If you do get to the Amalfi Coast, don't miss Positano or Ravello! My husband and I loved both so much we almost called the kids to sell the house and send us the money. We didn't want to come home!!

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I'm just getting back to planning our trip -- life has been getting in the way of my travel planning!

We still haven't booked our airfare as I'm still holding out hope that Air Canada will have a seat sale. I'm fairly certain we'll end up flying in and out of Rome.

I still have a few questions....I'm thinking we'll take the train from Positano to possibly Orvieto and pick up our rental car there. How long is the train ride? Would we have time to see Orvieto that same day, pick up our rental car and head to another town, or should we plan to stay that night in Orvieto and using it as a base to see Assisi, Perugia etc?

We're also thinking of adding Cinque Terre. How much time should we allow for exploring the CT and what some of the favourite hotels there?

Thanks again for the great advice!

ttt

Still hoping for more info. Help anyone???

Kiddo

There is no train service from Positano. You can go to Naples via Sorrento or to Salerno. Salerno is in the wrong direction.

Visit the trenitalia website for schedules.

Thanks very much Pausanias. I'll check out the train times.

I guess my question was more of when leaving Positano either by way of Sorrento/Naples or Salerno which town in Tuscany would be the best for picking up a rental car. Orvieto looks like the most logical choice.

If you are taking the train and then bus into Sorrento and Positano---from Naples, then I suggest taking the boat back to Naples from Almafi or Positano. It really is excellent w/ magnificent views.

I was in Italy last October and I know you will have a glorious time. The weather was perfect, only rained on my very last day in Rome, but had plenty of sunshine for Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Positano. Took the Cicumvesuviana from Naples to Pompeii and back, then hopped back on to go to Sorrento. Then bussed to Positano. You must get there EARLY, the line to Positano is crazy, but no line whatsoever coming back. Enjoy.

I'm not sure whether you'd have time to enjoy Orvieto on the same day that you'd train there from Positano (via Naples and Rome). When we went by train, we were going in the opposite direction (Orvieto to Positano by way of Rome and Naples), and we didn't get to Positano until 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon (leaving Orvieto around 10:00 a.m.). I don't know what the schedule looks like from Naples to Rome to Orvieto - plus figure you'd have to leave Positano probably a couple or hours before the train from Naples to Rome.

Check out the train schedule on trenitalia.com.

KC

Hi K,

>...when leaving Positano either by way of Sorrento/Naples or Salerno which town in Tuscany would be the best for picking up a rental car. <

I suggest picking your car up in Sorrento or Salerno and driving to Tuscany.

You have to bus to Sorrento and take the train to Naples. It's 3:17 hr to Orvieto from Naples by train, plus you have to drive to Montalcino.

You can drive to Montalcino from Sorrento or Salerno in about 5 hr.

((I))

Make copies of your passports/tkts/credit cards. Wear a neck pouch and money belt. Don't carry anything. Watch for the gypsies!

If you are still looking for hotels in Montalcino, we are staying at Hotel dei Capitani in May. I have not stayed there myself yet, but it was recommended by friends who stayed there last summer. It has great views.

I'll second Ira, redundantly as it may seem :-)

Thanks again to everyone who has replied.

Ninkette, would love to hear how you enjoy the Hotel dei Capitani. We are still deciding which Tuscan town, Montalcino, Montepulciano or???

We are now considering flying into Naples (with an overnight layover in London)and returning from Rome. My husband has never seen London and I've only been once with a school trip when I was 16 (many many years ago!!!)

The most recent question now is whether to go in October or September. My husband is concerned October will be too cool and/or rainy. A check of average temperatures and recipitation shows October having the highest rainfall second only to November.

At some point, we just have to make a decision and go with it!

Have a great day everyone and thanks again.

kiddo, if you stay in Montalcino, don't miss the nearby (less than 30 minutes drive)Sant'Antimo abbey, with its lovely setting and Gregorian chanting monks.

If you do a search on this site under its name, you will bring up some posts about it. Beautiful and peaceful, and you can picnic on the lawn before or after hearing the chants.

(There is a hiking trail to it as well, which we originally wanted to do but it just didn't fit in w/ our plans).

Montepulciano and Montalcino are both great. I would recommend checking out accomodations in both towns, and deciding that way. And I would recommend splitting up yout week in Tuscany, between 2 locations. We stayed for a week outside of Montepulciano, and drove all over Tuscany. It would have been nice to have a bit less driving. I would suggest something farther west, San Gimignano perhaps?

Thanks Annabelle -- The abby sounds lovely and we definitely plan to visit it.

Turnercindy -- Yes, I think you're right. We're hoping to make it to Cinque Terre. Maybe overnight in Lucca and then drive to La Spezia to take the train to CT? Is there overnight parking at the train station in La Spezia? After CT we would then be travelling to Rome for our last few days. I'm thinking we could drive from CT to Orvieto to ditch the car and then take the train into Rome. Does that sound reasonable?

Il Giglio in Montelcino looks good as does the Politan Apartments in Montepulciano. Meuble Il Riccio also gets rave reviews. Does anyone have any other favorites?

Sorry for all these questions, but I'm trying to get an itinerary finalized so that I can book the hotels. My husband is leaving it all up to me -- so I want it to be good!

Kiddo

tttt -- anyone?

I would recommend returning the car before going to CT, then use the train for getting around CT, and then getting to Rome. That's what we did, using suggestions from other Fodorites, and it worked out very well.
As to recommendations for Tuscany accomodations, we stayed at a wonderful villa outside of Montepulciano, le Manzinaie. www.tuscany.net/manzinaie/ The host family is wonderful, and couldn't do enough for us. I would recommend it highly. The highlight of our stay was a wonderful dinner that they prepared for all of the guests.

I will be staying at the Hotel dei Capitani next month in Montalcino as well. The rates were very reasonable...$103 Euros per night for a room with a view/balcony, breakfast and free parking. I understand it is an uphill walk to town but a convenient location none the less. The views are supposed to be spectacular. We had enquired at the Il Giglio but they only have one room with a balcony and it was already booked. The price was similar at $103 Euros for a room without breakfast though. I will be able to give you feedback once I return.

I would choose either Positano or CT...but not both. CT would be much more convenient if you are spending time in Tuscany. I personally would save Positano for another trip when you can give it more attention as there is quite a bit to see in that area with Pompei, Capri/Ischia, Ravello, and Naples. CT is very charming and should not be so crowded in October. I have been to both and enjoyed the CT a little more for the beautiful walks between the 5 towns. We based ourselves in Vernazza for two nights and found a day and a half was enough to see all 5 towns. On day two we took a train to the first town of Rio Maggiore and walked back to Vernazza...Vernazza to Monterosso we took a boat and then we took the train back...apparently the Vernazza to Monterosso is the most challenging of the 5 town walks and we were a little tired by the end of the day so decided on the train instead.

My suggestion would be:

- Fly into Rome - Stay 2 nights
- Train to Orvieto - Overnight
- Pick-up car next day in Orvieto and visit Civita which is only a half hour or so from Orvieto. Siena, San Gimignano or Chianti 3 nights..use as base for side trips of the area.
- CT 2 nights
- Montalcino, Montipulciano, Pienza area for 4 nights.
- Rome for two nights at the end or extend stay in Tuscany by another night.