First time poster! Is this a good Itinerary?!?!
 

OK--going on our honeymoon October 23-November 11th, so 19 nights. We really need some help. I put together a mock itinerary (haven't booked yet). What do you think? Thinking of getting a 4 day rail pass with 2 day car rental. Should we rent a car for more time? Please offer your suggestions!

Oct 23-fly to Milan, train to Vernazza, Cinque Terre (2 nights)

Oct 25 train to Florence (3 nights). Drop off bags and take train to Lucca for day trip
Oct 26-Florence
Oct 27-day trip to San Gigmano (by train)

Oct 28th train to Sienna (2nights)
Oct 29th pickup car in Sienna and drive through Montalcino, Montelpulciano and Pienza

Oct 30th drive to Assisi and check in (1 night) if time, drive to Cortona, Spello or Civita, drop off car

Oct 31st train to Rome (3 nights)

Nov 3-train to Sorrento (4 nights), 1/2 day in Pompeii (by train), 1/2 day in Sorrento
Nov 4-day trip to Naples and Ischia (by train or boat)
Nov 5-day trip to Capri
Nov 6-day trip along Amalfi coast on Bus, then once we reach Salerno, get off bus and take ferry to Positano and then back to Sorrento

Nov 7-9th--no plans yet

Nov 10th go back to Rome for 1 night so we can fly out next day!

Thank you!

Obviously, everyone is different, but I think you are trying to do too much.
As someone who did much the same thing on a honeymoon I can tell you that you might be in for more stress than you want in your first days as a married couple.
Travel in Italy is not always the easiest thing and I think that people underestimate just how much time it will take to rent the car, find the train, get food, etc.
It seems like you are going to beautiful places like Florence, Milan, and Sorrento, only to hop on more trains for day trips. Your itinerary seems to have a huge amount of travel time and not that much of actual exploration, hanging out, (being newlyweds) time. Maybe if you added some more time in Florence, Rome, etc. it would seem less rushed? Or cut out part of your northern itinerary?
Italy is a wonderful country and I know it is tempting to want to see it all but you will always have anniversaries!

Teegirl, I have started and aborted 3 answers to this post. Let me just say that I think you need to start over and decide on 6 destinations in 19 days, ending in Rome your last 4 nites. Something like this:
Arr. Milan--to CT--3 nites
To Florence--3 nites
Get car--to Tuscany--3 nites
Drive to Umbria base--2 nites
Drive to Sorrento--drop car--4 nites
Train to Rome--last 4 nites

Fill in the details later. You are making it too complex. Set your basic trip timing first, and forget one niters. Hope this helps.

I was thinking of the same kind of schedule that Bob proposed - one-nighters get tiring (packing/unpacking) very quickly.

In addition, I'd visit San G. during your time in Tuscany, rather than from Florence. You can easily find plenty to do in Florence for the time (3 nights?) you'll spend there - don't forget to include time for sitting in cafes people-watching.

I also just realized the time frame you're talking about. I don't know much about the Amalfi Coast, but I'm sure there are posters who can tell you what the weather will be like there at that time of year. In terms of the Cinque Terre then, I LOVE the Cinque Terre, but I'm not sure I'd want to go in early November. Other posters may be able to advise you better on that, as well. (Make another post on this topic, and put something like "Amalfi Coast/Cinque Terre in November" in your header.)

Given your time frame, you might want to skew your travel plans more toward city destinations, so if the weather is bad, you can do more indoor activities (of whatever type you choose).

Agree with all of the above.

Also, since you are a first-time poster, I will suggest that in future you include the name of the country and/or cities to which your post pertains. In this case, "Italy itinerary - need feedback," "Milan to Rome itinerary," or something along those lines.

Bob's suggestion is excellent. You may find that you'll want a car for a week (it's cheaper) and even having it for a couple of days while based in Sorrento, you can use it when you go to Pompeii, and perhaps explore that wonderful Amalfi Coast road (We actually enjoyed driving it! In November, you won't have droves and droves of cars or tour busses, so it shouldn't be too bad at all.) Then you can turn the car in before you go to finish off your trip in Rome. (You don't want to drive in the big cities, especially Rome, Naples or Florence, if you can avoid it. Otherwise, driving in Italy is a piece of cake.) You don't have to build your days around train/bus schedules if you've got a car.

Whoa there! Do you really want to spend your honeymoon checking in and out of 6+ hotels? Why check out of Florence just to travel 30 miles to stay in Siena? Slow down and catch up on the sleep you'll miss during your wedding. Italy is about taking your time, enjoying the sights, getting a little lost, and discovering incredible little trattorias and wine bars around every corner.

