Advice for Honeymoon in Italy
Sep 28th, 2006, 05:02 PM
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Advice for Honeymoon in Italy
I've only had time to read a few Italy posts, however I've seen enough to know you guys are the best. I'll start with our high level itinerary and some questions and then I'd appreciate any answers or suggestions.
Our honeymoon begins in Rome landing on 11/9/06 around 2pm. From there we will go to Tuscany for 3 days, then back to Rome around 11/13 so that we can spend a few days exploring and attending an audience with the Pope on 11/15. We leave on 11/16 for Positano to stay at the Hotel Palazzo Murat. Then we must return to Rome 11/19 for a very early flight home on 11/20.
Questions-
1. Would you stay overnight in Rome the first night and then get on a train the next day for Tuscany or just go straight from the airport to Tuscany.
2. I'm currently looking for a country type villa to stay. Friends of ours stayed at the Relais La Suvera but that hotel closes in Nov. I've found they have availability at Villa Mangiacane. It looks great on the web site just checking to see if anyone has stayed there. We really want a beautifully decorated romantic room with an amazing view that is not that hard to get to since we are not renting a car.
3. Would you take the train and stay 1 night in Florence and then go to the country and take a day trip to Siena or the other way around. We'd like to have a base in a country villa but definitely see Florence and Siena.
4. Also we will be traveling by train or some other form of transportation for the entire trip. We do not want to rent a car. Any suggestions here.
5. Any good ideas for hotels in Rome. We would like something very romantic and centrally located where we could walk to most things or take Metro. It would be nice if it were close to the Vatican or at least a metro stop to get to the Vatican easily. We will be waring our wedding atire the day we see the Pope.
Also are there good hotels to stay in Rome by the Termini station for our 1 night before we return home. Our flight leaves for home at 7am so we will need to be there very early.
6. Any tips on getting from Rome to Positano.
7. Has anyone stayed at the Hotel Palazzo Murat? Any tips.
8. We'd like to make day trips while in Positano. Such as Sorrento, Ravella, Capri. Any ideas would be wonderful. I know it will probably be cold and rainy but we didn't want to miss the Amalfi region.
9. We are not big on organized tours, but wouldn't rule out 1 or 2 if they really made a difference. Any suggestions?
10. We've been told to take the Scavi tour in Rome but may need to book ahead. Has anyone taken this tour and what is the link to book ahead?
12. Any absolute must "do's" for honemooners?
I apologize for the length of this but I really want to make this special and I'm trying to do it on my own. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Also I'll be glad to journal and return the favor by posting any new findings on my trip.
Grazie
Our honeymoon begins in Rome landing on 11/9/06 around 2pm. From there we will go to Tuscany for 3 days, then back to Rome around 11/13 so that we can spend a few days exploring and attending an audience with the Pope on 11/15. We leave on 11/16 for Positano to stay at the Hotel Palazzo Murat. Then we must return to Rome 11/19 for a very early flight home on 11/20.
Questions-
1. Would you stay overnight in Rome the first night and then get on a train the next day for Tuscany or just go straight from the airport to Tuscany.
2. I'm currently looking for a country type villa to stay. Friends of ours stayed at the Relais La Suvera but that hotel closes in Nov. I've found they have availability at Villa Mangiacane. It looks great on the web site just checking to see if anyone has stayed there. We really want a beautifully decorated romantic room with an amazing view that is not that hard to get to since we are not renting a car.
3. Would you take the train and stay 1 night in Florence and then go to the country and take a day trip to Siena or the other way around. We'd like to have a base in a country villa but definitely see Florence and Siena.
4. Also we will be traveling by train or some other form of transportation for the entire trip. We do not want to rent a car. Any suggestions here.
5. Any good ideas for hotels in Rome. We would like something very romantic and centrally located where we could walk to most things or take Metro. It would be nice if it were close to the Vatican or at least a metro stop to get to the Vatican easily. We will be waring our wedding atire the day we see the Pope.
Also are there good hotels to stay in Rome by the Termini station for our 1 night before we return home. Our flight leaves for home at 7am so we will need to be there very early.
6. Any tips on getting from Rome to Positano.
7. Has anyone stayed at the Hotel Palazzo Murat? Any tips.
8. We'd like to make day trips while in Positano. Such as Sorrento, Ravella, Capri. Any ideas would be wonderful. I know it will probably be cold and rainy but we didn't want to miss the Amalfi region.
9. We are not big on organized tours, but wouldn't rule out 1 or 2 if they really made a difference. Any suggestions?
10. We've been told to take the Scavi tour in Rome but may need to book ahead. Has anyone taken this tour and what is the link to book ahead?
12. Any absolute must "do's" for honemooners?
I apologize for the length of this but I really want to make this special and I'm trying to do it on my own. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Also I'll be glad to journal and return the favor by posting any new findings on my trip.
