Rome to Venice

When we were on SD in Italy, we did not take the trains. Not that I don't like trains but they did not give us the comfort factor of knowing we would make it back to the ship on time. We booked a car and driver through Stefano with RomeCabs (not RomeCabs but someone they work with in that part of Italy). It was for 4 of us and a 10 pax Mercedes van was sent. Bonus was that we were picked up ship side right on the dock, driven to Florence/Pisa, parked right next to the attractions, and the driver served as a guide. Even recommended a great place for lunch where we were the only tourists in the place. Worth every dime and we learned as we traveled between attractions. Just another option. Nice choices.:D

Would opt for the high speed train from Rome to Florence, then on to Venice

without returning to Rome. Up grade to First Class ... worth it.

Check out the Hotel Flora and Hotel Novecento in Venice. A small family owned duo of boutique hotels that are conveniently located and of modest

cost.

Good luck ... And for a meal worth hunting for the restaurant, check out

Antica Carampane. They are closed on Sunday and Monday but worth it

if you can get in. Not inexpensive!

Stay longer in Florence and take an evening train back to Roma. It will be a long day, but you won't feel rushed to try and do Florence in a few hours. On an Italian train, ou are much more assured of a seat if you can upgrade into first class. As you get closer to Florence, the scenery from the train will give you a bit of a feeling of the Tuscan hills. Lots of Italians board the train with food, have a picnic onboard.

Stay longer in Florence and take an evening train back to Roma. It will be a long day, but you won't feel rushed to try and do Florence in a few hours. On an Italian train, ou are much more assured of a seat if you can upgrade into first class. As you get closer to Florence, the scenery from the train will give you a bit of a feeling of the Tuscan hills. Lots of Italians board the train with food, have a picnic onboard.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I don't know what we will decide -- lots of choices here. The only one that I will rule out is going directly to Venice from Florence b/c the ship leaves from Rome and ends up in Venice 10 days later. We are talking about a trip before boarding SD as we arrive in Rome 4 days before the ship leaves. Thanks again:)

I happily offer my two cents:

In the morning the trains leave Rome every 20 minutes. In the evening, every 1/2 hour. You rreally don't need to book so far ahead. I just looked for next week (and yes this is high seaason) and there is wide open availability in the lower price range.

You really DO want to use the Freccia trains....Frecciaargento or Frecciarossa. Those get you to there in 1.5 hours. the regional trains take over 3 hours.

I know the usual Sea dream crowd is used to first class <g> but it's so unecessary for that short train ride. I've take this train trip and the economy freccia trains are lovely. Plus, there are way more economy carriages than first class.

Lastly, I've been successful in using the Trenitalia website to book my train, and print out my eticket.

Remember with the Freccia train you automatically are given a seat reservation. Youu need to look a the "carrozza" number which tells you which carriage your seat is located. And it's generally marked on the platform the correlating spots for the trains.

Rome restaurants:

Ragno D'Oro on Via Silla. Neighborhood spot, no tourists. Not fancy. Awesome.

Ambasciata D'Abruzzo - Parioli district. Go hungry!

Florence recommendations: (given to me by a friend who lives there and owns a winery!)

LUNCH:

INO: via dei georgofili 7. Located between Uffizi museum and the Arno river (Via dei georgofili is where the mafia bomb was exploded in the 90s) amazing PANINI. Can't miss it!!! Best sandwiches ever in Firenze. Very good for a quick luch.

LO SCHIACCIAVINO: Via Verdi 6 Amazing sandwiches nearby piazza santa croce and very good wines too!!!!

MERCATO CENTRALE DI SAN LORENZO: They just renewed this indoor city market, amazing spot to visit. At the first floor HUGE choice of different kind of small and easy going places where you can have food. Can't miss this!!!

Fiaschetteria NUVOLI: Piazza dell'olio 5. Typical VINAINO near by the Duomo square. Underground, crowded but fun, easy going Tuscany food, definitely NO good wines.

DINNER:

Best Tuscan food ever in Florence downtown: LA BUCA DELL'ORAFO. Via dei Girolami 25. Right by Pontevecchio, amazing trattoria. Few tables, reservation needed.

I 13 gobbi: via del Porcellana 9/r Very typical and nice tuscan trattoria near by santa maria novella square. Very good wine list.

IL MAGAZZINO: piazza della passera, amazing location for this typical tuscan trattoria specialised in trippa e lampredotto. If you like this kind of food that's good. Wines OK.

LA VECCHIA BETTOLA: via Ariosto 34R, just outside downtown, one of my favorite trattoria in town, very casual, crowded, you sit next to other people. Good wine list.

To have a dinner with a beautiful view: 15/20 minutes away from Florence downtown: Osteria del Milione Via di Giogoli 16. No good wine list.

In Fiesole: La reggia degli etruschi, via san francesco 18. It'ok. Really amazing view, good wines.

HAVE DRINK:

You should definitely get a drink-aperitivo (NO DINNER!) at SESTO ON ARNO, piazza ognissanti 3. You can't miss the view from the rooftop bar. AWESOME.

Hotel continentale, vicolo dell'oro 6R amazing view, with a nice view. My favorite spot for aperitivo.

Also, can't miss a stop at I PROCACCI, via Tornabuoni, the luxury shopping street, is now owned by the antinori family, but is so typical and old style. Popular for truffle sandwiches. I won't get there for lunch but just for a quick snack.

Enjoy Italy!