My husband & I are planning a 10 day trip to Italy in mid September. We are planning on flying in/out of Rome and want to spend at least 3-4 days in Rome but want to go elsewhere also. Wanted some recommendations on where to go. Don't want to spend the whole time traveling so no more than 2 other places. We both love food and love to drink wine so really would like to go to at least one vineyard while we are there as well.

You're going to get all those on here who prefer points North, South, East and West of Rome giving you their favourite destinations and how you'd choose from those is virtually impossible. Is this your first Italian trip or have you seen parts of Italy previously?

The first thing to recognise is that you intend to spend nearly half of your trip in Rome, so don't go for more than one other destination. Choose one that gives you the things that you looking for and then the next thing to realise is that if you're flying back out of Rome, depending on the time of your flight, you might want to spend your last night there too. So maybe spend only 2 to 3 nights at the front end of the trip.

If you hire a car, you'll have more flexible timings without waiting for trains etc. but I still wouldn't want to venture much further away from Rome than maybe a three or four hour drive. That said, you be in range of the Amalfi coast to the South, Puglia and Tuscany to the East and up a bit and the Lakes (just)in the North.

Mid September will be warmer obviously in the South, cooler as you approach the mountains, but not by much and it will be quiter in most tourist areas as the schoolchildren will mostly have returned to schools across Europe.

My own feeling would be to head South to the Amalfi coast and spend time there.

Think about whether you want another city - Florence or Venice; the countryside with vineyards - Tuscany; or the seaside - Amalfi Coast. For Tuscany you will need a car to full appreciate the area. You can manage the Amalfi Coast area without a car and for Florence or Venice you will definitely not want a car.

I would recommend spending most of your time in Tuscany, traveling to Florence, Siena, Radda, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Montelcino (All in Tuscany). These are some of the most breathtaking little towns not far from Florence that you can weave though in a car but easy with public transportation as well. From Florence you can go to Cinque Terre (a cluster of 5 colorful villages atop the Liguria Sea)- Manolo, Olivietta..
Hope this helps.

Headed there in April go every year no clue bout your budget

but for me booked recently

Intercontinental Vill Rome Spansh Steps

betterbidding.com $180 bidding priceline.com

visiting Alban Hills Frescati Vineyards south of Rome

then www.amalfiweb.com hoteldelfino.com $60/nt Otel.com

then venice-tourism.com have a free Grand Canal Suite

with FF miles but Hilton Stuky Molino Priceline good for me

in the past from $120... seat61.com nice trains between

maybe a stop in Florence on your way back to Rome.

might consider something like that.

Happy Planning,

Thanks for all the advice. Not sure about renting a car. Thinking about taking a train or have also thought about possibly buying a bus transfer from Rome to Florence. Think we really want to do Florence. Have talked about maybe doing Naples also. Have never actually been to Italy before so want to make the most of our time but of course actually want to have time to enjoy everything so it is hard. Anyone know if any of these tours like Italia tours offer are worthwhile or just a waste of time and money.