30th Anniversary trip to Italy
 

I just booked my frequent flyer flight for my husband and myself to Venice for our 30th wedding anniversary on May 13, 2008. Before I book the return from Rome, I thought I’d get input on our itinerary and hotel choices.

3 nights in Venice - Locanda Orseolo train to Florence
2 nights in Florence – Residenze Il Villino train to Cinque Terre
3 nights in Cinque Terre – Monterosso? – rent a car in La Spezia, drive to Pisa to see the Tower, overnight in San Gimignano at Bel Soggiorno
2 nights in Pienza – Le Traverse drive to Orvieto, train to Rome
4 nights in Rome – Hotel Santa Maria

I know we are changing hotels a lot, but that’s not something I mind. I could cut CT, but I love the ocean and it seems like a nice change of pace. Would it be better to go from Venice to CT and then Florence?

Thanks!

Barbara

I think you are moving around too much to really experince any of these places. JMHO.

Add 2 days to Florence and eliminate the CT. With a 3 our train ride from Venice to Florence, you will end up with only 1.5 days there a real shame.

I would also elimiate Pisa and choose one Tuscan small town instead of moving twice there as well. Lots of moving around that is not necessary.

I did not like the CT and did enjoy La Spezia.

I agree with you that the CT will be a nice respite vista-wise. I would leave it in the position you've placed it, just about in the middle. I'm not sure I understand the rent a car to the Bel Soggiorno sentence. Is that a day between three good nights in CT and Pienza? If so, I'd surely try to eliminate that one-nighter and add that night to Firenze or to Pienza, whichever appeals to you more. It sounds like a wonderful anniversary trip, and May's a lovely time. If, and here's the if, IF you truly do not moving around quite a bit. J.

Hi Barbara,
What a wonderful trip you have planned. I really like your itinerary.
It is best to go in the order of Venice-Florence-CT-Tuscany(Pienza) because of the way the trains run (no change of trains Venice-Florence which is helpful when you have luggage.)
That way when you leave Florence by train you don't have to come back through Florence proper, you just pick up the car as you said in La Spezia and head into the countryside.
Monterosso is a good choice because it is the largest of the CT towns.
Best regards,
Ellen Craig

Barbara - We did almost the exact itinerary last year but in reverse (and we added Torino and Milan).

Do not cut out the Cinque Terre. It is amazingly beautiful! We stayed in Monterosso at La Poesia in the Giglio Rosso suite which was very nice. If you like seafood, you will LOVE Ciak..it was by far our favorite meal in Italy.

Hi B,

I suggest no more than 2 nights on the CT. Add the night to San G and visit Siena.

Also, get to Orvieto early and see the town before taking the train to Rome.

One of the best restaurants in the region is in O.
I Sette Consoli
Pzza Sant’Angelo 1A
phone/fax 011 39 0763 343911

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

((I))

Hey Barbara!

I'm SO excited for you! I see you've been doing your homework. Knowing you, the trip sounds just perfect. Since you really want to go to the Cinque Terre you should. If you feel you could give it up, add a day to Venice, Pienza (or SG), and Rome!

I think we need to review this over lunch dinner at an Italian restaurant, ciao

I think you have too much packing and unpacking. You've chosen a nice trip, but you really will be moving fast.
i agree with only 2 at CT.
If, however, you skip CT you have built a nice itinerary.Simply add those days to the places that appeal to you most.

By the way,how did you secure such good milage tickets?
You must not be using Delta. I'm have the toughest time this year getting my tickets for next May.
have fun planning!

I would add that 3rd Cinque Terre night to Florence for a more leisurely and site worthy visit.

Carol L

Congratulations on your anniversary!

DH and I have visited the CT several times together, and I visited as a college student in 2002. Together, we have always stayed in the old town portion of Monterosso. We stay at the Hotel Villa Steno. The Pasini family is delightful and we love visiting with Carla and Mateo at breakfast every morning. The hotel books several months in advance so if you want to stay there, book as soon as you can.