My wife and I had already visited Naples, Tuscany, Venice, and Piedmont before we got married, so our honeymoon consisted of a week in Rome (at the Albergo del Senato before its recent discovery by the major travel guides) and another week in a tiny little hillside villa in Umbria. We rented a car for Umbria and visited a different town or two every day - but were always glad to get back to Il Castello di Poreta in the evening. 19 nights is certainly a long time, but don't try to squeeze in too much. Think about what you really want - if it is sleepy little spots with plenty of charm but not much nightlife choose the Cinque Terra or the smaller towns of Tuscany and Umbria. If you want to be in a larger Tuscan town with more sights pick either Florence or Siena as your homebase (they're only 30 miles apart with frequent train service). Florence has more sights, but Siena is plenty impressive as well and it doesn't have the non-stop drone of Vespas fill Florence 24-7. Venice is a great honeymoon choice, as is Rome (stay in the Centro Storico area), and nothing compares with a day spent wandering Pompeii. But you can't and shouldn't try to do everything, especially on your honeymoon.

You clearly have done a lot of research, so why don't you think about what you and your fiance really want to see, and then cut your list in half and then come back to Fodors to get some concrete recommendations. You might hit Tuscany, Rome, Sorrento with three hotels/home bases. Given the length of your vacation, why not rent a pretty country spot in Tuscany or Umbria and use the savings to rent a car - car rentals for less than a week are usually a rip-off in Italy anyway. Finally, good luck, and Congratulations on the engagement!

Remember this is a honeymoon and you will just want to enjoy each other instead of running all over Italy.

There are a lot of good suggestions here, but I would cut your itinerary down to spending 5-7 days in each of 3 locations.

For romantic atmosphere you cannot beat either the Amalfi coast or Venice, but that does not mean I am suggesting you put both of them in your trip. That is up to you, but a week in Venice, followed by another in Positano/Sorrento (day trips to Pompeii and Capri) followed by Rome at the finish does not look like a bad itinerary to me.

Please note that the entire continent of Europe is a museum. Wherever you go, there are plenty of things to do and see to keep you happy in any one location for a month.

By the way, I do take my own advice. Most of my recent travel in Western Europe has been through home exchanges. I generally stay 3-4 weeks and use my home exchange location (wherever it is) as a central point for sightseeing with very few nights in hotels.

I would definitely agree with cutting down on the major stopover places; also agreethat Siena can be done as a day trip from Florence..easily by car, bus, or train.

My first question is: how did you pick these particular destinations? Are you going to these places because they seem to be the places everyone always talks about or because they actually seem interesting to you?

You are trying to see a lot in three weeks and yes, you can do it, but I think seeing fewer spots and at a more leisurely pace might be better in the long run.

Thanks for all of your help. We will definately scale things down. I appreciate all the advice!

One more thing, TeeGirl...Welcome aboard, and don't be a stranger!

And by the way, congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. Marriage is wonderful institution...as long as you don't mind being institutionalized.

Hi Tee,

In our Sept-Oct trip we stayed 20 nights in Italy. You might find some useful ideas.

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

PS

>Nov 6-day trip along Amalfi coast on Bus, then once we reach Salerno, get off bus and take ferry to Positano and then back to Sorrento<

I think that you are doing this backwards. Here is the Ferry schedule

Salerno (P.zza della Concordia) ? Amalfi: 3.5 E 35 min
08,40 ? 09,40 - 11,30 ? 14,10 ? 15,30

I won't repeat what the others have said although I generally agree you're trying to do too much.
But one of the glaring things is: I don't believe it's possible to visit San Gimagnano by train!

Thanks to all of your suggestions, we have modifield our HM trip somewhat. Please let me know what you think. We want to be busy and experience both the big cities and hill towns. Is this a more realistic itinerary? 18 nights late October, early November. (We are also looking for wine tour recommendations in/near the following towns)

Fly into Rome (5 nights)

Train to Florence (4 nights) with 2 days trips to Lucca and San G.

Pick up car & visit Montalcino and end in Sienna (2 nights in Sienna)

Scenic drive visiting Montalpulciano and Pienza, end in Cortona (3 nights)include day trip to Assisi

Drive back to Florence, drop car and board train to Venice (4 nights)

Fly out of Venice

We don't want to base in just one Tuscan town, that I why we thought Siena and Cortona would give us a flavor of both towns. Doable? Thanks!

TeeGirl,
This is becoming a honeymoon trip!!!
Congratulations... for the marriage and the scaling down!

Hi tgirl,

Much better.

San G is very close to Siena. I would suggest saving that for after you get your car.

Enjoy your honeymoon.

Congratulations - not only on your marriage, but on being quick learners :-)

This is so much better than your first plan. You will actually feel you've been on a leisurely honeymoon instead of on a forced march. You will love this trip . . .

Much better--you are listening.
Ira is right--do Siena as you drive to Montalcino. Also, drive to Venice and drop there. Why backtrack to Florence to drop the car--you will be halfway to venice by then. GET A GOOD MAP, and run viamichelin.com for your driving routes. Buona fortuna !

OOPS ! I meant San Gim. enorute.