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Started By
Message
What city in Italy?
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:17 pm
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:17 pm
Planning a trip for spring time with wife and daughter. Will be using Delta and Marriott points to cover flights and hotels- looking for suggestions on what city would be best. Would like to not rent a car if possible. 7 days.
Rome
Florence
Venice
I've heard Rome is dirty? Italy is one place I have never been.
TIA
Rome
Florence
Venice
I've heard Rome is dirty? Italy is one place I have never been.
TIA
19
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:23 pm to LasVegasTiger
quote:
looking for suggestions on what city would be best.
This will open up a can of worms.
I will just go with my personal preference:
Florence. Florence is fricking gorgeous and romantic and a cool as all hell city. Its a great base of operations if you want to explore tuscany. There are several smaller towns you could simply take the train to (although a car would be better)
There are many great restaurants, amazing wine, great museums, and beautiful things to see. Also very walkable
You definitely don't need 7 days in just Florence, but if you wanted to just take it easy and do some side quests, you could.
You could also do 3 days or so in Rome and 4 days in Florence, if you wanted. Very easy to do both, only 90 minutes by train.
I have only been to Rome once and I did not like it at all. I kinda thought it sucked, to be honest. Others here disagree with me greatly. Many people love it
Rome is certainly worth seeing though
This post was edited on 12/18/25 at 3:25 pm
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:23 pm to LasVegasTiger
Rome is fine...
We've done Rome, Florence, and Tuscany (stayed in Montalcino).
Landed in Rome and took a train to Florence, spent a few days there. Rented a car and drove to Montalcino and did a couple of trips from there - Pisa and San Gimignano. After that, drove to Rome, turned the car in, and spent a few days there.
Everything was great.
Do you have to do just one city?
We've done Rome, Florence, and Tuscany (stayed in Montalcino).
Landed in Rome and took a train to Florence, spent a few days there. Rented a car and drove to Montalcino and did a couple of trips from there - Pisa and San Gimignano. After that, drove to Rome, turned the car in, and spent a few days there.
Everything was great.
Do you have to do just one city?
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:26 pm to RummelTiger
quote:
Do you have to do just one city?
No, not necessarily - just looking for suggestions from everyone. One place over there I haven't been to.
Fairly easy to drive around?
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:28 pm to LasVegasTiger
quote:
Fairly easy to drive around?
Yes, sir. They drive on the correct side of the road and the roads were nice. Speed in kilometers was weird...
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:30 pm to LasVegasTiger
I dig Italy. Been several times. It's one of my favorite places in the world. All preface for this:
Been to Rome once. As a good friend (from Italy) said the first time I went to Italy. "It's Rome, how do you not go there once?" Go for a couple of days. See the highlights and get out.
Venice falls squarely into that same category but below Rome. I went and could 100% have gone without it. But I can say I went.
Florence is amazing. Everything about it.
But... My go-to is Southern Italy. Amalfi Coast and Sicily are my vibe. Highly recommend both. But stay out of the tourist spots. Find a small town with a family owned hotel and enjoy relaxing and eating amazing food.
Pompeii is absolutely surreal. You can easily spend a full day there. I am not super big on museums/tours but the tour and site are incredible. 10 of 10 recommend.
As far as renting a car, and people always disagree on here, but I have NEVER rented a car. Use the train and car services. They drive like idiots and I don't want the stress. Let the pros handle it.
Been to Rome once. As a good friend (from Italy) said the first time I went to Italy. "It's Rome, how do you not go there once?" Go for a couple of days. See the highlights and get out.
Venice falls squarely into that same category but below Rome. I went and could 100% have gone without it. But I can say I went.
Florence is amazing. Everything about it.
But... My go-to is Southern Italy. Amalfi Coast and Sicily are my vibe. Highly recommend both. But stay out of the tourist spots. Find a small town with a family owned hotel and enjoy relaxing and eating amazing food.
Pompeii is absolutely surreal. You can easily spend a full day there. I am not super big on museums/tours but the tour and site are incredible. 10 of 10 recommend.
As far as renting a car, and people always disagree on here, but I have NEVER rented a car. Use the train and car services. They drive like idiots and I don't want the stress. Let the pros handle it.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:37 pm to LasVegasTiger
How old is your daughter? That may make a difference.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 3:39 pm to LasVegasTiger
Just one city?
If you are going to spend seven days in one city without a car it should be Rome.
My first choice would be to fly in to Florence, spend four days there, then take the train to Venice for three days and fly home from there.
One of my favorite trips is to spend a week outside of Florence in the Tuscan countryside, but you will need a car for that.
If you are going to spend seven days in one city without a car it should be Rome.
My first choice would be to fly in to Florence, spend four days there, then take the train to Venice for three days and fly home from there.
One of my favorite trips is to spend a week outside of Florence in the Tuscan countryside, but you will need a car for that.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 4:12 pm to LasVegasTiger
Rome is dirty. But with 4 million residents and being over 2000 years old how can it not be. Parts of it are crumbling.
Still, it is the greatest city on Earth for history, art, and experience. You can walk where the apostles walked. There are priceless statues in common churches. And, if you know were to go, you can eat very well.
I'd skip Venice and do 4 days in Rome (with a day trip possibly) and 3 in Florence (with a day trip possibly)
Still, it is the greatest city on Earth for history, art, and experience. You can walk where the apostles walked. There are priceless statues in common churches. And, if you know were to go, you can eat very well.
