I am traveling to Florence and Venice

YOu can book these museums online.  Do it - with the possible exception of the Duomo musuem as Ive never had to queue or even seen anyone else in there..... There is no offseason in Florence and Venice any more.  

November is a quiet month. In any case, I would advise you to buy the "Florence Card", which is excellent value for money and you avoid the queues http://www.firenzecard.it/?lang=en There is a similar one for Venice. Simply Google "Venice Card" and you get the information. No problems for the other places at this time of the year.nWe went to Florence on Monday and the crowds had vanished... absolute bliss!!Enjoy your trip. Italy is great in spite of the crowds! 

The weather has been a bit... whimsical. Warmer than normal for this time of the year. A combination of fine weather and heavy rain. Right now, it is cooling down, particularly at night and it is quite windy. But... who knows? Bring an umbrella, but do not worry if you forget it at home. plety of street sellers carrying umbrellas for 5€...

Hello! I would definitely agree about the firenze card, it is a great value. You can always come and buy your ticket a day ahead, there is a special office for that at the Uffizi. As for November, it is getting cooler right now so I would definitely pack layers and a coat. Also rain-resistent boots and an umbrella, the seasons change day by day it feels like. I think personally some awesome day trips would be to the thermal baths (bagno vignoni in UNESCO heritage site that is the val'dorcia valley, also make sure to pick up some olive oil as right now they are beginning the harvest. I think cinque terre might be a little cold during that season.. 

It will all depend on the weather and sometimes you get a surprise. I will always remember a day spent in the Cinque Terre in November. It was sunny and we enjoyed the place more than in summer...

Thank you so much for all your replies.  We are very excited.  And I am definitely getting olive oil!!

If the weather is fine and you want to go to the Cinque Terre, drive to La Spezia railway station, leave your car there and catch the local train to the Cinque Terre (get the Cinque Terre Card at the railway station) and go to the northern end at Monterosso. Then you make your way down south stopping at every station and finally do the last sector from Manarola to Riomaggiore by walking along the famous footpath called "La Via dell'Amore". Here you have all the informaion you need http://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-timetable

Oops! Forgot to mention... If you leave La Spezia early in the morning, you should be in Manarola at lunchtime. There, you can have "pesce della barca" (freshly caught fish panfried) that you can have while you drink one of the delicious local wines (mainly Vermentino and Albarola graprs). Don't ask for "Sciachetrà" as this is a sweet, fortified wine suitable for dessert and I do not advise you to have it if you wish to walk along the "Via dell'Amore" footpath... Enjoy!

Hi im hopping someone can advise me. I saw the comment about no off season in florance and am coming later in the year when i thought its slow seasons. Does anyone know if youd need restaurant reservations then??

It will all depend on the particular restaurant where you want to go. Some are busy throughout the year, as they do not depend on tourism alone. It should be understood that Florence does not live on tourism alone. It is a city where many people live and work throughout the year. If going to a particular restaurant is an important part of your trip, then, my advice  would be to book it. 

Some restaurants are popular at any time of the year, in Florence this could be ' La Giostra, Vini e Vecchi Sapore, Libreria Brac, Berbere, Il Pizzaiuolo, Cibreo Il Brindellone. I would make reservations just to be safe, maybe not for lunch (if not Sunday - then you would want to). If you need any tips, just let us know!