FUN!
I would say no tour, well not a full guided tour. Book the trip yourself.
Do individual tours at the big sites like the Vatican, etc. We used Icon Tours and LOVED them.
I just posted this over at LIF too, it is from when I planned our honeymoon.
DEFINITELY get the Rick Steve's book. It was our bible.
Use Trip Advisor! So helpful.
Rome Transfer from airport to hotel:
we booked a reservation with
Rome Cabs. They are highly regarded on Tripadvisor and reliable. For 45 Euro we get a private transfer to our hotel, and most importantly - the driver will wait for us outside of customs with a sign that says my name.
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I am so overly excited about that detail it is embarrassing.
4 nights in Rome at the
Hotel Duca D'Alba :
A 'few steps away from the Cavour Metro stop, within walking distance of everything (the Colosseum and Forum are particularly close)'. It is rated #110 of 995 hotels in Rome and the reviews on Tripadvisor are favorable. It includes a buffet breakfast.
Tours:
we booked both the Vatican and Colosseum tours in advance with
Icon Tours. They are well regarded on Tripadvisor.
You have make a reservation in advance for the Borghese Gallery and we did so through their website. The gallery is located within 'Rome's central park' so following our reserved 2 hour window to tour the gallery we are going to have a picnic lunch in the park. I made arrangements for this through
Gina Roma. We ordered sandwiches, fruit salad and vino.
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. This was another Tripadvisor find. I am really looking forward to that.
The rest of our itinerary is loosely based of the Rick Steves suggested list.
You can view that here. However, there are detailed maps and self walking tours in his book - so you should totally pick one up.
Florence Train from Rome to Florence:
we booked online with
Trenitalia.
3 nights in Florence at the
Star Hotels Michelangelo:
Rated #81 of 520 hotels in the city on Tripadvisor. 'Located in the center of Firenze, opposite the Parco delle Cascine'. The rate includes breakfast.
Tours:
(more to come)
Again, we used Rick Steves suggested list for reference.
You can view that here. VeniceTrain from Florence to Venice:
we booked online with
Trenitalia.
3 nights in Venice at the
Hotel American Dinesen:
rated #5 of 360 hotels on Tripadvisor. 'Venetian-style Hotel located on picturesque side canal, just off the Grand Canal; near Academy of Fine Arts & St Mark's Square.' Breakfast included.
Tours:
Doge Palace - I booked the 'Seceret Palace Tour' on the advice of many at Tripadvisor. You get to see areas of the palace that are not open to the public tour for only 4 additional Euro.
And the Rick Steves Venice
suggested itinerary helped me plan out the rest of the trip.
