thursdaysd

I thought the Amalfi Coast was wonderful, but I wasn't there in July. I would absolutely avoid the Cinqueterra in July, it will be mobbed.

You will not be effectively backtracking to Madrid since you won't leave the airport. There will be a MUCH greater selection of flights from Madrid than Seville.

Jean

IMO, you won't know whether a place meets your expectations until you've been there. It doesn't matter what anyone here thinks about the Amalfi Coast (v. the Cinque Terre or anywhere else) as we all have our own expectations and criteria. Just FYI, summer destinations are crowded in the summer. Some places, like the Cinque Terre, stunningly crowded.

http://onceinalifetimetravel.com/wp-...nque-Terre.jpg

I do think where reality may not meet your expectations is how long it takes to get from place to place. You can toss up a salad of any number of places that look close on a map, but that doesn't mean you can visit and enjoy them in the 10 full days you have after Seville. Moving between destinations can take a half day or more. As a random example, Nice to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre takes 5+ hours by train. Vernazza to Rome is another 5+ hours. So there's the equivalent of one day lost in transit.

dwdvagamundo

aulauren--as your must sees are Rome and the Amalfi Coast, do that after your visit with your family. Fly out of Seville or Madrid to Rome and fly out of Rome or Naples back home.

You've got enough time for three or four full days in Rome and the rest in Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Be sure to see Pompeii and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Will the AC be hot and crowded? Yes, but also worth it.

ualauren

Yowza cinqueterre looks crazy! Not entirely ruling it out but definitely something to consider.

I do believe you are right that I don't fully grasp the travel times. However, on travel days, I do sort of write them off as a wasted day, and any extra time in that day to sightsee is seen as a bonus. For now, this is my rough plan...emphasis on rough.

7/1- depart san diego
7/2 - arrive to seville (10:05am)
7/3 - seville
7/4 - seville -> florence (travel day)
7/5 - florence -> cinquterre (travel day)
7/6 - cinqueterre
7/7 - cinqueterre -> florence -> naples/amalfi (travel day)
7/8 - amalfi
7/9 - amalfi
7/10 - amalfi
7/11 - amalfi -> rome (travel day)
7/12 - rome
7/13 - rome
7/14 - rome
7/15 - depart rome

If we did the florence/cinqueterre situation, I would hope to fly into florence, and take a train direct to Cinqueterre to have 2 nights in Cinqueterre. However, it may be necessary to fly into Florence, overnight near train station, and take first train out.

Ugh, Florence is so alluring though with all its art and history! Seems a shame not to have a day there....would it be possible to shave a day off of Amalfi and do an extra day for Florence instead?

StuDudley

>>>do a day in Florence and a day in Cinqueterre. <<<


NO, no, no. No one-dayers or one-nighters. Too much time getting there and very little time being there. Get a Rick Steves video for Florence & the CT if you just want to see what they are like.

My wife & I have spent 2 months in Europe every year starting in 1999. Before that, we spent 3-4 weeks each year in Europe starting in 1977. The Amalfi Coast is one of our very favorite locations. Stay in Positano for the best experience, IMO - not Sorrento or the village of Amalfi.

We were in the CT before it go mobbed (1996) - and it was still too crowded for us then (early Sept). I would not go to the CT in July. I would not go to Florence in July either because of the crowds (we're spending 5 nights there next October)

Stu Dudley

StCirq

<<I realize this is choppy, but we likely won't be back to Europe for a decade or so after this trip and want to make it count!>>

Spending all that time on transportation instead of actually seeing anything would never "count" for me.

Bad plan. Do Seville, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome.

thursdaysd

What Stu said. That is a horrible itinerary. Less is more, especially in July when places like Florence will be packed with tour groups, and the locals will be traveling on their own holidays. And there is little point in going to both the CT and the AC on the same trip.

First, decide what exactly you want to see in these places, and how long that will take. Then sit down with the blank calendar I recommended earlier and start writing things into the days - using pencil, lol. Bear in mind that Spain and Italy are the home of siestas, where things tend to shut down in the afternoon - check opening hours carefully.

PalenQ

I would not go to Florence in July either because of the crowds (we're spending 5 nights there next October)>

In July Florence also swelters -avg high in 90s I believe and even humid at times -that with the crowds can make what should be an awesome city less than enjoyable.

That said better to spend one uncomfy day in Florence than none at all- CT will take a lot of time getting there and IMO you will find the Amalfi much nicer and though crowded there is a lot more area for crowds to spread out in.

Scrap CT and spend a few days in Florence -maybe doing a day trip to Pisa or some dreamy Tuscan hill town - both easily done by train or bus. Siena is a great hill town about an hour each way by bus from Florence.

uhoh_busted

I wouldn't do both CT and the AC. I think you have more options with your limited time to do Seville, (maybe Nice, France or Florence) Rome and the AC. If the weather is hot, you will want to take things slowly . I'd pick no more than 4 destinations, because you really want to have time to enjoy Rome, and there are some great day trips you can take from Rome to get you out of the big city if you feel like it is too much. (Orvieto is a great day trip, or even just a quick overnight jaunt by train). You've got a good idea with your chart -- you've got 13 nights. 2 for Seville, 2 for Florence, 3 (or 4?) for the AC which would give you 5 or 6 for Rome.

