Harkmore

Buongiorno! <BR>I would be very grateful for any suggestions regarding "favorite places to stay" for a 2 week honeymoon via train. Its my first time to Italy (let alone Europe). I'm not sure if the itinerary is doable, esp. by train. Here it is: Flying into Milan, then train to Verona (1 night)/Venice(3 nights)/Bologna (1 night)/ Parma, then La Spezia/Cinque Terre (2 nights)/Florence and Tuscany region (4-5 nights)/ Rome (2 nights); fly out of Rome. <BR> <BR>Has anybody taken a similar trip and been ok by train? Any favorite places to stay in each city? And how did you reserve the places: via internet, phone call, travel agent, etc..? Any advice here? <BR> <BR>Also, what should I expect on holidays? Closures? fairs? April 25 is Liberation Day and the Feast of St. Mark in Venice. <BR> <BR>So mant questions, but grazie!grazie! (I'm practicing my Italian!) <BR>- Hark (yep, that's my actual name.)

Patsy Klontz

Consider doing less traveling on a honeymoon especially! We just returned from Italy and did minimal training from one place to another, but there is nothing romantic about train stations. If you are not a veteran traveler on the trains, there are several ins and outs (read other posts about taking trains) that are important to know: trains post by final destination, etc. Nothing about it is all that hard, but I tired of trying to judge how far ahead I needed to be at the station, where/when the posting for the train would show, finding the car, sometimes having to throw people out of my seat even though I had a reservation, etc. Maybe some other folks with more experience will write you soon, but I would prefer to go fewer places and have more time to relax at each place. You won't see as many different places perhaps, but I think you might enjoy the trip more. Whatever you do, I am sure you will love Italy.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Hark, IMHO that is too much for only 2 weeks---especially a honeymoon. I would limit your itinerary to 5 detinations and I would do it in this sequence. <BR>Venice, Florence,Tuscany, Cinque terre, <BR>and Rome. I would consider a car for about 3 days to best see the fabulous hill towns. Here is a recent article of <BR>mine that may also lend some perspective <BR> <BR>YOU WANT TO SEE ITALY ! <BR>FIRST, GET A GOOD MAP ! Having planned more than fifty personalized itineraries to southern Europe and Italy, I have learned that the best trip plans start with a good <BR>map. It takes about six weeks to see most of Italy, and that does not include Sicily.So, any typical two week sojourn requires a geographic orientation and thoughtful planning to optimize the total experience. The temptation is to try to see too much, <BR>and that is a big mistake. My advice is to limit yourself to FIVE DESTINATIONS <BR>OR LESS for any two week itinerary. Perceive Italy as geographic regions and <BR>plan accordingly. Here is a menu to help you to plan well. Let your total timein Italy, and a good map, determine your feasible choices ! <BR> <BR>THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN ITALY---BY CATEGORY---NORTH TO SOUTH <BR> <BR>REGIONS OF NATURAL SPLENDOR: <BR>1. The Lakes of Lombardy/Piedmonte [ Maggiore, Como, Lugano, Orta] <BR>2. The Dolomites/Lake Garda [ Cortina, Ortisei, Merano, Riva del Garda] <BR>3. The Ligurian Coast [ Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere] <BR>4. Tuscany/ Umbria [ quaint and historic hill towns] <BR>5. The Amalfi Coast [ Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, Capri] <BR> <BR>THE HISTORICAL ART CITIES: <BR>1. Venice & Veneto [ allow 3 days---more if you include Vicenza, Verona et al] <BR>2. Florence [ it all happened here--plan for 3 days just in Florence] <BR>3. Siena [ deserves a full day, perhaps as a day trip from Florence] <BR>4. Rome [ the Eternal City demands 5 days---some would say two weeks] <BR> <BR>UP-SCALE RESORT DESTINATIONS: <BR>1. Bellagio [ the best of Lago Como] <BR>2. Cortina [ the Vail of Italy--ski resort in heart of the Dolomites] <BR>3. Portofino/ Santa Margherita [ splendid sea-side venue] <BR> 4. Positano [ the best location to explore the Amalfi coast] <BR> 5. Taormina [ fabulous sea-side location in Sicily] <BR> <BR> ROMANTIC HIDE-AWAY DESTINATIONS: <BR> 1. Asolo [ charming village in the hills of Veneto] <BR> 2. Orta San Giulio [ on mystical Lago Orta] <BR> 3. Ravello [ la dolce vita above the Amalfi coast] <BR> <BR>I hope this helps your planning. Let me <BR>know if you need some details. <BR> <BR>BOB THE NAVIGATOR [email protected] <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Tina

Hark - <BR> <BR>Agreed that you should pare back on the number of towns; Bob's offered up a good itinerary. However unlike Patsy, I very much enjoy the 'adventure' of train travel (not all of it --- dearly wish that porters still existed --- draggin your own luggage is a pain-in-the--- that's why we recite the "pack light" mantra). Anyhow, I kinda enjoy sitting on the train watching Italy roll by and especially when it's on the 'ES' (EuroStar). I will say however, this was my third trip to Italy (Oct/Nov) and yes, Patsy is correct when she says there are lots of ins & outs around the train travel experience. <BR>[One caveat I must share --- be forewarned if using the WC (bathroom facilities) in the LaSpezia train station. They are clean BUT the ladies room was of the, uh, let's call it the 'Squat Pot' style.] <BR> <BR>As to the town selection, Venice - Florence - Rome are the 'gotta see's' for a 2 week stay. And, you could easily do just that trio and get from one to the other via the train. The Cinque Terre is beautiful; a nice relaxing switch from the hustle of the larger cities. However you didn't specify the time of year during which you intend to be in Italy; mentioned April 25th; are you starting then or finishing or is that a date that may fall somewhere in between? Beauty of the Cinque Terre is best enjoyed during the spring thru fall months; not alot going on there, so it's not a place to be during rainy reason. <BR> <BR>Time of the year may also impact where you go & how you structure your itinerary -- whether it'd be best to start in the North & head South or vice versa. <BR> <BR>Florence is easily accessible via train; from there you can also visit Pisa for a day or go to Lucca, a very charming town also on the train line. There are some towns in Tuscany region and particularly, in Umbria region that aren't accessible via train --- that's where Bob's 3 day car rental comes into play. <BR> <BR>As for the actual logistics, you'll find the majority of the posters to this website are 'do it yourself folk' -- certainly, conduct alot of pre-travel planning and use the internet/phone/fax to book reservations. I do know some people can recommend travel agents that are helpful; however, my experience is they often don't have the actual 'hands on' travel as many people do on this forum.

Harkmore

thank you Patsy, Bob, and Tina for your great replies and suggestions. I will re-work my plans, as well as read through the other posts here. Grazie, grazie!

Josh

Hark, <BR> <BR>I agree with most of the above, but really need to ask, Why only 2 days in Rome?! There is SO much to see & do there that I fear you'd be disappointed with so little time there. One idea would be to spend less time up north, more time in Rome, then south to the Amalfi Coast for a few days. In planning my honeymoon (11-01) I have found that the Amalfi area is often regarded as one of the most romantic/beautiful areas in the world. <BR> <BR>Also, if this is your first Europe trip, (to reinforce the other posts) such a busy itinerary may be really hard to handle. Maybe you could fly into Venice, thereby avoiding a trainride right after the flight, followed by a one night stay (Verona). Please keep in mind that it will take more time to get around than in your home country, and that this is a honeymoon. <BR> <BR>Good luck & congratulations.