meganfuturesmith

Would love some advice on my honeymoon before biting the bullet and booking plane tickets! Honeymoon is NEXT June! June 9-June 21. Neither of us have ever been out of the United States. (One of us is terrified of flying....I guess he will get over it!)

We have 11 full days of trip (12 nights) (13 days including the 2 travel days).

My question is do we do Italy and Paris or do we just really enjoy Italy. We are wanting to do the usual....Rome, Florence, and Venice. I am VERY interested in Florence and exploring Tuscany. There are many day trips I would enjoy and could even stay the night some places in Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and/or Lake Como. (advice would also be welcome on this- which do we choose).

My fiancé mentioned Paris and I took 7 years of French through middle, high school, and college. (I am nowhere near fluent! haha!) I honestly believe this may be our only Europe trip. Do we try to see both countries or just Italy?

Recommendations on how much time we need in each place?

Also would love hotel recommendations. Looking to stay at $200 a night. (If we save in some areas we could go more in others!)

Thanks in advance!

Michael

If your trip is successful, it will not be your last trip to Europe. Given the amount of time, I would stick to Italy, perhaps take a day to see Siena while staying in Florence.

ThulaMama

Agree with Michael. Stay in Italy - you are there only a short time and there is much to experience.

Another sidetrip from Florence is a day trip to Lucca. Take the horse and carriage trip around this very small, walled city. Also, stay right in the city of Florence so that you can walk everywhere.

mamcalice

WIth the time you have, stay in Italy. There is more than enough to keep you busy in Venice, Florence and Rome. Paris is absolutely wonderful - save it for your next trip - you will be back to Europe!

ira

Hi Meg,

> do we do Italy and Paris or do we just really enjoy Italy?

You know the answer to that.

Visit Paris on an anniversary.

Enjoy your honeymoon.

ira

PS, I'd fly into Venice and out of Rome.

Bellarosa70032

I agree with Ira. Paris deserves at least a week on its own.

socaltraveler

<Visit Paris on an anniversary.>

Love it. And he's right. Enjoy Italy. And congratulations.

denisea

Agree with Ira...into Venice out of Rome. We spent 9 nights in Rome last year and did a few day trips to break it up. You will enjoy Italy and you don't want to waste too much time in train stations, changing hotels, etc....our T/R link is below if you want to check it out.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-hits-back.cfm

nytraveler

You barely have time to see the places you have picked - adding Paris would mean spending a huge part of your limited time in transit rather than enjoying the sights - or each other.

meganfuturesmith

Thanks for the tips! I agree! No Paris! Why do you all say into Venice out of Rome? I was thinking the opposite only because I am most excited about Venice and figured it would be a nice end to the trip! Also will probably use that as our nicest stay!

Thanks

Toucan

My bride and I stood in the train station in Florence and came very very close to jumping on the train to Paris just for kicks. We didn't but it would have been fun! Honeymoons should be a little different than regular tourist type trips. Where you are and what you see are secondary. The best part is being together! In Europe! Doing whatever you want!

Grandma

I think into Venice out of Rome is recommended because most flights leaving Venice leave at some godawful hour in the morning.
You can easily train from Venice to Florence to Rome.