Husband and i are planning a 2 week trip to italy in August, neither of us have ever been there...where should we go? i am thinking Tuscany, Florence, Sorrento, Capri, Venice....is that too many places? we dont want to be lugging our suitcases every day to a new place, but maybe stay 3 days ina place in maybe 4 different placeS? Any ideas out there?. I heard Capri was romantic? where should we start? where to end up!!!<BR><BR>thanks!!!!!

here is an itinerary we just completed...i know alot of people will say this is too much but if you want a whirlwind tour i think this is it.. since you have never been there before, it's difficult to focus on particular locations though you can tweak it to limit travel to certain regions...<BR><BR>day 1,2 venice<BR>day 3 train to florence<BR>day 4, 5, 6, 7 pick up car and drive to chianti, siena, orvieto (side trips incl san gimiagno (sp?), montalcino, pienza, monteriggioni, todi)<BR>day 8, 9 rome (leave car in garage!)<BR>day 10, 11 drive to sorrento, positano, amalfi, ravello; (dropoff car at sorrento)<BR>day 12, 13 depart from sorrento to capri (hydrofoil)<BR>day 14 capri to naples (hydrofoil); pompeii<BR>day 15 <BR><BR>if you do italy from north to south, it's easy to alternate from city to small towns to city etc...i think this way it offers a good glimpse on italian way of life..<BR><BR><BR>

I only wish I could talk you out of going in August. Italy is such a wonderful place. You will not have a real sense of it. Capri is over-rated. Sorrento is much better.<BR>In August it will be....Too hot, too crowded, and way too $$$.<BR>I do hope you have a good trip.<BR>

How about this:<BR><BR>We think we'll fly into Venice and go from Venice, to Cinque Terre, to Florence, to Tuscany, to Rome. <BR><BR>This is my question. i could go home after Rome, or we can go to Naples by trian then switch to a boat to Positano....<BR><BR>we only have 12-15 days or so....is it worth it to make the extra trip down to the Amalfi Coast, or should we go home after Rome? Neither of us have ever been, but I have heard great things about Capri.....<BR><BR>Is positano the 'nicest' place to stay in the Amalfi Coast?<BR><BR>Thanks again!

Janie, it doesn't matter were you go, no one will be home or open in August in Italia. Country wide holiday with everyone at the shore or out of the country. Lots of luck in the 90 degree heat. Bad time to go...

I honeymooned last August in Italy, and everything was open (except in the tiny suburb of Florence, Fiesole). It was hot, but that is why you should take advantage of swimming in the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast!

Janie, Yours is the classic dilemma. Too much to see in too little time. Decide if it is 12 or 15 days before you set the itinerary. If 12, limit yourself to 4 destinations, and then decide if you want a north or south orientation. If north, then do Venice, cinque terre, Florence/Tuscany, and Rome. If south, do the Amalfi coast first, then Tuscany/Florence, and end in Rome. The airfare may decide for you. Good luck--hope this helps.

i am in betwen jobs, so August is the only time we can go....Unless, should we go in July? also, this nationwide holiday -where can I get more info on what will be closed? we were thinking 2nd/3rd week of August....???????

Italian Mike had it right...August is not the best time to go to Italy. We spoke with a number of people who live there when we were there last week and basically the entire country goes on holiday (mainly to the beach to avoid the heat). I am sure that you will be OK in the major tourist areas but a lot of restaurants and hotels will be closed during that time. When we were there last week, it was already very toasty. I don't think that I would enjoy walking around in Rome in August (it only took about 1 hour of walking around in the hot May/June sun before you felt like you needed to take another shower!) I can't imagine the heat in August. Hope this helps!