cols116

Hi!

I am planning a 15 day (13 day really- fly out of pittsburgh friday and arrive saturday and return the second saturday). So far from my research I am most interested in Venice, Tuscany, and Amalfi Coast. I know Amalfi Coast is sort of out of the way from Venice and Tuscany area and am wondering if its doable/worth it. Ive seen many posts on Cinque Terre but honestly i just cant get over the Amalfi reviews and pictures and possible day trips (Capri!Pompeii!) I am honestly most interested in Tuscany and Amalfi and would only like to spend a few days in Venice as I know it is rather pricey. Below are what Im looking for:

Budget: $12,000 total for 2
Travel time: Early September 2016
Flying: Thinking of flying into Venice and out of Naples (suggestions??)
Vibe: Venice- sightseeing and gondola rides (any other suggestions??)
Tuscany- Relaxed country close to surrounding medieval towns. Plan on having a car for this portion. Good wineries nearby. Im thinking maybe Chianti B&B or private villa? I would like to relax, drink wine, horseback ride, visit medieval towns
Amalfi Coast- beach, cocktails, day trips to nearby attractions and towns

My questions are:
Is it possible? Would you even recommend?
Is there possibly a beautiful beach to visit in northern italy other than cinque terre (cinque terre just doesnt sound like what we are looking for- sounds like a big hiking town with no sandy beaches or one review said "no one knows how to make a cocktail") it just seems everyone likes Amalfi better than Cinque. Obviously, i understand better sandy beaches can be found in the caribbean but we can go there any time. We are looking for beach to swim at, with good food, and a good time!
If my line up would work- any suggestions on travel between? Places to stay at? Any regions in tuscany youl recommend?

Thanks for any help! I wish I had longer so I could see more

travelhorizons

Congratulations on your upcoming honeymoon! Some thoughts

1. Looking at the map will show you that this itinerary is geographically challenged. While it's do-able, getting to the Amalfi Coast from Tuscany (Florence) requires at least two trains and then a driver.

2. Italy isn't known for beautiful, sandy beaches. And September is past the beach season anyway.

If your priorities are Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, I would focus your trip on those.

Perhaps fly into Naples. See Pompeii/Herculaneum on the way down to the Sorrento peninsula.

Stay in Positano or Amalfi. Take a ferry one day over to Capri.

Then car to the Naples train station and take the train to Florence. You could stay outside the city in a hotel that has a shuttle service, perhaps something like Il Salviatino (http://tinyurl.com/owjgz7t). A couple of days in Florence to see the museums, then rent your car and take it down to Chianti and further in Tuscany.

Fly back from Florence or Rome.

ekc

Yes, it is possible. Longer would be better, but just work with the time you have.

It is great to start in Venice, as it is a good city for recovering from jetlag since you have to walk to boat everywhere and there are no cars/buses/scooters to worry about. So flying into Venice and out of Naples is a good idea.

I rent an apartment in Positano each June, so I obviously would suggest you stay in Positano. But many other people love Amalfi (but Pos has better beaches IMO). You can see Pompeii on your way to Positano - train from Florence to Naples, local train from Naples to Pompeii, store your luggage at the entrance to Pompeii, then pre-arrange for a driver to pick you and your luggage up at Pompeii and take you to your destination on the Amalfi Coast.

There are several good beaches in/near Positano. Capri is a good day trip. You can also take the ferry between Positano and Amalfi/Ravello and Salerno.

You should get a good guidebook on Tuscany to narrow down that portion of your plan.

Here is a rough outline of what your trip could look like:

Day 1: arrive Venice, get settled, wander around, take a boat ride.
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Venice
Day 4: train to Florence, pick up car, drive to Tuscany destination
Day 5: Tuscany
Day 6: Tuscany
Day 7: Tuscany
Day 8: Tuscany
Day 9: drive to Florence, drop car, train to Naples, tour Pompeii, get to AC destination (let's just pick Positano for now)
Day 10: Positano beach day
Day 11: Capri day trip
Day 12: Amalfi/Ravello day trip
Day 13: Positano beach day
Day 14: fly home

September is a great time to travel Italy - fewer crowds and still nice weather!

ekc

Generally, September is still definitely beach weather (barring the occasional thunderstorm).