Grazie
Sep 28th, 2006, 05:47 PM
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Just got back from my Italian Honeymoon (check out my trip report) to Rome & Positano.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34871283
1. I'd go straight to Tuscany. Get all your traveling done so you can relax your first couple of days.
6. Train from Rome to Naples and hire a driver from the Naples train station to Positano. We used Benvenuto Limos and highly recommend them.
7. Palazzo Murat looked very nice. We had dinner there one night. The taxi/bus/limo will drop you off above the hotel and you will have to walk down the road to get to the entrance.
8. I'd do one day trip to Amalfi & Ravello and skip the rest. Spend two days in Positano just relaxing.
10. Great tour. Search this forum "Vatican Scavi" and the link will show up somewhere. You must email the Vatican and then wait for a response.
12. Lots of sex.
Have a great trip.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34871283
1. I'd go straight to Tuscany. Get all your traveling done so you can relax your first couple of days.
6. Train from Rome to Naples and hire a driver from the Naples train station to Positano. We used Benvenuto Limos and highly recommend them.
7. Palazzo Murat looked very nice. We had dinner there one night. The taxi/bus/limo will drop you off above the hotel and you will have to walk down the road to get to the entrance.
8. I'd do one day trip to Amalfi & Ravello and skip the rest. Spend two days in Positano just relaxing.
10. Great tour. Search this forum "Vatican Scavi" and the link will show up somewhere. You must email the Vatican and then wait for a response.
12. Lots of sex.
Have a great trip.
Sep 28th, 2006, 05:54 PM
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First of all, don't commit yourselves to organized tours. You may be more exhausted after you wedding than you think.
Let me get this straight:
You have 10 days in November, yes? As you know, November is not ideal for the Amalfi. Will you be happy if you get 3 straight days of rain and can't see the views?
The safer bet is Tuscany or Umbria, at the height of the wine/olive season.
My suggestion is this: Fly to Roma and take a train directly to Orvieto. Sleep in Orvieto and rent a car the next morning and drive to your country base near Siena/Firenze. On the morning or night before your audience with the Il Papa, drop off your car in Orvieto and take the train to Roma. Stay there, and if you get a beautiful day, take the train to Sorrento and hire a driver to drop you off in Positano. Have a glorious lunch, and go back to Roma.
Don't try to pack in too much.
Let me get this straight:
You have 10 days in November, yes? As you know, November is not ideal for the Amalfi. Will you be happy if you get 3 straight days of rain and can't see the views?
The safer bet is Tuscany or Umbria, at the height of the wine/olive season.
My suggestion is this: Fly to Roma and take a train directly to Orvieto. Sleep in Orvieto and rent a car the next morning and drive to your country base near Siena/Firenze. On the morning or night before your audience with the Il Papa, drop off your car in Orvieto and take the train to Roma. Stay there, and if you get a beautiful day, take the train to Sorrento and hire a driver to drop you off in Positano. Have a glorious lunch, and go back to Roma.
Don't try to pack in too much.
Sep 29th, 2006, 02:44 AM
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saps,
Thanks for the thread. It's a great help. Did you really feel like your hotel in Rome was romantic and in a good location? I really like the feel of romance and the decor of older Rome instead of modern. Thanks again, I'll definitely take all of your advice!!
Thanks for the thread. It's a great help. Did you really feel like your hotel in Rome was romantic and in a good location? I really like the feel of romance and the decor of older Rome instead of modern. Thanks again, I'll definitely take all of your advice!!
Sep 29th, 2006, 07:35 AM
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We loved our hotel in Rome (Splendide Royal) but that being said...It was expensive.
If price is not a big concern then I would recommend it very much. The decor is anything but modern. Big plush drapes, old paintings, cherry furniture. We found it convienent to all the sites. We walked to the Spanish Steps (10 minutes), Vatican (30-40 minutes), Colosseum (30 minutes), Trevi Fountain (15 minutes) and other sites and either walked back or taxi'd for 10-12 Euros. Right outside the front door there is not much in terms of cafes, shops but we did not find this a problem.
There are hundreds of hotels in Rome so when I found one I liked I just stopped looking...it was driving me nuts!
I did not notice that this trip is in November. If you go to Positano, as Nessundorma said, it might not be great weather. If you are okay with that then I still think it could be a great spot just to totally relax for a few days. I've only been once so keep that in mind with any advice that I give.
If price is not a big concern then I would recommend it very much. The decor is anything but modern. Big plush drapes, old paintings, cherry furniture. We found it convienent to all the sites. We walked to the Spanish Steps (10 minutes), Vatican (30-40 minutes), Colosseum (30 minutes), Trevi Fountain (15 minutes) and other sites and either walked back or taxi'd for 10-12 Euros. Right outside the front door there is not much in terms of cafes, shops but we did not find this a problem.