Just a note though. Mid-May in the CT can be a little iffy in terms of weather. It's pretty cold for swimming (unless you're used to the cold waters of California beaches or Maine beaches). We have visited in May twice (for a total of 6 nights) and we experienced a lot of rain - 2.5 day's worth. It's hotter and dryer (more "beachy" weather) in June. August is also nice and dry, though very hot.

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful trip. Feel free to ask any more questions about the CT and I'll try to answer as best I can

Thanks everyone for all the kinds words and advice! I think I'll take Ira's advice and cut Cinque Terre to two nights and spend two nights in San Gimignano

kfusto and Carol - You're right two days in Florence will just give me a taste. Reviews I've read of Florence have been really mixed, people seem to either love it or dislike. Hopefully, I'll fall into the love it category and will have to plan a trip to go back.

jmw44 - I truly don't mind changing hotels. I think I'll enjoy staying in San Gimignano and visiting Siena as Ira suggested.

Ellen - glad to hear Monterosso is a good choice

Ira - I'll make a note of the restaurant and will definitely plan to spend some time in Orvieto

sessa - La Poesia does look lovely and gets good reviews on Trip Advisor. Their website doesn't list prices, do you remember how much you paid for the suite?

Dayle - Thanks! I really have tried to do my homework before posting. All the books and maps you lent me were so helpful. Let's definitely plan to get together soon.

jabez - I'll take the good advice and cut CT to two days. I am using Delta miles, earned mostly on American Express. I'm not sure most people would consider it a good flight though - it has four legs. But it's free. Now you've made me a little concerned about securing the flight home though. Booking it was fairly easy, just called at 5:00 a.m. 331 days out.

TexasAggie - the Hotel Villa Steno looks lovely as well, especially having a balcony. Thanks for the info on the weather. Hopefully, I'll luck out and get some beautiful sunny days.

Thanks again for all the advice! Any more suggestions/comments on my hotel choices?

Barbara-
I don't remember exactly how much we paid, but I believe it was less than $150/night...but we were there in the off-season. The hostess is a very nice lady, and she brought us a delicious breakfast each morning.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Ira, are you giving advice on the Cinque Terre although you have never been there?

Barbara,
Since you love the ocean I would keep that 3rd night in CT.
It is very beautiful there.
San Gimignano is very interesting but be aware it has become extremely Disneyfied and touristy.
If you are staying overnight then that is slightly better because you'll be there at night after the tourists leave...but if you do love the sea then maximize your time in CT.
Also remember to factor in travel time - arrival in CT is not the easiest/quickest thing...
Ellen C.

"it has become extremely Disneyfied and touristy".

Those words sum up my impressions of the CT exactly. When I visited 3 years ago, I felt like I was at a Rick Steeves convention. I was sad that I waited too many years to visit and IMO the area was incredibly touristy.

I would not return but it sure is pretty from the train or a boat.

JMHO.

Kfusto - I was last in CT 2 years ago in May - it was quiet and lovely.
Sad to hear that the crowds have taken it over.
But also probably depends on month you visit - what month were you there?

CT is definitely well-touristed, but since Barbara said she enjoys the sea then she should spend more time there than in San Gimignano.

I tend to avoid as much as possible the hot spot tourist circuit of Venice-CT-Florence-Rome-Amalfi, because I like authentic, untouristy places, and I already know these places well. (My family is from Italy and we visit 1-2 times a year.)

But authentic and untouristy is not for everyone. (For one, English is not spoken so widely off this circuit.)
The fact that certain towns have adapted to tourism can actually be of assistance to visitors.
And certainly these places do offer their own particular charms.
(Rome remains one of my favorite places ever.)

For charming seaside towns off the beaten path, there are many along the coast. My Piemontese cousins head every summer to the Ligurian coast northwest of CT.
There are lovely stretches of coastline here in this drive towards France, with authentic seaside towns.

Cheers,
Ellen C.

