DH and I just booked our flights into Rome, May 21-May31 (arriving on the 22nd). DH speaks fluent Italian and we're familiar with northern Italy but have never ventured south of Rome. We need lots of help!

We'd like to spend a few days in Rome, then the rest of the time in the Amalfi coast and Tuscany, preferably in Chianti classico.

Can anyone recommend a particular order we should visit? Our flight lands at 12:30 pm on the 22nd. My thought is that we should stay in Rome then. Would you recommend Tuscany after that or Amalfi? Can anyone recommend the best routes to drive? We are renting a car.

Also, we need recommendations on hotels on the Amalfi coast and in Tuscany. We'd like to spend no more than $200/night if possible. We're thinking of the San Anselmo in Rome since we stayed their and liked it 5 years ago, but are definitely open to other suggestions.

Any suggestions, tips, not to miss sights, etc., are welcome, I think we need to book fast before hotels fill up. THANK YOU!

Hi Nina,

I suggest that after 2 nights in Rome you train to Sorrento, spend a few nights on the AC, pick up a car in Sorrento and drive to Tuscany.

If you are flying out of Rome, you can drop off your car in Orvieto before heading for FCO (or drop the car off at FCO).

If you don't mind paying less than $200/nite, we found the Hotel Le Sirene in Praiano to be quite pleasant.

See www.lesirene.it

OOPs,

Sould ave been "train to Naples, where you can eiter go by public transportation or have a driver take you to your hotel".

Thanks, but is it prohibitively expensive to drop off a car in a different location than where it was picked up, like in the US? Would it be more cost effective to train from Rome to Amalfi, train back to Rome and then p/u the car there for Tuscany so it can be returned back to Rome when we leave?

Ira, we'd like to keep the hotel under $200, are you saying Le Sirene is more or less than that? I didn't quite understand that part of your post, thanks again.

Ira, I checked out the website, it looks lovely and looks like the price is less than $200/night. Thanks so much, just what we're looking for!

As best I know, if there are drop off charges they are not very large as long as you stay in Italy.

Many people have recommended www.autoeurope.com.

Thanks Ira, you've been a big help.

You are welcome, nina.

Have a great trip.