Countdown to Italy
 

Folks,
Help! We're leaving for a honeymoon in Italy on Sept 20 for 19 days and other than flights in and out, haven't planned a thing.
Would love to wing it - from an accomodation standpoint. We love to stay in bed & breakfasts - we're not fancy hotel types. What are our chances of finding "no room at the Inn"?
Also, any itinerary suggestions would be welcome!
Thanks!

flights in and out of what city(ies)?

In and out of Rome.

You may consider upon arriving in Rome, catching a quick flight to Venice and from there work your way back down to Rome, and maybe the Amalfi coast. 19 days gives you plenty of time to cover a decent amount of territory.

You can do something like 3-4 nts Venice, 4-5 nts Tuscany/FLorence, 3-4 nts AMalfi and the remainder in Rome.

Is it this September? If so, you should book some hotels if you haven't already. Provide us with a price range and people will make great suggestions.

Is this a frist trip to Italy?

That is still high season--you will want reservations.

Winging it in high season in Italy on a honeymoon?

Might want to rethink that....

you are probably going to love this place for your honeymoon http://www.arcosbedandbreakfast.it/
havent been yet but planning for start of october. the owner seems pretty relaxed but you should try to reserve for at least some of your trip.
Have a nice honeymoon!

"Winging it in high season in Italy on a honeymoon?

Might want to rethink that...."

Yes, absolutely. Unless your idea of fun is to stay in whatever leftover rooms in less appealing places is your idea of fun, winging it is the last thing I would do.

The nicer B&Bs are more in demand than expensive hotels, for obvious reasons.

I think you would be foolish, esp. for honeymoon and esp. in September.

As regards hotels, I wouldn't wing it, especially on honeymoon. I did that a few times, some years ago, & ended up in some very disappointing ones - you want to make sure everything's nice for your honeymoon, don't you ? I'd strongly advise planning an itinerary & finding nice hotels, pronto. I booked our Venice hotel for next June back in July...

Are you planning to hire a car (useful if visiting countryside & small towns e.g. rural Tuscany), travel by train (better if just travelling between cities) or what ?

Hiring a car is generally considerably cheaper if done in advance, from abroad.

There are advance-booking bargains to be had by train but I've always just turned up at the station & bought a ticket for the next fast train. The self-service machines are easy to use & have an English option. Italian trains are usually very efficient.


Are you sorted as regards a debit/credit and ATM card you can use in Italy ?

And first, I'd advise buying a good all-Italy guidebook, to give you some ideas !! A good one should have maps showing main railway lines.

And finally, big congrats on your ?forthcoming wedding !

Thanks so much for all your help.
I'm working on the accomodations now.
As for the itinerary, how does this look?
Sept 21 Arrive Rome head to Umbria
Sept 22 Umbria/Tuscany
Sept 23 Umbria/Tuscany
Sept 24 Umbria/Tuscany
Sept 25 Cinque Terra
Sept 26 Cinque Terra
Sept 27 Portofino/Genova
Sept 28 Venice
Sept 29 Venice
Sept 30 Venice
Oct 1 Riva de Garda
Oct 2 Riva de Garda
Oct 3 Fly from Milan to Rome train to Almalfi
Oct 4 Amalfi
Oct 5 Amalfi
Oct 6 Rome
Oct 7 Rome
Oct 8 Rome
Oct 9 Depart Rome

Too much? How far from Riva de Garda to Milan?

1. Not optimal geometrically.
2. Skip Genova.
3. Try to go North to South returning to Rome from Amalfi, start in Venice or Milan/Garda.
4. I like the idea of flying to Venice or Milan right away from Rome

<Fly from Milan to Rome train to Almalfi

if you have to, you might as well fly into Naples.

-e

Your geography is all messsed up. Go to Garda after the CT, then to Venice, and then fly to Naples---or train via Rome. What does "head to Umbria" mean? Are you driving? I hope the driver can sleep on flights. I suggest you train to Chiusi to get the car. You need help on this---tons of logistics. You should have started 3 months ago.

hi, mjterry,

first of all congratulations, both on your nuptials and on having a whole 19 days to spend in Italy.

if your are determined to "wing it", then i suggest a number of things - book your first few nights in your first destination [eg Venice - and where better for a honeymoon] and hire a car.

if you have car, you are in a much better position to search for accommodation than if you're on a train - even if a town is full [unlikely but possible in late september] then you'll most likely find somewhere nearby - difficult if you're on the train.

then, invest in the michelin guide to Italy - great maps of every town and really good directions to the accommodations there, and decent maps of the areas you are going to be in.

Finally, book your accommodation in Rome before you go, giving yourselves at least 3 nights there; you can drive to orvieto, leave your hire car there, and train to Rome, thus avoiding driving there.

here's my suggested itinerary:


fly into rome and train to Venice.
3-4 nights there.

collect pre-booked car from agent in piazzale Roma [i assume - that's where they usually are]

set off on tour. Riva del garda is an excellent choice - the lake is lovely.
I'd give myself at least 3 nights here.

move down to Tuscany. you could spend a few nights exploring the cinque terre, and a few nights in tuscany proper. this should take you a week.

then either go to florence and dump car, spending a few nights there before trian to rome, or move further south towards orvieto, before making for Rome.

I strongly suggest leaving Amalfi for another trip - you will lose a day getting there, and a day gettting back plus of all the places you mention [apart from Rome and Venice] it wil be the hardest place to find accommodation on spec.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

Flying those short flights may not be worth it. By the time you get to the airport two hours before your flight, take the flight, collect your bags, and then spend 30-40 minutes getting into Termini station, I think I would rather just hop the train and relax. Read your guidebook, get something to eat on the train, make out some post cards, and you're there.
I realize it's 6 hours on the Alta Velocita train, but you're not running to and from an airport, schlepping your bags around, sitting and waiting; you're moving toward your destination. Just my opinion.

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For a hotel in Rome, my vote goes for Residenza Cellini
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We loved this hotel and the staff were fantastic!!!