2 week honeymoon Italy - Rome and where else?
Sep 11th, 2011, 12:53 PM
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2 week honeymoon Italy - Rome and where else?
Hello all
I am in the early stages of researching our honeymoon. We have agreed on Italy. We both really want to visit Rome and then have some time near the beach to relax and we're also interested in looking at agriturismo. we're a young couple 26-30 and are looking for a relaxing but also interesting touring holiday... sorry honeymoon!! we're not massively well travelled and we've only been on holiday together a handful of times. therefore we're not really interested in going to the maldives or somewhere and laying on a beach for 14days. Would be beautiful........ but we would be bored!
We have a low to moderate budget, but its our honeymoon so we'd be ok to pay out for some nights in luxury or some experiences, cooking class etc something like that.
Intially thought we'd fly into Rome and have 3 or 4 nights there before hiring a car and driving out. to where? i don't know. I've looked at loads of different places but don't really know where is best or wheres too far to drive to?
I've looked at Amalfi Coast and its beautiful but so is the rest of italy so how can we choose?! we want some beaching, but not too much. Adam will get bored lying on a beach after about 4 hours. I will beach for a day-ish. But we both love the coast in general so its important for us to spend some time near the coast.
Should we turn it around and finish off with Rome? do you think 4 days in rome straight after the wedding might be a bit hectic?
We're from the midlands in the UK and are getting married in August 2012. We'd likely fly out between the 17-20th August depending when the flights might be cheaper.If we dont go to Rome first where shall we fly into? I'm intrested in Puglia, Umbria and Chianti but probably only because I have researched those the most recently!!
So....help!?!? i've probably not given enough information about what we're looking for but i don't really know what we are looking for!
thanks
Clare
Northampton UK
I am in the early stages of researching our honeymoon. We have agreed on Italy. We both really want to visit Rome and then have some time near the beach to relax and we're also interested in looking at agriturismo. we're a young couple 26-30 and are looking for a relaxing but also interesting touring holiday... sorry honeymoon!! we're not massively well travelled and we've only been on holiday together a handful of times. therefore we're not really interested in going to the maldives or somewhere and laying on a beach for 14days. Would be beautiful........ but we would be bored!
We have a low to moderate budget, but its our honeymoon so we'd be ok to pay out for some nights in luxury or some experiences, cooking class etc something like that.
Intially thought we'd fly into Rome and have 3 or 4 nights there before hiring a car and driving out. to where? i don't know. I've looked at loads of different places but don't really know where is best or wheres too far to drive to?
I've looked at Amalfi Coast and its beautiful but so is the rest of italy so how can we choose?! we want some beaching, but not too much. Adam will get bored lying on a beach after about 4 hours. I will beach for a day-ish. But we both love the coast in general so its important for us to spend some time near the coast.
Should we turn it around and finish off with Rome? do you think 4 days in rome straight after the wedding might be a bit hectic?
We're from the midlands in the UK and are getting married in August 2012. We'd likely fly out between the 17-20th August depending when the flights might be cheaper.If we dont go to Rome first where shall we fly into? I'm intrested in Puglia, Umbria and Chianti but probably only because I have researched those the most recently!!
So....help!?!? i've probably not given enough information about what we're looking for but i don't really know what we are looking for!
thanks
Clare
Northampton UK
Sep 11th, 2011, 12:58 PM
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oh and by the way if you read my other post you'll see we have decided against the mini-moon in the UK and then the big moon in mexico. back to the drawing board and italy is where its at!!!
Sep 11th, 2011, 01:15 PM
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Start with airfare: This is a great site for cheap fares from UK to Italy http://www.whichbudget.com/
In general you should fly in to the south and go north or visa versa. Use the above link and find a good start and end point.
August will be very warm so you might want to include beach time or make sure you have a pool at your hotel or apartment. Cities will be warm.
You might consider trains vs car hire or rent a car.... oops I think I just realized that car hire to you ment renting a car. Anyway, try to avoid driving out of Rome or Florence.
Italy has so many beautiful places so you might read, think about your interests; do you like small towns or cities, are you food and wine people, do you like to hike and walk, is your pace slow or quick. Just think about great trips you have taken and then figure out your interests.
If you like Perugia, Tuscany and Chianti then you should go to those areas. Beautiful areas on the coast up in that area are the villages of Cinque Terra, and if you like to hike then that would be perfect.
The beauty for you is that you are so close to Italy that you can come back many many times for very little money. (our airfare is 1000 euro round trip vs you can probably get yours for 35Euro or so)
In general you should fly in to the south and go north or visa versa. Use the above link and find a good start and end point.
August will be very warm so you might want to include beach time or make sure you have a pool at your hotel or apartment. Cities will be warm.
You might consider trains vs car hire or rent a car.... oops I think I just realized that car hire to you ment renting a car. Anyway, try to avoid driving out of Rome or Florence.
Italy has so many beautiful places so you might read, think about your interests; do you like small towns or cities, are you food and wine people, do you like to hike and walk, is your pace slow or quick. Just think about great trips you have taken and then figure out your interests.
If you like Perugia, Tuscany and Chianti then you should go to those areas. Beautiful areas on the coast up in that area are the villages of Cinque Terra, and if you like to hike then that would be perfect.
