Help with itinerary for 9 day April honeymoon in Italy
Dec 30th, 2012, 03:44 PM
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Help with itinerary for 9 day April honeymoon in Italy
Hi everyone! I am planning a 9 day honeymoon to Italy in April and have been completely overwhelmed by where to go and what to see. There is just so much to see and do. We are pretty active and looking for 60/40 split with touring/relaxation. The main places on our list were Tuscany/Florence and the Amalfi Coast. I am struggling a bit with Rome because it seems like one of those places that we should check off the list since we'll be so close, but doesn't sound like the most romantic place. I do, however, think that we would doing a Vatican tour and seeing the Colosseum.
How would you suggest making the most of a 9 day honeymoon in April in terms of a suggested itinerary with those places in mind? Again, we definitely want to see some major sights but we also want to relax, wander around the piazzas, sit at outdoor cafes and have wine and great food, etc. Oh, other details: I have been to Italy before but as a child, so for the most part, I would consider us first timers. Also, the 9 days include travel from the USA
Thank you!
How would you suggest making the most of a 9 day honeymoon in April in terms of a suggested itinerary with those places in mind? Again, we definitely want to see some major sights but we also want to relax, wander around the piazzas, sit at outdoor cafes and have wine and great food, etc. Oh, other details: I have been to Italy before but as a child, so for the most part, I would consider us first timers. Also, the 9 days include travel from the USA
Thank you!
Dec 30th, 2012, 04:46 PM
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Agree that with 7 days on the ground you should stick to 2 hotels at most. You're going to have to decide what is MOST important to you - and take into account time of year and weather. I love the AC but April is too early for beach weather. It should be pleasant weather for touring - but no beach or pools.
And your relaxing - lovely meals with wine and sitting in a piazza at a cafe people watching can be done anywhere. One of my favorite places in the piazza in front of the Pantheon in Rome - beautiful historic building, piazza with several lovely cafes and a great place to relax and listen to the choir practicing in one of the nearby churches.
I would decide on the sights that you really want - and pick a couple of places to concentrate on.
And your relaxing - lovely meals with wine and sitting in a piazza at a cafe people watching can be done anywhere. One of my favorite places in the piazza in front of the Pantheon in Rome - beautiful historic building, piazza with several lovely cafes and a great place to relax and listen to the choir practicing in one of the nearby churches.
I would decide on the sights that you really want - and pick a couple of places to concentrate on.
Dec 30th, 2012, 05:09 PM
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fly into Naples...spend three nights here http://www.groupon.it/deals/napoli/S...House/14911144
then travel to either Venice or Florence check groupon in those cities for deals ie. http://www.groupon.it/deals/napoli/S...House/14911144
purchase train tickets 120 days in advance is 9 euros
then travel to either Venice or Florence check groupon in those cities for deals ie. http://www.groupon.it/deals/napoli/S...House/14911144
purchase train tickets 120 days in advance is 9 euros
Dec 31st, 2012, 07:04 AM
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Thoughts about this itinerary?
Day 1: Fly into Florence- arriving in the morning, so take the rest of that day to wander a bit, shop and explore. Overnite in Florence.
Day 2: ½ day tour to Pisa/ rest of day to wander and explore.
Ovenite in Florence
Day 3- train to Siena- spend time exploring Siena Overnite in Siena
Day 4- winery and vineyard tour around Tuscany Overnite in Siena
Day 5- tour of San Gimignano? Or a tour of some other Tuscan towns. Overnite in Siena
Day 6- train to Rome Overnite in Rome
Day 7- Vatican City tour in the morning/ Rome city tour (including the Colosseum) in the afternoon. Overnite in
Rome Day 8- Naples/Pompeii tour – full day OR spread out the Vatican City and City tour to 2 days and use the rest of the time to explore Rome.
Overnite in Rome Day 9- return home from Rome
Day 1: Fly into Florence- arriving in the morning, so take the rest of that day to wander a bit, shop and explore. Overnite in Florence.
Day 2: ½ day tour to Pisa/ rest of day to wander and explore.
Ovenite in Florence
Day 3- train to Siena- spend time exploring Siena Overnite in Siena
Day 4- winery and vineyard tour around Tuscany Overnite in Siena
Day 5- tour of San Gimignano? Or a tour of some other Tuscan towns. Overnite in Siena
Day 6- train to Rome Overnite in Rome
Day 7- Vatican City tour in the morning/ Rome city tour (including the Colosseum) in the afternoon. Overnite in
Rome Day 8- Naples/Pompeii tour – full day OR spread out the Vatican City and City tour to 2 days and use the rest of the time to explore Rome.
