Hi,
We are thinking of a two week plus trip to Italy (Rome, Tuscany, Amalfi coast)next year. Due to kids' schooling we can go only around easter or thanksgiving. I know both are not the best of times but of the two which time would be better?

Thanks!

Late November will be cool, possibly a little rainy and hardly any crowds. You won't have the spring flowers or green fields in Tuscany but I can assure you it is still beautiful. Just think about things like that and decide. Again, the crowds will be much stronger at Easter.

We've taken our daughters to Italy at both times and I actually prefer November because it is less crowded. I wouldn't go to the Amalfi coast then however. But if you only have a week's school vacation, you should stick to two areas anyway.

Hi ciny, if you are truly going to the Amalfi Coast I would go during Easter.
Having said that I have had some real storms along the AC the week before Easter so you can't count on beautiful warm weather. We still had a wonderful time however and the storms, especially the electrical ones were spectacular. But we didn't have children with us so that made a difference. Just be prepared for rain regardless of which time period you decide. And let me say I wll take rain over real hot and humid weather in Italy any day.

We were in Tuscany, Rome and Cinque Terre around Easter last year and the weather was great (although a little chilly for this Texas girl) and it wasn't too crowded at all. We were there for 2 week and it only rained on our last day!

Thank you so much for all your responses.

Ciny

Too many tourists and travelling students at Easter. I prefer November-Feb.

We were in Rome the week after Easter last year and it was crowded--not with Americans but Italians and other Europeans. (Too early for the mass of American tourists according to locals) It wasn't unbearably crowded, but there were certainly large crowds at all the main places, i.e. lines at the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, etc. However it was fun to be with Italians enjoying the City.