[LakeCleElum]

Will start with a Venice: Cheaper to stay at a hotel by the airport and use hotel shuttle. There is a Best Western and Courtyard. I stayed at: Agriturismo Cą Tessera...There is a little business district there with a few restaurants. Then, take the bus to Venice. It runs quite often. Buy bus tickets at the newstand store, which closes in the afternoon. Cash only for the tickets. Bus drops you off where you can hop on the Vaporetto (water taxi) or the train station is right there.

Been to Italy at least 5 time. Fav places are up around Lake Como and the Amafi coast. A side trip to San Marino is lovely and allows you to check off another country.

Driving in Italy is an aquired taste. A guy came at me wide open in a clapped out Alfa on the wrong side of the road in a curve. With a rock wall beside me, I could only get over a bit and he took out the whole side of his car on my rear bumper........Driving there is not for the faint of heart........

July will be hot a very crowded. All of Europe goes on vacation in July/August. Way back in year 2000, a bartender in Florence told me 2,000 tour buses a day arrived in the summer.....I usually go late Oct/early November. No crowds.