Honeymoon Help! Positano, Rome, Siena - 12 nights
 

Finally crafting a somewhat definitive plan for my Italian honeymoon in September 2011 and would love to hear thoughts, suggestions, hotel recommendations, etc. We are really looking for relaxation and a slow pace, excluding time in Rome. Budget for hotels is no more than $3,000 for 12 nights. We don't need four-star hotels but we really care about location!

Will fly from Boston to Naples, then take the ferry to Positano, where we will recover from the wedding for four nights, not doing too much, perhaps a visit to Pompeii. Would like to stay in a hotel with a pool and within close proximity to ocean swimming (if it's warm enough!).

From Positano to Rome (train?) for four days/three nights of solid sightseeing. Would like to stay near Spanish Steps.

Rent a car and drive to Siena for last four nights, using Siena as a base for visiting smaller towns. Torn between staying near city center (the husband-to-be and I enjoy night time strolling to restaurants) or staying on the outskirts for a more relaxed, less urban feel, perhaps somewhere with a pool.

Fly back to Boston from Florence or Rome? We would prefer to fly in and out of Rome because of direct flights but I think Naples makes more sense inbound.

Am I on the right track here with my honeymoon? Will this be too much moving around? I am open to any and all feedback, suggestions, would love to hear your experiences!

Just reread post and nights to not add up. Let's make it five nights in Positano. Thanks!

I like the fact you start in Positano and fly into Naples---good way to start. But, I would get the car in Sorrento and drive to Tuscany next---and probably not Siena. You should end in Rome for much better flight options.
You are already late for hotels in these popular spots. I would set your itineray in stone soon and start to book hotels. Heer is a start for Positano:

BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS ON THE AMALFI COAST


POSITANO: 3 STAR HOTELS---150 TO 250E FOR DOUBLE—AVERAGE 170E

1. www.villarosapositano.it Popular B&B with great views—lots of steps

2. www.hotelcaliforniapositano.it Small hotel near above—great terrace

3. www.casalbertina.it Fabulous views but you will need good legs

4. www.villalatartana.it Good value, lower in town but still good views

5. www.larosadeiventi.net Has apts. in the old town---more private


POSITANO: 4 STAR HOTELS---250 TO 350E FOR TYPICAL DOUBLE

6. www.bucadibacco.it On the beach—nice hotel and great food

7. www.hotelposeidonpositano.it Hard to beat in this price range

8. www.puntaregina.com Great views in the old town [ fornillo ]

9. www.palazzomurat.it Good centro location—historic site

10. www.covodeisaraceni.it/ On the beach with great pool—expensive


Other locations in the region:

1. www.hotelantichemura.com/ Convenient 4 star in heart of Sorrento

2. http://www.villamaria.it/ Lovely 4 star in Ravello with terrific food

3. http://www.hotelsantacaterina.it/en/index Your splurge option near Amalfi

FOR VILLA & APARTMENT RENTALS: www.summerinitaly.com

I must begin by saying I am NOT by any stretch an Italy expert. I just got back a few days ago from my first trip there. My daughter and I did Positano, Rome and Venice. If it were me, I'd do the 4 nights in Positano and add another night to Rome. We did 4 Positano, 3 Rome, 4 Venice and I wish I took a night from Positano and Venice and put it in Rome. Then again, Positano is especially romantic and if you have a pool (we did not) I could see lazing by a pool for several days too. Positano is stunning. You will have a lovely time, no matter what!

Here are some pics:

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4481

Thanks for the information Bob and Austin. Bob, if you say that you wouldn't stay in Siena, do you have another suggestion in Tuscany?

Yes I do!
With a car, here are some options:

BOB’S FAVORITE DIGS IN TUSCANY
A. RURAL LOCATIONS: All have parking and good food options nearby

1. Relais La Saracina www.lasaracina.it 230 to 300E
Fabulous country home near Montepulciano—helpful owners

2. Cretaiole Agriturismo http://www.cretaiole.it/ Good value for families
Isabella also has 2 apts. in Castelmuzio for rent—wonderful—see her site.

3. Terre di Nano www.terredinano.com 100 to 155
Both rooms and apartments at rural Agriturismo near Monticchiello

4. Casanova di Pescille http://www.casanovadipescille.com/ 100E
Rural B&B 3 KM from famed San Gimignano—we loved the views of San Gim.

5. Fattoria Tregole www.fattoria-tregole.com 110E to 180E
Has both B&B and apartment accommodations. Near Castellina in Chianti

6. Agriturismo apts. near San Quirico— www.poggiolo.info/ About 110E

7. New historic B&B north of Pienza. http://www.camprena.it/index.htm
Site of filming for THE ENGLISH PATIENT About 90E for double

8. http://www.borgoargenina.it/index.html A special rural B&B in Chianti.
The lovely owner, Elena, will make you feel like family. 170E for double

B. IN-TOWN LOCATIONS: For walking convenience to shops & ristorantes.

1. Palazzo del Capitano www.palazzodelcapitano.com 170 to 210E
Very nice small hotel in center of San Quirico—perfect location to explore.

2. Vecchia Oliviera www.vecchiaoliviera.com/ 150 to 200E
Nice 4 star hotel at the gate into lovely Montalcino---has pool.

3. Palazzina Cesari www.montalcinoitaly.com 80 to 110E
Lovely small B&B in heart of Montalcino—great value—2 night stay minimum.

