Italy: May 28-June 13 honeymoon help!
Jul 22nd, 2005, 02:02 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Italy: May 28-June 13 honeymoon help!
Hi Everyone,
I'm going to spend 15 nights in Italy on my honeymoon and with your help I've narrowed my cities to:
1) Florence
2) Elsewhere in Tuscany
3) Rome
4) Positano or Ravello.
I have a few questions about Tuscany and Almafi.
FI and I were considering a splurge at Palazzo Sasso. Would we still be able to spend four nights there and comfortably see the rest of the Almafi with day trips "if" we wanted? OR is Positano a better base?
Where would you recommend we stay in Tuscany? Chianti? Elsewhere? Our budget is approximately 300-400 Euro (Ravello excluded). We'd like to pick one hotel for each area, to limit unpacking and packing. Here we'd like to go to a wine tasting and perhaps have a cooking lesson among other things.
Also, how should we arrange our flights? Into Florence out of Naples (Almafi)?
THANKS IN ADVANCE,
Natalie
I'm going to spend 15 nights in Italy on my honeymoon and with your help I've narrowed my cities to:
1) Florence
2) Elsewhere in Tuscany
3) Rome
4) Positano or Ravello.
I have a few questions about Tuscany and Almafi.
FI and I were considering a splurge at Palazzo Sasso. Would we still be able to spend four nights there and comfortably see the rest of the Almafi with day trips "if" we wanted? OR is Positano a better base?
Where would you recommend we stay in Tuscany? Chianti? Elsewhere? Our budget is approximately 300-400 Euro (Ravello excluded). We'd like to pick one hotel for each area, to limit unpacking and packing. Here we'd like to go to a wine tasting and perhaps have a cooking lesson among other things.
Also, how should we arrange our flights? Into Florence out of Naples (Almafi)?
THANKS IN ADVANCE,
Natalie
Jul 22nd, 2005, 02:17 PM
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ira will probably be one of the best to advise on this.
but if you wanted to fly and start off and Florence, then go down to a base in Tuscany find a base where its easy to get to places like San gim and Siena if they were places you were interested at going to. You can find some good sites if you "type wine tasting and cooking in Tuscany", they may have some suggestions for places to stay.
Then maybe spend 2-3 days Amalfi coast, continue down to Rome for about 3-4 days then fly out from Rome if possible.
but if you wanted to fly and start off and Florence, then go down to a base in Tuscany find a base where its easy to get to places like San gim and Siena if they were places you were interested at going to. You can find some good sites if you "type wine tasting and cooking in Tuscany", they may have some suggestions for places to stay.
Then maybe spend 2-3 days Amalfi coast, continue down to Rome for about 3-4 days then fly out from Rome if possible.
Jul 22nd, 2005, 02:21 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Nat,
Is there a reason why you are not going to Venice on our honeymoon?
You will certainly be able to visit the rest of the Amalfi Coast when you stay at the Sasso, which considering your budget of about 350E, isn't much of a splurge.
>how should we arrange our flights?
I think you get better connections if you fly into Naples and out of Florence or Pisa.
Is there a reason why you are not going to Venice on our honeymoon?
You will certainly be able to visit the rest of the Amalfi Coast when you stay at the Sasso, which considering your budget of about 350E, isn't much of a splurge.
>how should we arrange our flights?
I think you get better connections if you fly into Naples and out of Florence or Pisa.
Jul 22nd, 2005, 03:04 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your trip sounds so nice. I have only been to Italy once - last may - but some our destinations were similiar. We went to Florence, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Ravello. We stayed in Ravello for 3 nights at the hotel Villa Maria. The P. Sasso is gorgeous and if you can pay the price, i would do that. Its close to the very charming town square as well.
We found it easy to take day trips from Ravello on the bus. We were there at that time of year and the crowds were not bad at all. Some posts here talk about overcrowded buses etc but I think that is during true summer. We did not have trouble. Generally, you take the buses down the hill from Ravello to the town of Amalfi. In Amalfi, you can board additional buses or boats to tour the other towns.
