First shot at Italy itinerary for first time visitor
 

Okay, I'd love to get some feedback on my draft itinerary. I will fly from Austin to Venice, then home from Rome. March 29-April 11, 2010.
Venice - 3 nights. I can stay at Gritti Palace or Westin Europa & Regina on points. Suggestions on which to choose?
Rent car and drive to Siena, or take train and rent car once we get there.
Siena - 4 nights. Not sure on hotels here. Need somewhere convenient to getting out of town, and with parking if possible. Plan to see Siena itself, then drive around Tuscany on day trips. Maybe Florence day trip, or maybe just do Florence another time.
Orvieto - 1 night. Drop the car and train to Rome.
Rome - 4 nights. Navona Garden Suites.

I meant 2011!

Looks perfect to me.

Looks good. One word of caution is driving in Florence, people always seem to come back and receive a ticket in the mail. If you do a daytrip either take the bus in or be extra careful driving in the city as you can't drive in the historic core with a rental car.

Car rentals are generally cheaper if you pick them up and drop them in the same location. I don't know if training to Orvieto to pick the car up on the way to Siena is out of the way but it would probably be cheaper.

<<Car rentals are generally cheaper if you pick them up and drop them in the same location.>>

Not true. You rarely get charged extra for anything other than dropping the car off in a COUNTRY different from the one where you picked it up. Within the same country - no extra charge.

Sounds like a lovely trip!

We stayed at the Navona Garden Suites in Rome a few years back. We really liked the feel of 'living' in an old building and the location was perfect.

Not sure of your budget but we stayed at the Palazzo Ravizza in Siena http://www.palazzoravizza.com/ on another trip; they do have parking.

Nice trip !
Also in Siena look at the Santa Caterina---right at the Porta Romana gate into town and on the highway south to the best of Tuscany---you must request parking.

Friends of ours stayed at the westin in Venice and absolutely loved it. If we had the number of points needed, we'd stay there too, no question.

I would train to Siena, then deal with a rental car, but tha's me. i would much rather let someone else do the driving, so that I can enjoy the scenery ;)

Sounds like a faulous trip!

siena centre is not car friendly so you need to think that through a bit. If the hotel has a parking place grab it. Otherwise looks good

Got more lost driving in Siena in May than ever before. May be an age thing. Suggest renting a GPS unit.
I was charged extra for picking up the car in Florence and dropping off at Rome airport. Rented from Auto Europe.

This sounds wonderful. I also suggest you train to Siena and rented a car there. We stayed on the perimeter of Siena in a lovely hotel in 2006 that has (or at least had) a free parking lot. http://www.villascacciapensieri.it/ The bus stops outside the hotel and is just a few minutes from Siena center. You may read my trip report and see photos at http://travelswithdiane.homestead.co...13tuscany.html

We rented a Hertz car thru AAA and got a pretty good deal. Check the hours of the Hertz office as it was closed on Sundays and after noon on Saturdays when we were in Siena.

From Siena we continued to Pienza for several nights, and then spent one night at the Locanda Rosati in Orvieto, an agriturismo. http://www.locandarosati.it/ We took half board there and thoroughly enjoyed it and wished we could have stayed more than one night. From there we drove to Rome airport where we turned in the car.

I stayed at the Westin Europa and Regina in Venice seven or eight years ago. I used additional points for an upgraded room and it was certainly palatial. Wonderful hotel and great location. I even used some points for their buffet breakfast; I remember it was terribly expensive and not extensive.

I stayed at the Westin Europa and Regina this past July 2010. It is an amazing hotel in an amazing location, but yet tucked away from all the tourists. They upgraded us to the Tiempolo apartments which were AMAZING! (overlooking the grand canal)

Don't stay at the Gritti Palace - it has a very "dark" feel to it and needs renovating.

Another vote for the Locanda Rosati outside Orvieto, we spent 3 nights there with the half-board, dinners around a large table with all the guests were amazing, BUT if you only have one night for Orvieto, maybe staying up in the town would be better.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. Westin Europa and Regine is the plan now for Venice! I need to research the car rental, and will probably pick up the car in Siena. Need to figure out train from Venice to Siena.

I'd like to stay in Orvieto two nights, but would have to steal a night from either Siena or Rome. Would that be advisable?

Luvtoravel, did you use points to get a room originally, and then more points for an upgrade? I don't see how to do that on the starwood site.

