We are plannning our first trip to Italy in September 3-14.
This is what what thinking for now

Eurofly from JFK to Naples on Sep 3rd departing at 1035pm and arrives at 110p

Villa Maria in Sorrento Sep 4 - 8, for 4 nights

Le Ranaie in San Gimignano Sep 8 - 11, for 3 nights

Atlantico in Rome Sep 11 - 14, for 3 nights

3 Days Italian Rail Pass 2nd Class

Eurofly from Rome to JFK on Sep 14 departing at 250pm and arrives at 605pm

Does this seem to be enough time in these places and has anyone ever been to these hotels?

Also we don't know much about Tuscany and I would like to be in a central location is San Gimignano the right place to stay?

Thanks so much
Sally

first or flirt trip? looks good.

Have you compared the rail pass price with point-to-point tickets? Usually passes in Italy don't save money unless you are traveling great distances.

Sounds like a nice trip.

Villa Maria in Sorrento is very nice. The location is great. It's at the end of the walking street so it's perfect to go up one side and back down the other. It is however at a busy intersection and can get noisy. I find a street side balcony a fascinating place to watch the cars and vespas navigate through. You should have sound proof shutters for sleeping.

How are you getting from Naples airport to Sorrento?

There's no train station in San G. Nearest is Poggibonsi, where you get a bus or a taxi.

It's frustrating to imagine you in the heart of Tuscany without a car. But you could manage a bus to Siena. So a day in San G and a day in Siena isn't bad.

Not sure how I'm going to get to Sorrento a friend of mine suggested getting a cab it's about 100 eu.
Hmm that' s what I thought about San G and that's really the last thing I want to do get on a train than a bus. What other town would you suggest that would be prime location for visiting Tuscany.

Naples to Sorrento is easy. Curreriviaggi.it offers direct bus connection, about an hour with a gorgeous view of the Sorrento coast and a very interesting and fun squeeze through the coastal towns. Alibus goes from the airport to the central train station then the port. You can take that and circumvesuvian train to sorrento or a hydrofoil from the port.

I would stay in Florence for the Tuscan portion of your trip.

It has the main train station - tons of things to see and do within the city itself, plus you can easily do daytrips to San Gimignano, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, all by train and/or bus.

If you leave Sorrento late morning of September 8th then I think that you will be getting in to Florence mid to late afternoon..you can just walk around the city center, see the Duomo, Baptistery, walk down to the Ponte Vecchio then dinner.

Day 2 in Florence could be wandering around, Uffizi, seeing David, Piazza Michealangelo, Boboli Gardens, etc.

Day 3 would be a day trip to Siena (you can take the bus from city center to city center and it only costs $13 Euro return) and spend the entire day in Siena.

Or

You could hook up with a winery tour, or a tour that goes to both San Gimignano (morning) and Siena (afternoon)

Or

If you love horses, you can do what we did and go on a horsebackriding/wine tasting tour. They pick you up in downtown Florence and drop you off 8 hours later very happy, very relaxed and you got to see some beautiful countryside and meet some wonderful people.

Any way you look at it though - it sounds like a great trip, I am totally jealous and I know you will have a fabulous time no matter what.

FYI - pack light...it's hot in Italy in the beginning of September.

Though, personally, I would love the flexibility of having a car for both Sorrento and San G destinations, local buses and trains in Italy are a great alternative way to go...I agree you probably won't need the pass, just buy train tickets as you go.

Is the pass more expensive than buying ticket by ticket. How much is it to rent a car?

Kittpom,

Check these two sites:

www.trenitalia.com for train schedules and prices

www.autoeurope.com for car rental

Buon viaggio!

We visited San Gimignano as a day-trip from Florence. The half-day visit was plenty, not a place I'd stay for multiple nights, though. I agree with the idea of staying in Florence, especially in September it won't be crowded, I'd guess. We were there in May and loved it. Lots of day-trips from there if you really must leave Florence! Have fun planning. (Also, double-check the idea of a rail pass. For such short trips, it might not make sense. Call BudgetEuropeTravel.com for help.)
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I think the only problem I see is that there is not nearly enough time in Rome. I'd spend at least one more night there, if not two.

Jules

Sounds that Florence is the best central location. How would I go about hooking up with a wine tour. Our favorite wines are Montepulciano and Chianti. Is that that's near Florence? Our first anniversary is on September 08.

Hi K,

> How would I go about hooking up with a wine tour. Our favorite wines are Montepulciano and Chianti. <

Do you want to visit a winery, or do you want to taste wine?

I think both right?

Hi K,

I asked because many times people want to taste wines, not necessarily visit a winery to see how wines are made.

Still both?

We hope to vist and try or buy some wine