October Honeymoon
Feb 22nd, 2015, 07:13 AM
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October Honeymoon
Hello travel community,
I'm looking for some assistance in planning my honeymoon. Here is what we know:
We just bought our transatlantic flights.... we will be arriving in Paris at 6:30 AM on October 6 and returning home via Rome on October 21. We have never been to Paris (or anywhere in France), so we are thinking of starting our trip with four nights there. We have been to Italy before (the big three plus Bologna); however, we are looking to spend two nights in Rome at the end of the trip to see some things we missed the first time around and revisit some of our favorite restaurants.
That leave 9 nights between Paris and Rome that we are looking to fill, and I'm hoping to get the advise of the experts! Some of the ideas we have bounced around:
- After Paris, flight to Pisa. Set up home base in Lucca and for four nights and do day trips to CT and maybe Florence (like I said, we have been but love it). Then rent a car and slowly make our way to Rome stopping in Sienna, Cortono, maybe another hill town?
- After Paris, head South (Provence? Riviera?) before heading to Italy. With this plan, I'm not sure where to start us the Italy part of the trip.
Would love to hear some opinions. We are also open to other ideas.... other than Paris and Rome we are flexible. We don't like to travel too fast (been there, done that). And it is our honeymoon so we are looking for a relaxed, romantic itinerary.
Appreciate the help!
Tera
I'm looking for some assistance in planning my honeymoon. Here is what we know:
We just bought our transatlantic flights.... we will be arriving in Paris at 6:30 AM on October 6 and returning home via Rome on October 21. We have never been to Paris (or anywhere in France), so we are thinking of starting our trip with four nights there. We have been to Italy before (the big three plus Bologna); however, we are looking to spend two nights in Rome at the end of the trip to see some things we missed the first time around and revisit some of our favorite restaurants.
That leave 9 nights between Paris and Rome that we are looking to fill, and I'm hoping to get the advise of the experts! Some of the ideas we have bounced around:
- After Paris, flight to Pisa. Set up home base in Lucca and for four nights and do day trips to CT and maybe Florence (like I said, we have been but love it). Then rent a car and slowly make our way to Rome stopping in Sienna, Cortono, maybe another hill town?
- After Paris, head South (Provence? Riviera?) before heading to Italy. With this plan, I'm not sure where to start us the Italy part of the trip.
Would love to hear some opinions. We are also open to other ideas.... other than Paris and Rome we are flexible. We don't like to travel too fast (been there, done that). And it is our honeymoon so we are looking for a relaxed, romantic itinerary.
Appreciate the help!
Tera
Feb 22nd, 2015, 07:37 AM
#2
Hi, just a point they are Siena, Cortona. The exact spelling has a big affect on search engines etc.
I was unimpressed in Cortona, I walked up the very top. However they do have a good Egyptian museum (I'd visit Egypt though)
Given all of that I guess I'll now spell the rest of the cities incorrectly. I might look at other hill towns than Cortona, maybe Montepulciano or Pienza and either stay in town or an agriturismo, if you get a nice one you an get a pool and restaurant on site.
I was unimpressed in Cortona, I walked up the very top. However they do have a good Egyptian museum (I'd visit Egypt though)
Given all of that I guess I'll now spell the rest of the cities incorrectly. I might look at other hill towns than Cortona, maybe Montepulciano or Pienza and either stay in town or an agriturismo, if you get a nice one you an get a pool and restaurant on site.
Feb 22nd, 2015, 10:54 AM
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year,
This may give you some ideas
http://www.prolocomontalcino.com/en/...-of-the-thrush
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
This may give you some ideas
http://www.prolocomontalcino.com/en/...-of-the-thrush
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
Feb 22nd, 2015, 11:29 AM
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I personally would avoid flying, as the experience is soul-deadening and anti-romantic. I recommend train travel as more civilized.
From Paris, I suggest 2 days in Lyon, a couple of hours south. Lots of sights - a great walking city - Roman ruins, Vieux Lyon, but most of all FABULOUS restaurants. You need reservations, but it will be memorable I promise. I recommend Gourmet de Seze, but there are many.
Then continue south. Depending on your taste: Avignon, Arles... then train east with romantic Mediterranean views to Nice (very nice), Genoa, down to Lucca. Break it into 1 or 2 night stays, separated by 3 hour train rides. Lucca is lovely - great choice - though full of tourists.
Then you could pick up a car and do hill towns if you like, though myself I would stick with trains, and stay relaxed. You could actually decide when you are there, how to spend the last couple of days before Rome.
That's my 2 cents!
From Paris, I suggest 2 days in Lyon, a couple of hours south. Lots of sights - a great walking city - Roman ruins, Vieux Lyon, but most of all FABULOUS restaurants. You need reservations, but it will be memorable I promise. I recommend Gourmet de Seze, but there are many.
Then continue south. Depending on your taste: Avignon, Arles... then train east with romantic Mediterranean views to Nice (very nice), Genoa, down to Lucca. Break it into 1 or 2 night stays, separated by 3 hour train rides. Lucca is lovely - great choice - though full of tourists.
Then you could pick up a car and do hill towns if you like, though myself I would stick with trains, and stay relaxed. You could actually decide when you are there, how to spend the last couple of days before Rome.
That's my 2 cents!
Feb 22nd, 2015, 12:44 PM
#6
I liked your Paris - Pisa/Lucca idea, and wold suggest that from Lucca you head down the west coast of Italy, [you won't need to book that time of year] heading for Orbetello - which is about equidistant between Lucca and Rome. En route you could see Siena, San Gim, & Massa Maritima [a small city, despite what it sounds like] before you end up at the coast. Orbetello is city with a etruscan/roman/medieval background, and it set on a lagoon so it is surrounded by beautiful and pretty well deserted woods and beaches. Gorgeous. Lots of nice day trips [eg the hot springs at Saturnia] as well and great food.
Alternatively get the train there - it takes about 2 ½ hours from Pisa Centrale.
then on the way to Rome pop into Ostia Antica, return the car somewhere and train into the city.
Alternatively get the train there - it takes about 2 ½ hours from Pisa Centrale.
then on the way to Rome pop into Ostia Antica, return the car somewhere and train into the city.
Feb 22nd, 2015, 03:45 PM
#7
I would consider the CT a little too far from Lucca for a day trip. If you were going by train, there probably won't be a very early departure from Lucca, but you'd arrive in time for lunch. If you wanted to have dinner before returning, it would have to be on the early side. Driving gives you more flexibility, but I'm the type that doesn't like to drive long distances in the dark which at that time of year would be about 7:00p. Lucca to, say, Manarola, is a 90-minute drive.
Even Lucca-Florence by train is 90-100 minutes each way.
Even Lucca-Florence by train is 90-100 minutes each way.
Feb 22nd, 2015, 06:56 PM
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Nice, Monte Carlo, Milan, Florence?? All are between Paris and Rome. Be sure to plan for the time it will take to transfer between cities. We enjoyed Nice and Monte Carlo for a long weekend; spent 4 nights in Milan, 6 in Florence at different times and felt we still had things to do on our list!