Thanks guys for the additional advice. Luckily I love the ocean/sea, but I also sort of like Disney, so I probably can't go wrong with either San Gimi or CT. People watching is always part of the fun.

The dilemma I have now is if I do 3 days in CT and and 3 in Tuscany, or 2 in CT and 4 in Tuscany, that puts my car rental return in Orvieto on Sunday. I understand the car rental places are closed on Sunday. Since Orvieto comes highly recommended, I don't want to skip it, and I had to be convinced to drive through Tuscany, and the drive to Rome seems stressful - that's about the only thing my husband and I quarrel about on vacation.

So I'll probably do two days in CT and three in Tuscany, which puts me in Orvieto on Saturday. Although I really think spending a night in San Gimignano and visiting Siena the next day on the way to two nights in Pienza sounds like a better plan than staying in one place and backtracking. Any thoughts on that?

Hi again Barbara,

If you arrive in San Gimignano late afternoon, get checked in and enjoy it by evening, that would be very nice. Visting Siena on the way to Pienza is good too. Pienza is also very touristy during the day, but should be nice to come back to after touring other hilltowns on your second day there.

If you plan to return the car in Orvieto on Saturday, it probably needs to be in the morning. Most offices close after noon on Saturdays, but maybe you have already checked this. Orvieto is really great.

Talk to you soon!

I'd probably try to do either Florence or Rome, not both.

If you are willing to take that many legs, you'll have no problem returning.
You may,however, have to be flexible with your return dates.
You may find that you have an extra day or two in Italy. Not the worse thing that could happen.
You may need to leave Tues-Thurs.

BarbaraS
Congratulations on your 30th anniversary - how impressive! We just returned from Rome in May celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. We stayed 6 days at Hotel Santa Maria - a wonderful and relaxing place in the midst of Trastevere. Excellent choice of hotel after finishing up such full travels through Italy. We walked everywhere during the day returning to Trastevere each evening for dinner. The hotel offers a Rick Steves discount in 2007 - you may want to ask.
Gohedwig

gohedwig - Congratulations to you as well. It's amazing how fast 30 years can fly by. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Hotel Santa Maria. How do you get the Rick Steves discount? Just ask? Did you have any favorite restaurants in Trastevere?

Thanks!

Dayle - Thanks for the support! I didn't know about the noon closing on Saturday, so I'll definitely plan around that. I'm an early riser these days, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks!

We loved Il Villino. The couple, Sergio and Elizabetta, who run it are wonderful, kind, and can't do enough to make your stay a good one. Enjoy their hospitality and tell them Peggy and John send greetings. Thanks

Thanks Peggy - it's always good to hear positive feedback.

Locanda Orseolo hasn't responded to my emails (sent a week apart) about pricing for May, 2008. Do you think it's too far out to be booking hotels?

Thanks!

Peggy
Don't worry about getting no response for requests about future accomodations. It's not unusual for owners to have a "casual" Italian attitude about something that far off.
They may not even have there 2008 prices yet.
Send an email a week. You'll eventually get an answer.

I have been watching this thread as I too am going to Italy next year, end of April into May. I was able to get Delta ff Business Class non stop to Venice by calling 331 days out at the stroke of midnite. I got the Super Saver Fare. I still do not have tickets for my return from Rome but am waitlisted. My plan is 3 nites in Venice (thinking of Londra Palace), 3 nites in Florence (thinking of JK Place) and 4 nites in Rome at Albergo del Senato. I am also looking at Grand Hotel de la Minerve in Rome which shares the same great location as Albergo del Senato. Any opinions on one vs. the other? I am finding most hotels are not posting rates for next April/May and I have not had much luck getting e-mail responses. I am struggling mostly with decisions for Venice Hotels and am not settled on Londra Palace. Any thoughts?

Jeangail
I'd not depend on a waitlist. At least get a route back and then waitlist for something better.

Barbara S
In terms of discount, we told them that we read about it in Rick Steve's book and asked - Hotel Santa Maria confirmed rate by e-mail. Hotel Santa Maria also offers a pay by cash discount.