Depending on low-cost euro flights, you might be able to sneak Montpelier or Nice, France in there but then you'd be taking nights away from the AC and Rome.

ualauren

Thank you all for the helpful input! This is all starting to feel less overwhelming. As it stands now, we don't intend to do more than 4 locations: Seville, Florence, Amalfi, and Rome.

Thankfully, it seems there is a high-speed train from Florence to Naples, so we can get to Naples in just under 3 hours and by 9am on travel day!

I have studied art history, so Florence is a big draw. Plus, a day-trip to Tuscany (Chianti?) for wine sounds fantastic! Thankfully, being from San Diego, we are accustomed to warm weather, and have an idea of what heat to expect! The last time we did a Europe trip was also in July - will just have to eat LOTS of gelato!

Here is a little bit more polished itinerary - thoughts would be appreciated! My only concern is Seville being too rushed and if we should pull a day from Amalfi to add to Seville...

7/1 - depart san diego
7/2 - arrive to seville 10:05am
7/3 - seville
7/4 - seville > florence (travel day - afternoon flight)
7/5 - florence
7/6 - florence
7/7 - florence > naples > amalfi hotel tbd? (travel day - early train)
7/8 - amalfi
7/9 - amalfi
7/10 - amalfi
7/11 - amalfi > rome (travel day - early train)
7/12 - rome
7/13 - rome
7/14 - rome
7/15 - depart rome 11:05am

StuDudley

Don't make uncancellable plans for the day trip to Chianti from Florence. Make this decision on the morning of 7/6. I bet you'll want to stay in Florence that day.

San Diego does not have hot weather - compared to Florence in mid-July with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

Stu Dudley

HappyTrvlr

Much better. I think you'll find that you will like Spain a lot. I could spend weeks in Seville and I have traveled in most of Europe.
Will you spend some time in Naples too?
For Florence,get reservations for L' Accademia("David") and the Uffizi in advance. A day in Chianti on Rt.222 would be wonderful. Look at visiting Panzano, Castellina and Siena.We have spent a lot of time there and keep returning.
You will most likely need to book a private driver to get you from the Amalfi Coast to the Naples Train Station. Alternatively, consider spending the night in Naples before your early train departure. It is an amazing city.

ualauren

Wonderful! I am glad this is looking good to the experts! We have not yet sorted out our exact plans for the Amalfi Coast, but I do know Positano, Capri, and Sorrento are at the top of my list. My husband has actually been when he went on a family cruise, and enjoyed it. He did not get too excited when in Naples, however.

What would our best plan be our our time along the Amalfi Coast? Should we stay in a different hotel each night, have one home base and do day trips, or a combination? The proximity of everything along the coast is confusing right now and a bit daunting.

We will arrive to naples on 7/7 in the morning, have three full days, and then depart on 7/11 (time TBD).

Any reason we need a private driver for our return to the train station when journeying from Naples to Rome?

thursdaysd

That sounds like a bare minimum for the AC. You might find my TR helpful WRT what to see.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...om-s-italy.cfm

I didn't bother with a private driver, but you might be too early for public transport.

StuDudley

We've always stayed at the Palazzo Murat in Positano (4 times). Excellent location. Close to the bus stop. We've also stayed on Capri for 2 nights & Ravello twice.

There are buses that can take you from Positano to the other villages.

I'm not a big fan of Sorrento. It's not really on the Amalfi Coast & because it has easy road access - that's where all the large tour groups stay and/or visit on day trips. The area in Positano where you will "wander" doesn't really have streets - thus no cars. The town of Amalfi also has road access - so lots of tour groups there too. We usually spend most of our time in Positano.

Just stay in Positano. No need to stay anywhere else if you only have 4 nights & 3 days available. If you had 5 nights I would suggest 3 in Positano and 2 in Capri.

Stu Dudley

ualauren

Thank you everyone for your wonderful responses and input!

Now to get down to budget - what is a realistic daily amount to expect to pay in dollars for food? Assuming we grab something quick for breakfast, and do either sit down lunch and dinners most days, including wine. Plus, gelato, or occasional treat!

StCirq

Stop thinking in dollars. The currency of Spain and Italy is euros. Spain will be cheaper than Italy. In each country there is a wide range. It depends on what you choose to eat and where you choose to eat it.

PalenQ

Assuming we grab something quick for breakfast,>

Hotel breakfasts may be included in the room cost or optional extra- if extra still a good deal usually -buffet style often means you can load you tummy for quite a while.

Like StCirq says costs can vary widely depending on food options, hotel options, etc.

thursdaysd

Starting point on costs:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/money-costs

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/money-costs

But is very much under your control. Your hotel will probably incude breakfast. In Italy a pannini or pizza for lunch will be cheap, a sit down dinner with tablecloth, china, wine and multiple courses can go as high as you are willing to pay. Coffee will cost less if you drink it standing at the bar and more if you are outside sitting down and enjoying the view. Do not tip at American levels.

ualauren

Great, thanks. I mostly ask in dollars so we can save accordingly. I realize euros are the currency though.

Is tipping at all customary? I was under the impression Europeans did not tip.

I imagine many of our meals will be sit down, but not fine dining. Just a ballpark figure would be helpful for say, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. We tend to be foodies, but not fancy. At home we prefer more gastropub style eateries with good ambiance - but not stuffy.