teacher4

My husband and I are planning a trip for the first time to Italy. We are very excited and want to get as much in as posible. We are both in our 30s and like to explore places on our own. We tend to shy away from tours, like to rent cars and stop and go as we please. We have contacted a few travel agencies and the intinerary we seem to think works best for us is listed below. I am concerned with the amount of driving on this trip. I hope someone will read this to give us some advice. Thanks so much I appreciate it! What am I missing? Where should we stop? ...

Aug 11 Arrive Rome
Check in at
Aug 12 Rome at leisure
Aug 13 Rome at leisure
Aug 14 Pick up car
and drive towards Naples, Pompeii,
to Positano, on the Amalfi Coast
Check in at

Aug 15 Amalfi Coast
Aug 16 open
Aug 17 open
Aug 18 Venice return car
Check in at
Aug 19 Venice at leisure
Aug 20 Depart Venice for return home

zeppole

I don't know why you are renting a car to go the Amalfi Coast, and it is not advisable to have a car in peak season.

Any chance you can go to the Amalfi coast first and then work your way up to Venice?

zeppole

I should add, work your way to Venice by train.

Given the amount of money you are going to spend on a car, especially parking it and not using it on the Amalfi coast, I suggest you that if you have already bought your tickets and are flying into Rome, hire a driver to take you straight to the Amalfi coast. Skip renting a car. Use public transporation your entire trip.

Pompeii is a tremendous sight, but it is excruciatingly hot in August, with no shade, Consider going to Rome a day early and doing a day trip to Ostia Antica as a substitute.

RJD

Four days of driving from Rome to the Amalfi Coast and then to Venice. Positively scary. Suggest you skip the Amalfi coast this trip and use a train to go to Venice.

zeppole

I have to say that, in August in Italy, I'd sooner give up everything else in the trip than the Mediterranean. But I wouldn't want a car there. I'd use boats to get around, period, and use fast trains to other cities (first class, so you have a guarantee of air conditioning).

bobthenavigator

I assume you mean 2010--correct?
Why so late? Why in August? Both are bad ideas.
You need help with this plan. You got some bad advice.

Some ideas!
Fly into Naples and start on the coast.
Forget a car this trip--very bad idea.

Holler if you want help.

mamcalice

I agree with all of these observations. Very hot, very crowded, no need for a car. I also noted that your screen name is "teacher" so it is probably the only time you can get away. In such a hot, busy season, you might want to limit the amount of travelling you have to do. If you don't already have your plane tickets, try to fly into Naples and out of Venice. Train from Naples to Rome and from Rome to Venice or vice versa. If you can add a couple of days to your trip, do and you can add a day to Rome and to Venice. Two days in Rome and less than that in Venice will be neither leisurely nor will it allow you to appreciate the cities.

We'll be happy to help once you have absorbed the comments and settled on your final itinerary.

StCirq

Travel agencies went along with this plan? Tsk, tsk...

Does it have to be August? August is typically brutal. Change that plan if you can. And no need for a car. And drop something, because you don't have enough time in any of these places (and you WILL be slowed down by the heat).

k9korps

What they said.

teacher4

Wow, I did't realize we were so off base. I spoke with a few friends that live in Italy and they said the only to truly enjoy all that Italy has to offer is to be able to drive where ever we want. I appreciate your help, but don't know who to believe obviously a computer is pwerful ::When we drove from Rome to Positano it took about 3 hours another sites quotes''The distance between the start point and the destination is 291km, (181 miles), and will take approximately 3 hours 7 minutes of driving time.
It doesn't seem like a long drive especiall since we are from jersey and new york. That is traffic. I think the car is 450 bucks to have at my disposal. If I want to drive up the coast I can If I want to drive and see remote villages I can. On a train, thats it have a nice time looking out the window while I might be sampling some wine at a small caffe.
You are right we are teachers so this is our only chance. My wife has one opinion and I have another. I believe in real trave. We flew to Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora, bora renting a car against everyone suggestions and saw things that no one else did. It was worth every penny.
I am more concerned about the quality of our hotels.
The Amafi coast will be one or two nights, bug deal I pay a garage, I do it in NYC all the time. Then head towards Venice. I didnt do the millage yest but I figured we would need a stop over in Tuscany or Florance. What do you think of the hotel choices?
I am kinda against trains I want to see where I am and appreciate the views, not fly by at 90 miles an hour.
If that is what you think is best then I will reraed, we are running out of time.
Oh a final thought for those against cars and for public transporation are you taking into consideration we will have two gigantic suitcases. There might be plces we want to see in between check out and the train, where would we leave our bags if we dont have a car? OK LET THE COMMENTS RIP.

StCirq

Two giant suitcases? Whatever for? In August all you'll need is a sarong and a sunhat. You have 9 days on the ground at the hottest time of the year - what could you possibly need a giant suitcase for?

