Dayle

This will be my third trip to Italy and I have a good idea of where to go and what to see, but I would really appreciately some help with the details from some of our Fodorite experts! Also, I am going solo this time and need to stay within a budget (100E). Any good lodging suggestions you have will also be appreciated.

I have been to Rome, Amalfi Coast, Tuscany & Umbria before. Going back to see more!

Su 11: arrive Rome AM, straight to Positano

M 12: Ravello day trip, ferry to/bus return, enjoy evening in Positano

T 13: Early hydrofoil to Capri, walk to viewpoints, possible boat tour around island? Stay Capri.

W 14: Mid-day hydrofoil to Sorrento or Naples, see Arch. museum or Pompeii in the afternoon, depending on arriving Sorrento or Naples. Stay 1 night

Th 15: Check luggage at Pompeii or museum, then evening train to Rome.

F 15 - 19: Arrive Rome, 5 nights, 4 days
See: Vatican museums (tour) & Sistene Chapel, Trastevere, Borghese Gallery, Nero's House, Ancient Rome tour, Pantheon, key churches, shop a little.


T 20: Early train to Assisi. Stay 1 night.

W 21: Pick up car (Foligno?)& drive to Cortona. Stay 1 night.

Th 22 - 24: Drive to Monte Oliveto, continue to Montalcino. 3 nights Montalcino. Serious wine tasting.
See: San Antimo, Pienza, Montepulciano.

Su 25: Need suggestion for a great place to stay the last night before departing from Fiumicino on 9/26. Somewhere near, but not at,the airport? Where to drop car?

Questions: Is 1 full day enough for Capri?

Logistics for seeing Pompeii and the Arch. museum. Pompeii will be a second visit to spend more time. I know I can check my bag at Pompeii Scavi, but what about the musuem? Should I stay in Sorrento or Naples? All the talk about crime in Naples makes me a little hesitant. The Naples train station is the only place in Italy where I felt uneasy.

Where to pick up and drop the car? I prefer small towns with easy access, like Orvieto, so I don't have to deal with traffic and navigating when driving solo. Orvieto drop off is closed Sundays, and I think Chiusi is too. Suggestions?

Grazie mille!

StuDudley

Your itinerary sounds fantastic.

1 day in Capri is plenty

Our best friends have a second home in San Quirico - just east of Montalcino. W'eve spent a lot of time driving & hiking the back roads in that area. I have a 20+ page "all Italy" itinerary, with a heavy emphasis on that area of Tuscany. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want a copy. I have some Capri & Positano suggestions too.

The last night, stay in Sresa on Lake Maggiore - it's an easy drive to Malpinsa. On Monday, there will be horrendous commute traffic around Milan, so don't stay anywhere where you have to drive in the commute direction. Stresa to the airport is too far out to be affected by this commute (at least it was the last time I was there over 10 years ago).

Stu Dudley
San Mateo (San Francisco), Ca

Dayle

Thanks Stu! I actually requested your tuscany info from you last week and you sent it right away! So good of you to share with everyone.

I'm returning from Rome, though. Oops, did I get my airport names mixed up? The Rome airport is called Leonardo di Vinci, or Fiumicino, right? Do you or your friends have any suggestions near for the last night.

I hate the thought of staying at an airport Hilton my last night in Italy...

Thanks!

Laidback

Stu,
Your friends wouldn't be the owners of Bella Casa in San Quirico, would they? We stayed in San Quirico last fall and really enjoyed it.

Patrick

One DAY in Capri is not enough. But one day plus one NIGHT is. I'm just glad you get to see "both" Capris, the busy daytripper place and the spectacular night place.

I think your plan is great. Like you I enjoy covering a lot of territory and I think your itinerary seems well thought out.

I was confused for a moment too about the Stresa recommendation. I think it was Stu, not you who got the airport names mixed up.

I'd do Orvieto as your last night if that gives you time to get to Rome airport. What's the deal about dropping off the car in Orvieto? Dropping off the car at Fiumicino was one of the easiest drop-offs we've ever done. And you can drive there easier than taking the trains anyway. Or am I misunderstanding your question.

This past year we stayed in Naples two nights at the Mercure Angioini. It was a surprisingly nice hotel which is just about a block or so from the boat docks where you can come in from Capri and just wheel your luggage to the hotel. It is also right at Municipio where you can get a bus right to the train station when you go, or of course get a taxi. We also walked from there to the Archeology Museum and over much of Naples. We didn't venture into the area around the train station,but we really enjoyed Naples.

Dayle

Thanks Patrick,

I always enjoy your intelligent comments here...we stayed in Orvieto 3 nights on the last trip and loved it. Wouldn't mind returning, but always enjoy new places!

I was concerned about trying to drive to the airport. I prefer to avoid the Autostrada (me, who learned to drive on the southern CA freeways)! I suppose I could go on secondary roads to get there, right?

I just remember how many times we looped around Siena trying to find the right road.....it was the only place we got a little lost.

Patrick

Hmmm. We got lost in Siena too, but I can't imagine anything easier than the well marked approach to the airport on the Autostrata. The signs for rental car return were clearer than at most airports in the US.

You might do a search for "hotels near Rome airport". I know a number of threads have discussed the issue of where to spend that last night.