Planing a second honeymoon to France and Italy. Have been already in Rome and Florence but won't mind stopping in Rome again. What's the best itinerary? Other options could be Spain - France? Should I look into a cruise?

Are you driving? When are you going (what time of year)?

I would definitely include Venice but would limit the itinerary to one country since you only have 10 days.

Sorry - but we need to know a lot more to give sensible recos.

What time of year are you going?

What are your ages and interests? Seeing major sights, fine dining, hiking/outdoor pursuits, history, architecture? Beaches, cities or countryside?

What type of budget do you have?

Cruising gives you minimal time at task versus total time spent - with a big focus on relaxing and dining (not sure how fine). And is usually more expensive than land travel.

You need to make some basic decisions and provide info for us to help.

(We have a family joke that we will go for cruising once we hit our 80s and having others deal with "stuff" is very important.

Given the limited info you've provided, and addressing the Italy part:

If you're set on those two countries, and you've been to Rome and Florence, it seems to make logistical sense to concentrate on northern Italy. The possibilities are Venice, the lakes region, the prosecco wine area and maybe Vicenza, and Bologna or Milan. (Some people don't like Milan; I love it.)

You can train travel to cover most of those areas, although trip through prosecco country generally requires a car. I can give you one recommendation there, especially nice for a 2nd honeymoon: Alice Relais winery, near Vittorio Veneto. Great place.

Some of this relies on time of year. For instance, I wouldn't go to Venice in the summer, and I'd stay away from the lakes in cool weather.

A cruise? Beats the hell out of me. Do you like cruises?

as nyt stays, what do you want to do in such a short time, when etc?

You have left out more relevant info than you have provided. As written, your post is unanswerable.

Are Rome and Florence your only interest in Italy? No interest in Venice, Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Dolmites, Umbria, Toscana, Ligurian Coast, Emilia Romagna, etc?

great about the 2nd honeymoon but I agree that 2 countries might be too much.

Have you ever been to Paris? you could easily spend 10 days there, or fly in there, tour of Normandy and/or the Loire and finish with a few days there before flying home.

alternatively, taking up adrienne's idea and running with it, you could fly into Venice then drive to Lake Garda, spend a few days by the lake, then return to Venice via Verona. or just stay in Venice and as well as enjoying being there, use it as a base for day trips.

Just go to Paris and environs/France. Not enough time for two places.

With 10 days I would just stay in France. Go to Paris and then choose another nearby region in the countryside.

You can easily combine southeastern France - the Côte d'Azur - and northern Italy where you find historical beauty and scenery, especially at the three big lakes - Lago Maggiore, Lago di Como or Lago di Garda.

It depends on what you want to do.

Do you want to spend a couple of days at a beautiful place? Or do you want to go sightseeing? Moving by car or by train? There are hundreds of options.

However, Rome is a bit out of the way if you want to include a taste of France.

Venice is spectacular and can be combined with Northern Italy and the Alps but no with France within ten days.

The combination Languedoc/Catalunya would also work as well as southwest France and the Basque Country.

A cruise is a completely different story. Maybe for a second honeymoon you would prefer having your dinners under the stars on cobblestoned plazas of medieval towns rather than in a cruise ship's MDR.

New to Fodors and Forums so I am sorry I left out a lot of information.

Going mid September/2015. Flying from Chicago. Our ages are low 40's. We would like to see major sites, also relax a bit. Would like time to jog in the morning, have a coffee and then hit the town! We are early people (although are timing might be off there). Husband loves Red Wine!
Traveling on a budget of $7000 USD- not sure this is enough. Based on the comments a Cruise is out! so is either France & Italy or Spain & France.

Looking for suggested itineraries, places to see and restaurants to taste local food/wine. Any advise on transportation, getting to/from places., Museum Passes, Train passes? Would prefer not to have to move a lot around at least 2-3 nights at a place. Won't mind renting car is that's the best option. Speak Spanish and English only.

I guess we could give you an itinerary and stuff but how about doing some leg work first and either buy some guide books and say WHAT you want to do here or there. What CITIES or areas excite you--choose 2 for that time.
Should be an adequate budget for 10 days--not over the top.

Where to visit is a very personal decision that should be based on your own research.

However, since you asked...your budget is adequate, and I also recommend limiting to two cities (especially if you like to run in the mornings rather than pack up, check out and travel)...with a day-trip, perhaps, out of each one.

Venice and Paris are doable I think...taking a sleeper train or flight between the two cities to avoid wasting a touring day. See:

http://www.seat61.com/international-...tm#Paris-Italy

Perhaps 6 days in Paris and 4 in Venice.

This is a very rough (not-detailed) recommendation -- based mostly on my love of those two cities -- that I offer merely as a starting point for your own research.

SS

Look into flying open jaw Paris/Venice. Overnight trains get poor reviews. Plus you arrive at about 5AM. Paris to Venice fly Easyjet. Versailles is I imagine the most popular day trip from Paris. Padova and Verona are good ones from Venice.

Once you have a concrete plan, you'll get lots of answers to specific questions.

OK Will do more leg work and narrow down! Thank you all for all the great advice!

I would agree with 2 locations but disagree with 2 cities. Why do so many people only think in terms of cities? Cities are in fact NOT the best places to get a feel for a country.

Why not combine one city such as Paris and it's attractions with a smaller town/village where you will have a different kind of experience.

Do your research as suggested but do it based on your interests, not 'the top 10 sights to see in X' etc. For example if you are into hiking, bicycling, canoeing, cooking, art, architecture or some other interest, where would a good little place to indulge that be? For example: http://www.canoe-france.com/en/

Or you can do the usual tourist things and just 'sightsee' the usual suspects, learning less about a country and its culture as most do.