Amalfi, Tuscany, Florence - where to go?
 

I am travelling to Italy in May 2006. My friend and I will fly into and out of Rome. It is my first time to Italy; my friend was there 20 years ago.

Thus far the only details of our trip that have been settled are the dates of travel (2 weeks mid-May, and that we are both interested in visiting the Amalfi Coast area(which would include an excursion to Pompeii), Florence and Tuscany. As we are flying in and out of Rome (we have already booked the flights), we will have two days there (one day on arrival and one day before departure).

I'm sure that I will have many questions for you over the next few months. I'll start with these:

1. What would you suggest is the best place around the Amalfi Coast to become "home base" for the Amalfi part of the trip?

2. What would you suggest is the best place in Tuscany/Florence area to become "home base" for the Tuscany/Florence part of the trip?

We hope to keeps costs down as much as possible, and hope to use public transit as much as we can. However, we are not averse to renting a car for some tours around Tuscany area. We are not so sure that is a great idea for Amalfi.

What are your thoughts?

Hi C,

You might find this thread helpful:

Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

You might also find the Florence and AC parts of my trip report useful:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

((I))

Do you have to stay in Rome on the day you arrive? If not, I'd say head straight to Florence that first day. If you arrive around 8AM at FCO airport in Rome, you can be in Florence via train in time for lunch. Then you can schedule two nights (or preferably more) in a row in Rome at the end of your trip--a much better way to visit Rome.

Hi Crusoe,

I would also suggest adding a day or two to Roma! It's a wonderful city, don't go with a closed mind.

I spend about a week on the Amalfi Coast and another in Tuscany/Umbria in Sept. 5 day in Rome too. If you type in my name, you might like to check out my trip report too.

Definitely get a car for Tuscany.

Buon viaggio!

Thank you for your responses.

Ira and Dayle, your trip reports contain some great information about things we might like to do.

Ellenem, unfortunately, my friend and I arrive in Rome separately as we each live in different parts of the country. One of us arrives in the morning and one in the evening, so we will stay in Rome overnight and head off to our first destination in the morning. Good tip though to take the early morning train and lose only 1/2 the day with the travel.

As far as Rome goes, it's not that we don't want to see it - just that we have decided to do Rome on some future trip.

Any thoughts respecting a good town and/or hotel to stay in in Florence and on the Amalfi Coast? I have heard that Sorrento is not as nice as Positano, for example. Is there a place on the Amalfi Coast that is relatively easy to travel from via public transportation without being quite as much of a tourist hub as Sorrento?