Hello,

My fiance and I are planning a 13-night trip to Italy in October 2005 (late), and I would love some advice and suggestions.

We're flying into Venice and spending two nights there (though, am considering adding a third night. Thoughts?)

We'll finish up in Rome, where we fly out, and planning on three or four nights there.

In between, we definitely want to do Florence/Tuscany. We're currently thinking of a few nights in Florence and then renting a car and touring the hilltowns, wineries, countryside.

If we rent a car, where would you suggest we rent? I hear driving out of florence can be a bit rough, but it sounds convenient to drive from there and through the Chianti Road to visit the wineries there. Should we base ourselves anywhere particular (Siena? San Gimignano?) or move around? How easy/difficult is it to make reservations at wineries on our own? I am almost tempted to make a hotel our home base and ask them to assist us.

Also, we keep toying with the idea of the Amalfi Coast before going to Rome. It sounds heavenly, but it also seems to be a bit out-of-the-way for a trip in late October/early November and we might not want to do that much traveling. What if we rented a car and drove to Sorrento, dropping off the car there, and taking the bus to Positano?

I'm loving researching this trip, and would appreciate help from people who have been to Italy and can help guide our locations a bit.

Thanks! Happy new year.

HI
Bobthenavigator and other itinerary experts can chime in here, but here are my comments

I'd say 3 nights for Venice, not just because I LOVE it, but because on your first arrival day you will likely be jetlagged, and I never really count that day for much sightseeing.

From Venice you can train to Florence.
You can daytrip out of Florence by car, bus, or train, or stay in Florence two nights and move on to Siena where you can rent your car and spend 2-3 nights.

Remainder of time in Rome. You could, if you like, daytrip one day out of Rome, to a pretty town like Lucca or Orvieto.

I have files on the cities and some info on the wineries; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

As usual, Elaine has a good plan. I would limit yourself to 4 destinations in that time, and that is 4 if you treat Florence as a destination. I would rent in Florence, using Autoeurope, and then drop it in Orvieto and train from there into Rome. Just get good directions for the drop office--it is not hard to find. I would plan 3-2-4-4. Try to stay close to Siena in Tuscany, and hit San Gimignano as you transition south from Florence. Sounds like a very nice honeymoon trip. Buona fortuna !

Hi fall,

For car rentals try

www.autoeurope.com
http://www.novarentacar.com/
http://www.europcar.com/

My son just honeymooned in Italy the latter part of Oct. He was in Rome, Venice, Florence and Lake Como. Seemed like they had a great time except in Venice. It wasn't just raining there but high tide too. Not so pleasant wading in smelly water. Be prepared. We went to Tuscany ourselves last May for three weeks and thorougly loved the area. Our favorites are Lucca, Siena, Assisi and the little hill towns. I would go for a little apartment in a medieval town or village as home base and day trip into the cities. For car rental, we use Hertz. Check into a prepaid option that gives you no deductibles for theft or collison which is very likely to happen. Good luck.