Trattoria da Lucia and da Augusta were my 2 favorites - informal, fun, in the back steets of Trastevere. We simply went with recommendations from people we met at the Hotel or went out walking the streets of Trastevere each night. Didnt' eat on the Piazza - too crowded for us.
Gohedwig

Jean the Minerva is a block south of the Senato. The Minerva will not offer the head-on Pantheon views that some of the Senato rooms offer, but it gets excellent reviews. I would have no hesitation about staying at either one of these ideally located hotels.

In Florence I like the luxury B&B, Piazza della Signoria. It is much less expensive than the JK Place and has a much better location in my opinion.

Hello BarbaraS, and Happy Anniversary to you!

Your trip sounds wonderful! ((w))

My only comment is another RAVE about the Il Villino. We stayed there for 5 nights a couple years ago. We had a wonderful room with a small balcony overlooking their courtyard.

Sergio is an absolute delight, and such a gentleman! Before we arrived, he made museum reservations, and while there he was very helpful with restaurant recommendations and bus/train info. One night I was feeling a little under the weather, and after we'd been in our room awhile, there was a knock at the door. There he was, with a tray of hot tea and cookies!

Happy travels!

Jumping into this thread late. Hope Barbara is open to more advice.

If you're arriving in Venice after a long overnight flight, you will be jetlagged for most or all of your time in Venice. Venice is a great place to be jet-lagged in, but just keep this in mind.

Regarding the Cinque Terre, you can stay in another town on the Italian Riviera and visit the CT by train or boat. There's another thread active here on Fodor's about the best place to stay on the Italian Riviera.

Happy Anniversary - I think your itinerary looks good. Visited Florence, Cinque Terre, San Gimignano in September and you are in for a treat. Cinque Terre is awesome - however, unless you are avid hikers, two nights would probably be enough to see everything, and I personally would add the extra day to Rome. We've spent hundreds of days in Rome over the past many years, and still can't get enough of it. Although not familiar with Hotel Santa Maria, if it is in Trastevere, the location should be great for exploring the city.

gohedwig - thanks for the restaurant recommendations - I've put them on my list.

jabez - thanks I'll try to be patient. I really want to stay at Locanda Orseolo after reading the reviews on Trip Advisor and seeing the crepes they serve for breakfast.

kopp - thanks for the kind words, hopefully I won't have a problem getting a reservation.

Mimar - my last trip to Europe I didn't have too much trouble with jet lag, so hopefully I'll do as well this time. But I'm glad I decided to take everyone's advice and fly into Venice and out of Rome. It's so tempting to want to go to Rome first. I've been keeping an eye on the other CT posts and you're right some of the other areas do look very tempting.

Travelinguy - we're not avid hikers, so two days probably are better in CT.
Santa Maria is in Trastevere http://www.htlsantamaria.com/english/index.htm. From everything I've read Trastevere sounds great. Can't wait!

Things seem to be falling into place. I was able to get a 3 leg ff flight home, and am waitlisted for a better flight going. I heard back from Locanda Orseolo, so I'm all confirmed for there. I can't wait for their crepes.

I do have a question about the waitlist for a ff ticket. Does that mean that they will contact me if a ff ticket is available, or should I continue to check to see if it becomes available.

I think I've decided to stay at the Hotel Pasquale in Monterosso.

Thanks again for all your help.

Hi Barbara,

I'd keep calling and calling. Last time I went, I was FF waitlisted for a better flight and never heard a word in months. I finally got things rearranged through persistence!

Ciao, bella

hi, Barbara,

here's a spoke in your wheel - why stay in florence at all? as you're only gonig to be thee a short time, why not treat it as a day trip from your tuscan base?

An I know this is ananthema to OPs [and me usually,] but why not return your car on the monday - I know that only gives you 3 nights in Rome, but if you get there early in the day, it's 3 days as well.

Congrats on your 30 years together,

regards, ann