Ravello is quieter than Positano and remember - no beach access as its up the hill. But the views are mind blowing and Sasso has beautiful terraces and a pool to soak it all in. There isnt nightlife per se in Ravello - its more of a peaceful, elegant, romantic town - very special.
With all that being said - Venice sounds like a good alternative too and it would keep you in the north of Italy and it would be less time traveling.
Do you have your heart set on Amalfi Coast?
Have you looked at posts about chianti and tuscany? Many areas to choose from and it depends on what you like.
We stayed near Greve at Villa Vignamaggio and it was heavenly. Check their website. Badio Coltibuono near Radda has cooking lessons and a great restaurant.
We found it easy to take day trips from Ravello on the bus. We were there at that time of year and the crowds were not bad at all. Some posts here talk about overcrowded buses etc but I think that is during true summer. We did not have trouble. Generally, you take the buses down the hill from Ravello to the town of Amalfi. In Amalfi, you can board additional buses or boats to tour the other towns.
Ravello is quieter than Positano and remember - no beach access as its up the hill. But the views are mind blowing and Sasso has beautiful terraces and a pool to soak it all in. There isnt nightlife per se in Ravello - its more of a peaceful, elegant, romantic town - very special.
With all that being said - Venice sounds like a good alternative too and it would keep you in the north of Italy and it would be less time traveling.
Do you have your heart set on Amalfi Coast?
Have you looked at posts about chianti and tuscany? Many areas to choose from and it depends on what you like.
We stayed near Greve at Villa Vignamaggio and it was heavenly. Check their website. Badio Coltibuono near Radda has cooking lessons and a great restaurant.
Jul 22nd, 2005, 03:29 PM
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went to Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre and Venice on our honeymoon. Then for our first anniversary (May 2005) we went to the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and the Cinque Terre again.
I wouldn't miss Venice on a honeymoon... it is so romantic!
I wouldn't miss Venice on a honeymoon... it is so romantic!
Jul 22nd, 2005, 04:37 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buona sera, I like your proposed itinerary the way it is. With 15 days those 4 destinations make good sense and will give you a good contrast.
I would suggest that Ravello is a wonderful place but not convenient for day trips--I would stay in Positano.
For Tuscany, I assume you will have a car. The best honeymoon location to me is Locanda Amorosa, but also look at Relais La Saracina. It may seem odd, but I will suggest this sequence to you--ending in Rome:
Land Rome--to Florence--3
Get car--to Tuscany--4
Drive to Sorrento--drop car--4
Train to Rome--last 4 nites
I have planned dozens of similar trips and this sequence works well.
Lastly, spend some time on slowtrav.com and look at the trip reports, among a ton of good input.
Good luck !
I would suggest that Ravello is a wonderful place but not convenient for day trips--I would stay in Positano.
For Tuscany, I assume you will have a car. The best honeymoon location to me is Locanda Amorosa, but also look at Relais La Saracina. It may seem odd, but I will suggest this sequence to you--ending in Rome:
Land Rome--to Florence--3
Get car--to Tuscany--4
Drive to Sorrento--drop car--4
Train to Rome--last 4 nites
I have planned dozens of similar trips and this sequence works well.
Lastly, spend some time on slowtrav.com and look at the trip reports, among a ton of good input.
Good luck !
Jul 22nd, 2005, 06:42 PM
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Natalie,
Congratulations on your engagement! I know you and your fiance will have a fabulous honeymoon. I can second BobtheNavigator's suggestion of Locanda Amorosa as well as La Saracina for Tuscan accommodations. We've stayed in both, love both, and plan on returning this next May. While Florence and Rome are spectacular, they are crowded and I find they have an intensity of which Tuscany will offer a respite. That said, I love both cities. Happy planning!
Congratulations on your engagement! I know you and your fiance will have a fabulous honeymoon. I can second BobtheNavigator's suggestion of Locanda Amorosa as well as La Saracina for Tuscan accommodations. We've stayed in both, love both, and plan on returning this next May. While Florence and Rome are spectacular, they are crowded and I find they have an intensity of which Tuscany will offer a respite. That said, I love both cities. Happy planning!