I'd skip Venice and do 4 days in Rome (with a day trip possibly) and 3 in Florence (with a day trip possibly)
Posted on 12/18/25 at 4:15 pm to LasVegasTiger
Out of the larger more popular cities in Italy Naples is pretty dirty and it's my favorite. The food was the best.
This post was edited on 12/18/25 at 6:56 pm
Posted on 12/18/25 at 5:17 pm to LasVegasTiger
if you are sticking with Marriott, which I understand, stick to the cities you mentioned. You could easily fly into Rome and spend three days. Worth it. Book a private tour of Vatican City. Book a tour of the Colesium. Book a great walking tour and relax for a day. It is busy. Lot's of graffiti. Not dirty.
Take the train to Florence. Museums are amazing and a walking tour for a first time visitor is worth it. If you have the points, Westin is a great location with a fantastic rooftop view. 2 days since you only have a week.
Train to Venice for the last two days. You can't go wrong.
You will want to go back many times but the small towns/cities and the coast are the real gems.
Take the train to Florence. Museums are amazing and a walking tour for a first time visitor is worth it. If you have the points, Westin is a great location with a fantastic rooftop view. 2 days since you only have a week.
Train to Venice for the last two days. You can't go wrong.
You will want to go back many times but the small towns/cities and the coast are the real gems.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 7:15 pm to LasVegasTiger
As with most European cities, driving is usually to be avoided. But outside of the cities it's usually not a problem, except for the Amalfi coast. Florence and the Tuscan surroundings, Umbria too, are my favorite. The Antiquities and the Vatican museums make Rome worthwhile. Venice has its charms too, but the biggest drawback is the crowds when multiple cruise ships unload. There's a website that lists cruise arrivals in most major European ports that you can use plan a trip to Venice and arrive when there will be smaller numbers of cruise tourists.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 8:04 pm to r3lay3r
Fly to Milan. Rent a car. Spend 3-4 days around Lake Como and drive to Florence for 3-4 days. Milan and the Last supper Mural are worth it. Lake Como might be the finest place on earth. Go to The Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Hotel D'este for a drink or two.,
Take a boat tour on Lake Como and drive to Florence for the most sophisticated city in Italy. Great Florentine Beef and wine. Buy something leather and see David and the sites. Fly back from Milan. I wouldn't waste a trip to Venice unless you just want to go see it. Smells bad to me. Drive everywhere. Roads are great except around Como. Just be careful around the lake as the streets are narrow.
Take a boat tour on Lake Como and drive to Florence for the most sophisticated city in Italy. Great Florentine Beef and wine. Buy something leather and see David and the sites. Fly back from Milan. I wouldn't waste a trip to Venice unless you just want to go see it. Smells bad to me. Drive everywhere. Roads are great except around Como. Just be careful around the lake as the streets are narrow.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 8:34 pm to LasVegasTiger
quote:
Rome
Florence
Venice
The classic "Italy in a week" itinerary is 3 nights in Rome, 2 in Florence, and 2 in Venice, with train trips in between. That works if you can fly into either Rome or Venice and out of the other, but it is naturally very jam-packed. I agree with those who suggest concentrating on two cities.
On the issue of Marriott points, I will say that I am booked at the Villa Ermellina Siena next May. It's an old villa that was just recently converted into a hotel, and it was an excellent value on points. The day I spent in Siena in 1992 was my favorite day in Italy, as it's an incredible medieval city.
Posted on 12/19/25 at 7:46 am to LasVegasTiger
How realistic is 10-12 days to do Venice,Florence Rome and Pompeii by train?
This post was edited on 12/19/25 at 7:49 am
Posted on 12/19/25 at 7:50 am to RummelTiger
quote:
Landed in Rome and took a train to Florence
How was this? Going in April and planning on doing this but I see mixed things online about booking in advance or not.
Posted on 12/19/25 at 8:52 am to zippyputt
quote:
How realistic is 10-12 days to do Venice,Florence Rome and Pompeii by train?
Very realistic. Perfectly fine.
The only "problem" with doing pompeii here is that it is the opposite direction of the others, but its a day trip and I am not aware of a high speed train that runs every day from Rome to Pompeii. You'll have to take a connecting local train
Best thing to do is probably just to book a guided tour to pompeii
Posted on 12/19/25 at 9:06 am to LasVegasTiger
Don't skip Rome. There's too many must do Italy sites to visit. I personally preferred Venice over Florence, but I wouldn't skip either. I'd take trains once you're there, start in Rome (3), Forence (2), Venice (2)
Posted on 12/19/25 at 9:08 am to lowhound
I'd simply add a day or two if he could.
2 days in Florence is too short. Florence is one of my favorite cities on earth
2 days in Florence is too short. Florence is one of my favorite cities on earth
Posted on 12/19/25 at 9:30 am to LasVegasTiger
I've spent a considerable amount of time in Western Europe and Florence is my favorite city. It's unbelivable
Rome is great. It's really not that dirty compared to any other major city in the West.
If you are looking for something well outside the typical tourist trip of Italy, visit the East coast on the Adriatic Sea in the Puglia region. The towns in this region are some of the best I've ever seen.
Polignano a Mare
Alberobello
Locorotondo
Rome is great. It's really not that dirty compared to any other major city in the West.
If you are looking for something well outside the typical tourist trip of Italy, visit the East coast on the Adriatic Sea in the Puglia region. The towns in this region are some of the best I've ever seen.
Polignano a Mare
Alberobello
Locorotondo
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