4. Locanda di San Francesco www.locandasanfrancesco.it 180 to 200E
New boutique B&B in a lovely location in Montepulciano—great reviews !

5. Politian apartments http://www.politian.com/ Good value apts. with
minimum stay of 3 nights in Montepulciano---helpful host---85E

6. Palazzo Ravizza www.palazzoravizza.it 170 to 250E
Very nice & popular hotel in Siena with parking.

7. Fattoria Vignale http://www.vignale.it/eng/ Four star hotel in Radda in the heart of Chianti. About 230E for double

Hi BA,

Traffic in the Siena City center is restricted. Check with whatever hotel you choose as to where you will have to park.

>From Positano to Rome (train?) for four days/three nights of solid sightseeing. Would like to stay near Spanish Steps.<

Ways to get from Positano to Rome:
Best for honeymooners - hire a limo to take you to the train station - about 100E.
Least hassle and most interesting - take ferry to Salerno, walk 2 blocks to train station, take train.
cheapest - take SITA bus from Positano to Sorrento. Take Circumvesuviana train to Naples. Some folks prefer to get off in Mehta, but you will get on the same train.

I also recommend renting a car in Sorrento and driving to Siena. You can drop the car in Siena and take the bus to Rome. www.senabus.it

If you wouldn;t mind saving yourself some money, we very much enjoyed http://www.hotelmaikol.com/

Walking distance to train station. 1 blk from a metro stop. Very pleasant people. Nice room and view.

Happy hooneymon.

((I))

bostonallison, My husband and I just got back from our 16 days in Italy. We did spend 1 week in Positano and 3 days in Rome, then 4 more on the back end of the trip. For Positano, we rented a villa with other couples about a 15 minute walk from town. It was nice but if you stayed right in town you will be more assessible to whatever you want to do. The beach is nearby, bus stops, etc. You have to go to one place and it is called Da Adolfo. It is a cute littel restaurant in a cove only assessible by a boat they provide and the boat ride is free. Check it out at the beach in Positano and ask around. We went over about 1:00 and the return is about 4:00. You can lay out after you eat so you're not wasting any time. The food was awesome and it is a nitch of heaven. There is a gal named Christine who gives a fabulous tour of Positano for about 2.5 hours. She takes you to her family store for tastings of Olive oils, Sundried Tomatoes, Pecorino Cheese,etc. We shipped home some items based on that tasting.It's a nice slow paced town to recouperate in after your wedding and all your rushign around. In Rome, please go to the roof top garden of the Marcella Royal Hotel on Via Flavia, 106. It is a nice hotel and not bad on price. www.marcellaroyalhotel.com. It is very accessible to a lot of things and about 10 minutes from the termini. It is well worth a night cap or even a light bite. The Mushroom Risotto was very good. Salvatore will treat you well and he gives great restaurant recommentdations. Have a great trip.

Thanks for all the responses! One more question: If we fly into Naples, spend four nights in Positano, should we stay in AC and perhaps relax in Praiano for four nights before heading to Rome? Should we skip Tuscany in favor of more relaxing and less moving around? Or does anyone have any suggestions for us? We def want to see Rome at some point, I am feeling a little confused about where to go (overthinking everything!). Any ideas? Thanks so much!

If you stay an additional four nights in the area after Positano, I'd pick an entirely different location (Praiano and Positano are only a couple of miles apart) and see other sights rather than essentially more of the same. If you moved to, say, Sorrento, you'd be better situated to visit Pompeii and Naples, and you could take the bus to Rome. If you moved to Capri, it wouldn't be exactly like Positano, but there would be an extra step in getting to Rome.

IMO, the AC is no more or less relaxing than Tuscany. In both cases, you determine how much activity you want to have each day and pick lodging where you can relax. Without the option of flying home from Pisa or Florence, I might not include Tuscany, but Positano/Rome/Siena would be a nice mix of destinations. If you skip Tuscany, consider adding a day or two to Rome. Trying to see the highlights of Rome in four days (really 3.5 days after travel) will be fairly fast-paced.

Jean, thanks for your thoughts. I was thinking of four nights in Positano, picking up a car and driving to Siena for four nights and then taking the train to Rome for the last three nights (I would like the direct flight home from Rome). Does that make sense in that order? I know it's a four-hour drive from Naples to Siena but I heard it's a nice drive. What do you think?

I would go to Sorrento or Salerno (rather than Naples) to pick up a rental car, but wherever you go you need to add transit time and effort to the overall driving time. Also add a lunch and/or comfort stop, or perhaps stop and see Tivoli (because IMO you won't have time for a day-trip there while in Rome). It's possible you've now pretty much used up that day.

I'm not a big fan of most single day drives of this duration and usually would prefer sitting on a train for that many hours. But the drive is nice in parts, and you would have the Tivoli option if that appeals to you.

I stayed at the Busca de Bacco in Positano http://www.bucadibacco.it/ @ 5 years ago. Just incredible, with a terrace facing the ocean. Very romantic. You should also go to Ravello which is close by. I would skip Tuscany, that's a whole other trip and instead go to Sorrento and most definitely Capri and if you can overnight in Capri. The Amalfi coast is spectacular! If you like rent a car and drive to Rome that way you can stop as many times as you like to take pictures. The drive on the coast if beautiful!