Need help in planning honeymoon (Italy and Austria)
Nov 20th, 2002, 08:47 AM
#1
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Need help in planning honeymoon (Italy and Austria)
We're taking on honeymoon in September 2003. We are leaving from Boston and will have 2 weeks. We have decided on Italy and maybe a side trip to Austria. However, since we are traveling on fiance's Marriott points, we will have to stay at Marriott hotels. The only two that are in Italy are in Milan and Rome.<BR>How far is it from either of these places to Florence and Venice? Would those be do-able day trips? Are Milan and Rome fine by themselves or are Florence and Venice not to be missed?<BR><BR>Also, we heard that we shouldn't really rent a car there. The trains are the way to go.<BR><BR>After Italy, would Austria be out of the question if it's only 2 weeks total?<BR><BR>Thanks!
Nov 20th, 2002, 09:27 AM
#2
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You could skip Milan which is NOT a tourist center, although I suppose you could inconveniently daytrip to the nice lake district. Austria only really makes sense if you can open-jaw airflights (highly recommended).<BR><BR>Instead the lecture on false economies you deserve, I'll play along:<BR>- 5 days in Rome with 2 daytrips.<BR>- 1 daytime Florence on way to Milan<BR>- 3 days Milan daytripping to 2 lakes<BR>- 1 daytime Venice on way to Vienna (depart Milan predawn, depart Venice on overnight train)<BR>- 4 days Vienna
Nov 20th, 2002, 09:43 AM
#3
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Well I will give you the lecture on false economies mentioned above. Are you paying for your own airfare and meals? If the whole trip is free to Milan and/or Rome then that's one thing, but if you are paying for air and meals, etc then you would be foolish to limit yourself to the two places where you can stay for free. I personally didn't really find Rome as magnificant as some do, but if I could stay free there I would certainly spend a big chunk of your time there and maybe do some day trips from there (Orvieto, etc.). But I would also go to other places even if it means paying your own hotel bill. There are plenty of inexpensive small hotels and B&B type places all over Italy, it doesn't have to be expensive. Most people, myself included would hate to go to Italy and not spend some time in Tuscany, Umbria and especially Venice. I would NOT do Venice as a day trip, staying there is wonderful. It's one of the most magical cities in the world (two recent threads about most wonderful places both have Venice as one of the major winners). The coastal areas, like Cinque Terra are also wonderful.
Nov 20th, 2002, 09:58 AM
#4
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You can probably do Venice in a day from Milan, and FLorence in a day from Rome. The problem with this plan is, once you visit these other places, you'll want to stay longer. Unless your budget doesn't allow, spring for a couple of nights in Venice. If you are an art lover, a day in FLorence will not be enough.
Nov 20th, 2002, 11:30 AM
#8
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Hi Pamela,<BR><BR> Since you get free airfare and hotel with your Marriott points I would suggest getting out a map and going to www.trenitalia.com.<BR><BR> You can visit the Naples area: Pompeii, Sorrento, Herculaneum, Capri.<BR>Naples is 2 hours from Rome on the ES*. Sorrento is about another hour.<BR><BR> Check www.railsavers.com to see if you should buy a railpass.
Nov 20th, 2002, 05:01 PM
#10
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Also to consider: how experienced are you at international travel? While living in Europe, I was asked to be the "guide" on my sister and brother-in-laws honeymoon. We got along famously and handled the obvious "private time" well, but they had planned a very extensive intinerary. They had never travelled and also were not adjusting well to being out of their comfort zone: new language, new currency, choices on how to spend $$. They say if they had it to do over again, they would do less "travel time" and the accompagnying stressors, aggravations, and just pick two locations and make the time there more special and intimate.
