Planning 40th Birthday trip - never been to Italy
 

Planning for October 08. We've never been to Italy. Considering a bus tours (because we don't know the area and don't want to miss something we should be seeing) but don't want to feel like we're on a "schedule" all the time or sitting on a bus a lot. Also considering a bike tour which I think may be more "relaxed" in the sense that we would have more time to really see the countryside/small towns.
I know there is too much to see in one trip (school-aged kids at home so we really only have 12 days max). We enjoy being laid back, beautiful vistas/coastal vistas, wineries, excellent food...don't like crowds. Where should we go and what should we see?? I know we should see Rome for sure - we can't go all that way and not see it but a couple of nights there will probably be enough of the "history tour/museum tour" for me. Any input? Oh, budget - I'd like to be around 6k total for 2??? We like luxury hotels...just can't afford them - ha! So really nice 4* type would be great...staying in a villa would be awesome too.

Hi, lsnyder,

ok - if I understand you, you've got 12 days in October, and like being laid back.

so my suggestion is to concentrate on one area, rather than a lot of rushing about between cities.

here are some ideas:

fly into Venice, spend 4 nights there, then into the Dolomites, down to ravenna, back to Venice.

or cut out the dolomites and go from Venice to Ravenna via Verona and lake garda.

or fly into Pisa, spend 7 nights in an agrotourismo in tuscany, then 5 nights in Florence.

or fly into Rome, tour umbria, fly home from Rome.

or go to Sicily. great in October.

this would be really easy to plan [lots of people her who've done the same thing and can advise on car hire, hotels, routes etc.,] and it would be much more restful than a bus tour.

happy travelling,

regards, ann

Thanks for your advice Ann. I will look into those areas/towns that you mentioned some of which I must say I have never heard of!

Hi Isnyder,

Since this is your first trip, and given the interests you have expressed - feeling the "need" to see Rome -

I'm one of those who just love to mix cities and countryside. They are both so wonderful in Italy!

Ann's ideas are great, here's another one that would be very simple for first timers (believe me it won't be your last).

Fly into Rome and spend 5 - 6 nights.Train out to either Orvieto (1 hour)or Chuisi (1 hour 20 min) and pick up a rental car.

Proceed to your hilltown of choice! Enjoy another 6 or 7 nights in one town or split it between 2:

northern and southern Tuscany,
or southern Tuscany with a couple days in Florence
or Tuscany and Cinque Terre (in which case go to CT before Tuscany - no car really needed there)

OR - Rome + Amalfi Coast

Depart from either Rome, Naples or Pisa - depending.

As you can see the options are many and you really can't go wrong. You'll love it all!

Some here will recommend renting a car at FCO (Rome airport) and going directly to Tuscany, but my thinking is coping with a rental car and driving to Tuscany on arrival day for first time visitors might be too much.

Buon viaggio!

If you want to see the big three since it is your first trip, you could fly into Rome for four nights, train to Florence for three nights with daytrip to Siena and train to Venice for four nights. We did a similar trip in May of 2005 and really enjoyed it although we also added a week in Tuscany. The crowds won't be too bad in October. Or you could see Rome for four nights then spend the rest of your time in Tuscany. We spent a week in Montepulciano with a rental car so were able to day trip to other small Tuscany towns and, like many others, we loved this area. Tuscany certainly fits the bill for beautiful vistas, wineries and food but then Venice is beautiful in itself and Florence has such wonderful art. Too many wonderful places to visit and never enough time!

Sounds like a great trip!

It sounds like you have similiar tastes to my hubby & me. From personal experience, if you have never seen Rome you really should! We did appreciate Florence but your comment about history/museums makes me think that you'll actually enjoy Rome more than Florence!

I really thought the same way and was so sorry we did not have more time to just walk around and look!

Anyway, I agree with the others that a few days in the countryside will be great as well.

October is on the edge between pleasant country biking weather and the start of colder periods in Tuscany while Sicily will generally be warm for another month.

If you are going with a bus you will be on a schedule (which may be negotiable with other riders and the company but basically you will rush from site to site. I know I have seen these gaggle of Americans on their eternal need to rush and tick off the boxes.

I would suggest you go for one of the big three (Rome, Florence or Venice) and then book onto a bike tour (there are various types some where you flock together or there are also ones who let you off with their kit taking lugage with you.

I can only recommend Headwater.com which do the second type. If you look at their web site they stop cycling when the weather will be poor so if they don't have a tour there is a good reason. If you tell them you like wineries they may even book you into staying in ones for the ride.