Keds1

Hello
Planning a 14 night trip to Italy in mid- May, starting in Venice and flying out of Naples. Suggestions needed for 3 days in Tuscany after leaving from Venice , and nice place to stay for 3 nights not too far from Naples airport
Here's our plan :
Day 1 Arrive Venice, staying in Cannaregio,
Day 2  Venice 
**Day 3, Day 4, Day 5- need suggestions for 3 nights in Tuscany or Umbria, the attractions for us are visiting the wine country and villages and seeing the scenery rather than exploring the beautiful art cities. Open to a small group tour, or renting a car although I haven't researched the logistics of that.
Day 6 train to Rome from wherever
Day 7 Rome
Day 8 Rome 
Day 9 Travel to Capri, plan to Take Eurostar Freccia Ross (TAV) from Rome Termini train station to Naples Piazza Garibalfi Train Station, then taxi to ferry port
Day 10  Capri
Day 11 Capri 
** Day 12 leave Capri, advice needed on Naples area hotel for 3 nights with reasonable access to airport
Day 13 Amalfi coast ( probably with a small group tour) ?
Day 14 Herculenium or Pompeii
Day 15 fly home late morning from Naples

Thanks for any help ����

Sberg

Go to Val D'Orcia, it is absolutely stunning! We stayed near Pienza. Loved the area. Many small villages to explore. Great food and wonderful people. No crowds to deal with. Driving was very easy so renting a car is no problem. Have a great trip!

HappyTrvlr

You don't want to stay near Naples airport. Choose a hotel in the city and it won't take too long to get to the airport.
We enjoyed staying at Palazzo Alabardieri in the Chiaia area of Naples near the waterfront.

Blueeyedcod

So days 12-15 are in Naples?

From Naples Historic centre to the airport is roughly 20 minutes so you don't need to stay near there.
You didn't mention a budget. I can name many nice places in Naples but no point without a budget in euro per night.

Keds1

Thank you Sberg for the advice, will take a good look at that area, I assume you had a car?
Sad to say we are not fluent in Italian, would that be a big I issue in that area?

HappyTrav, Thanks for the suggestion! Will check it out.

Well, trying to spend no more than €200 a night, ideally with breakfast included blueeyedcod.

bilboburgler

Naples airport is virtually inside the city (on an escarpment above) so easy to get there in the am by taxi.

No problem in Naples without Italian, but you might find yourselves in a little bar where you struggle, just learn hello, i would like two beers please, i would like to pay, bye etc and you'll do fine.

ekc

If you don't want to do a group tour of the Amalfi Coast, you could do it yourself by taking the 30-minute train to Salerno, then ferry to Amalfi, explore Amalfi and Ravello, then ferry to Positano, explore Positano, then ferry back to Salerno and catch the train back to Naples.

www.coopsantandrea.com or www.travelmar.it for ferry schedules (2016 schedules should be up in a month or 2).

Blueeyedcod

You'll get some nice places on 200 euro per night. Here are some suggestions in the Lungomare (waterfront) - this is a lovely pedestrian zone so very quiet, beautiful views, lots of restaurants.

http://www.partenoperelais.it/en/
http://lifestylehotel.it/rex/?lang=en

Some in the historic centre/Spanish Quarter

http://www.decumani.com/
http://www.hotelilconvento.it/HomeEn.html

Hope this helps.

Keds1

Eke, that is very helpful advice, and seems a lot more fun. My Italian is very poor, will we manage figuring that all out in English ?

Blueeyedcod, the Rex looks good and is very inexpensive!
The one you listed above it has old time movie stars plastered on the walls..... Not so much for me. Anyway, that's the area to stay in, yes? By the waterfront, pedestrian zone

Bilboburger, thanks for reassurances.

Can we wait to purchase tour to Pompeii/ Herculenium once we are there or should they be purchased in advance ? Is there a skip the lines option?

Blueeyedcod

I like the Lungomare because it's so peaceful and it's a short walk to the ferries for Capri and Sorrento.

In terms of getting you from the Lungomare to Pompeii, you will need to hop on Metro Line 1 at Municipio stop and take it two stops to Garibaldi, then change lines for the Circumvesuviana.

You can pre-book tickets for Pompeii but it is more trouble than it's worth as the pre-book line can get longer than the regular line. Just avoid going at peak times (between 10am-12.00) as this is when all the tour coaches roll in.

Keds1

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated

Sberg

We do not speak any Italian ( except for basic pleasantries) and had no issues with the language anywhere in Val D'Orcia. Even in the small hill towns people spoke English ( we are so spoiled). We did have a car and you need one to really explore the region. It is what you envision when you picture Tuscany. Look up some pictures and you will see what I mean. Driving was very easy but be careful you don't drive into restricted areas. They are clearly marked and we never had a problem with it.

We can't wait to go back to Italy and we will go to that area again. Hope you have a great trip.

juliewo

I suggest Umbria -- we used Spoleto as our base and had a car. We liked that it was a bit quieter than Tuscany. Driving to the hill towns was easy and it is a lovely part of Italy.

ekc

No problem with taking the ferries and train and not speaking English. No need to pre-book the ferry tickets - just buy them when you get to the ferry dock.

Keds1

Thanks so much for the information. I think we have decide on Umbria this trip- staying in Orvieto , it just looks perfect to me, with layers of history.
Now I would like to find a small group tour, or private guide, for a day visiting the region- farm, wine, truffles ?

annhig

What strikes me is that you have so short a time in Venice - really only one day. Have you been before? if not, IMO you are seriously short-changing one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world.

I would give it at least one more night, not least because you may be suffering from jet lag when you get there, so not feel like doing much on the one day you do have.

sandralist

For your days 12 and 13, consider leaving Capri on a ferry that takes you to the Amalfi coast and having a driver meet you there. There are many taxi/limo companies that offer tours of the towns. You could have the driver take you all the way to Naples or, to save money, drop you off at the Sorrento ferry dock or commuter train station so you travel onward to Naples by yourselves.

Keds1

Oh, sandralist, great suggestion. I didn't know about that. Thanks !!!

Sberg, I can only drive an automatic car, I'm embarrassed to say, and I can't find one in Orvieto or Bologna . ( Hertz says to call them so I will ) I found a company, Umbria on Tour that will set us up with a few private trips from Orvieto so that might have to do .

And yes, I'm sure our schedule would not make sense to many, but we love to hike, love the ocean, love geology, not big on shopping or packed crowds, and have suffered from church/ museum overload in the past. Just trying to hit a few of the major spots, see some Roman and Etruscan ruins, bike the Appian Way, Stay in a beautiful small town, visit a winery and farm, and enjoy beautiful vistas ( and food !!! ��)
Truffles are not gathered until June so we are missing out on that awesome sounding tour.

Very happy our first real view of Italy will be in a boat arriving in Venice !

Blueeyedcod

Nice idea about leaving Capri for the Amalfi Coast - just bear in mind the limited services. The ferries only go the towns with docks - Positano and Amalfi.
A driver can't meet you off the ferry at Positano as it is a pedestrian zone. The walk to where a driver could meet you would be difficult with a lot of luggage as it is uphill and involves some stairs (around 15-20). I would estimate it would take around 20-25 minutes to walk the distance to near Piazza Mulini (the closest spot a car could wait for you).
Amalfi, on the other hand, is easy for a car service to wait, however it is an expensive trip with fares at 35 euro.

Blueeyedcod

Another point - having a car service take you on a tour around the Amalfi Coast and drop you at Sorrento or Naples - you're looking at around 250-300 euro for this kind of day trip.