Hi folks! We've been pouring through all the fabulous posts and are very excited about our honeymoon trip this fall (after our July wedding). We need to decide between departing either 1) around Sept 8/9; or 2) around Sept 25/26.

We want to avoid the main touristy holiday, but wouldn't want it to be too cold. Any preferences or thoughts?

[In chronological order, we'll be heading south as it gets closer to winter. Our tentative itinerary is to fly into MIL, drive to Lake Como (3 nights in Varenna?), drive to Tuscany (5 nights), drive to and drop the car off in Florence (3 nights), train and fly out of Rome (4 nights).]

Your assistance is much appreciated!
Erin & Mike

Hi sf,

Mid Sept through the 1st week in Oct, would be terrific.

The grapes and olives are harvested and the porcini mushrooms are in season.

The weather is pretty nice, too.

I was in Varenna a few years ago the last week in Sept. and it was good weather - warm during the day and cool in the evenings. It's a great time of the year to travel, not many tourists. Loved Varenna!

Milan, and a lot of surrounding areas, including Como - - are impacted to a substantial degree by the Monza Grand Prix. Just like the Indianapolis 500 makes all hotel accommodations more difficult for 50-100 miles around, the same is true in September; Monza is more or less a suburb of Milan.

I'm not saying that it is a bad time to go - - but you should make your lodging plans early if you choose the earlier September dates. I have not checked to see when is Monza this year. I think it is typically the third weekend in September, so it might not really affect either of your sets of dates. But check...

Whatever your decisions, congratulations on your new life in marriage... and...

Best wishes,

Rex

I'm going to the Grand Prix this year. It's the first weekend in September.

when we went to Rome, Venice, Tuscany in '99 we went in the first 2 weeks of September it was incredibly hot. 90 degrees and 90% humidity. I don't know what Varenna would be like, but I would take the later dates. It certain won't be too cool in Tuscany or Rome.

Sounds like a fabulous trip--can I tag along? I too would take the later dates. Varenna is cute but a much longer drive than Menaggio on the west shore, and the boats run all day between them. Pick your location well in Tuscany--there are many threads about that if you search. Good luck !