O whole month in Italy and France!!!!

Old Jul 30th, 2011, 09:24 AM
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O whole month in Italy and France!!!!

My husband and I are celebrating 25 years together with a one month trip to Italy and France this coming April. I have never been to Europe but he has many, many years ago. We are well traveled and fairly adventurous. With that being said, we want to do our own thing, have some flexibility but have a general plan and reservations in place with the help from experience travelers to the area. We are thinking about flying into Rome, and working our way up , end in France and flying out of France. Some friends of ours have friends who rent villas on their Tuscany Farm in the Southern coastal region and we would like to spend a few nights with them. We will be flying in to Rome approximately 4 days before Holy Thursday and we think we will probably want to see the sights of Rome and get out of the city and into Tuscany before good Friday. We definitely want to see Florance, Venice, and Paris, but need suggestions for other not so obvious places. We also need help deciding how many nights of our month should be spend where. We want to utilize the rail system, but also intends to rent a car for certain areas such as Tuscany and Umbria. Any suggestions for a route and a plan of attack would be very appreciated!
Maribeth
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 09:41 AM
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Have you looked at the weather for April? It should be pleasant, but may be showery - and definitely is ot beach weather - on either the French or Italian Riviera. There will be plenty of touring and you won't die of the heat or cold - as long as you don't expectany swimming.

IMHO trains are fine between major cities - but to see smaller towns or countrysde you will ned a car - not just for Tuscany/Umbria - bot toreallysee the French Riviera -or if you decide on another direction - see burgundy, alsace, normandy or other regions of France.

We hve done rod trips from Rome to Paris several times - but for 3 weeks each - stopping in a variety of doffernt places - including Switzerland (but late May, not April when the latter can still be very cold).

There are a million different routes you can take. I reco lookiing at some guidebooks and tourbooks - to see which places are MUST DOs for you. Then plan a trip stringin them together. We generaly assume at least 5 nights in major cities (Rome or Paris) and at least 3 or 4 in smaller cities (unless we have already been there several times before). We do no doone-night stops - since all tht packing/unpacking and checking in/out of hotels get really old.
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 09:57 AM
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Thanks for the quick reply! We are some what concerned about the weather, but we are from Michigan so we will just becoming off a cold Michigan winter and 50-60 degree temps shouldn't feel too bad. We are starting in the south and working our way north as we go for that very reason. We also want to see Cinque Terre. Is there one particular area in Tuscany that is a good base for exploring the area, rather then staying a couple nights here and there? We would love to stay in a country villa that is close to a quaint town and driveable to the rest of the must see Tuscany areas. We will probably spend a few nights in Florance and devote 3 days to seeing the city.
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 10:42 AM
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Good for you !
Good idea to end north in April. In Tuscany I suggest staying near Siena as a centro base. What is your budget? You will need a car to see Tuscany well.
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 11:27 AM
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Hi M,

Lucky you.
I would Fly into Venice and out of Paris.
Plan on 3-4 nights in Venice.

Rent a car and travel through Tuscany (5-6 days) to Florence. Drop the car there.

4 nights in Florence with a visit to Siena or do Siena as part of your week in Tuscany.

Rent a car again and drive to La Spezia for 2 nights in the Cinque Terre, and then drive to Ventimiglia to drop off the car.

Train or shuttle to Menton, Fr to rent a car for a week of driving through southern France.

Finish in Avignon or Lyon. Drop car, Train to Paris.

One week in Paris before flying home.

Enjoy your visit.

PS
I checked trains and airfare from Florence to Nice. Much cheaper and easier to rent a car.
You will need an International Driver's Permit in Italy
See http://www.aaasouth.com/home.aspx

>Any suggestions...<
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 03:24 PM
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Maribeth, you are a lucky lady to have an entire month to spend in those incredible countries!

Although I agree you should definitely visit Paris, Rome, Venice, and Florence/Tuscany (4 days in each is great, except Venice, which 2 to 3 days is sufficient), I would strongly suggest Provence, France and the Amalfi coast in Italy as well. Although April is a bit early and the weather may not be ideal, (rainy), they are magical and offer a very different experience from the larger cities you mention. Capri is my favorite (JK Place)or Capri Palace in Ana Capri are lovely,as are the surrounding towns including Ravello and Positano. The people are wonderful, the feeling is more layed back, the site seeing is fabulous and the food is to die for! In Provence, I suggest staying in St Remy for a few nights as well as Aix en Provence or Avignon. Have a lovely trip.
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 05:25 PM
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Yes Donalee! I was just looking at Provence earlier today and thinking we should try to go there. I am putting together a preliminary route that I would appreciate feedback on everyone. I will post it soon!
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 05:42 PM
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Here is the itinerary we are considering:

Fly in to Rome =3 nights

rent a car and drive through the umbria region spending time in Spoleto, Spello and Assisi =3 nights

Drive to Siena and stay there as our home base in Tuscany-4 or 5 nights

Drive to Florence, ditch the car and spend 3 nights

Take the train from Florence to Venice spend 3 nights

Fly from Vienice to Cinque Terre area and spend 2 or 3 nights (do we need a car here?)

Next stop the French Riviera, Provance and Paris. Fly home out of Paris.

How should we travel from Cinque Terre to the French Riviera and then on to Provance and Paris??
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Old Jul 30th, 2011, 06:47 PM
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marking for later rail comment
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Old Jul 31st, 2011, 04:33 AM
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I'd drop the french riviera if you have the whole of Burgundy to visit before Paris,

Venice to Cinque Terre (but you were only in Florence a bit earlier(, I'd look more carefully for festivals in Venice/Florence/Siena and then make it a train journey to Venice from Rome, then Florence then CT (actually I'd visit stay in Genua and then walk/bus along the CT)
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