What you don't seem to understand is that the places you have chosen for this "itinerary" are far apart and are places where a car is virtually useless. Parking garages are typically far outside the city centers - eating up more of your already extremely limited time. You barely have time for the places you want to visit, never mind just wandering around on the small roads and making discoveries. YES, it's true that the best way to see Italy is to wander around and enjoy all the small surprises, but your friends live there - you have 9 short days.

teacher4

teacher4 on Jul 7, 10 at 6:15pm
Wow, I did't realize we were so off base. I spoke with a few friends that live in Italy and they said the only to truly enjoy all that Italy has to offer is to be able to drive where ever we want. I appreciate your help, but don't know who to believe obviously a computer is pwerful ::When we drove from Rome to Positano it took about 3 hours another sites quotes''The distance between the start point and the destination is 291km, (181 miles), and will take approximately 3 hours 7 minutes of driving time.
It doesn't seem like a long drive especiall since we are from jersey and new york. That is traffic. I think the car is 450 bucks to have at my disposal. If I want to drive up the coast I can If I want to drive and see remote villages I can. On a train, thats it have a nice time looking out the window while I might be sampling some wine at a small caffe.
You are right we are teachers so this is our only chance. My wife has one opinion and I have another. I believe in real trave. We flew to Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora, bora renting a car against everyone suggestions and saw things that no one else did. It was worth every penny.
I am more concerned about the quality of our hotels.
The Amafi coast will be one or two nights, bug deal I pay a garage, I do it in NYC all the time. Then head towards Venice. I didnt do the millage yest but I figured we would need a stop over in Tuscany or Florance. What do you think of the hotel choices?
I am kinda against trains I want to see where I am and appreciate the views, not fly by at 90 miles an hour.
If that is what you think is best then I will reraed, we are running out of time.
Oh a final thought for those against cars and for public transporation are you taking into consideration we will have two gigantic suitcases. There might be plces we want to see in between check out and the train, where would we leave our bags if we dont have a car? OK LET THE COMMENTS RIP.

bobthenavigator

I always drive in Italy---16 times now.
But, not on the AC in August---that is crazy.

The AC will be shoulder to shoulder in August---I would drop it for this trip. If Venice is a must---you seem to be returning from there---then make rural Tuscany your 3rd destination and drop the coast. Far less travel time and hassle. Here is a plan:

Arrive Rome--to hotel---3 nites

Train To Chiusi--get car---to hotel in south Tuscany--3 nites
Explore local hill towns and wineries

Drive to Venice--drop car---3 nites

I have done this 260 plus times---this is a no brainer.
I wish you had 12 nites but you do not--this is plan B.

bobthenavigator

Oh yes, here are some places to stay in Tuscany. I would look for air condiitoning in August. Look at Palazzo del Capitano.


BOB’S FAVORITE DIGS IN TOSCANA

A. RURAL LOCATIONS: All have parking and good food options nearby

1. Relais La Saracina www.lasaracina.it 230 to 300E
Fabulous country home near Montepulciano—helpful owners

2. Cretaiole Agriturismo http://www.cretaiole.it/ Good value for families

3. Terre di Nano www.terredinano.com 100 to 155
Both rooms and apartments at rural Agriturismo near Monticchiello


4. Casanova di Pescille http://www.casanovadipescille.com/ 100E
Rural B&B 3 KM from famed San Gimignano—we loved the views of San Gim.

5. Fattoria Tregole www.fattoria-tregole.com 110E to 180E
Has both B&B and apartment accommodations. Near Castellina in Chianti

6. Agriturismo apts. near San Quirico— www.poggiolo.info/ About 110E

B. IN-TOWN LOCATIONS: For walking convenience to shops & ristorantes.

1. Palazzo del Capitano www.palazzodelcapitano.com 130 to 180E
Very nice small hotel in center of San Quirico—perfect location to explore.

2. Vecchia Oliviera www.tuscany.net/oliviera/ 130 to 180E
Nice 4 star hotel at the gate into lovely Montalcino---has pool.

3. Palazzina Cesari www.montalcinoitaly.com 80 to 110E
Lovely small B&B in heart of Montalcino—great value—2 night stay minimum.

4. Locanda di San Francesco www.locandasanfrancesco.it 180 to 200E
New boutique B&B in a lovely location in Montepulciano—great reviews !

5. Politian apartments http://www.politian.com/ Good value apts. with
minimum stay of 3 nights in Montepulciano---helpful host---85E

6. Palazzo Ravizza www.palazzoravizza.it 130 to 180E
Very nice & popular hotel in Siena with parking.

7. Fattoria Vignale http://www.vignale.it/eng/ Four star hotel in Radda in the heart of Chianti. About 230E for double

nytraveler

We always take a car to the Amalfi coast - but we go in May - when it's much less crowded.

