RDixon

Thought I should post my potential plans for our trip from March 18 to April 1. Want to hear all advice. We are a couple travelling with a young adult daughter. What we like most while travelling is seeing natural geographical beauty, discovering the culture and eating great food. We want to see the sites but too many and it's overwhelming (eg I think 2 days in Rome will be enough for one time) We have two weeks in Italy, arriving in Rome and returning from Venice. I thought we'd train to Rome and stay for 3 nights. Then rent a car and drive to Pompei for the day. Originally I thought we'd drive to Positano that same day from Pompei but the responses from another message convinced me it would be too much. So stay in Pompei overnight, and the next day travel to Amalfi coast and stay overnight. Then travel by car to Tuscany to see Florence and other towns, Stay in one place (maybe San Giminagno) for 5 nights and use that as a home base to tour around. Alternatively we could stay further south for 2 nights (perhaps Cortona or Montepulciano) then closer to Florence for 3 nights (we were advised to stay in smaller town). Then to Cinque Terre for 1 night. Then on to Venice for 2 nights. Then home. Is this way too ambitious? Or wrong timing for some places (eg hiking in Cinque Terre in March)?Any advice will be appreciated.

rex

I have been with others on visits to Rome that were TOO short - - and they hated it. Rome is so intense that 48 hours or less is just not enough to get used to its sounds, its rhythms, its crowds, its sights, people and scooters.

But don't make it all about sights during your time there if you don't want to. It has parks and plenty of slower paced life too. Plus make it your foodie haven!

Best wishes,

Rex

nytraveler

I hope I didn't mislead anyone with the Amalfi post. although I still think March is kind of early in the year for this part of Italy. Have you considered Sorrento instead of Positano - it's a bigger town and easier to do daytrips from. What I would do is drive from Rome to Sorrento - or Positano - the first day, seeing one or more cute towns on the way but arriving before dark. the next day do a day trip to Pompeii - this way you've saved check-in/check-out and packing time.

Agree with the others that 2 days in Rome is not enough - we were there for 6 days our fitst trip and were hearbroken to leave there was so much else we wanted to do.

ekellyga

Well, the number of days always crimps us all, and we all have different tastes. Others tell you that 2 days in Rome is not enough. They are correct, but.....I much prefer wandering the small towns and countryside in our own rental car. Sitting at a sidewalk cafe, watching the locals...strolling the streets at night, etc.

A few years ago, we toured Italy (some of it). First two nights in Rome. Plenty to see, and plenty we missed...but then we picked up the car and drove to Assisi. Never felt so peaceful in my life. Rome is wonderful, but busy, noisy and crowded. Depends if you like that or not. We drove from Assisi, to Sienna, to Florence, to Cinque Terre, to Bolzano, to Venice, then back to Rome. Never went south of Rome.

You might have trouble renting a car for anything less than a week, in Europe. Might check that issue out soon.

rex

<<Others tell you that 2 days in Rome is not enough. They are correct, but.....I much prefer wandering the small towns and countryside in our own rental car. Sitting at a sidewalk cafe, watching the locals...strolling the streets at night, etc.>>

No disagreement about this - - and I have no argument with those who think (or are convinced) that they want to exclude Rome from their travels to Italy (though NEVER ever go there? whoa... that's got to be uncommon!)

My main point is that if you DO want to go to Rome, and you think you only have 48 hours or less... then maybe you would do better to carve out one day from somewhere else... lest your 48 hours in rome are marred by not being able to get used to it.

<<You might have trouble renting a car for anything less than a week, in Europe.>>

I have never heard of a problem with rentals of three days. Even one day rentals are available widely... they are just very bad bargains for tourists in many cases. A week rental can indeed be a sweet spot, cost-wise. Typically, 7 days costs the same as 5 (isn't this true just about worldwide?) - - and three days cost only slightly more than a one-day rental.

ira

Hi RD,

I'm sure you can do this, but you are spending a lot of time packing, unpacking and driving.

May I suggest, that if Pompeii is really important that you do it as a day trip from Rome.

How important is the AC this trip?

I think that you will have a more enjoyable trip if you focus on Rome, Tuscany and Venice.