We did the same exact itinerary as you have listed 10 years ago, with a 1 year old baby. It was perfect. If you like coastal cities, I would suggest adding another day to Amalfi coast. It is fabulous! We stayed in Sorrento, and took day trips to all the neighboring towns (Positano etc) by local buses. Definitely plan to go to Capri also while there, or even better, stay there.

We travelled by train from Rome to Florence to Sorrento. We did not stay/sightsee in Naples.

My two cents:

Obviously, opinions differ about the Amalfi Coast. I won't add mine.

Getting from Florence airport to Tuscany by car: You will be jet-lagged and tired (unless you're in 1st class and have taken an Ambien). I wouldn't say that totally rules out driving to one of the nearer destinations, like Montepulciano, which is +/- 90 minutes. Just realize there are jet-lag effects at play.

From Tuscany to the AC: Taking a train to Sorrento isn't a bad idea, but as long as you have a car, you might consider driving. It's not a bad drive to Sorrento; most of the windy roads are south of there. From there you could take a bus or hire a private driver to take you to your accommodations on the AC. Or just stay in Sorrento. Or you could detour to Pompeii before going to Sorrento.

>>you cannot believe how many jet-lagged American idiots mess up the traffic here, thinking they're "just fine" after a night on a plane.<<

How does one know that the miscreant driver just got off a plane? I've seen plenty of crazy alert American drivers screw up traffic.

vincenzo32951 - do you not like the Amalfi Coast? Do you recommend another coastal part of Italy? I want to get everyone's opinions!

As far as getting to Tuscany - Understood, do not drive. Could we hire a driver to get there and rent a car when we get there for the remainder of our time there? Approximately how much does a driver cost?

As far as visiting wineries in the different towns - Everyone seems to recommend having a rental car. However, does it make more sense to have a driver? Want to be careful when drinking.

"Could we hire a driver to get there and rent a car when we get there for the remainder of our time there? Approximately how much does a driver cost?"

You'd have to investigate the cost of a driver after you decide on where you're going to stay. It will be expensive. And you'd also have to hire a driver to take you to a car rental office, either Siena or Chiusi depending on where you're staying.

Personally, I'd drive after landing. I fly from the West Coast and might consider spending the first night closer to the airport. Castellina in Chianti or Certaldo would both be about an hour's drive and give you a chance to see another part of Tuscany. But you could also taxi to the Florence train station and bus to Siena, spend the night there and pick up a car the next day.

"Want to be careful when drinking."

You have to be more than careful. Italy's laws are tougher than the U.S. If you stayed in either Montalcino or Montepulciano, there are tasting rooms in the towns, but I'm sure you could also join a day tour of wineries.

Sorrento is even more overrated than the Amalfi Coast as a whole. Please stay away if you want an Italian vacation. Touristy it is, genuinely Italian, it most definitely is not.

Fly into Florence and stay there and in the Tuscany region for a week then head south to the Puglia region (the heel of Italy). Lecce is a pearl and Otranto is just gorgeous and you can take a day trip to Gallipoli. The whole area feels as if you were moved back in time. Great towns, great beaches, great food, friendly people and a truly Italian experience.

You can then fly home from Bari, which is about 170 km away from Lecce.

Just catch a train to a Tuscan city, sleep, pick up a car.

Most Americans (and I'd bet most Asians) have heard of about five places in Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. If you want non-touristy, 'authentic' Italy don't go to any of them. Absolutely don't go to them on a cruise.

But what's your definition of 'authentic'? Someplace where you hear more Italian spoken than English? Someplace where the majority of the locals work in something other than the tourist industry? There are plenty of great places in Italy that are 'non-touristy/authentic' and if that's what you want you should go to them. But places are 'touristy' for a reason, and the places I mentioned are full of scenic beauty, 'charming' looking buildings, history, etc. and that's why people flood to them. I certainly wish there were less 'clueless' tourists visiting them. Visiting them in the 'off season' helps.

But you have already been to Italy on a cruise and you liked it so I would think you probably will be OK with the touristy places. However, you only have 10 nights. Your original plan of 3 nights Tuscany (2 days), 4 AC (3 days) and 3 Rome is 'doable'. You might even enjoy it. I just did a trip with a first timer that was 3 Venice, 2 Florence and 3 Rome and she loved it. Although I suspect one of the reasons she loved it is that she didn't have to do any research, worry about any logistics, etc. cause I did all that. She had a private tour guide (me). Unless you have that things will take longer.

So my advise - do your planned trip but do a lot of research. Or better, cut one place. Pick either Tuscany/Rome or Amalfi region/Rome.

And listen to people here when they tell you not to drive after an overnight flight or after drinking, stay out of limited traffic zones, etc.

