nancyjacky

Hi Everyone,
Sorry, I was hoping to be able to do this without asking for more help, but I think the fact that I know so little about Italy has been difficult. For some background info, we are a family of 4, we have two kids ages 15 and 17 both are good travelers. We managed to get r/t tickets in and out of Rome for the four of us, so we booked it for July (yes, July 2010) My husband has always wanted to visit the coast and the smaller towns of Italy. He has been to Rome and doesn't want to spend many days there, so we will compromiseand spend only a couple of nights. I should state that he is from Istanbul and absolutely loves anywhere near the sea. As a family, we have been to Venice, Abano and Padua and that is it for Italy. I thought we could visit Florence and Tuscany and then head to the Amalfi Coast. Positano sounds like a place we would all love. Ideally, maybe I would like to pick another place on the coast as well. I have to say though after reading these posts I am really concerned about logistics on the coast and how busy everything is in the month of July. Ideally, I would love to have a car for the whole trip, but again I don't want to be a nervous wreck. We have driven the Big Sur, I also should state at this point that we live in Mexico City, which is quite crazy to drive in, but still I am nervous. Of course, we could rent a car for Tuscany only?? I am also a little concerned about traveling more after arriving in Rome after 2 long flights. I forgot to say that are entire trip is 15 nights. I am sorry to ramble on like this. If you have any advice on any part of this post, I would be very grateful.
THANKS and if anyone needs any advice on my familiar territories..... Mexico City or New York, please ask

SusanP

Does your 15 nights include travel, as in your overnight flight? Do you have 14 or 15 nights IN Italy?

Have your kids seen Rome? If not, I would highly recommend more time there, even if your husband has been there. A minimum of 3, and 4 would be better. Then train to Florence for 4 nights, with 1 or 2 daytrips to Tuscan towns. You wouldn't need a car to do this. If you have 14 nights, that still leaves 6 nights for the Amalfi coast.

Although I haven't driven the Big Sur, I'm not sure you can compare it to driving the Amalfi Coast, and having lived in NYC, you definitely can't compare it to that. Basically, the driver won't get to see any of the gorgeous scenery, because he'll be too busy watching the road/traffic. You can train/bus to Positano and then use buses and ferries to get around from there.

I was on the Amalfi Coast in July. Yes, it is busy, but taking the bus is still easier than driving (just my opinion).

zeppole

If your husband is from Istanbul and loves anywhere near the sea plus wants to see smaller towns, and you are presently living in Mexico city and deal with the driving there, I suggest you rent a car once you are through visiting Rome. In August, I would forego Tuscany, which is really quite hot, but if the towns of Tuscany are the ones you all want to see the most, by all means go.

Here are some possibilities:

Rome -- Tuscany farmhouse stay with a pool, visit historic towns -- drive to Salerno or the Sorrentine foothills, visit coastal towns plus Pompeii and Paestum. Drive back to Rome airport.

Rome-- drive the coast south through Sperlonga, Gaeta and onto Sorrento or Salerno -- train back to Rome

Rome -- Tuscany farmhouse stay visit historic towns -- drive to town near le Cinque Terre with parking (Moneglia, Lerici) -- drive back down Tuscan coast to Rome with a few nights in Porto Santo Stefano, day trips to Tarquina and Isola Giugno (or you can skip le Cinque Terre entirely) -- drive to Rome airport

zeppole

Sorry! I see you are traveling in July, not August, but Tuscany will still be very hot. If you go to Tuscany, I suggest you rent an apartment in an agriturismo with a pool. Try to find one with screens on the windows if any of you are subject to getting bitten by mosquitoes.

You can find lots of good apartment offers along the Sorrentine peninsula and in the area of Salerno and Cilento with google searches (try also the town of Cetera, but make sure you get parking.)

chazzarelli

Why not do Rome, Amalfi Coast and then fly from Naples to Palermo? The beaches and coast down in Sicily would be a lot of fun and there are still plenty of sights to see and do down in that part.

nancyjacky

Oh thank you for all the suggestions. I am going to get busy and do more research and investigate all of them. It is hard to make decisions right now since so many places are still unfamiliar. After reading lots of posts here on Fodors, I was pretty sure at least we wanted to stay in Siena in Tuscany and Positano on the coast, but even that can change. Only I don't have a lot of time to decide. I really wish we had the luxury of going off season and being more spontaneous and could decide when we are there. That was really our idea when we bought our tickets, but I guess it is not a very practical one.

Susan, the 15 nights doesn't include the night we are flying. We arrive in Rome at 12:30pm and leave Rome at 9:00am.

Now, a couple of more specific questions...in order to rent a car would a mexican drivers license suffice or do they require an international drivers license?? Is it easy to get ferry/train/ and bus reservations even in July? For instance if we want a day trip to Capri do I need to book the ferry in advance??

Thanks again and again. I plan to go tomorrow to buy a new guide book too.

petertherabbitt

italy is one of the countries that requires an international drivers permit this is really a translation of your regular licence. you may not be asked for it but if asked and you do not have one there are substantial fines involved

nancyjacky

I really should get one then, only it is probably a little more complicated in mexico. I will check....Thanks Peter!!

zeppole

The usual way to do a trip that includes Siena and Positano is to take a train up to Florence, tour the town and include daytripping to Siena by bus from Florence, rent a car in Florence, tour smaller Tuscan towns in the countryside, then drive to Sorrento, drop the car, and use public transportation to get to Positano.

In July, this will put you in the middle of tourist crowds, and slow-going traffic along the Amalfi drive. Up to you if you want to keep the car, but you will face a lot of parking issues making Positano your base with a car. If you like the freedom of a car, places like the Sorrentine peninsula or the Salerno area are more-car friendly, and you still have access to ferries to see the tourist hot spots on the coast and Capri.

nancyjacky

Zeppole, your post made everything so much clearer for me. Now, all I need to do is educate myself a little more on the Sorrentine peninsula and the Salerno area to make a decision. But I pretty much decided I will not keep the car if we stay in Positano. Thanks a lot!!

Jean

Where to get an international driver's license in Mexico:

http://www.ama.com.mx/English/index.html

nancyjacky

Thanks Jean, that website is a huge help