larryde413

Hello, my husband and I will be going to Italy for the first time in Sept, I have planned a trip and was wondering what anyone could add or say about it!
Here we go
Flying in Rome 6 to 11 5 nights
Bus? To siena 11 to 15 4 nights
Train to pagoda 15 to 21 6 nights
Train to bologna 21 to 26 5 nights
Back to Rome leaving on the 30 , so 4 more nights
We plan on taking a couple of days trips in each city we are staying , we are not driving for the most part , maybe a couple of days here and there , kinda playing by ear, relaxed seeing and feeling things.
Any advice please ?!

larryde413

Sorry pagoda not pagoda !

larryde413

Yikes ! Padua!

Mimar

Nice, slow, easy-going itinerary.

You're omitting Florence and Venice. Is that because you're doing them as day trips? Or because you don't like crowds?

You could do Venice as a daytrip from Padua/pagoda, but that's really not the way to see Venice. It's much nicer at night and in the early morning. Likewise you can day trip to Florence from Bologna. Both these trips are about a half hour by train.

Warning: renting a car on short notice might cost more that reserving it ahead of time.

StCirq

Renting a car a couple of days here and there is going to be very expensive. A 2-day rental costs the same as a 3-day rental generally, and jut walking into a car rental outfit in Italy isn't anywhere near as reliable as making plans in advance. I hope you can drive a manual if that's your plan. And I hope you can speak and read Italian.

Playing things by ear in September may not be the best of plans in highly touristed cities, which you seem to be targeting. September in Italy is certainly not high-season madness, but it sure isn't uncrowded. I find it much more relaxed to have my plans laid out in advance. Do you really want to spend hours each day trying to find a place to lay your head that's suitable to you?

Otherwise, it looks like a very nice trip.

mama_mia

Regarding lodging reservations, you might check out what is going on in Bologna in the time you will be there. It is a big convention and exposition city and can get busy/booked up.

You can find info on Bologna events and activities here:
http://www.bolognafiere.it/en/home

Of the cities you listed, I have not been to Padua. They are all great locations (I regret missing out on the Scrovegni Chapel and Padua). While I am not suggesting you change any of them, I am wondering if you have thought through your plans for each location and what you hope to see (or not see--just relaxing) in each as far as allocating time.

larryde413

Thank you so much for your advice, I do have an small apartment rented for each city and yes the plan is to visit Florence and Venice on day trips. I have looked into spending a night or 2 in Venice if we feel like staying after an initial visit, having heard that exact same thing, nights and mornings are magical, daytime not so much...as far as the car I have also heard that the driving is scary but the country roads are beautiful so... again wait and see a little longer , still wondering about a day trip or two to sorento It might be too much from Rome and I get the feeling we will be back any advice on that ?

inspiredexplorer

One way to easily add a destination (Venice, Sorrento or something else) would be to only stay in Rome for one period of time rather than two. I would say put your 4 or 5 night stay in Rome at the end of your trip since you have to fly out from there anyway, and when you land at the beginning, immediately head to a different destination.

Rome to Naples/Sorrento wouldn't be too difficult on day 1, and spending 4 or 5 nights there can give you time for Pompeii and Capri in addition to sights in those cities. If the Amalfi Coast is what interests you the most, then head directly from Rome to Salerno, and ferry to the coast and stay there for 4 or 5 nights.

larryde413

Thank you, yes Pompeii is of great interest to me ! So maybe a day in Rome and then Naples? I have heard that Naples can be a little shady , true?

bilboburgler

Naples is more gritty. There are some wonderful buildings and some disreptuable looking guys hanging around, there are some horrid parts but, as a tourist, you will not go there.

Generally you'll be fine but you need the same street smarts as you'll need in Rome.

vincenzo32951

>>.as far as the car I have also heard that the driving is scary but the country roads are beautiful so... again wait and see a little longer , still wondering about a day trip or two to sorento It might be too much from Rome and I get the feeling we will be back any advice on that ?<<

Driving isn't that bad. You of course won't want a car in the cities, but the idea of driving the countryside (but not the Amalfi Coast!) is OK. As for the day trip to Sorrento: I'm a little confused. Is that part of your driving plan? If so, it can be done, and the drive isn't bad. Most of it is on the Autostrada.

While a rudimentary understanding of Italian would help, I disagree that you need to speak Italian if you're going to rent and drive a car. An understanding of the language might come in handy in remote areas where many Italians don't speak English, but thousands of non-Italian speakers rent cars every year and manage to get around.