There are hundreds of hotels in Rome so when I found one I liked I just stopped looking...it was driving me nuts!
I did not notice that this trip is in November. If you go to Positano, as Nessundorma said, it might not be great weather. If you are okay with that then I still think it could be a great spot just to totally relax for a few days. I've only been once so keep that in mind with any advice that I give.
Sep 29th, 2006, 08:19 AM
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Hi S,
>1. Would you stay overnight in Rome the first night and then get on a train the next day for Tuscany or just go straight from the airport to Tuscany.<
Since you are traveling by train, I suggest that you keep on going.
>We'd like to have a base in a country villa but definitely see Florence and Siena. <
In that case, see Florence and Siena as daytrips from your villa.
However, with only 3 days in Tuscany, I would base in Florence and daytrip to Siena from there.
>6. Any tips on getting from Rome to Positano.
Take the train to Naples. Look for the 241 (duo per uno) fares on the AV at www.trenitalia.com.
Since it's your honeymoon, hire a limo from/to Naples Central/Positano.
>8. We'd like to make day trips while in Positano. Such as Sorrento, Ravella, Capri.<
Take the bus to Ravello and Sorrento. Take the ferry to Capri. Your hotel will have schedules, etc.
>12. Any absolute must "do's" for honemooners?<
Other than the obvious, take the no. 7 bus from the Florence SMN station to Fiesole to see the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Blue.
Eat lots of gelato, drink lots of limoncello. Bring home a bag of dried Porcini mushrooms.
Enjoy your visit.
>1. Would you stay overnight in Rome the first night and then get on a train the next day for Tuscany or just go straight from the airport to Tuscany.<
Since you are traveling by train, I suggest that you keep on going.
>We'd like to have a base in a country villa but definitely see Florence and Siena. <
In that case, see Florence and Siena as daytrips from your villa.
However, with only 3 days in Tuscany, I would base in Florence and daytrip to Siena from there.
>6. Any tips on getting from Rome to Positano.
Take the train to Naples. Look for the 241 (duo per uno) fares on the AV at www.trenitalia.com.
Since it's your honeymoon, hire a limo from/to Naples Central/Positano.
>8. We'd like to make day trips while in Positano. Such as Sorrento, Ravella, Capri.<
Take the bus to Ravello and Sorrento. Take the ferry to Capri. Your hotel will have schedules, etc.
>12. Any absolute must "do's" for honemooners?<
Other than the obvious, take the no. 7 bus from the Florence SMN station to Fiesole to see the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Blue.
Eat lots of gelato, drink lots of limoncello. Bring home a bag of dried Porcini mushrooms.
Enjoy your visit.
Sep 29th, 2006, 08:26 AM
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Hi Shelroam,
If you are 100% dead set against renting a car, staying in the Tuscan countryside really won't work. You might have to walk a very long distance to a bus stop and the buses in the countryside are infrequent.
Better to just stay in Siena or Florence and maybe hire a private driver for a day wine tour.
I agree with the other posters about being prepared to accept rain on the Amalfi Coast.
Have a lovely honeymooon!
If you are 100% dead set against renting a car, staying in the Tuscan countryside really won't work. You might have to walk a very long distance to a bus stop and the buses in the countryside are infrequent.
Better to just stay in Siena or Florence and maybe hire a private driver for a day wine tour.
I agree with the other posters about being prepared to accept rain on the Amalfi Coast.
Have a lovely honeymooon!
Sep 30th, 2006, 07:11 PM
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I would stay in Rome the first night and do what you are suppose to do on your honeys moon...enjoy the moment. Don't make your one time event into a vacation,remember what it's all about SEX. Yes, I said it, sex. Rome is soooo Rooomaannntttiiicc. Stay the night , go to the roof top of the Forum Hotel , have a drink at sunset and look into each others eyes and say, "WOW we are in Rome". Take your time, it passes fast. My wife and I leave for Italy on Tuesday for a cruise, it's our 30th anniversary celebration. Time goes by fast...enjoy the moment.
Sep 30th, 2006, 09:27 PM
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With the caveat that this rec is from a looong time ago... When I was a college student on spring break in Florence, my two friends and I walked to a nearby hill in search of vistas like those in "A Room with a View". At the top of this hill was an amazing looking hotel, very romantic and I think 4 or 5 stars... It definitely fit our fictional ideals! I think the hill is called Mount of Olives(?). Does this ring any bells with anyone?
We all swore that was where we'd want our honeymoons to be. Only one of the three of us is married, and her husband unfortunately didn't want to go out of the US for their honeymoon.
We all swore that was where we'd want our honeymoons to be. Only one of the three of us is married, and her husband unfortunately didn't want to go out of the US for their honeymoon.
