We have been to Italy more than a dozen times since the mid-1980s. From our experience I would just

This statement rent a car under 25 las vegas leads me to believe that you've not read anything about Florence (and possibly Italy). rent a car under 25 las vegas If you had looked at any guide book or any internet site that includes Florence you would know that there's tons of art in Florence.
It's very important to know something about the country you're planning rent a car under 25 las vegas to visit to get the most from your vacation. You really can't make decisions rent a car under 25 las vegas on where to go in Italy unless you know something about the country.
It looks like you have heard someone elses' snippets of this and that about Italy. How about getting a guidebook? Rick Steves's Italy has a section for first timers noting what he thinks are key destinations rent a car under 25 las vegas in few pages.
Last check, there is absolutely NO ocean near or around Italy. Italy is on the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Ligurian Seas. You will not have surf, waves, etc. European beaches cannot compete against those in California, Florida or the Caribbean.
My husband and I are in our early to mid-sixties, live in Texas and travel a lot to the Caribbean and a lot to Mexico beach resorts. We have only been to Europe once (4 days in London and 4 in Paris, but due to time limitations, never traveled thru the countryside).
Ifyou want ocean - as in beach - November and probably most of October is too late in the year. Also most beaches in Italy are not very pleasant - tend torocks or peblles, narrow, in town with lots of small boats and other paraphernalia - nothing like the broad white sane beaches of the Carib - or the US.
Also in Nov the countryside will not be very attractive - mostly brown and crunchy (remember rent a car under 25 las vegas this is a temperate clmate and way far north of Texas). Also in Nov many sihts will be swithcing to off season hours - which may mean being open 9 am to 1 or 2 pm - rather than 5 or 6 pm.
We have been to Italy 8 times in the past 12 years -- went in April/May of this year and are going again in Feb of 2013. Ira's suggestion makes a lot of sense for a "first-timer" in Italy. It is a fascinating country with wonderful scenery, friendly rent a car under 25 las vegas people and fabulous food, so plan to make this not only a "first-time" trip, but consider it to be the first of many.
We would Love to have you help us with our September Italy trip! Especially since you absolutely MADE our trip to Park City and the surrounding areas a few years back! Best and most relaxing rent a car under 25 las vegas trip ever!
Since my original post, I have been reading some of my travel books and the input to my post (thanks Everyone!) and better utilized some of the previous reports on this website - Including some of your recent tips.
We have been to Italy more than a dozen times since the mid-1980s. From our experience I would just add that those three cities are wonderful for art. Don't try to do Rome in a couple of days. Four nights would be best. Fly into Venice and out of Rome. Take the train between the three cities. it's easy to do. If you want to have more roomy accommodations without paying a fortune, rent an apartment through sleepinitaly.com or VRBO.com . There are a gazillion of them out there.
Anyway, since we have a good discussion going here, I'll offer a couple options. If you must limit to 14 days, you could easily do Ira's suggested itinerary. It's a great plan for first time visitors.
We visited Santa Margherita Ligure on my second trip and just loved the Ligurian coast. Great food! We trained to the Cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore and hiked back to Vernazza. It's about an hour by train from SML to Riomaggiore, the further south of the Cinque Terre villages. We also did a day trip to Portofino, which I know you would enjoy. It's just 15 min by boat and fun to stroll around and window shop. have lunch by the tiny marina and watch the giant yachts wiggle into the harbor. SML is a lovely, small town Italian resort town. Just big enough to have several good restaurants.
Not to confuse the issue, but there is so much great art in Venice and Rome and in so many churchs/abbeys in small towns that you don't have to just see the biggies in Florence (although David will take your breath away).
You KNOW that once they get to Italy, they will come again. I've never met a person who would turn down a second trip to Italy. Never complain, never explain (to your friends who would demand rent a car under 25 las vegas why you skipped Florence).
I don't agree that it would be heretical...depends on your interests. E have travelled to Italy 6 times over 8 weeks and still haven't been to Florence! Pick places you are interested rent a car under 25 las vegas in, no one place is better rent a car under 25 las vegas Han any other, it's all great!
Look carefully at those tours. Add all the extra costs. I've taken two to Italy, and have never seen one that is actually less than an independent trip of equal quality food and hotels. You don't have to take a tour to have someone else drive. Use trains.
No, I do not think you would be better rent a car under 25 las vegas off with a travel agent unles she/he has spent lots and lots of time in Italy, has an interest in art and architecture, has driven through Tuscany, etc., etc., There are many people on this board who have traveled far more than most travel agents and can give you better advice based on your personal interests.
You already know you have about two weeks max. You said you want relaxing, not moving from hotel to hotel. You already know you want to go to Rome. You love Art, and Florence is the birthplace rent a car under 25 las vegas of the Renaissance. You enjoy wine tasting, so Tuscany/Florence makes sense, and you like water/seaside, so Venice, the lakes, CT or AC are good starts. Simply starting with that:
Decide rent a car under 25 las vegas on your major bases. rent a car under 25 las vegas Honestly, you can't go wrong with any place you choose. If you have more time, don't add more bases, just do more day trips. You could easily spend weeks at any of these bases and see something new and wonderful every day.
What you decide to see/do once you are there is your personal choice. Example: I will go miles out of my way to see one painting in one church and spend hours at an archeological site while others research to find the best restaurant every place they go. I love taking boats from place to place along the AC. Others enjoy the cliffside drives. No travel agent can really say what is best for you, only what they like.
Since I think there are TA among the posters, I would need to be more obtuse. I am not sure how long you have been traveling. Over the deregulation since the 80's, I think the travel agents' role has changed rent a car under 25 las vegas significantly. Before the deregulation, they obtained commissions in many different ways to be able to recommend many options for the clients. Now, with limited commission sources and competitions from DIY resources, rent a car under 25 las vegas I feel more push to take commissioned hotels, transports, tours, etc. The only time I use TAs these days are for very complicated itineraries using resources not bookable online but accessible only through TAs business partners in target countries. If your TA is your friend, that person my do a favor in using suppliers that do not pay commissions, but nevertheless is relevant to you. However, in current business environment, the TA cannot rent a car under 25 las vegas stay in business without choosing sufficient number of commission/fee producing bookings. Consequently, rent a car under 25 las vegas if you want to maximize your benefit at an acceptable price, rent a car under 25 las vegas you have to do your own homework anyway to be able to tell the TA what you accept what you don't.
rent a car under 25 las vegas I think one reason you might be lost is that there is no starting point - any starting point. Dayle has offered some itinerary ideas. Once some options are put on table, others can comment how well the itineraries are meeting your initial requirements.
I happen to work with a young woman who has been planning her first trip to Europe with her fiance. I have been giving her lots of the practical advice and suggestions about how to spend their 3 weeks.
At first they were looking at a "package" from a local travel agent. I told her to check out venere.it and italyby.com rent a car under 25 las vegas and see what kind and location for hotels/b bs they could get by booking rent a car under 25 las vegas their own trip! You can sort by stars, price, location, it's great.