soozoom

Hi. My husband and I are planning our very first trip to Italy in November! We're flying into Venice on the 7th and out of Rome on the 20th. (We're in our 50s and Canadian, by the way.)

We want to spend time in Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque-Terre and Rome. We know that's a lot to squeeze into two weeks, though.

Here's tentatively what we're thinking, but we're open to suggestions for improving it.

Nov. 7-9 - Venice
Nov 10-11 Florence
Nov 12-16 - Tuscany (base ourselves somewhere, rent a car, and take day trips to Tuscan towns and Cinque-Terre)
Nov 17-19 - Rome

In addition to general feedback on this plan, I'm specifically wondering about the Tuscany portion of the trip. Where's a good place to base ourselves? Is the Cinque-Terre too far for a day trip? (We really want to hike the Cinque-Terre and we might never make it back to Italy so this might be our only chance...but maybe it's too much for one trip? What do you think?)

I'm looking forward to reading all your suggestions and advice. Thank you!

RonZ

Lots of info.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Italy

http://wikitravel.org/en/Tuscany

RonZ

http://wikitravel.org/en/Cinque_Terre

You would probably be picking up a car at the Florence airport, dropping it off at a town on the way to Rome, then catching a train to go the rest of the way.

Driving routes and approximate times on viamichelin.

Opus36

I am in the middle of planning almost the same itinerary, but in reverse.
If you really like to visit 5terre, stay an extra night in Florence. You can take the train from Florence stop off quickly in Pisa along the way, towards Monterosso then train back to Florence.Makes for a long day. Use www.trenitalia.com to find a timetable.

Staying in Siena after, as Ron says, picking up a rental car(if you need an automatic, they may have the better chance of getting one). Then from there you can drive around the countryside like Abruzzo, Cortina, Montepulciano, Val D'orcio etc for a the next couple of days.

Then off to Roma!

Hope this helps!

Lisa

Opus36

Oops, I meant to say picking up the rental car from Florence Airport on the way to Siena.

Lisa

jamikins

I am not sure cinque Terre is a good choice for Nov...it could be rainy and cool and a lot of the easier hikes are still closed after the landslides a few years ago. I would drop this area for this trip. You could then spend more time enjoying your other areas.

Whether it us too far for a day trip depends on where in Tuscany you stay. If you want to stay in Lucca you could do it, but then Southern Tuscany is probably too far for a day trip. Vice versa, if you stay in Val d'Orcia then it is too far.

dreamon

If you arrive in Florence on the 10th and leave on the 12th, and you have a car, then I'd consider staying in a smaller town and visiting Florence as a day trip (you've only got one full day there anyway). But if you want to use trains and buses then maybe split your Tuscany time between Florence and a regional town like Siena or Lucca, with a couple of day trips. btw Florence is in Tuscany.

nytraveler

Agree that Nov is not the best time for the CT. Weather is likely to be cold and rainy, hiking trails slippery, many places closed for the season, and simply not very enjoyable.

While Tuscany will have the same weather (assume chilly, perhaps a crisp day, perhaps rain) and the countryside won't look like much (gray and dreary) at least the hill towns have a lot to see/do indoors when you get rain.

jamikins

I wouldn't say Tuscany is gray - we were in Southern Tuscany over nye last year and it was wet but lovely. You can see my pics here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7639164500734/

soozoom

Thanks everyone. Your pix are lovely jamikins. Made me hungry.

Weather is relative - we're Canadian, so we're pretty hardy, nytraveler.
But good points about the CT trails potentially being slippery and/or closed. If we decide we can skip the CT this time, what would be a good central base town for exploring Tuscany from? We want to do a little bit of everything - wine, food, sites, exploring, hiking, etc.

bobthenavigator

Many here prefer the area south of Siena for the best of Tuscany. But, Nov. is not the best time for any part of Tuscany. I would stay in a town that time of year. Here are some of my favorite places, both rural and in-town.


BOB’S FAVORITE DIGS IN TUSCANY
A. RURAL LOCATIONS: All have parking and good food options nearby

1. Relais La Saracina www.lasaracina.it 230 to 300E
Fabulous country home near Montepulciano—helpful owners

2. Cretaiole Agriturismo http://www.cretaiole.it/ Good value for families
Isabella also has 2 apts. in Castelmuzio for rent—wonderful—see her site.

