efwinslow

Hello! My fiance and I are trying to plan a honeymoon trip starting in Southern France and ending in Italy. It will be in November, for 10 or so days. I have NO idea where to even start (literally!) we are thinking of starting in Nice and ending in Venice, but aren't sure, so any advice there would be great!

Our biggest need is for suggestions regarding itinerary. We'd also love suggestions for must-see places, and even places to stay, as well as general advice on European traveling as I have done none, and my fiance only a little.

To inform those suggestions, we both love being outdoors and love history and culture. (Museums, parks, etc. are high on our lists!) We want the trip to be relatively relaxed, so probably not a different place EVERY day. We like small towns better than busy/towering cities and our budget isn't SUPER huge.

sandralist

If you want to see Nice and Venice as part of your honeymoon you should go, but be aware that November is one of the worst weather months for the Mediterranean coast for the risk of torrential rain, and one of the worst for Venice for tidal flooding. Most of the time in Venice tourists find it manageable if they plan for it, and of course there is lots to do indoors in Venice (and Nice too) if it rains.

November is Italy's rainiest month, so it is hard to suggest anywhere in Italy where you elimiante the risk of rain. However, if you are not personally determined to go to Venice, and if small towns are what really appeals to you, you might think about flying from Nice to Rome and renting a car and heading off to the Tuscan countryside. Or if you feel like you could skip Nice, fly to Venice and then take a train Floreence to rent a car and head out to the countryside for exploring.

People could probably help you more if you posted what your budget is, whether you need to fly to Nice to save money, and how much it means to you to include both France and Italy in your honeymoon. You should definitely take the kind of honeymoon that would most delight you and your future spouse, and there are usually ways to figure out how to get it, even on a budget. But outdoor activity in November is a matter of luck for the places you name, so might want to think about what you will want to be doing if you get a few days of heavy rain.

Brenkjtravel

I agree with sandralist, November is not a very good month to visit Venice unfortunately. It is beautiful but then again so is the Tuscan countryside, that would be my vote as well.
Even southern France will be quite chilly in November. An economical, but still amazing and romantic itinerary could include flying into Florence or Pisa seeing Florence and the surrounding areas then taking the high speed to Rome where the weather should be nice that time of year.
Or you could go even further south in Italy for better weather.
If you are really set on Venice maybe you could fly into Venice and just spend a day or two, then get a car and drive to Tuscany. That way if the weather is bad you will not be spending the majority of your time there but will still get a taste of Venice.

michael_cain_77398

My only previous trip to Venice was during a wet, cold, and dark December. That tidal thing happened, and you had to cross the plazas on planks - and your shoes still got wet. And it kind of smelled of old fish and dirty water.

But:

One afternoon the sun came out, and I went to St. Mark's Square for a coffee. I was the only one in the square. There were only four of us the day we went inside the cathedral. The side streets were all quiet. And on the vaporetto we were often the only tourists.

It wasn't "honeymoon Venice" in the least. It was something far more sad and beautiful. I'm glad I went.

If you're going to be wet, you might as well be wet in Venice.

Blueeyedcod

I think November is a great time to go. Sure it may be cold and rainy but the upside - you'll have next to no crowds and experience Venice in a completely different way (see above - the sad/beautiful is a perfect description).