Hello Fodorites!
We have booked our air, flying into Rome and spending 2 weeks in southern Italy, and from there, go to Germany. We have not been to southern Italy and I'm not sure if what we're thinking of is a good plan or if it should be adjusted. So far, we have not made any hotel reservations.

Fly into Rome and train to Sorrento

5 - 7 nights in Sorrento (Use as a base to explore here as well as further south)

Train to Siena

5 nights in Siena (Base to explore Tuscany as we've only been there on a whirlwind tour)

Train to Orvieto

2 nights in Orvieto (because a friend "loves" it and piqued our interest)

Train to Rome, then fly to Frankfurt

Train to Cochem

5 - 7 nights in Cochem (Base to leisurely exploring the Mosel Valley)

Train to Bacharach

5 - 6 nights in Bacarach (Base to leisurely explore the Rhine River Valley)

Train to Frankfurt

1 night in Frankfurt and then fly Home

Does this sound like a good plan, too long/short in these towns? We'd really like to see southern Italy but don't know if Sorrento is a good base. Also, any suggestions for a reasonably priced hotel in that town? Will it be fairly easy to get to the sights using the rail system as we're not renting a car? We'd love a nice town in the Amalfi area, one where we can walk to restaurants for dinner but can also get a quiet's night sleep, and one that we won't spend an hour a day hiking back up to the hotel. Sorry for the length of this.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

olijoc,

First, when are you going? Makes all the difference. The Amalfi Coast is extremely crowded and expensive in summer. I wouldn't recommend it at that time.

Also, there are trains, but not ON the Amalfi Coast south of Sorrento. Bus, car or boat.

Will you have a car for Tuscany? I'm in the camp that highly recommends a car for Tuscan countryside. If so, I wouldn't try to stay IN Siena. Outside the walls at least. Parking there is very difficult. Better to stay in a much smaller town and do daytrips around from there.

You do realize that your first 5-7 days would be considered southern Italy and the Tuscan part, central. No time in Rome?

We used Sorrento as a base for the southern area of Italy and thought it was perfect. We stayed in an apartment in the main town (right above a bakery) and thought that was much better than the bigger hotels that are on the hill a couple miles a way. It was very convenient since we could walk to the ferry and walk to the bus and the the circumvesuviana train (that runs between naples and sorrento). We stayed in Sorrento and visited Herculeum, Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Capri, Amalfi, and Naples as well as Sorrento.

I also wonder why you are not spending any time in Rome itself? Have you seen it before?

I also agree with Dayle that you should rent a car in Tuscany. There are so many small towns and places to stop for photos that it would be a shame to just be traveling from one place to another by bus without the ability to pull over and hop out whenever you wanted.

Instead of returning to Rome for a flight to Frankfurt, I would consider going to Orvieto before Siena, and then taking Germanwings from Bologna to Cologne:

http://www.germanwings.com/index.en....n1g2g-s4g1g-s3

Thank you for your replies. We've been to Rome and are going there next year which is why we've skipped it this year.

Dayle,
We're leaving in 3 weeks. I know that's technically still spring but will there be crowds along the Amalfi Coast during the 3rd week of May? When we went to Italy several years ago, we had no problem getting around using the rail system, so that's what we're going to do this time as my husband really doesn't want to drive at all. Are you the same Dayle that did a great trip report to Italy several years ago? I loved it, we went for the 1st time shortly afterwards.

See7,
I'm so glad to hear that Sorrento as a base worked well for you. Never having been to that area it's difficult to figure out where to call "home." We want to have the small city/town experience but still be able to be somewhat near to public transportation.

lovisa,
We could go to Orvieto before Siena, we have to hurry and figure it all out, and we were in Frankfurt and Cologne before, although briefly.

I wonder, is it a crazy, impossible or foolish idea to train to a town and then look for a hotel? Last year in Germany we met 2 women (middle aged) who made no reservations anywhere, they just took the train to the city they wanted to visit and walked from the station looking for a hotel. They said they do it that way all the time and love it because if they go to a place they really dislike, they up and leave it the next day. They said they only had difficulty finding a hotel once, and they've been traveling this way for years. What freedom.....in a way. I think I'd be afraid we'd end up sleeping in the train station.

Tourism in the whole Amalfi/Naples area starts picking up at the end of April.We were just in Ischia for Easter and many of the hotels and restaurants were still closed. My cousin said it starts to pick-up at the end of April. May isn't too bad, but when you get in to July and especially August is when it gets really bad.

I used Sorrento as a base for 5 nights last October and it was great!

I probably wouldn't be too worried about not having hotels booked in May but I also wouldn't want to waste my time looking for a hotel. Maybe you could check out hotels in the areas that you are interested in before you leave and bring a list with you... at least you'll know of some nice places and not trek around checking out rooms and wasting your time.

Sorrento and the Amalfi coast are most enjoyable as summer destinations, and since you are spending 7 days there, you will find plenty of ways to avoid the crowds and move at your own pace.

I am a huge fan of traveling without reservations and do it all the time for road trips. However, for a 5 to 7 night stay, I would want to book my lodgings in advance, especially since I like quiet. I would probably go for an apartment or a residence with some kind of kitchen facilities, or an agriturismo that serves meals. I don't cook when I travel, but I do like a place where I can store picnic-type foods for dinner and make my own breakfast.

