MMM30

I am trying to finalize the itinerary for our honeymoon this October and I am really torn between two options. We have our flights booked to fly into Pisa and out of Rome...with 13 nights total.

Option 1:

Night 1 -Pisa (arriving late afternoon)
3 nights Cinque Terre
2 nights Florence
4 nights Tuscany (hopefully biking)
3 nights Rome

This itinerary has appeal in is seems more laid back and relaxing... The second option is to include the Amalfi Coast

Night 1 -Pisa (arriving late afternoon)
2 nights Cinque Terre
2 nights Florence
2 nights Tuscany
3 nights Amalfi coast
3 nights Rome.

I would love to visit the Amalfi coast but I don't know with travel times if we're just trying to fit too much in. I did actually debate the idea of not doing Rome on this trip but I feel like that might not be fair to my fiancee since he has never been to Italy before. Any advice/ opinions?

Thanks!!

Mimar

I prefer the less rushed option 1. If this wasn't a honeymoon, I'd say drop a day from the Cinque Terre. Are you flying a great distance? If so, an extra day for recovery from jet lag and wedding preparations is a good idea.

sssteve

I think it's a little bit too much to add Amalfi. I also think that 2 nights in CT is enough, regardless of which option you decide on.

Since you're on your honeymoon, I would think you will enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of Tuscany instead of rushing around and trying to do too much.

MMM30

Any specific recommendations for Tuscany? Or would you just rent a car and go with it?

Thanks!

ira

Hi M,

Early Oct is OK for the AC, but by late Oct the weather will work against you.

Also, either the CT or the AC, not both.

I also think that you have one night too many on the CT.

Are you sure you want to spend a night in Pisa? It's only about 2 hr to your hotel on the CT (wherever it is).

If you want to bike in Tuscany, keep in mind that it is very hilly country.

>I did actually debate the idea of not doing Rome on this trip but I feel like that might not be fair to my fiancee since he has never been to Italy before. <

Heck, I've been to Italy about 8-10 times and haven't been to Rome (except on the way to the airport).

I think that for early Oct, you would want to make reservations. In late Oct, you could probably wing it.

MMM30

I was torn about the night in Pisa as well. It's just that our flight doesn't arrive until 4:30pm. I thought it might be easier if we had any delays etc to plan for the night in Pisa rather than trying to get to Cinque Terre that night - we'll be coming off of two connections and a long lay over in London.

Our trip dates are Oct 5 - 19th. So far I haven't booked anything but some of the hotels I have inquired on are booked or have limited availability.

The big debate about Rome is that I really have a hesitation to end the trip with a big city.

Can you tell I'm indecisive!!!

sssteve

For MMM30,

My wife and I love Italy. We've been all over, and several times to Tuscany.

Our favorite part of Tuscany is the southern part, the heart of the "hill town" area. Our favorite town is Pienza, which is located between Montepulciano and Montalcino.

Now for the best part - we'll be there in the middle of October. We'll be spending a week in a rural apartment near Montepulciano with a couple of days at the end in Rome. The apartment is part of a rural site called Sant' Antonio. It's the first time we will be staying there, but it's gotten good reviews here on Fodors as well as on other sites. My recommendation is that you need a car in Tuscany, which you can drop off when you get to Rome, if you decide to go to Rome at the end.

Here's the URL of my own travel site which may provide you some help. It includes one or two trips to Tuscany as well as to other parts of Italy. Feel free to write me directly if you have any specific questions. My email address is on the site.

http://www.travel.stv77.com/

SandyB

MMM30...This is your honeymoon, and I think you would enjoy the trip at a much slower pace. You are taking on too much movement and changing hotels too often, in my opinion. Remember, every time you move to a new hotel, you lose precious touring time.

I would suggest going to the Cinque Terre upon arrival. You will be tired, but get there, settle in, have a nice dinner and go to bed early the first night. A second full day and second night in the Cinque Terre will be enough.

I fully agree with sssteve that you might want to consider renting an apartment in Tuscany for the following week, Sat. - Sat. and do day trips to Florence, Siena, San Gimingiano, etc. from one central location. You could mix your day trips with days of biking in the countryside. You could even go to Florence on 2 different days.

If you rent an apartment at Sant'Antonio, outside of Montepulciano where sssteve is staying, www.santantonio.it , I am sure the owner could help with bike rental arrangements. Check out his site. Although I have not stayed at Sant'Antonio, it is on my priority list of places I want stay at in Tuscany someday! Or an apartment in Siena would be centrally located for easy day trips, if you prefer to be in a city rather than the country.

As you leave the Cinque Terre and head toward Tuscany or Florence, you will pass directly past the charming, walled village of Lucca, worthy of a visit. Many visitors rent bikes in this town, as they have a beautiful tree-lined path around the inside of the wall.

After a week in the country, you will be ready to take on Rome, leaving 4 nights in Rome. Four nights allows you to see Rome at a more leisurely pace. I wouldn't consider going to the Amalfi Coast; save it for a special anniversary. We will be there for our 25th wedding anniversary the same time you are in Italy!

SandyB

We love to rent apartments because they offer so much more space for relaxing in down time. We rented an apartment in Rome from www.romepower.com. They rent several apartments on a daily basis, rather than just weekly rentals.

I put in your approximate dates that you will be in Rome, selecting superior quality, and R/057 Augustus looks beautiful. It is centrally located near the Spanish Steps, located on the 8th floor with a huge outdoor terrace overlooking the city, and is at a very reasonable rate of approximately 225 E per night. This is just one of many to chose from. If you have questions on location, etc., email me at [email protected], and I'll be glad to help you.

You will want to get rid of your car upon arrival in Rome. www.argusrentals.com has several locations in Rome for returning a car, and their rates are the best I could find. I would take a taxi to the airport to return home.

Have a grand wedding and honeymoon!



I looked at the site and put in your

Katerbug

topping

Jean

I would stay south and I would book sleeping accommodations ASAP!