The beauty for you is that you are so close to Italy that you can come back many many times for very little money. (our airfare is 1000 euro round trip vs you can probably get yours for 35Euro or so)
Sep 11th, 2011, 01:22 PM
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thanks for your advice, i'll check out the website for airfares and yes you are right that we are close to Italy. I think its far away but in comparison its reall not!
We are big foodies, and we do hike a bit but its not necessarily important to us here. Our main thing is food and scenery....so that covers pretty much all of Italy yes?? ha!
I'll look at trains as well, that'll be a great way to see the country. x
We are big foodies, and we do hike a bit but its not necessarily important to us here. Our main thing is food and scenery....so that covers pretty much all of Italy yes?? ha!
I'll look at trains as well, that'll be a great way to see the country. x
Sep 11th, 2011, 01:34 PM
#5
hi clare,
welcome to another Brit on fodors. there aren't many of us so we are a very "select" group!
and congrats on your marriage. I'm sure that you have already worked out that Italy is likely to be hot in August and Rome being a city will be moreso. but if you are up for this, and plan well, you should have a great time.
now you've decided on a rough itinerary, can I suggest that you don't try to pack it too full? for a 2 week stay, probably 4 bases is the maximum you really want if you are not to spend too much time just traveling around, and of course not only does that rob you of proper holiday time, but it also tends to happen at the hottest time of the day, and being in a hot car, or worse, a train with a load of other people, is not a lot of fun.
my other suggestion is that you get a range of places so that you get some variety - somehow that seems to make the holiday last longer. So a city -Rome, the countryside say at an agriturismo in Umbria, and the seaside, say on the amalfi, would fit the bill.
I would suggest the following; fly to Rome, hire a car, drive to an agriturismo where they do food and have a good restaurant. here is a website where you can find a whole heap of them, in Umbria and elsewhere :
http://www.agriturismo.it/en/
after that, head for the amalfi and the beaches - you might like to keep your car or return it and use the trains, depending on how brave you are feeling.
finally, go back to Rome and finish your trip - by now you will be getting the hang of italy and will be better able to cope with the chaos that is Rome!
and you'll be in the right place for getting your plane home - and for doing that all-important shopping.
if you can, i would suggest sending 4 nights in Umbria, 5 on the amalfi, and 5 in Rome. that will enable you to rent an apartment if you would like - they are generally not available for less than 3 night stays.
whether you choose hotels or apartments, do make sure that they have air-conditioning!
have a great trip!
welcome to another Brit on fodors. there aren't many of us so we are a very "select" group!
and congrats on your marriage. I'm sure that you have already worked out that Italy is likely to be hot in August and Rome being a city will be moreso. but if you are up for this, and plan well, you should have a great time.
now you've decided on a rough itinerary, can I suggest that you don't try to pack it too full? for a 2 week stay, probably 4 bases is the maximum you really want if you are not to spend too much time just traveling around, and of course not only does that rob you of proper holiday time, but it also tends to happen at the hottest time of the day, and being in a hot car, or worse, a train with a load of other people, is not a lot of fun.
my other suggestion is that you get a range of places so that you get some variety - somehow that seems to make the holiday last longer. So a city -Rome, the countryside say at an agriturismo in Umbria, and the seaside, say on the amalfi, would fit the bill.
I would suggest the following; fly to Rome, hire a car, drive to an agriturismo where they do food and have a good restaurant. here is a website where you can find a whole heap of them, in Umbria and elsewhere :
http://www.agriturismo.it/en/
after that, head for the amalfi and the beaches - you might like to keep your car or return it and use the trains, depending on how brave you are feeling.
finally, go back to Rome and finish your trip - by now you will be getting the hang of italy and will be better able to cope with the chaos that is Rome!
and you'll be in the right place for getting your plane home - and for doing that all-important shopping.
if you can, i would suggest sending 4 nights in Umbria, 5 on the amalfi, and 5 in Rome. that will enable you to rent an apartment if you would like - they are generally not available for less than 3 night stays.
whether you choose hotels or apartments, do make sure that they have air-conditioning!
have a great trip!
Sep 12th, 2011, 12:10 AM
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ANNHIG, WONDERFUL ADVICE!!! I think we may actually do exactly what you have suggested! And yes I was concerned about the heat but also we really want to go on honeymoon straight away so.... we'll brave it!! xx
Sep 12th, 2011, 03:48 AM
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Hi Clare,
I would fly into Venice - 4 nights, train to the Cinque Terre (4 nights), train to Florence (3 nights) and finish up in Rome. Caveat, I much prefer Florence to Rome.
OR
Fly into Venice - 4 nights, fly to Naples for the Amalfi Coast (6 nights), train to Rome.
Happy Honeymoon.
I would fly into Venice - 4 nights, train to the Cinque Terre (4 nights), train to Florence (3 nights) and finish up in Rome. Caveat, I much prefer Florence to Rome.
OR
Fly into Venice - 4 nights, fly to Naples for the Amalfi Coast (6 nights), train to Rome.
Happy Honeymoon.
Sep 12th, 2011, 05:02 AM
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LIke Ira, I prefer Florence to Rome. So I would follow his itinerary except spend 3 nights in the Cinque Terre and 4 nights in Florence. That will allow you to take day trips to the Tuscan countryside.