As for Tuscany, you might check out this farm/vinyard, which is walking distance from Siena but also has parking if you want a car. It also serves meals at night made with produce from the farm, which can be a fantastic (and cheaper) experience in Italy. I've not personally stayed, but it gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and elsewhere:

http://www.agriturismomarciano.it/

From Siena without a car, you can visit Panzano in Chianti, Florence/Fiesole and San Gimignano, all by bus.

Good morning and thank you all,
I'll have to start researching some of your hints. The fresh produce sounds wonderful zeppole. As for Sorrento, I see many hotels are really uphill which might not be fun after dinner in town, I'll have to keep looking for someplace close to town. Any suggestions?

The location of all the 'big' hotels on the hill is one of the reasons we chose a self-catering apartment right in the main area of town. Much more convenient and it gave us more space as well. I don't remember the name of the apartment where we stayed but I know I found it just by searching on 'sorrento self-catering accommodation' or 'sorrento self-catering apartment'. I then looked for ones with a location right in the main town.

olijoc,

Yes, I am probably the same Dayle (there aren't very many women with this name) who did the trip report. Sadly, I haven't been able to go back yet!

I haven't been to the Amalfi Coast myself in May. My visits have been in March and mid-Sept. March was very quiet. Sept was busier than I cared for. I would guess May might be about the same as Sept, maybe a little less busy.

Personally, from what I've seen of Sorrento, I would not choose that location. It is good as a base for transportation to all places you might want to visit: Pompeii, Naples, the coast towns, Capri, Paestum. But - for me it was far too touristy. Too British, too cruise ship....

Thank you all once again:
zeppole - The Agrit. Marciano is fully booked for the days that we're scheduled to be in Siena. We haven't found anyhting there yet.

Dayle - We chose Sorrento because of the ease to public transportation. We've gotten back a few e-mails but there are also hotels that are already full. I think I'm getting nervous.

seethe world - I'm still trying with the self-catering apartments, in fact, I'd better get back to it right now...

Are you locked in to staying in Siena and will you have a car? With a car, and if you are flexable on a base location, there are quite a few agriturismos to choose from in the area. I have stayed at this one several times in May and love it-

http://fontebertusi.com/eng/

The location is fantastic (5 minutes outside of Pienza) and the host are very nice. They do not serve dinner (there are lots of places to eat nearby though), but their breakfast served is lovely. The location is great for exploring southern Tuscany.

You will need a car, which you can pick up in Sorrento or take the train to Orvieto or Chiusi and pick up your car there.

Good luck with your planning!

olijoc - check out the Il Nido hotel www.ilnido.it in Sorrento. It's located up the hill and not directly in town, but they have frequent shuttles back and forth and the views of the Bay of Naples from almost every room are so worth it! Very reasonably priced, great breakfast buffet (and decent food at other meal times in their restaurant), and they'll pick you up on arrival from the train station.

olijoc,

My best recommendations:

Stay in Sorrento 2 nts to visit Naples and Pompeii.

Move to one of the real Amalfi Coast towns for the rest of your days there. SITA bus and boats are easy and fairly frequent. Positano for the more "resorty" feel and Amalfi for a bit less of all that, but with good trans options. Praiano for no resorty feel, local feel, only trans option is SITA bus.

DO get a car for Tuscany and don't stay in Siena. It's quite a large "hilltown" and the freeways around it difficult to navigate. Pick a SMALL town and do day trips from there. You will get the true hilltown experience .

Buon viaggio!

Again, thanks......
zoecat - we are using the rail system everywhere, which leaves out any accomodations outside of a city, a shame because I've seen many agriturisimos (sp-?) that look so charming.

hazel1 - I tried, the Il Nido is fully booked but in his e-mail to me, he did say that if we have dinner at his restaurant, we can use his shuttle to get there and back. I
thought it was kind of him to mention that.

Dayle - we thought that with 8 hotel changes as it is, we'd stay put in Sorrento, especially since it will be the first place we'll arrive at from the states. We have res. at the Hilton which can be cancelled a day or two before arrival. I keep hoping the Il Nido will open up!!! I'd much prefer a smaller town but was under the impression that to get from Siena to the surrounding towns, let's say from Siena to Pienza, is easier from Siena, using public transportation, than it would be to get from Montalcino to Pienza.

For Sorrento we enjoyed a couple of years ago this small place on the main street walking distance from train, ferry everything. http://www.casastarita.com/. I had also looked at properties available through this general italian B&B website. www.bbitalia.it.

I stayed at the Hilton in Sorrento using points and had a terrific room with the most gorgeous view from my balcony of the bay and Mt. Vesuvius!

The walk down into town isn't bad and the walk back up helps burn off some of those calories! ;-)

Concierge lounge was being renovated while I was there but I got all the free snacks and cocktails that I wanted at the hotel bar.

And, there were even some nice gifts in my room... a large bottle of Limoncello, olive oil soap, a lovely welcome card, etc.

laurie ann - I checked and they are booked solid. Thanks.

joann - Thanks, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I guess I've been looking for a place with the feel of Italy. Did you get that at the Hilton?

Well.... no, it's a Hilton so no Italian charm as you would find in a small B&B. Unless you have a few limoncellos then go see the bartender! He's Italian and charming! LOL!!!

All the folks that work there were very nice. One woman at the front desk even gave me bubble wrap, newspaper, and packing tape to wrap up all of my souveniers so they wouldn't break in my suitcase... she could have sent me to a store to buy it.

The other hotel guests that I met were British... very nice. Had a great time and a lot of laughs chatting with them each evening. Seems they have found a way to get rooms at a good price... didn't bother asking how as I was staying on points.