lisa3158

We have read all the input from this board and other sources and decided that we want to visit Venice, Florence (Tuscany), Rome and the AC for our honeymoon in June.
Now the problem is figuring out the smoothest way to do it all, and here is what I was thinking.

Fly into Venice from Philly or NY (2 nights)

Train to Florence (4 or 5 nights)possibly rent a car to visit the hill towns or would you recommend staying a couple nights in Florence and then a couple nights in Sienna?

Rome (2 nights)I am not sure about the easiest way to get from Florence to Rome...either driving the rental car or train?

Then off to the AC (4 nights). Again, I am not sure of the easiest way to travel from Rome to the AC.

Fly out of Naples back to Philly or NY

Does the order of events make sense? Is there anything you would change? I was really hoping to end the trip at the AC.

elaine

sorry, AC=Amalfi Coast?

I LOVE Venice, and Rome is great, but I'd lop off one or the other, probably, regretfully Venice since it is out of the way from the rest of your trip.
You will be losing a lot of time in inter-city travel, one half to 2/3 of a day at least. So two nights in Rome or Venice would be about 1.5 days at best, not worth it imo when you add in the wear and tear of the traveling around.

ira

Hi lisa,

It's a good plan.

I would skip Rome this trip. It really requires more than 2 nights.

Venice is an ideal honeymoon location.
Add 2 nights to Venice.

With only 5 nights in Florence, I suggest a daytrip to Siena by bus and perhaps a daytrip to Lucca/Pisa.

You can travel Florence to Salerno in 4-5 hr, or to Naples in 3 1/2. It depends on where you are staying on the AC.

You might find these threads helpful:

Ira?s Trip Report
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

Dayle

Hi Lisa,

I think you are trying to cram too much in to your trip. I say this from having done almost the exact same trip my first time to Italy. We had been with a ski club in Cortina and our trip ended in Venice. My boyfriend's realatives live in Praiano on the Amalfi Coast, so meeting them was a given. Plus they cooked for us and that was definitely a highlight!

We did:

2 nts, 1.5 days in Venice
train to Florence
2 nts, 1.5 days in Florence
train to Salerno, Amalfi Coast via Sita Bus to Praiano - very long day
3 nts, 2.5 days (visit to Pompeii included)
train to Rome
2 nts, 2 days

I knew this would just be a "teaser" and it was. I now refer to this trip as a "drive by" of Italy. We saw a few of the highlights and that was it.
I wouldn't recommend it, unless you are going with full knowledge that's all it will be.

Buon viaggio!

bobthenavigator

I agree with Ira--something has to go, and Rome is the most likely. Venice deserves at least 3 nites.

Greenhouse

If you really want it all, and I can't fault you for trying, here's but one more option:

Non-stop flight Philadelphia to Rome for 2 night stay

Rent a car and make your way to Florence, stopping one night in Siena

Three nights in Florence

Eurostar to Venice for a three nights stay

Volareweb.com to Naples can be had for 19.99€ pp-4 nights Amalfi

Last night, Rome to catch your late morning flight to PHL the next day

ira

Good idea about flying Venice to Naples, Greenhouse.

There is bus service from Naples airport to Sorrento.
see http://www.curreriviaggi.it/

Also, consider flying home from Naples.

yipper

Hi,
I know a lot of people tell you that all you have planned is too much to do in that amount of time. This can be true, but when I was younger I could travel faster, see more, check in and out hotels without a second thought. Now that I am older the thought makes me tired. So go and see as much as you want and are able to. I do think ending in the AC is best and there you can relax and stare a the view. congrats!!