My fiance and I are thinking of going to Italy for our honeymoon next fall - late October, 2007.

Does anyone have any suggestions of destinations for us? He loves to be around the water, and I love visiting beautiful cities.

Venice would seem to be the obvious choice.

My wife and I honeymooned in October in Italy three years ago. It was the perfect time of year to go--less crowds, off-season rates, nice weather.

We did a two-week trip: flying into Florence (4 nights), training to Rome (6 nights), and then ending in Positano (4 nights) and flying out of Naples. This was a good itinerary. Positano, particularly, would satisfy both of your needs. It is truly spectacular. If you click on my handle name, my trip report is buried somewhere in here, back in October '03. Good luck.

One classic itinerary would be to fly into Venice and fly home from Rome. (all that you have to do is fill in the middle).

The lakes would be nice but for a water sports enthusiast, the weather in late October might be a disappointment.

We need to know what water stuff your future husband would hope to do in late-October.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. We had our thirteenth anniversary two days ago.

Hi S,

How many days?

<<Use a travel agent affiliated with Virtuoso who can offer you some special amenities at five-star resorts.>>

Just curious what in the OP's post hinted that 5 star hotels would be appropriate for them, as they easily will be $500 to $800 nightly. BTW, Virtuoso is a fine orgnanization but it is not a pre-requisite for an agency to be able to offer special amenities at luxury properties

>The weather could be "iffy" in late October.<

It is going to be much more "iffy" along the Amalfi coast then it will in Venice, whose climate is stabilized and moderated by the lagoon. Not to mention that if you get rain, there is tons to enjoy indoors in Venezia, whereas that is not true on the Amalfi.

>There are some beautiful, romantic, world-class hotels on the Amalfi Coast (also in Venice!) whose rooms are next-to-impossible to book in the summer.<

The appeal of going to Venezia in October is not only that its world-class hotels are easier to book but that you do not have the hordes of tourists (or the heat) one otherwise gets in summer.

>Use a travel agent affiliated with Virtuoso who can offer you some special amenities at five-star resorts.<

Is this an ad? Seagee and her intended will have no trouble booking a trip themselves.

seagee,

When you say your fiancee "loves to be around water," does that mean swimming and beaches? If so, Venezia does not work for that kind of vacation. However, late October is not really swim weather anywhere in Italy. If what you are looking for is a mix of romantic sea views (waves against rocks etc), then the Ligurian coast near places like Lucca, the Tuscan coast (around Monte Argentario) might give you the right mix of visiting beautiful cities and being around water, although you will need a car.

Napoli is both a beautiful city and a chaotic, impoverished one but it close to the Amalfi coast and Pompeii, if that interests you.

Finally, Sicily might work very well for you, although there are fewer beautiful cities than beautiful ruins to be seen there. And you would need a car.

I love Italy and just finished planning my trip for next October (hotels booked). It is my fiance's first visit there and we are travelling with another couple.

I am not a fan of Venice but feel that is a must see for everyone else. We will fly into Venice, stay 2 nights (my maximum there), take a train into Florence for 5 nights and the train to Rome for the final three.

There are too many beautiful cities in Italy to list and I strongly suggest you do not try to pack in too much. I love the Italian Riveriera but October is not the time for that area; I also enjoy the Dolomites. But, for that first trip, the big 3, or 2 of them, are likely your best bet.

I've always thought you had to fly in and out of the same city in order to get decent airfares - is that not true?

Not necessarily. I flew NY-ROME VENICE-NY with Alitalia last month. 500.00 with taxes. It was the same cost NY-ROME-NY.

Not true at all, seagee. For example, when considering an Italian vacation, I always cost compare Rome/Rome/, Rome/Milano, Milano/Rome, Milano/Milano. I also check making one stop on London, either going or coming, and flying to a regional airport.

There are times when it is not only cheaper, but I get availablity I otherwise wouldn't get. Meaning, I've tried to book Rome/Rome on occasion and been told there are no seats. Rome/Milano however? I'm fine.