>>vincenzo32951 - do you not like the Amalfi Coast? Do you recommend another coastal part of Italy? I want to get everyone's opinions! <<

Since you asked: I like it. I think a lot depends on where you stay and what you plan to do. I don't go there for beach time -- which, for me, is a waste of time. The last time there three couples rented a house overlooking the sea and the mountain road going into Positano. We hired a driver to take us to Amalfi and Pompeii, and hired a small boat to take us to Capri for the day. Had a grand time.

SentimentalLady's recs about Lecce, etc., are just fine. Been there, and like it. But you have to decide what you want and what you want to see. You want 'authentic' coastal? For me, it's the town of Vieste, on the east coast, just north of Bari. To each his own.

Need some help in two decisions about our trip.

Staying 3 Nights in Tuscany- looking to enjoy wine, food, and explore the small towns! We have the option to stay close to Siena at Villa Curina or more southern at Poggio Piglia.

We are staying two nights in Florence. We are deciding between these two hotels. Plaza Hote Lucchesi (more expensive) or Grand Hotel Cavour Firenze. Any thoughts?

Thank you!!

In Tuscany, in depends on what you want to see and where you want to explore. Tuscany is 9000 square miles, so you can't see everything from one point.

The two spots are quite far apart. Villa Curina would keep you (barely) within an hour or so of Chianti, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Cortona, the northern shore of Lake Trasimeno, and the more popular destinations in the Val d'Orcia, but not Volterra, Montecatini Terme, Lucca, Pisa. Poggio Piglia is close to the Val d'Orcia, Lake Trasimeno, Orvieto and within an hour or so of a few other towns in Umbria, like Todi and Deruta. But you'd be a bit too far (IMO) to reach Chianti towns as well as San Gimignano, Volterra.

In Florence, it would be nice to have a room overlooking the Arno, but you have to think about how much more walking you'd face between the Lucchesi and the main sights. That could be an issue if you're only staying in Florence a night or two. The Cavour's location, although close to everything, might feel claustrophobic (to you) because of the narrow streets, parked scooters, close buildings, pedestrian crowds, etc. Look at the Google street views of each hotel.

Even after research, I'm having a hard time distinguishing the difference areas/towns in Tuscany. If you have any insight of the feel or what to different in each area, that would be great. All I know is that I want to drink lots of good wine, eat yummy food, and experience the countryside life in the small towns. Maybe I'm missing other experiences that would help point me in one direction or the other!

Well we love the Val d'Orcia area. We have spent two weeks over two separate New Years there.

You can see our (winter) pics here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57639164500734

We stay in Montepulciano and love it.

We love food, wine and great scenery.

I think you will just need to make a decision, there is no wrong answer here! Just pick an area and enjoy what it has to offer. You can visit again and try other areas...

Agree. There is no wrong answer here.

The Val d'Orcia is terrific (we've also stayed in Montepulciano a couple of times), but I also love the Val d'Elsa, Chianti and the towns around Lake Trasimeno. The latter two areas can be somewhat less crowded with tourists. But I also love Orvieto, Todi, Deruta and the beautiful scenery in between.

It's all personal preference.

I'm in the minority re Lucca and San Gimignano. Most swoon over both, but after multiple visits I'm still not charmed by either. We've given up on Siena as it's become just too big and crowded for our tastes, but I would never discourage a first-timer from visiting.

I'm not sure what your current plans are. If you're only staying 3 nights (2 days), I personally wouldn't stay in a remote location. I'd want to be IN a small town.

I'm probably in the minority, too, and have long since abandoned Tuscany (American Italy IMO) in favor of small, relatively unknown places in Umbria. But if you're not really fussy the Val d'Orcia is hqrd to beat.

We stayed 6 nights in Lucca a few years ago and enjoyed day trips to Pisa, Siena and Florence. Our pics are here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57637218522244

We prefer the smaller towns around Val d'Orcia

It sounds like you are set on Florence, somewhere smaller in Tuscany, and Rome--right?
There is a lot of coastline between there and the AC. Not all of it is spectacular, but some of it is. If you can save the Amalfi coast for a future trip (I would hate to rush it), the area around Lerici is pretty spectacular, and you'll already have a car...
The southern Tuscan coast sounds nice too, and that's where I am headed next.

Sorry for not giving an update. We are flying into Naples, doing Amalfi Coast for 5 nights (Ravello/Capri) and then taking a train to Florence, renting a car, and doing Tuscany Countryside for 3 nights, and Florence for 2 nights. Flying out of Florence. We dropped Rome completely.

Everyone asks what do we want to do. What is a reason why we would want to go to the chianti area versus Val d" Orcia, or vice Versa?