It's certainly possible to take a car in August (but be POSITIVE that your hotel has a parking spot for you - few do) - or you will spend your life looking for places to put it at night. You need to understand that the traffic will be trul horrendous - but that's the same if you use the bus. the other option is ferry - which will be crowded - but less likely to be delayed.

Also - we stay in Sorrento to have easy access to Pompeii, Naples etc - rather than down the coast (which we visit by car or ferry).

Jean

Maybe if you mentioned where in the Naples/Amalfi Coast area you wanted to go that is easier or only reached by car, people here would be more inclined to agree with your plan. FYI, some train stations have luggage storage services, and/or your hotel will hold your luggage after check-out if your train leaves later in the day.

Add me to the list questioning the need for two gigantic suitcases for a 10-day trip, but if the luggage and car are non-negotiable, make sure you reserve a car that will hold the two gigantic suitcases in a way that they are not visible from outside the car.

FYI, your drive from Positano to Venice will take 8-9 hours and you'll want to arrive before the car rental office closes (or be charged for additional day plus overnight parking). You'll likely want to stop somewhere for lunch, but you'll have to watch the time carefully and resist the urge to stop and look at interesting things along the way.

franco

Besides all the problems that others have already mentioned, you are going the very worst week of the entire year. Ever heard the word "ferragosto"? That's August 15th... EVERYTHING will be closed, restaurants, shops, market stalls, cafés. And ALL Italians who close their businesses that week will be alla spiaggia, on the beach.
So zeppole, for once I have to disagree with you: around ferragosto, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the sea. Every inch of anything faintly looking like a beach will be occupied by Italians, that week, who will pile up in three or four layers. Nor would I want to go to Venice as a first timer, that week. Venice at ferragosto gets all the Lignano-Caorle-Bibbione-Jesolo beach tourists taking their "culture day" off the grill, so the city center is unmanageable, unbearable, impassable.(Trust me on that. I'm the craziest Venice buff around here, and this is certainly the only week of the year where I'm strongly advising against Venice.) Also the "everything closed" problem is worse, I think, in Venice than in Rome - or is that just because I know Venice better? Anyway, of all the people I know in Venice, I don't meet anybody there in mid-August... they're invariably on the beach.
OTOH, I for one don't advise against a car - I never do since I'm like you seem to be and just cannot imagine traveling by train or bus. But admittedly, I've never been on the Amalfi Coast in August (nor would I want to be), so I don't know (and will never) how terrible traffic is at that time of the year. At least, nytraveler's point about hotel parking is excellent: on the Amalfi Coast, parking is near-impossible, all year round and even without ferragosto. But I would, let me stress that once more, skip Amalfi altogether on this trip, and any other coast, as well.
You might either stick to Rome, for which eight days are certainly not too long - but I understand it's stifling hot in August, and one might want to breathe some fresher air, as well; so, second possibility, split your time between Rome and, say, Eastern Umbria (that's where you absolutely need that car!): the Piano Grande is one of the few parts of Italy for which August is a good time to go. (In Castelluccio, the only hamlet anywhere near the Piano Grande, they don't also close down anything in August - they're already closing down the whole village for the long winter season when it's cut off from civilization by meters of snow and all inhabitants leave for lower areas, so they stay there in summer.)

franco

Ah, I forgot to end one thought: I wouldn't go to Venice as a first-timer, I wrote, because the city center is so packed around ferragosto. If you just want to tour the lagoon islands, August is actually a perfect month. But as first timers, you wouldn't probably want to entirely skip the city proper, or just experience it on your way to and from the vaporetto... which is, however, the only way to enjoy Venice in mid-August.

Gina817

Regarding the heat - Bring an umbrella if you decide to visit Pompeii. We visited Paestum early September when it was in the upper 80's. The umbrella was a huge help.

zeppole

teacher4,

Are you coming off a cruise? Is that the need for the big suitcases?

You sound pretty committed to having a car, so I suggest that you make sure you have several good maps of Italy -- including the regional maps of Campania, Lazio and Tuscany so in case you find yourself in more of a traffic jam than you like, you can find a way out of it. I also think Franco is giving you a very good tip about going to the Piano Grande, in case you also find yourself sweltering in more heat than you like. (Tuscany is a frying pan.) So pack a map of Umbria too. You can order all these maps online. Michelin-brand maps are good.

I wound't worry about your hotel choices. You can always find really nice accommodations in Italy, even on the road. Tripadvisor is a good resource for booking ahead.

Also, you might find this interesting to read.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...familyholidays

If your final itinerary includes destinations by the sea in the last two weeks of August, you must book a hotel with parking.