I will check out the Siena hotel recommendations. I know I won't stay in city center with the car. I found this place in Siena that has apartments. I thought it'd be nice to have a kitchenette for those days. Anyone ever stay here? http://www.borgogrondaie.com/

Sformby - don't use your points to upgrade. I have found that Starwood members are treated VERY good at Westin properties. I have never used my points for an upgrade. They have always given me one. Now, that doesn't guarantee anything, but in the last 5 years, Starwood has been so good to me and have just ugraded me. ( I am just a regular Starwood Preferred Plus member too...not even a Gold or Platinum member)

Luvtotravel, you are correct, the Hertz office closes at 12:30 on Saturday and isn't open on Sunday. Don't think I'd be able to get there in time from Venice that Saturday. Hmmmm.

Actually we have stayed at the Borgo Grondaie, at the other end of the trip where we started with the Palazzo Ravizza. We did not have one of the apartments with kitchen, but we thought that the Borgo was really lovely, the grounds exceptionally so and the parking was easy. It is just outside Siena proper, so not hard to get into the city.

I did stay at the Europa and Regina on points. I don't remember how I upgraded, but I doubt it was when I made the reservation. I think I called Starwood after making the reservation.

I upgraded once before using points at the Sheraton in Bangkok. I think it was 1,000 extra per night and got us on the concierge level with free laundry every day and full buffet breakfast daily for two people. Well worth it. I guess it depends on the hotel and if you want to take a chance on being upgraded without using extra points. I'm sure it would be more than 1,000 points per day to upgrade in Venice. I did not upgrade at the Sheraton in Paris and was given a lovely room. At the Frankfurt airport Sheraton they gave us a huge room with three beds (we were three people) without extra points.

Yes, Starwood takes care of their members and treats them as valued customers. Upon arrival in Venice management sent a bottle of champagne to our room. In Paris we received a tray with Parisian macaroons. My experience using Marriott points has been completely different where I've been given the crummiest rooms and treated as the poor relative, and I've used over a million points so far with Marriott.

I agree that Starwood knows how to treat their members, far better IMO and IME than Marriott, Hilton (the worst) and Hyatt.

I horde my points and use them for these sorts of splurge stays.

You have put together an excellent itinerary, unlike many who try to pack in as many places as possible in the shortest period of time. You have obviously done your homework.

dave

sformby,

The hours of the smaller car rental offices can present problems. You may need to look at picking up your car at a larger city enroute to Siena. Florence? Maybe even picking up at the large car park in Venice and just driving down to Siena? Or, another larger city or airport location along the way.....It can still work out.

I would also recommend 2 nts in Orvieto - but not at the expense of taking time from your other destinations. I love Orvieto and would highly recommend staying IN the town if you only have 1 nt. It's a special place in the evening and there are several great hotels in town. We stayed at Palazzo Piccolomini (2000, so a long time ago now) and loved it.

Remember that Orvieto's car rental offices will have similar closing times.

Buon viaggio!

That's what I was thinking...just get the durn car in Venice and be done with it. Viamichelin says its only 4.5 hours to drive to Siena, although it will probably take longer. With a stop for lunch half way, wouldn't be too bad.

I told my husband that my itinerary wasn't getting "picked apart" on Fodors, and that I was so proud! I actually haven't done much homework at all, but once I decided that Florence could wait til another trip, it all came together.

The only town I could steal from to add to Orvieto is Rome. I don't know if I'll love it or hate it (seems like Rome gets strong reactions from people). Only 3 nights there would limit what we'd be able to see and do.

Keep your time for Rome. There is so much there, it's easy to feel stressed and pressured if you feel you have to see all the "highlights" in too little time.

I was one of those that only spent 1.5 days in Rome at the end of my very first trip - we departed from Rome. People had said it's "dirty, polluted, covered in graffiti, crowded, smogy, etc., etc. SURPRISE! I loved, loved, loved Rome and spent 6 days there on my last trip.

Honestly, I would love to live there for a couple years!

Go with an open mind and you will have a wonderful time.

I've got another question. I haven't yet bought my plane tix and wondered if you had a choice, would you make sure the Tuscany part of the trip was during the week or on the weekend? Would it be less crowded driving around hill towns during the week? Or does it not really matter one way or the other?

IMO it will not matter as you planning your trip before the busy season.

If you drive from Siena to Florence there is a parking station just outside the walls of the city. I can't remember exactly where now, but that's where we parked and managed to avoid the fines that catch so many travellers. We walked into the city from there - about 20 mins from memory, but you could probably find a bus or a cab if you looked into that.

Your trip sounds lovely, I hope you have a great time.

Cathie

Sorry, I forgot to say that the parking station wasn't a huge multi-deck or anything like that. Just an area we could drive into and then pay when we were leaving.

