honeymooners2007

Hello!
My fiance and I are planning our Honeymoon to Italy (very exciting!). We are going for about 10 days towards the end of june (the wedding is June 16, so we'll probably leave NYC June 18 and fly back July 1).

We've decided we will def need some "rest and relaxation" after the wedding, so we opted for 3 nights in the Amalfi area, preferring to stay in Positano, but open to suggestions for other towns to stay in (I've read some of the posts and Sorrento seems a popular choice as well).

After a few days there, we are planning on spending the rest of our time in Rome and Florence.

Since this is our honeymoon, we want to stay in nice hotels - we're not completely constrained by a budget** but also wouldn't be able to stay in a $600 a night room every night. But we do want to splurge in one of the cities....what do you guys recommend?
What city should we splurge in?
Any recommendations for hotels in these cities?

**Our per night budget would be E180-250 with a few nights (2-3) in a more expensive range.

Thanks!

Dayle

Hi!

Are you flying into Rome or Naples? If Rome, my first suggestion would be to add a day to Positano, as just getting there from Rome will take a mimimum of 1/2 day by public trans. Two days won't be enough down time.

You might want to consider a private driver to pick you up at the Fuimicino. Expensive, but worth it!

Buon Viaggio!

TuckH

I'd suggest spending your "rest and relaxation" time on the Isle of Capri. It'd be ideal!

From there you can daytrip by boat over to Positano, etc.

honeymooners2007

Thanks for the advice so far...We are planning on flying into Naples - I will look into a private driver to get us to our first destination...I've heard that Capri is beautiful and quite the resort-style island, but if wanted to do a day trip to Pompeii or Sorrento, wouldn't it be better to be in Positano?

TuckH

Capri is very special - please do some research. And it's best enjoyed when staying overnight because the daytrippers are gone. Capri offers everything (IMO) that Positano does and more, much more. For that matter a daytrip to Positano might be redundant.

demmler67

hi! i just started posting my review (see below posts) and i've written my portion on hotels. I highly recommend the Westin excelsior florence. we were upgraded to a suite and it was amazingly beautiful. Their regular rooms are very nice as well. Gorgeous view of the Arno river or the Duomo and florence.

kialu

Hallo,

As others have said, Capri is a place you don't want to miss. I would also go, besides staying in Positano, to Florence and Rome.

For your hotels I suggest you look at www.italyvip.com.

Buon viaggio

gard

Hi

I can't really recommend a hotel. But if you want some tips on what to see and do in Rome you can check out my trip report with pictures and links on http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . I have also made an interactive Google map that shows the location of attractions and resturants that my wife and I visited. You can find the map on http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy_map.htm . Have a great honeymoon

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

steviegene

My husband and I went to this area for our honeymoon at almost the exact dates you are going...

We stayed in Rome for 3 nights, Capri for 2 nights and Positano for 5 nights, Naples 1 night on our way out of Italy. We had a fantastic trip, and I highly recommend the Amalfi Coast, and especially Capri, for a relaxing, romantic and fascinating destination.
We really enjoyed Capri (and staying overnight was a must - if you really want to experience the island's charm & glamour). And our 5 nights in Positano were ideal for touring the entire coast, amalfi, sorrento, ravello and pompeii.

If you decide to stay on Capri "La Minerva" was a beautiful place to stay, in upper Capri town. Off the main thoroughfare, but near some gorgeous walking lanes. It is between 150E-330E per night. I would go for the medium room with terrace - for 220E.
In Positano we stayed at The Albergo Miramare which was very nice. The best part about staying there was the free boat ride - included with your room. It was incredibly romantic.

However, I will say that with only 10 days, it feels like you are cramming a lot in for a honeymoon trip - including the Amalfi Coast, and Rome and Florence. Did you factor your travel days in that 10 days (for example 10 days plus 2-3 days factored in for travel) - or do you only have 10 days total - including travel? This is important, because travel time between destinations really eats into your days.