Overnite in Rome Day 9- return home from Rome
Dec 31st, 2012, 04:13 PM
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My thoughts are
(a) if you really want to see all these things on your honeymoon, then that is up to you and
(b) you might do better to go directly to Siena and see everything you want to see from Siena.
You are actually spending almost no time at all in Florence. You will arrive jet lagged, and that is not optimal for seeing art, which is the main reason Florence is an international destination. Shopping is fine in Siena.
So arriving in Florence, go directly to Siena by bus or train.
Day 1: Fly into Florence- go directly to Siena/overnite.
Day 2: Siena - overnite in Siena
Day 3 -- Day trip to Florence
Day 4- winery and vineyard tour around Tuscany.overnite in Siena
Day 5- tour of San Gimignano and Pisa (you can find professional tours like this)
Day 6- morning bus to Rome, head to the Vatican after lunch (last entry 3.30pm)
Day 7- Rome
Day 8- Rome & Ostia Antica if you feel like it and weather is good, or Pompei
Day 9- return home from Rome
If you were willing to rent a car, I think your days 4 & 5 would be more fun. On day 6, with an early start, you could take a 2 hour scenic drive from Siena to Chiusi, drop off the car by noon, and take the train to Rome.
That is logistically the way I would see the target destinations on your chosen itinerary, but I will share with you that I would not choose that trip for myself, especially not for a honeymoon. I would either spend all my time in Florence or Rome or Naples, in an apartment, or I would spend all my time in the countryside in an apartment on an agriturismo with a restaurant, and I would rent a car. I might spend 2 or 3 nights in Rome at the end, but I wouldn't go to the Vatican, nor would I go to Pompeii.
Basically, I'd trust in Italy to fascinate me and reward me with great art and historic sites even if I picked a very small range of motion. What makes Italy so special is the density of interest and the layering of history in almost every town. It's a bit like going to Switzerland and thinking you should move around a lot on buses and trains to see this famously beautiful peak or that famously beautiful peak, until you realize that the beautiful peak in front of your nose is really satisfying. You don't need 6 more of them. That's the way I feel, but if you are a student of italian history and Italian art, or someone who likes to check off major sightseeing targets so you can move on to new ones -- or whatever reason -- travel is all about pleasing yourself, and a honeymoon is about having a memorable time together, so keep that first and foremost and plan accordingly.
(a) if you really want to see all these things on your honeymoon, then that is up to you and
(b) you might do better to go directly to Siena and see everything you want to see from Siena.
You are actually spending almost no time at all in Florence. You will arrive jet lagged, and that is not optimal for seeing art, which is the main reason Florence is an international destination. Shopping is fine in Siena.
So arriving in Florence, go directly to Siena by bus or train.
Day 1: Fly into Florence- go directly to Siena/overnite.
Day 2: Siena - overnite in Siena
Day 3 -- Day trip to Florence
Day 4- winery and vineyard tour around Tuscany.overnite in Siena
Day 5- tour of San Gimignano and Pisa (you can find professional tours like this)
Day 6- morning bus to Rome, head to the Vatican after lunch (last entry 3.30pm)
Day 7- Rome
Day 8- Rome & Ostia Antica if you feel like it and weather is good, or Pompei
Day 9- return home from Rome
If you were willing to rent a car, I think your days 4 & 5 would be more fun. On day 6, with an early start, you could take a 2 hour scenic drive from Siena to Chiusi, drop off the car by noon, and take the train to Rome.
That is logistically the way I would see the target destinations on your chosen itinerary, but I will share with you that I would not choose that trip for myself, especially not for a honeymoon. I would either spend all my time in Florence or Rome or Naples, in an apartment, or I would spend all my time in the countryside in an apartment on an agriturismo with a restaurant, and I would rent a car. I might spend 2 or 3 nights in Rome at the end, but I wouldn't go to the Vatican, nor would I go to Pompeii.
Basically, I'd trust in Italy to fascinate me and reward me with great art and historic sites even if I picked a very small range of motion. What makes Italy so special is the density of interest and the layering of history in almost every town. It's a bit like going to Switzerland and thinking you should move around a lot on buses and trains to see this famously beautiful peak or that famously beautiful peak, until you realize that the beautiful peak in front of your nose is really satisfying. You don't need 6 more of them. That's the way I feel, but if you are a student of italian history and Italian art, or someone who likes to check off major sightseeing targets so you can move on to new ones -- or whatever reason -- travel is all about pleasing yourself, and a honeymoon is about having a memorable time together, so keep that first and foremost and plan accordingly.
