Help with Tuscany/Amalfi, Italy trip
 

My husband and I are planning a 1-year anniversary trip to Italy in June. We can't wait! I am very overwhelmed with all of the options at this point and would love some help with our itinerary (thanks in advance!)

We will have a total of 10 nights. We fly in and out of Rome. We would like to spend 2 nights in Florence and then split the remainder of the time in Tuscany and Amalfi. Our flight leaves out of Rome very early in the morning and will need to spend our last night there.

So far I am thinking...

Day 1-Land in Rome and take train to Florence. Stay in Florence.
Day 2- Florence
Day 3- Leave Florence--rent car somewhere? stay somewhere in Tuscany?
Day 4- Tuscany
Day5-Tuscany
Day 6- Drop off car and train down to Amalfi. stay somewhere in Amalfi?
Day 7- Amalfi
Day 8- Amalfi
Day 9-Amalfi
Day 10-Rome
Day 11- Fly out of Rome

I would love feedback on the overall itinerary as well as...
-recommendations where to rent and drop off car near Tuscany (we need an automatic car)
-recommendations where to stay in Tuscany
-recommendations where to stay in Amalfi
-

Thanks in advance!!

Are your tickets booked already? Because you aren't really spending any time in Rome, it doesn't make sense to fly in and out of there.
It would be better to fly into Florence and out of Naples if you want to go to Amalfi.

You can take a fast train from Florence to Naples in three hours, then change to the Circumvesuviana train (a commuter train) from Naples to Sorrento, then make your way to Amalfi from Sorrento. There are buses, or some people prefer to get a car and driver.

Also Florence is in Tuscany just FYI.

I understand wanting to see so many places as it is all wonderful but personally I think you have a lot for ten days. The first day or so you are likely to feel jet-lagged.

You could base yourself in Florence and do day trips to smaller places in Tuscany. Our first trip to Tuscany we stayed in Greve in Chianti and did day trips from there, so that is an option too, pick a smaller town for your base.

If you give us an amount you want to spend per night on hotels we can help you with that, also if you tell us your interests and what type of trip you are hoping for, we can better assist you.

Rent the car at the airport when you leave Florence---much better odds for an automatic. Keep the car after Tuscany as far as Sorrento---about a 5 hours drive.

I agree--have you bought ticket yet? If not, at least fly home from Naples and skip the awkward Rome last niter.

You could also drive as far as Salerno and then take the ferry to Positano (always my place to stay on the Amalfi Coast). But personally, I would drop the car in Florence or Orvieto and train down to Salerno - the drive is pretty dull.

Use www.venere.com to search for accomodation in Positano - but hurry as many places have been booked for months.

I agree fly into Florence. Last September I spent 6 nights in Sorrento. For us this was a great location to enjoy the Almalfi Coast and Capri. We splurged one day and hired a driver to view Positano, Almalfi and Ravela. What a magical experience. In Sorrento you can take ferry to Capri for a nice day trip. I do regret no visiting Naples. Next time! The second week we went to Calabria. Enjoy!

Thanks for all of your input. I agree that Rome isn't our best bet, but we booked using credit card miles and that was our only option.

I have stayed in Sorrento before and although its a great location for day trips, I wasn't all that impressed with the actual town. It sounds like Positano might be a good choice?

Thanks again

IMO Positano is the most picturesque of the villages on the Amalfi Coast, and it is where I always choose to stay. Like I mentioned, you can either drive or train to Salerno and then take the ferry to Positano. Then do the reverse to get back to Rome. You can take the ferry from Positano to Amalfi for a day trip also.

For the driving portion of your holiday, be sure to read up about ZTL's and get your IDP.

Sorry to be such a prude. But this is what I would do.

R/T flight to Rome.

Train to Florence [3 nights] Then rent a car.

Umbria [3 nights]

Tuscany [ 3 nights ] and

Rome airport [1 night]

Next trip, Rome and Rome south including Naples and AC.