rien--I'd do five nites in Rome and the rest in Sorrento (good base for all the archaeological sites in the area). From Rome lots of good day trips.

justineparis,

Planning is ALMOST as fun as the trip itself! Online booking can be stressful, you have to be really careful--as you found out. A big issue for me, and I'm sure a lot of other travelers, is building too high expectations, especially if the trip is a ways off and I have a lot of time to think about it.

dwdvagamundo,

Excellent idea. I don't know if you saw my post about being a slow traveler, I like staying put for at least 5-6 days.

I did a little research after reading your post and the sites I want to see are easy to reach by train, bus, etc. The only problem is getting back to Rome for the flight home. I could fly out of Naples, but it will probably add considerably to the airfare. Might be worth it though.

I haven't been abroad for a while so I feel out of the loop. Any particular websites you can recommend for open-jaw fares?

Rien - you just use the airline's own website but use the multi-city button.

it shouldn't add that much to the fare to travel open jaw, so long as the airline and its code shares go to both places.

Depending on how you handle jet lag, consider going to the Bay of Naples first and then back to Rome. It's not that difficult to take trains all the way to Sorrento and back.

My daughter was in Paris in March and Rome in Sept. last year. She found Rome to be substantially more expensive, if that's a factor for you.

Bedar,

Do you think maybe that's because March is off-season, but September is not? Also, could you be more specific as to what was more expensive, airfare, food, accommodation, or everything.

Rien - Bedar's DD's experience isn't mine; i would have said that Rome was cheaper overall both with lodgings and food, but it's two years since I was in Rome, and three since Paris, so I may be out of date. My recollection is that even 3 years ago it was hard to find a coffee or indeed any drink in central Paris for less that €5 whereas the going rate in Rome was €3 or less.

but perhaps I was frequenting more classy joints in Paris than I was in Rome!

After more deliberation, I've decided to travel in April and extend the trip to 14 days. I also decided to do Capri because it's a place I've always wanted to see, but hesitated for fear of too much glitz and theme park syndrome. I have a feeling I may feel the same way about Capri that I did after seeing Santorini--very commercial but one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. So glad I went, absolutely no regrets!

Here's the tentative general itinerary:

Rome-5 nights with one day for Ostia Antica

Naples-2 nights (don't think I could take more!)Pompeii/Mt. Vesuvius Park, one day for the archaeological museum and Naples itself

Capri-4 nights (for the return, take ferry to Naples then train back to Rome)

Rome-3 nights with one day for Villa d'Este/Tivoli

My one concern is costs in Capri. Hotels in Anacapri seem relatively reasonable as April is still off-season, but can anyone shed light on food. I've heard it can be REALLY expensive.

Unless you have an enormous interest in archeology, I'd substitute a day trip to Orvieto rather than Ostia Antica.

I would probably put all of the Rome days together, just to eliminate one hotel change, but 5+3 isn't bad. In case you haven't checked train schedules yet, you can go from FCO to Naples in just 2 hours, and the first 30 minutes is getting to Rome which you'd be doing in either case.

I would find 4 nights on Capri to be at least one night too many, but that's me.

I do have a keen interest in archaeology, and geology, which are the big draws for me for the entire area. Although Orvieto does have something to offer on the latter so it's worth considering.

I'd prefer to not split my Rome time, but taking a ferry from Capri to Naples, catching a train to Rome and then having to get to the airport is too stressful for me. The alternative is to fly home from Naples and do 7-8 days in Rome. Open jaw flights seem to cost quite a bit more, but then I'd have to pay for the train back to Rome so maybe it's worth it.

I'm assuming you've been to Capri, any thoughts on food, prices, etc? Where would you go for less touristy restaurants?

I don't recommend splitting the time in Rome in half. If you're worried about your flight, then stay in Capri first and then Naples with its great train connections to Rome. Also, I think eight nites is too much for Rome--it's very intense and VERY expensive. I'd take at least one and possibly more nites and add them to The Bay of Naples.


I would not stay in Capri for four nites, but I'm not you. Our one day trip over and back from Sorrento was plenty for me, although my spouse would like to stay overnight (one night) sometime.

As one of your three reasons for visiting Naples is to see Pompeii, I would base in Sorrento which is half an hour from Pompeii and one hour from Naples via the Circumvesuviano train and offers lots of ferries and hydrofoils to Capri. You could also take a bus down the Amalfi Coast, which is one of the most beautiful places we've ever been. Don't know about Mount Vesuvius which we've never visited despite many times in the Bay of Naples area. But Pompeii and its nearby neighbor Herculaneum which was also buried but is very different from Pompeii will easily absorb a day.

dwdv,

When you say Rome is 'intense,' how do you mean exactly? I'm assuming maybe in a fast-paced, New York kind of way with a little more chaos thrown in?! What do I know, it's just how I imagine Rome to be.

I have a LOT more research to do, and prioritizing. Thanks for all your suggestions.

It's not like NYC. I guess what I mean is that there is so much to do that we find ourselves constantly hurrying off to do stuff rather than relaxing to enjoy it. My spouse loves Rome and would happily stay there for a year while she cannot stay in NYC for more than a few days.

Naples is actually more intense in an NYC kind of way, and with a lot more chaos.

One way not to split your Rome nights is to head to Naples immediately on landing at FCO. Then put all of your Rome days at the end before you fly home. If your arriving flight isn't too brutal, you could even consider heading to Capri first.

I love Rome and don't think it's particularly intense, but I live in L.A. and like big cities. I also don't think it's very expensive (at least compared to many other big cities). If you're from the U.S., note that the euro has fallen to a long-time low against the dollar to something like $1.15. Good news for you!

I think the geology of Orvieto is fascinating. You can tour the caves dug out of the tufo on which Orvieto sits.

http://www.inorvieto.it/en/visit/orv...e_surface.html

Pompeii is roughly half-way between Naples and Sorrento, so I don't see any advantage to staying in Sorrento over Naples unless you specifically want to see one or more of the Amalfi Coast towns.

FYI, ferries to/from Capri can be cancelled if seas are rough.

Since you've decided on April, are you going after Easter?

dwdv,

Seems I run into the same whenever traveling, as does everyone I guess, trying to cram too much in. I've done it in the past and vowed to myself that I'm going to take it easier on this trip. I'm with your wife on NYC. I live in Philadelphia so I've been there many times, never need to see it again. It got crazier with every visit.

As for Naples, I don't plan to spend much time actually walking around the city itself.

Jean,

I've decided to do exactly what you suggested:

1. Arrive in Rome, head straight to Naples for 3 nights
2. Ferry to Capri, stay for 4 nights (figure I'll need to rest after Naples!)
3. Ferry back to Naples, then train to Rome, stay for remaining 7 nights.

I knew nothing about Orvieto until you mentioned it, a possible day trip from Rome.

This trip is for 2016 and Easter's early, March 27th, so I'll be going afterwards. I hope the conversion rate is as good as now, or better!

Thanks again and to everyone--I think I've got it down now.

rien - that itinerary looks pretty good - well done!

as for Orvieto, I'm sure you would enjoy it. IMO it's worth the trip just for the sight of the front of the Duomo - it is truly wonderful. easy to reach by train from Termini and then the funicular up to the town where a bus takes you the rest of the way.