Itinerary overload - italy in 13 days
 

When I first started planning I was confident in my choices now after reading and reading and reading I'm begining to doubt so I would like any intelligent comments that people have.(Bob the Navigator) One note there are two couples (quiet,late twenties) but one couple likes bigger cities hence some of the choices. I myself have been to Italy 8 or 10 times but no one else has been at all.

Dates are pretty set - 12th - 25th October

Arrive MXP on 13th pick up car at airport
Drive to either Monterosso al mare or portovenere or somwhere on the Italian riviera which one is the best?? you know quaint, lots to do, not too small but not too big!! stay first two night there. Will all of towns be shut down during these dates? is it too cold to go here?

15th - 18th Firenze - looking to stay at either villa la sosta or San Gallo Palace - both have parking and say that there a 10 minute walk to the Duomo. Anybody know about either of these hotels??? do at least one day driving trip in area

18th - 21st - Siena at the Palazzo Ravizza explore siena also do driving trips in countyside

21st - 25th - Como - I've read a lot about the different places there and I have stayed in Como itself for a day but I would really like to stay in Bellagio even though I've heard Menaggio suggested as a good place to stay if you have a car. Our flight leaves at 10am on the 25th from MXP. I would like to do some driving around the lake. Looking to stay at Hotel Florence

Thank you for any comments

Hi B,

Is there a reason you are skipping Venice?

((I))

You may save around 20% on your car rental if you rent from a location different than the airport.
I suggest you take the train or bus shuttle from MXP to the train station and rent a car from there. The price will not change even though you are going to be returning the car back to MXP.

I was in Venice last Feb. I know this is selfish but I added Liguria b/c I had not been there but I've been to all the other places so I wanted at least one totally different place for myself and since the rest of the group has not been to Italy at all I have been left to plan the whole thing - another concern is that if it is raining a lot which seems to be a risk in Oct I don't know if I would want to be in Venice - but I did love it there - too many places too little time!!

Additional thanks for the info on the rental cars I'll check it out

Hello bahamas, it is nice to save money whereever possible but just something for you to think about.

You state that you are the only one in your traveling party that has been to Italy.

Have you driven in any of the major cities in Italy?

I ask because if you pick up the rental car at Milpensa you can then avoid driving IN the city of Milan. I you take the shuttle bus to the Central train station in Milan and pick up your car there you will be driving IN Milan to get out of town and on your way.

This may or maynot be a problem, but just wanted to call it to your attention.

P.S. My DH did this more then once without a problem, but driving in Italian cities did not faze him.

bahamas, I just wanted to affirm your choice to skip Venice in October. I'm one of the rare people who is underwhelmed by Venice, but it might be that both times I was there in October, and both times it was rainy and overcast. Plus the first time I was there the canals were flooded, which was a real pain (and entailed slogging through dirty canal water in some off-the-beaten-path areas that didn't have adequate risers to keep you above water). I'm sure on any other given day I would've fell in love with Venice like most people do, but it was not to be for me.

In terms of staying on the Riviera, we stayed in Santa Margherita Ligura, about an hour north of the Cinque Terre and found it to be a nice location. I can't remember what hotel we were in (maybe a Best Western), but we had a lovely view over the waterfront.

Have a great trip!

OK Bahamas---you did ask !
Overall, your main exposure is you are a bit late for the coast and lakes, but doable. So, with that in mind, I would start at Como---10 days sooner and less risk on weather. Then, drive to the coast. I do love Portovenere, but good options include Levanto and Monterosso---your call. Then, drive to Siena and do your Tuscany thing--I would prefer 4 nites there---see Lucca enroute as you drive to Siena. Then, drive to the Florence airport to drop your car and choose a hotel right in Florence--since you now have no car.
Finally, train to Milan for your last nite--stay in town to see the Duomo and take the airport bus in the AM to MXP. This puts the " outdoor" destinations earlier in your trip and avoids the compromise location in Florence. Hope it all makes sense.

Oh dgkp, I haven't stayed in Santa Margherita but have known people that have and they loved it. That is a great idea!

And I agree with dgkp, bahama. I love Venice however October can be miserable. One never knows. Coastline on the Gulf of Venice which flows to the Adriatic Sea. Close to the Dolomite Mts. The area of Veneto can get really bad rainstorms and horrendous electrical storms in October. Freezing cold of course.

Now that can be dramatic and fun if one has a friend's house to enjoy over wine and a long fantastic dinner and visit etc. but certainly not conducive to enjoying the beauty of Venice.

Do have a beautiful trip!

Ok. I like the idea of Como first then on to Liguria, Siena, Florence with the last night in Milan. Do you think we should have a car in Bellagio or would you be able to see everything you wanted by ferries? then maybe on the last day at the lakes I would pick up a car in Como. I'm used to trecherous driving and wouldn't want to miss a great driving trip?????

Good question ! There are 4 of you, all with luggage. Do you want to mess with it for 3 transfers when you arrive--bus, train, boat? Your call !
You will not need it if you stay in Bellagio, but I would still stay in Menaggio with a car and day trip to Lugano as well.

I agree with Bobthenavigator's suggestion of starting with Lake Como. But I recommend Bellagio over Menaggio because its setting and atmosphere are unique -- few streets, mostly staircases rising up from the lake. Menaggio is a regular, larger, albeit charming, town with streets, cars, etc. If you decide to leave Lake Como to the end of the trip, however, you're less likely to find a hotel in Bellagio still open at Oct. 23/24/25. 'Better luck in Menaggio that late in the season.