Italy and France in October
 

My family will be on holidays in october and we would love some comments on our proposed trip:

Rome 3 nights
Sienna 1 night
Florence 3 nights
Venice 2 nights
Cinque Terre 2 nights
Nice 2 nights
St Remy 2 nights
St Emilion 2 nights
Tours 1 night
Paris 3 nights

We will have a car to use and hope we will not be spendind to much time driving because we want to see the sites and expirience the charm of each place.
Thank you
TJM

Hi
This looks like a wonderful, albeit very busy, and i mean VERY busy itinerary. If anything, I would suggest fewer/longer stops,ie, set up a base camp and explore from there along the way..... but that is kinda splitting hairs....enjoy!!!!!

21 days and 10 hotels! Fjewww!!!
You will hardly do anything else than packing and driving, and this is what you do not want to do! You will hardly have anything more than 'first impressions' of the places where you pass and in 6 months time you souvenirs will be a big blurry image.
You are supposed to be on a holiday: adapt your pace and let yourselves be surprised by all things to see in Italy.

Do you have to go to Paris because of an open jaw ticket?

I would say:
- Rome, 4 or 5 nights,
- Florence and Siena 4 or 5 nights: No change of hotel, daytripping, also see San Gimignano, Montalcino, Pienza,...
- Cinque Terre 2 or 3 nights,
- Venice, 3 or 4 nights,
drop the car upon your arrival in Venice, take a night train from Venice to Paris.
- Paris, 4 or 5 nights- and back home.

This doesn't take in account your plans for Nice, St-Rémy, St-Emilion and Tours, but in my opinion, you will not regret it.
Also, october, generally speaking, is a nice month in Italy, which is not so sure to say about France.

I love every single place on your list and return as often as possible. But I have to agree with the others. You are spending too much time packing and driving and leaving too little to smell the roses. October is a lovely time to visit Italy and France and I urge you to simplify a bit so you have more time to actually enjoy the places you visit. The following is just a suggestion based on a number of trips to the areas you are including:
Rome 4 nights
Florence 4 nights with a day trip to Siena and perhaps another day for trips to Tuscan villages
Venice 3 nights
Cinque Terre 2 nights
St. Remy 4 nights with visits to Provencal towns
Paris 4 nights

I think you will grow to appreciate a little time to get the feel of the places you are staying and to expore your surroundings. And, having visited all of these wonderful places, you will be eager to return to these and others on your list. Have a wonderful trip no matter what you decide.

too much time packing, unpacking, checking in, checking out, and traveling. Not enough time in anyone place, except Rome is marginally ok, and Florence is fine. If you only want one day in Siena, follow the other advice and do a daytrip from F.

I agree to combine St Remy into 3 nights with daytrips, you can drive into Nice if you like or to Monaco.

I know nothing about Tours, but do know Paris, and suggest you add another day there. Venice is being shortchanged as well, especially given travel time. I'd choose between that and CT. Venice is a direct train ride to Nice.

Well, now that everyone here who has apparently seen some secret writing in your post which talked about the things you are planning to DO once you get ot these places, has thoroughly trashed this itinerary for every possible reason, perhaps it would help if we KNEW what you plan to do and, even more importantly, if you've ever been to any of these before?

Fast paced? For some, perhaps and for others it could be about right given their attention span, etc.

I'm sure everyone is trying to be helpful but without additional information from you one is left to only assume and surmise and somethims the resulting "recommendations" aren't very helpful.

I would reverse the order because of Oct. weather--start north and end in Rome. After Paris, I would train to Avignon to get the car and skip those interim stops. For Siena, I would see it from Florence--dropping the car as you arrive in Florence and then train to Rome for your last 3 nites.

Thank you all for your replies.This is another Mum and kids trip.3 daughters in there 20's and son 14.1 daughter is in Europe and will meet us in Rome and travel with us. She and her boyfriend have a van. 1 daughter would like to experience [young and night life]1 daughter wine regions and vineyards.My 14 year old son would like action at all times. Mums dream is to go to Venice having been to Italy before but not Venice and to sit in Provence and explore the south of France.One daughter turning 21 in Paris. I would like to give the kids a taste of Italy and France so they can choose where they want to return later.I am looking at apartments and camping grounds for our accomodation and the convent in Siena.Hope you can help us some more.Is it necessary to have accomodation booked all the way.Ihave booked in Rome and Florence already.Thank you all very much.TJM

Message:ttt

Yeh we are rethinking our trip after we realised it's buness!
Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thankyou!

Good advice from Bobthenavigator.