Others will disagree with me, but I think you should maybe save Florence for another time.

honeymooners2007

Thanks again guys for the continued recs; we really appreciate it.

In terms of the amount of places we visit, we are still in the early phases of planning. We have to finalize the trip very soon, but we are still at that point where we can drop off a city (like Florence) - although I really wouldn't want to, I have to be honest.

We would be arriving in Amalfi/Capri June 19-22. Travel to Rome on the 23th (which I believe requires car/bus to Naples and then train from Naples to Rome). Spend June 23-26 in Rome. Take a train on June 26th to Florence stay in Florence from June 26-30 or July 1. We are planning on flying back to NYC from Florence on either July 1 or June 30.

To those seasoned travellers out there, does this make sense, time-wise and travel-wise?

Does this make sense?

SusanP

To me, it doesn't make sense to spend more time in Florence than in Rome, not that Florence isn't great, but there is just so much to see in Rome. If you leave 6/18 and return 7/1, that actually gives you 12 nights in Italy. If you can take the 12 nights, do it...more is always better in Italy!

You want rest and relaxation to begin with, so spend 4 nights in Amalfi or Positano, 5 nights in Rome and 3 in Florence. Have a great trip!

honeymooners2007

Thanks Susan, you make a good point re: splitting up our days. I think we will plan to spend the 5 days in Rome

Can anyone recommend a good, moderately priced hotel in Rome? I know Residenzia Coronari is a favorite of many on this site, but is there somewhere else that is in a prime location that is in the middle-price range?

aliced

Am inclined to agree, that if flying into Naples, taking in Rome and then cities southern will be more than enough to try and cover. Amalfi Coast is SPECTACULAR. If you stay in Capri and Positano, you need not stay in Sorrento, but do get out to Ravello, Amalfi from Positano, and you can get easily to Pompei from Capri. Le Sirenuse is 'the spot' in Positano, but for a seaside room think it's about $800! Chez Black is a fun restaurant in Positano down on the beach. GREAT sandal shopping, cottons, to spend your money on too. In Rome get of course to Trevi Ftn, Villa Borghese, Via Condotti, Colloseum, Forum (but you can do all this in 2 days!) Congratulations!!

JohnFitz

Stay at The San Pietro Hotel in Positano. Spectacular setting and service.Worth the $ .

emmalee_71

Wow you have some great posts to read through. WE did stay at positano which was lovely and is less touristy than Sorrento. We didn't do Capri but part of me wishes we had so next time. I agree with staying over night in Capri as the tourists do leave and it's quieter as per Rick Steves.
WE used a great company called Benvenuto Limos for our trip from Rome to Amalfi Coast and you can find them at www.benvenutolimos.com

havepassport

Let me totatlly confuse the issue by saying that personally I would skip Rome and stay in Florence the remainder of the trip but....that's a personal preference. Sorrento and Positano are both lovely and well worth every minute of the time. We stayed in Sorrento and the evening stroll through the village after supper was wonderful. Pick a clear day to visit Ravello. The views are incredible. Don't miss Capri and do stay overnight!

Word of warning: Be careful at the train station in Naples on your return to Rome. It was the only place where
we had issues with potential pickpockets.

I remember you saying Pompeii was a possibility. It is very hot there, as it is exposed. You might consider a tour to make it more worth your time.

hausfrau

Hi honeymooners,
What a wonderful trip you are going to have! I agree with SusanP about your itinerary. Funny, I'm currently considering Residenzia Coronari for my mom and me on a trip to Rome in early June, but I can tell you that for a honeymoon, a 5th or 6th floor room at the Albergo del Senato with a view of the Pantheon is just about the most romantic place I can think of in Rome...(having just spent 5 nights there over Christmas!). They have the most wonderful staff too, a great breakfast, and I hear their rooftop patio/bar is fantastic in the summer! This might be a place to splurge on. To get the best rate I would send them a personal email, tell them your budget, and see what they offer.