jangita

I still have lots of planning time but I am almost set.
We will be driving down to South Florida to visit family just before we go and will return there to overcome jet lag at the end.

Sept 12 Fly MIA to LHR, LHR to AMS

Sept. 13 arrive Amsterdam--1 week
stay here: https://www.vrbo.com/465010

Sept. 20 Fly AMS to Bari, Puglia, Italy
Haven't decided yet about how we'll get from Bari to Lecce. Trying to save $$ by not renting car too soon. so probably bus or train???

Sept 20—27 Lecce, apartment--1 week
https://www.vrbo.com/1597574ha

Rent car in Lecce Sept 24th.

Sept 27, 28 Matera--2 nights Corte San Pietro http://www.cortesanpietro.it/ (on the high side budget wise but...)

Sept 29 Trovigno--1 night--agriturismo recommended by Valerie. Can't remember the name right now.

Sept 30, Oct 1,2 Trani--3 nights http://www.suitehometrani.it/bed_and...ite_home_porto in the Green room

Oct 3,4 TBD--This is my really confusing part. So many options. Today I am thinking of staying 2 nights in Bari and flying (really cheap--like 40euros each) to Florence and taking train to Lucca. Or drive to Naples (or anywhere that's about half way) and stay for the 2 nights and drive on to Lucca. Suggestions welcome!


Oct 5—19 Lucca, apartment--2 weeks https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p1052049 (Good friends arrive around the 9th, staying in another apartment nearby, and will be with us in Piemonte)

Oct 19, 20, 21, 22,--4 nights La Morra, Piemonte. http://www.cortegondina.it/
Go to Truffle Faire in Alba (bucket list even though I may be overwhelmed with crowds)

Oct. 23—Nov. 13--3 Weeks Venezia, apartment https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p6612399
Stayed here in 2015. Love the location!

Nov. 14—Dec 1 --3 weeks apartment Verona. We have good friends living there.

Fly back to Miami from Verona, one stop at FCO.

Thanks in advance for your comments!

PalenQ

For a week in Amsterdam here are some ideas from myself and many others! Enjoy - my favorite European city!

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ite-things.cfm

jangita

Thanks! That's a fabulous thread.

PalenQ

Or drive to Naples (or anywhere that's about half way) and stay for the 2 nights and drive on to Lucca. Suggestions welcome!

Driving in Naples itself like any large Italian city can be hard due to the no-go zones for private cars with folks often reporting getting tickets in the mail from the car rental saying they violated the no-go zone (cameras catch miscreants!)

It is a long haul drive all the way to Lucca however and can be expensive due to very steep autoroute tolls - more than flying perhaps figuring two days of car rental to boot.

Florence to Lucca is by regional train - you need not go into Florence itself from the airport but take a bus or taxi to a station on the Florence-Lucca line that skirts by the airport I believe - no direct rail service from the airport however I think.

No reason to reserve regional trains - flat fare - dirt cheap and no reservations even possible - just buy tickets at station and fo not forget to cancel them yourself before boarding by sticking them in a cancelling machine trackside or in the station. For lots on Italian trains - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. There is also an overnight train from the Bari area to Rome and perhaps Florence - day trains would be a long long tedious trek.

sandralist

I would fly, partly because even in early October you cannot rule out the possibility of drenching rains, and if you are committed to drive those long distances, it's a draining drag to keep churning the miles on the autostrade in the rain. Of course, even if you decided to drive, you could change your mind and drop off the car and fly if you didn't like the weather forecast.

Another option I think you have is to drop off the car in Bari and take the train to Rome, and then Florence, then Lucca. Don't know how much luggage you have, but something that might tempt me is to put the luggage in the Rome train station and then make a jaunt to Tivoli for a night with an overnight bag Or you could do the same with Orvieto if you've never been. Other oddball possibilities might work if you've always had something on your wish list in that neighborhood.

But if you are tempted to drive, maybe it would amuse you to go up the Adriatic coast, first to Ascoli Piceno for a night, and then go to Acqualagna for its truffles. I have heard that a lot of the truffles sold at the Alba fair actually come from Acqualagna. Anyway, you could do a taste comparison.

Trani > Ascoli Piceno is about 4 hours. You could stop for lunch in Vasto or Termoli or some beach shack if you like Adriatic fish (oily!)

Ascoli Piceono > Acqualagna is about 3 hours.

Then from Acqualagna it's about 4 hours to Lucca, but you can stop for lunch in the Chianti.

sandralist

http://www.cittaslow.org/network/location/130

You'd be too early for the white truffle festival in Acqualagna, but some years the white truffles are available in early Oct

http://www.deliciousitaly.com/le-mar...-in-acqualagna

PalenQ

If driving from Bari area Tivoli would make a sweet stop - no need to go anywhere near Rome - see the fantastic Villa d'Este water gardens and Hadrian's Villa - to me both astounding sights - helps to have a car to get to the villa though there are buses from Tivoli to Rome that stop there.

jangita

Wow. You see what I mean, now. So many options. Been to Ascoli twice, both times 3 nights and love it but...
Acqualanga appeals as does Tivoli.

But ditching the car and just flying I think appeals the most. Plus that would give us 2 additional nights in Bari--another box to tic on the Puglia chart.

jangita

Just for the benefit of those who may follow:
We've decided to stay 5 nights in Trani and fly from Bari to FLR and train to Lucca. Flight is about $35 + whatever they charge for luggage.

PalenQ

You do not have to go into Florence to get a train from near Florence Airport to Lucca - there are stations on the Florence-Lucca line near the airport.

PalenQ

There probably are buses from the airport to Lucca or some kind of airport connectors.

jangita

Thanks. I'll look into it.