jd2jc

It will be our first trip to Italy, in May of 2005, for our anniversary.

05/22 Arrive in Venice (3 nights)
05/25 Train/bus/ferry to Bellagio (2 nights) Hotel Florence
05/27 Train to Florence (2 nights)
Rent car to Tuscany countryside ( 4 nights)

06/02 Train to Sorrento / Positano (3 nights)
06/05 Train to Rome (3 nights)

Please provide feedback on this proposed itinerary. I researched through this forum and found a similar trip reported by nbs_mjs on her honeymoon. This will be our first trip to Italy for our anniversary.

A few more questions:

On the train from Milan to Florence, is it worth a stop in Bologna ? Can we check our luggages in a locker at the Bologna train station ?

Regarding the 6 nights for Florence/Tuscany,
Option #1: spend the first 2 nights in Florence.
After that, rent a car in Florence and drive through Tuscany.
On last day, drop off car in Orvieto for train to Rome.
Option #2: Drive around Tuscany first and spend the last 2 nights in Florence.

For the Tuscan countryside, stay at one location (if so, where) or move around ?

Haven't decided between dodging in Sorrento or Positano.

thanks everyone!

iamq

I am also beginning to plan our first trip to Italy. The possibilities are mind-boggling!

ira sent me a link to Bologna's station as I asked the same question few days ago:
http://www.bolognacentrale.it/pagine..._2&lang=en
-Bill

ira

Hi jd,

>Rent car to Tuscany countryside ( 4 nights)

06/02 Train to Sorrento ...<

Why not drive to Sorrento, drop the car there and then go on to Positano, or wherever?

We very much liked our week at the Le Sirene Hotel in Praiano. See www.lesirene.com

jd2jc

iamq, thanks for the link.

ira, driving to Sorrento is an option. We'll look into it in terms of how scenic is it between Orvieto and Naples, how long / easy is the drive ...

jd2jc

After reading all the posts on suggestions on itinerary, it seems like ours is kind of hectic. I'm thinking about cutting out Bellagio and adding the nights to Sorrento and Rome

How much would we be missing if we skip Bellagio ? This trip will be during the end of May.

Here's our plan, let me know what you think =)
Venice (3)
Florence (3)
near Siena (3)
Sorrento (4)
Rome (4)

kybourbon

Maybe you could rent the car as you leave Venice and stop in Bologna for a few hours on your way to Tuscany/Siena then go to Florence. Train from Florence to Naples/Sorrento. You've mentioned several cities - where exactly do you intend to stay? Positano or Sorrento? Siena or Orvieto? If you are staying in Positano it might be easier to train to Salerno.

hampton32

I think your trip is too hectic. Venice is incredibly romantic and a must-see, in my opinion. Florence is also a must, along with the Tuscan countryside. (You probably only need about 2 nights in the country.) I would then pick only one other destination. Have you considered Capri? Also very romantic. If not Capri, then I would choose Rome. I think you should relax and enjoy this amazing country (my all time favorite travel destination) for what it is -- take in all the sights, the smells, the Tuscan sunlight that has inspired artists since the beginning of time, the delicious food, etc. Save the other cities for your next trip. That's what I suggest. Have a wonderful time!

bobthenavigator

I like it ! A bit rushed but doable.
I would not drop Bellagio but I would stay in Varenna since that is where the train goes and will save time when you leave. Also, keep your car and drop it in Sorrento--the drive is about 5 hours from south Tuscany, but beats a train. I would stay south of Siena--perhaps at San Quirico--look at Palazzo del Capitano. Great trip !

jd2jc

For Bellagio, I currently have reservation at Hotel Florence. I'll look into Varenna. Any suggestion ?

For Tuscany, I have reservation at Villa Belvedere north of Siena. Bob, I will look into your suggestions of lodging and returning the rental in Sorrento.

For Sorrento, trying to reserve the Lorelei et Londres. A day trip to Capri is in our plan.

kybourbon: If we do skip Bellagio, renting a car in Venice, stopping in Bologna, and continuing to Tuscany for a few nights before ending in Florence is a good idea. Both my wife & I love food, especially Italian!

I guess if we skip some towns, then there would be more incentive to return to Italy. But this return trip might be a few years, if a baby comes along ...

Thanks everyone!

bobthenavigator

The Du Lac in Varenna is hard to beat. It is all close---the difference is a :15 boat ride to Bellagio. But, why be tied to a boat schedule to meet a train schedule--and the train station is a :10 walk uphill in Varenna. Does that make sense?

ucsun

i agree about the hectic schedule...too many cities. with all the movinge and packing/unpacking it will feel exhausting. last may i had 12 days and did 3 cities and regretted doing too many cities. and i thought 5 days in rome was too few. you have 17 days, so 3 cities should be doable. the big 3, venice florence rome. with a day trip or two should be plenty.

with the pace you have it, the whole trip will be like a whirlwind tour...try to slow it down and enjoy it. maybe rent an apartment and really enjoy the privacy. don't worry, it's your first trip to italy not your last.

jd2jc

Thanks for the explanation, bobthenavigator,
and feedback from you all. A couple more question to help finalize the itinerary.

If we were to drop the 2 nights to Bellagio, which city/town would add the extra couple of nights to ?

Regarding our 6 nights in Tuscany, we now have reservations for 3 nights in Florence and 3 nights in Siena. Or shall we just spend the entire 6 nights out of one accommodation ?

thanks much!

mnatella

You should stay at least one night in Siena.

You should also rent a car and drive around in Tuscany.

Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast? Stay in Sorrento at the Bellveue Syrene. It is right on a cliff overlooking the sea. It is a great location. You can do day trips to Positano, Ravello, Capri, Pompeii and so much more.

mamc

I would drop Bellagio and add a day each to Rome and Florence/Tuscany. I think you can easily do the number of stops you have but suggest no less than 3 nights in each place - moving from place to place really eats into your time.

jd2jc

mnatella, we plan on renting a car while in Tuscany. Thanks for recommendign Bellveue Syrene in Sorrento, but it's outside our budget. Still trying to contact Hotel Lorelei et Londres for reservation.

mamc, Tuscany and Rome sounds good.

We're excited about our first trip to Italy based on your suggestions for our itinerary. How about this ?

Venice (3) Al Campaniel
Florence (3) BB Peterson
Siena (4) BW Palazzo dei Priori
Sorrento (3) Lorelei et Londres ?
Rome (4) Nicolas Inn