3. Terre di Nano www.terredinano.com 100 to 155
Both rooms and apartments at rural Agriturismo near Monticchiello

4. Casanova di Pescille http://www.casanovadipescille.com/ 100E
Rural B&B 3 KM from famed San Gimignano—we loved the views of San Gim.

5. Fattoria Tregole www.fattoria-tregole.com 110E to 180E
Has both B&B and apartment accommodations. Near Castellina in Chianti

6. Agriturismo apts. near San Quirico— www.poggiolo.info/ About 110E

7. New historic B&B north of Pienza. http://www.camprena.it/index.htm
Site of filming for THE ENGLISH PATIENT About 90E for double

8. http://www.borgoargenina.it/index.html A special rural B&B in Chianti.
The lovely owner, Elena, will make you feel like family. 170E for double

B. IN-TOWN LOCATIONS: For walking convenience to shops & ristorantes.

1. Palazzo del Capitano www.palazzodelcapitano.com 170 to 210E
Very nice small hotel in center of San Quirico—perfect location to explore.

2. Vecchia Oliviera www.vecchiaoliviera.com/ 150 to 200E
Nice 4 star hotel at the gate into lovely Montalcino---has pool.

3. Palazzina Cesari www.montalcinoitaly.com 80 to 110E
Lovely small B&B in heart of Montalcino—great value—2 night stay minimum.

4. Locanda di San Francesco www.locandasanfrancesco.it 180 to 200E
New boutique B&B in a lovely location in Montepulciano—great reviews !

5. Politian apartments http://www.politian.com/ Good value apts. with
minimum stay of 3 nights in Montepulciano---helpful host---85E

6. Palazzo Ravizza www.palazzoravizza.it 170 to 250E
Very nice & popular hotel in Siena with parking.

jamikins

You are welcome

We are Canadian as well and being wet in a dead seaside town just doesn't appeal to us - even less hiking in it. Italy isn't warm all year round so make sure your expectations are right - do some research on temperatures etc.

We enjoyed staying In Montepulciano and found it central to what we wanted to see.

sandralist

It can be beautiful in le Cinque Terre in November when the sun is out. The low angle of light is beautiful and the drinking party people, who think an Italian village is "dead" without a lot of tourists, aren't there.

It is usually best to keep it as a "maybe" to do only if the sun is shining, either as a day trip or only book a hotel if you know you can cancel it last minute (but honestly you don't need to book a place in le Cinque Terre in advance for November.

People who tell you Tuscany isn't nice in November have never been there in November. Ask them to tell you what year or years they went in November. I've Tuscany in November several times, and while I did get rain on one day, the other many days were simply gorgeous.

I recently provided a link to a description of Italy in November from someone who goes nearly every year. As you can see from the words of people who have actually done it, it can be wonderful.

For Venice, you do need to be careful to book a hotel away from San Marco, more in the direction of the train station (but not right near it) to avoid any possibility of low tidal flooding which can affect hotels in one-half of Venice (again, near San Marco).

Have a great trip whatever you decide to do.

jamikins

I just want to say that while we enjoying drinking wine we are certainly NOT party people. We loved our time in Tuscany mid-winter and enjoy going to off the beaten path places. We are spending nye this year in burgundy in Beaune. Small seaside villages where you want to go hiking is not where I would go in November just to clarify.

Enjoy your planning!

sandralist

Here are pictures and words from someone who actually goes to the Italian Riviera in November, and therefore has personal experience.

http://goeurope.about.com/od/italytr...Pictures.--00/

Many people have reasons not to go many places. Only on Fodor's do people jump in to tell other people that places they wouldn't go to are "dead" or that "no place in Tuscany is best in November" based on no personal experience whatsoever or the presumption that what they like is "best." For many other people, November actually IS best for Tuscany and the sea and the hiking in le Cinque Terre can be exactly what they want to do -- and with good reason!

jamikins

I think people come here for personal experiences and as long as we explain our personal preferences people are intelligent enough to take or leave advice.

No point in posting if you don't want personal opinions on a public forum - you don't have to agree with any of them. So take what you will and do more research to ensure you get what you want from your trip!

Happy planning!

soozoom

For the record, I'm the original poster and I DO want personal opinions! I don't expect everybody to agree about the best places or the best time of year or the best activities or anything else for that matter. Just tell me the best places to go for the things that YOU love about Italy in November.

jamikins

Soozoom - you will have an amazing time whatever you choose I am sure!

If you are in montepulciano and like meat (done rare!) you may want to make reservations here

http://www.acquacheta.eu

Enjoy!