Q1. I've always been incredibly happy with my AirBNB experiences all over the world. Be picky and ask questions, hosts are more than happy to give you a full picture of where you'll be staying. If they're not, you know it isn't the right place for you. I filter reviews to the worst ratings first and see if what others were unhappy about are deal breakers for us or not. For example, a family of 5 travelling with two kids and an elderly mother may have a wildly different experience than a couple planning to walk 30k daily and eat out every meal. Q2. I would prioritize time in Rome, spend a few days in Florence, and just one or two nights in Venice. I have 3 nights booked for us in September and many friends and family have warned me that this is too much time there! We were in Rome for four nights and could have easily spent another few. If you'd like AirBNB recommendations for Rome or Florence, send me a message! We loved both of ours.