Hi everyone!

I am new to fodors and would love to get your advice on my trip to Italy I am travelling to Italy in August with my husband (worst time I know but unfortunately its the only time we could go). We'll be arriving August 15 and staying in Venice for two nights. We are then heading to Varenna for two nights, Monterosso for two nights, Siena for two nights, Florence for three nights, Rome for four nights and Positano for four nights. We will be flying back to the US from Naples Airport.

I have a few initial questions

1) What is the best way to get to Siena from Monterosso? I did check out tickets on the trenitalia website but I was wondering if there was an easier route - say by bus or a train/bus combination.

2) What is the best way to get to Rome from Positano? I'm guessing we would either take the train to Naples or Salerno and then take either a ferry or a bus to Positano? Which would you recommend? If we take the ferry would we have to book in advance? I also know that there is a direct bus going from Rome to Positano but I haven't been able to figure out their website (its all in Italian and google translate doesn't work) and from what I understand it leaves really early in the morning

3) We plan on taking a day trip to Capri. Since its august should we book the ferry to there a few days in advance?

4) We are thinking of renting a car from Positano to Naples airport because my husband doesn't want to risk being late for our flight which is at 1 pm. Are there any car companies you would recommend? I know our hotel can book something for us but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations. If we decide to go via public transportation how long do you anticipate that taking and what would the best route be?

5) During our two nights in Siena (2 and a half days) we will be doing a private tour exploring the val d'orcia. We should be back to Siena by 6. On our second day we are thinking of doing a day trip to Volterra. Any idea on how to do this? From what I understand I have to take a bus and change at Val d'elsa but I'm a little unclear on the details and how long it would take?


Other than that I would love to know if you have any tips on your favorite restaurants or perhaps places you stumbled upon that we would not find in a guidebook.

Thanks in advance!

If at all possible, I urge you to consolidate your stays in le Cinque Terre unless someone is transferring your luggage for you.

You might check out the bus from Pisa to Siena. It might not be faster but perhaps less of a nuisance depending on where the bus drops you off with your luggage. However, since you appear to be willing to rent a car in Italy, why don't you rent a car and drive to Siena, via Volterra? You can rent the car in La Spezia, unless it is a Saturday afternoon or Sunday, in which case you can rent it from Pisa airport. You could do your own tour of the val d'Orcia and drive yourselves to Florence.

You should hire a driver to take you to the airport from Positano. There is a back road. They know where they are going.

I don't know of any bus from Rome to Positano. Maybe someone else does.

In your current plan, I wouldn't consider the time in Siena as "2 and a half days." I would count it as one full day plus two partial days.

Your time is going to be very short in Venice, Varenna and Siena.

Take the fast train from Rome to Naples. It's about 90 minutes. Then if it's within budget, hire a private transfer ( E 120-130 roughly) for the drive to Positano, which takes about 1.5 hours.

IF you can't do it that way, take the local train from Naples to Sorrento,then switch either to a SITA bus for the ride into Positano, or preferably take a boat from the harbor ( about 40 minute ride.)

For the transfer back to Naples from Positano, I can highly recommend GUEMARtravel.com. They are based in Sorrento and have excellent drivers and reasonable prices. We just used them two weeks ago and were very happy with our extremely personable and safe driver, whose name has gone out of my head!

You don't want to make that drive yourself. I've taken seven trips to the Amalfi Coast, and wouldn't even dream of trying it anymore, especially not in August, which is prime vacation time for most of Europe.

You really do need help with this. First, your first 3 destinations are so hurried why bother. In Venice you will be comatose day one so you really have one day to see the most beautiful city in Europe, and in August heat. Then, it will take half a day to get to Varenna,leaving you 1.5 days for Lago Como---and in August.

Getting to Monterosso will be even tougher---starting with a :15 uphill walk with luggage, and changing trains twice.

YOu get the idea---too much in too little time and all in August heat and crowds. Something needs to go in that first week. I would drop the CT and add a day each to Venice and Como. Train to Florence from Como and then do the Siena gig after that. And, I hope you have hotels booked now.

You asked for help and you need it. Here is a start.
And, tell your hubby to forget a car on the AC in August. Hire a driver for that airport run---less than the car rental and much more enjoyable. Holler if you need driver sites.

You had no time to see anything in Siena.... and it has 2 days worth of sites or a very rushed 1 day.

I spent 2 nights in Siena seeing Siena and could easily used another day or two.

Hi everyone

Thanks for your suggestions. We already have our hotels and flights booked. Our trip was originally very different and we were flying into genoa and were going to spend more time in the cinque terre and Siena. We were planning to be in Egypt before for a wedding but that got cancelled a week ago because of a military coup. We weren't able to cancel all our nonrefundable tickets and were lucky enough to find an affordable flight to Venice. Since the wedding cancellation was so last minute, we missed the deadline to cancel our hotels without being charged a cancellation fee. However our hotels did allow us to decrease the number of days we are staying. So unfortunately it is what it is.

@wwk Thanks for the advice car transfer. That's actually what I was looking for. I meant hiring a driver and not a car. Should have been clearer We both don't drive stick shift and certainly don't plan to learn on the amalfi coast! I will definitely check them out and compare the rate they give me to the rate our hotel quotes us.