and go on a day trip to Capri and a day trip to Mt Vesuvius and Pompei. I will have five days in Rome and intend to do 3 days of the things that he suggests in his book and then do the Capri day trip and the Mt Vesuvius and Pompei day trip. I will then have two days for Florence and Venice each, which again Rick Steves has suggested if you have only 3 days in Italy you can do Florence and Venice. So I am going on what he has suggested in his books. I find it interesting that your experiences appear to have been very different than that which he is suggesting in his books

But you originally said you wanted to stay in/near the places you mentioned. Nothing about making day trips from Rome.

Actually what I originally said was that I wanted to do Rome, FLorence and Venice and then go down to Capri, Pompei and Mount Vesuvius as well. I am sorry to everyone who has been trying to help me with their information and opinions if the way that I originally phrased my enquiry was misleading. I intend to make Rome my home base so to speak for five or 6 days and then take day trips to Capri and Pompei and Mount Vesuvius from Rome. Then I intend to go to Venice for two days and Florence for two days.

Chryl,do you have any other questions? You seem set on your plans and not open to any alternatives.

I am absolutely open to other alternatives which is why I came to this website in the first place. I just happened to be reading Rick Steves' book last night and was just responding to some of the previous comments which I received.

Hi Chryl,

I personally think if you were planning on doing 2 separate day trips down south (Capri, Mt. Vesuvius, and Pompei), it would make more sense to actually base yourself somewhere like Sorrento for a night or two and do those day trips from there. Yes, it would be a brief visit and yes, you'd have to pack a lot in, but it is better (and likely more cost effective) than doing the long trek from Rome to Naples and back twice.

I'd even consider (if your flight arrival time is decent) beating feet to Sorrento first, then go to Rome, and on to Florence and Venice, if you still want to fit it all in.