my husband and i are trying to plan a trip in mid april. i am usually good at planning trips, but this is the first to europe and i am lost on the best ways to do it without going through an agent. here is what we want and any help on the best way to do this would be very appreciated!

10-14 days, but on a budget. i want to do rome, but my husband's not big on museums etc. (although i think he'll change his mind on that there). i can't stand lots of tourists, so as much as i want to see the big spots, i don't think i'll have much patience in rome - so we are thinking only a few days. i really want to see venice, but don't know how long i would need. i also want to stay in the countryside in tuscany - i have this picture of a little stone place in the middle of nowhere, where we can experience the local food and lots of wine. my husband really would like to do sun and beach, but not sure where to really find this in april...how is the weather at this time?

i have tried to research this but i really have no idea...i hate the idea of a travel agent.

I am in the midst of planning a trip to Italy in June, so I can understand your frustration. I too am not into museums and therefore think my time in certain areas will be limited. I have found that you can get a bit of everything in Italy. If you are into the Tuscan Sun and your husband wants sand, you can consider a trip North to Cinque Terre and rent a car to tour around San Gimignano and Lucca and going deeper into Tuscany. The towns that make up Cinque Terre are supposedly beautiful and on the coast. Your other alternative might be to head South from Rome towards the Amalfi Coast. I have never been there, but this forum has had very positive reviews on Capri and Positano. With only 10 days, you would likely want to spend 2-3 in Rome (if you're not into museums) and the other 7 in one of the two regions mentioned above. Good luck with your planning!

First off, nowhere in Italy can you find sun, sand and beach in mid-April.

Second, the best way to fly is open jaw: into one airport, out of another; into Rome, out of Venice.

The easiest way to travel in Italy is by train: Rome to Florence, Florence to Venice with fast Eurostar trains.

For Tuscany, you will need a car, unless you stay in a town that is more of a city than a village. You also have to decide whether you want something that is really out in the countryside - which means that if you have dinner somewhere, you have to drive back to where you are staying - or in a small hill town - where you can have dinner and walk back to your accommodations. For many reviews of hotels and agriturismos (working farms that take guests in mostly very comfortable accommodations), look at

www.slowtrav.com

In particular, look under Siena and southern Tuscany, as these are the areas that offer the most possibilities for visiting interesting Tuscan hill towns.

So:

Fly into Rome; stay 4 nights; train to Florence; rent car; stay 4 nights in Tuscany; return rental car in Florence; train to Venice; stay in Venice 4 nights; fly home.

For Venice hotels, just put <Venice +hotel> (without the arrows) in the Search box and you will find more recommendations than you know what to do with. The same for Rome.

Just one note so you're not surprised. Venice is going to be way more crowded than Rome. (It's quite a small city and gets a massive # of tourists - way more than the total number of locals - every day. The most popular spots can be like the Broadway local at rush hour.)

Rome can also be crowded (esp a few highlights like the Sistine Chapel) but because it's a much bigger city there are many fewer tourists in proportion to locals - and in April you shouldn;t find too many crowds at all.

One more note - to find anyplace to stay for April you need to get moving immdiately - or the most popular places (esp the bargains) will be fully booked.

The advice you received from Eloise and nytraveler is spot on. Don't think for a minute that you will find sunny, sandy beaches in Italy in April. There are a few sandy beaches in Italy, but this isn't the place to go for sandy beaches. People go to Italy for entirely different reasons.

I don't think you will find that you must spend a lot of time in museums to enjoy Rome. After all, Rome itself is a museum, an art gallery, a bazaar, and a thriving city.

But the more I write, the more I wonder: are you sure it is Italy that you want to see? Not too interested in great art? Churches? Tourist crowds?

Maybe you should rethink this... if you want to go to Italy, because everyone does or it seems like you should, I say don't. And I live for Italy. If this sounds snippy, it isn't meant to. If you hate tourist crowds, and your husband doesn't like museums and wants sun and sandy beaches, I think you might be on the wrong track.

Perhaps the reason that your research hasn't been fruitful and left you feeling excited and with a direction to go in, is that you are looking at places and things that won't please you.

Venice is, as the others have said, loaded with tourists. If you really can't stand them, and you must go to Venice, pick accomodations that are away from Piazza San Marco.

Rome does require patience and tolerance. My husband thinks it is the best place ever, and I do really like Rome, but I get a little overwhelmed by it. We do at least one trip to Italy a year, and I try to visit Rome on every other trip.

Your idea of Tuscany is easy to fulfill. You can easily find that old stone house to stay in but you will, as others have said, need that car. And in mid April, it will be quite dark by the time dinner is over. Or, in some cases, even starting.

Hi stagpuder, well along the Adriatic in Pescara there are sandy beaches but am sure that April will be to cold to enjoy the beach and the water.

Some resources to use:
tripadvisor.com ranks hotels by user input,

venere.com I like this site for booking hotels, also getting more input. Unlike hotels.com, etc. you don't get a charge as soon as you book

autoeurope.com has info on rental cars, but also train schedules and prices.

virtualtourist.com has info about things to do in each city, also restaurants, etc.

Isn't Easter in April? How does this affect 'tourism'..?

Easter or not, IMO Italy and Rome and Venice will not be as crowded in April as they will when the weather gets warmer.

i love Venice myself but if you truly 'can't stand lots of tourists' i think that will definitely be an issue for you in Venice.

I could be mistaken, but don't think there is a beach in Italy that is warm and sunny in April either.

As others have mentioned, Italy in April doesn't really sound like what you are seeking.

Hi

What about heading south as in Sicily etc. I haven't been there yet but I would imagine it would be more traditional and less touristy. It would be cheaper, more car friendly and probably warmer. For eg. look at this link for Puglia - http://www.initaly.com/regions/apulia/apulia.htm.

You can easily incorporate Rome and Venice in your itinerary using flights or trains.

Good luck

Tourist crowds aren't an issue in Venice with good advance planning--especially in the off season months like April.

The big tourist in-rush comes with the arrival of the daytripper herds each day. The brunt of this rush can be avoided quite nicely.

Hi St,

You might want to look up Rome, Florence and Venice under "destinations".

This thread may help you.
Helpful Information: Italy 2

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596