My husband and I are traveling to Italy November 10-25. We start 5 nights in Rome, wih a three night break before 4 nights in Florence and 3 nights in Venice from which we fly home. I would love to see Pompeii and the Amalfi coast but I am still undecided if we should do any of that and whether by car or train (a day trip from Rome), or just do some of Tuscany from Rome on the way to Florence. I'm not sure if we will be able to return to Italy, but also given the time of year, I'm not sure of the best choices. HELP!

Will you have a car? You don't want a car in Rome or for the Amalfi Coast. But November isn't the best time of year for the Amalfi Coast. The weather's not great and lots of places are shut.

I'd save the Amalfi Coast and Capri for another trip. (It probably will happen.) Do a day trip to Pompeii from Rome if you must. You train to Naples, then walk downstairs and switch to the Circumvesuviana light rail to Pompeii.

So that leaves Tuscany, which really begs for a car. Could you rent a car for a few days? Maybe pick it up in Orvieto and drop it in Florence? (Though driving in central Florence is difficult and tightly controlled.) Maybe drop at the Florence airport.

Remember November is not summer in Italy. It can be cool and rainy. Not necessarily those sunsplashed vistas you see in movies and travel ads.

You can stay in Sorrento for a few nights and do Pompeii from there. It's a very pleasant place to visit without the feverish pace of Naples. The Circumvesuvia train makes it easy to visit the ruins which are well worth it.

Hi Ez,

You might wish to spend your 3 nights in Sorrento or Naples.

One day at Pompei Scavi.

One Day in Naples.

One day SITA bus down the Coast Road to Amalfi, on to Salerno and the train to Paestum.

Thanks for your suggestions. Picking up a car in Orvieto sounds like a good idea. Is this a train ride from Rome? Can I play it by ear or should I make hotel reservations ahead in Tuscany even in November.

The trip to Amalfi sounds good too expecially being able to do it without a car, but if the weather is awfulI'm concerned it will spoil the point of being there.

I would recommend the Tuscan option. Orvieto is about an hour or so by frequent train from Rome. Perhaps tour Orvieto and then pick up your car and head for a base in a town such as Pienza or Montepulciano. Then drive up to Florence and drop the car and proceed with your plans.

If you are not set on one particular hotel/B&B, I think you could wing it in rural Tuscany in late November.

In Florence/Venice and Rome, I would reserve ahead, though.

I am set in Rome Florence and Venice for hotels. Am I right to assume that I can drop the car outside of Florence and train in? also should I try to make the rental arrangements here in the US before I go? any suggestions for rental agencies?

Here is one good option for rental cars:

www.kemwell.com


I would plan to drop the car either in Florence center, or perhaps at the airport, before your stay in that city.