Thanks all for your replies. I'm sure I will have many more questions as I keep planning!

I think our plans have changed. I'm now thinking that we might could get better routing (we're using miles) to go into Florence or Pisa and out of Venice. If we did that we would skip Rome for this trip. How would you dole out 11 nights over Florence, Tuscany and Venice?

sformby,

I think it very much depends on your level of interest in art. Florence is Renaissance Art Central, although lots of people like it for other reasons too. My own opinion was that it really was the only place in Italy I've visited so far that I didn't like that much. Just as a city, too crowded, and for other reasons. I would go back, but would stay outside the city and bus in to see some of the art I missed on the first visit.

So, just for my tastes:

Florence 2 nts
Tuscan countryside 5 or 6 nts (car rental & 1 or 2 bases)
Venice 3 or 4 nts

I would do 4 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Tuscany, and 3 nights in Florence.

OR

Venice (5 nights)
Tuscany (4 nights)
Florence (2 nights)

I know the second option sounds a bit weird, but I absolutely LOVE Venice and can't wait to get back there again. It is a city like no other. Magical....

I would have to fly home from Pisa (stupid AA). Don't know if I'll need to spend a night there prior to the flight home, or if I could take a car service from Florence.

It doesn't have to be Florence, per se. Could be Venice, Siena, Tuscany.

Right now, I'm just mad that my routing that includes Rome has shaved off a day from my trip, so I only get 10 nights going home from Rome. But maybe, considering I'd have to go home from Pisa, I should just leave locations as is. I lose a night in Rome, but oh well, I'll be back. I refuse to compromise on the Tuscany part of the trip.

3 nights Venice
4 nights Tuscany
3 nights Rome

4 nights Venice
4 nights Tuscany
2 nights Florence
1 night Pisa (depends what time flight is)

So, the question is, less nights in Italy (10) or more nights (11) and no Rome ; ? Wish I was rich and didn't have to play the miles game.

I'm very biased towards Rome, so option 1 is what I'd choose.

Like Paris, I could go to Rome every year and still want more!

Oh gosh, I love Rome. To me Rome is the most exciting, most vibrant city in Italy. I am a big Ren Art person from way back to my college days and Florence does NOT disappoint in that respect, but Florence itself leaves me a bit cold. No chance you can add at least one night to Rome? In any case, I personally would not stay three nights in Florence after four in the country in Tuscany. But of course YMMV.

Pisa Airport is an hour from Florence and actually has a train station. the trip by train is just over an hour. There is also the Terravision express bus that travels between Florence and Pisa Airport.

http://www.terravision.eu/florence_pisa.html

I vote for Option 1. Less time transferring and more time to enjoy...

We went on our first trip to Italy this past July. Had the best time...Can't wait to go back. We flew into Venice from Atlanta, GA and flew home from Rome. This was a great choice for us.

We only stayed in Venice for 1 night at Hotel American Dinesen. Loved the location. Wish we could have stayed longer but we rented a car and drove to Pienza(tuscany) and stayed at the Agriturismo Fonte Bertusi. This was our home base for 1 week. Love this place!!
Day trips from there
1.Bagno Vigoni, San Quirico d Orcia and Pienza
2.Siena
3.Florence
4. Hot air balloon ride over tuscany
5. Orvieto, Custodi winery and Civita di Bagnoregio
6. Sant Antimo Abbey, Montalcino and Fattoria dei Barbi winery

We left the next day and drove to Positano and drop off our car. After 2 nights, we hired a driver to Rome. We stayed 3 nights in Rome at Hotel Hiberia. The hotel was just ok.

This was best for us. We had 6 people with us. Good luck!

I leaning towards the into Venice and out of Rome itinerary now. I am wrestling the AA mileage beast, and trying to get 11 nights instead of 10.

Yay! I finally ticketed my trip. I was having a problem getting from AUS to VCE on the day I wanted, so I'm just going to London for 2 days first, then catching a cheap BA flight to Venice from there. Mar 23-April 6. I'm so excited! Worked out to 2 nights in London, then 11 nights in Italy. So now the Italy portion looks like this:

3 nights Venice
2 nights Chianti area?
2 nights Pienza
4 nights Rome

I think I'd rather stay out in the countryside instead of Siena proper. I could probably be talked into only 1 place to stay in Tuscany. I think we're going to pickup the car in Venice and drive to Chiant region, then turn in car in Chiusi and train to Rome. Orvieto has been the casualty of only having 11 nights, instead of 12.