There are direct trains from Florence to Naples - no need to change.

sandralist

Were it me in September, and if I wanted to go horseback riding, I would take a look at the Maremma area of Tuscany. If the Amafli is what you want, then the Maremma area of Tuscany is not a substitute. But if what you want from Tuscany is relaxed country close to surrounding medieval town, good wineries nearby, would like to relax, drink wine, horseback ride, visit medieval towns, for beach to swim at, with good food, and a good time.... then the Maremma, which is so much off the tourist track, has all that.

http://maremma-tuscany.com/do/horseback-riding-tours/

http://www.maremmaguide.com/things-t...n-maremma.html

http://www.casinadirosa.it/southern-...beach-maremma/

http://www.maremmaguide.com/tuscany-beaches.html

But like I said, if you want the Amalfi, the Maremma is not that.

Blueeyedcod

Yep - still fantastic beach weather. I've been swimming in Positano right to the end of October.
You can horse ride to Mt. Vesuvius if that sounds fun for you and it would work in with your plans. If you're on Facebook, take a look:

https://www.facebook.com/Horse-Ridin...0821/timeline/

They *can* make a cocktail on the Amalfi Coast. In Positano, - the Il Puppetto beach bar on Fornillo makes some legendary ones (the Garibaldi kicks like a mule).

nytraveler

It's doable in the time you have but somewhat rushed.

While the Amalfi Coast is lovely you must understand that most of the "beaches" are either pebbles or rocks - not the broad white sand and pounding surf one expects (well I expect, being used to the north atlantic). Many beaches in europe are the same so if a gorgeous beach is important you need to pick a place based on that. Some places in AC do have these beaches but may often be sand that is brought in by an exclusive (and expensive) resort. Think it's still OK for hotel pools and beach in Sept - we used out hotel pools in 2nd half of May - but never went near a beach because of the above.

There are other places in Italy with better beaches - can't specify except I know Sicily has some - since we are not beach people.

cols116

Thanks for the input everyone! This will be my first time traveling to Europe let alone Italy so its hard to resist not wanting to see it all!

Thanks to all your advice, I think me and my fiance decided on two spot max with day trips to other places. It is our honeymoon and we want to be able to soak it in and enjoy.

Now I have to pick just two! Now my question to you is would you recommend (bearing the time of year in mind being early September)

1. Half tuscany/ half amalfi (we would get to experience two totally different cultures in italy but it is a trek to get to amalfi)
2. Half tuscany countryside/ half a beach in or near tuscany
3. Half Amalfi/ Half something central or south italy.. sicily??? Any wine countries down there? We could do Rome- but i dont think itll have the relaxing atmosphere we are looking for...
4. Something i havent thought of! Honestly we just want culture, food, relaxation. Ive heard briefly of some things off the beaten path such as sardinia or the area of the heel of the boot of italy..cant remember the name.


Also- pebble beaches are fine! Just as long as we can take a dip

Thanks again everyone! I guess since we cant do it all in one trip well just have to come back

cols116

Also I wanted to say thank you for the maremma suggestion! Looks really beautiful and it's not a place I've heard of before... Is September still typically warm enough for the beach in Tuscany coast??

Again thank you all! Great suggestions and now I have a lot more to look at to help with my decisions!!

kja

"3. Half Amalfi/ Half something central or south italy.. sicily???"

Maybe not. Sicily easily merits a minimum of 2 weeks just for itself, and 3 weeks would, IMO, be better.

There's much more to see and do in / around the Amalfi Coast.

If you haven't already done so, I strongly recommend the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet guide books for these areas -- you might learn about all sorts of things to see, do, and experience that aren't covered here or in other guidebooks.

Happy honeymoon!

ekc

I think half Tuscany and half AC would be a good mix for you. If you stay in 1 place on the AC, you could look at renting an apartment, which will give you more space and save you $$.

sandralist

>> Is September still typically warm enough for the beach in Tuscany coast??<<

There is usually a noticeable difference between the first half of September and the second half, and while the second half also has warm weather and warm water, you increasingly run the risk of rainy days. You can also get rain anywhere, anytime, along the western coast of Italy (heat thunderstorms in summer, for instance), but if the sun is shining, it is good beach weather.

Today, on the Tuscan coast, there will be a thunderstorm (including possibility of overnight hail!), while for the rest of the week, it will be absolutely dry and sunny and the temps will be in the 80s and low 90s. Last week, It rained and hailed in Napoli -- and now the temps are back up again. Later this week, Positano is scheduled to be scorching hot, but next week, forecasts are predicting milder temps with light occasional rain for some days -- and even that is uncertain.

Your chances of getting totally rained for several days in a row before Sept 25 anywhere on the coast are pretty slim, although it that were to happen, it would be more likely on the Tuscan coast than the Amalfi coast. Most of the time, summer lingers all along the coast, but one always faces the risk of too hot or rain showers. Unpredictable.

Henry

cols,
This may give you some ideas for Tuscany http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm