Vacation planning crisis...I think.
 

Hello there,
This is my first post on the forum, and I apologize for it's length...I've been planning a 12 night trip to Italy for the last 5 months, and recently had a sort of 'break' in the process. I've read several guides (country and regional), and had a very clear idea of where I wanted to go, and all of a sudden I'm not sure! My original plans were to fly in to Florence for 4 nights, train/bus/ferry to Positano for 4 nights, train to Rome for 4 nights. I've got hotels and the budget all worked out, and it's getting time for me to start planning to take time off, and I've become unsure of the Positano bit. I fear that I've read so many guides that all of the places have become sort of caricatures, and it sounds too touristy and resort-like. I had originally wanted to go there for a break between urban areas, and to see some sea and Pompeii, but now I wonder if I should change things. Stay in a Tuscan town for a couple nights? Add nights to Rome? Stick with my plan?

I've been to Rome and Florence, but almost 15 years ago. My husband has not. We're both 37, our budget is about 250-400 USD for hotels a night...Rome and Florence are for sure, but what in between? Does anyone have any wisdom or similar experiences? Many thanks for your help!

I am totally out of wisdom. I exhausted my limited supply several years ago. However, to help others who do have some wisdom left, just when do you plan on going? Which month? Spring, summer, fall, winter, as that can make a difference as to what somebody may suggest. For example, it can be very hot and very crowded in Positano in the summer months.

Also, if you go to Positano or that area, are you planning on day trips, such to Capri, into Naples, to some of the small villages inland, or farther down the coast, as that can make a difference as to where somebody much suggest you stay. For example, if day trips are desired, then the transportation system in Sorrento may be more convenient for you.

Sorry, I left that out. We're going in mid to late June...probably leaving the 16th, but not exactly sure since my husband is still racking up snow days where he teaches!

With 12 nites in Italy, you will want a max of 3 destinations, and Positano does not fit with the rest. Also, flying into Florence is not easy--do not overlook Pisa as an option, and Rome will likely give you more and less $$$ options. Consider this for June:

Fly into Rome[or Florence] and start in Florence--3 nites
Get car and stay in rural Tuscany---4 nites
Drop car--train into Rome--spend last 5 nites

Good luck---that is a start.

Positano is further than your other two destinations, but if you really want to see Pompeii, then maybe stick with your original plan, regardless of the distance.

If you are seeking for a beautiful rural destination in between the cities, then Tuscany may be a better fit.

I don't know why bob says flying into Florence is not easy. Depending on where you are coming from, even the US, it can be very easy and very cheap. Getting from the airport into central Florence from the airport is quite easy.

Also, bob doesn't mention that he has very strong preferences for some kinds of places in Italy and not in others. Rural Tuscany -- the most touristed parts of the val d'Orcia -- are always high on his list of recommendations. Sometimes he posts he never likes Italian cities, but not always.

Positano would easily fit into your plans were it not for the fact that you've picked up on the fact that Positano is quite touristy-resorty, as is much of 'rural' Tuscany these days. So if you are turned off by "tourist caricatures", Tuscany for 4 "nites" is going to land you in just the kind of caricature you're hoping to avoid unless you choose to avoid it-- with no sea breeze or Pompeii to make up for it.

Pompeii is a tremendous -- even staggering -- historic site, and very much worth your time (even more than one day) if you've a keen interest in being up close and personal with ancient history during your Italian adventure. If you're simply humanly curious about history, adding a day to Roma to include Ostia Antica (just an hour from Roma) will give you a very intimate feeling for a Roman town of antiquity without embedding you in the tourist zones of Campania. If your heart is set on Pompeii, you can avoid the tourist traps by avoiding Positano, Capri, the town of Amalfi and Sorrento, and posh Ravello. This website might help you pick a seaside town -- like Minori, Maiori, Furore, etc -- with more local character and fewer non-Italian tourists. (You can easily bus to the foreign tourist towns to see whether you enjoy them):

http://www.amalfiweb.com/

If you want to cut out Amalfi, and are beginning your trip Firenze, and want a real adventure with sea breezes away from the tourist mobs and a caricature of Italy, consider the part of Tuscany known as the Maremma, and the Tuscan islands.

http://www.lamaremmafabene.it/?red=en

The Maremma is gorgeous, has great food and wine, beautiful historic destinations, like San Galgano, Massa Marittima and on and on....and not many foreign tourists go there.

If you don't want to rent a car and dash about sightseeing, but would love some down time in non-touristy destinations, there are places you can go in Tuscany -- wineries, agriturismi, islands -- with a combination of train and/or bus plus taxi that will give glorious days of pleasure and great food. Just avoid basing in the towns of Siena, Montepulciano, Cortona, San Quirico, Montalcino and Pienza. Here's a list of some outside of tourist areas with restaurants and a pool, by the sea

http://en.agriturismo.it/tuscany/ind...te=1&piscina=1

Here are ones with views from hills over vineyards, again with pool and restaurant:

http://en.agriturismo.it/tuscany/ind...te=1&piscina=1

Thank you all for your replies! It helps a lot to hear other options...and I hope that I didn't offend anyone by using the term 'caricature.' I think that what I meant is that, as I keep reading about these places, I see the same phrases over and over and lose sight of what the real places might be like. I'm not opposed at all to touristy sites--I'm a tourist, I understand that. I just wanted a change of pace, and for a while I was desperate to see some blue water and go back to Pompeii (I was there for day, stayed in Cava de' Tirreni for a few days), and then my excitement waned. I am open to all suggestions!

Well we loved positano when we spent a week there 2 years ago...cant wait to go back!

You certainly didn't offend me with the term 'caricature'! It's definitely something that's happened to many Italian places that have become popular with foreigners -- but so often if you take move just a few kilometeres away from the most well-known destinations, you can find something incredibly eye-opening, equally lovely and charming, and robustly Italian, with great food.

You might check out this place for your blue water and a return to Pompeii. You can train to Salerno, and pick up a car there and return it there. You might not even need a car if you are willing to fill in with taxis and public transportation

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Campania.html

http://www.agriturismovillamaria.it/default-eng.aspx

And I think this is a better link for finding accommodations on the Amalfi coast if you remain yearning to go there:

http://www.amalficoast.com/

It is worth considering that there is at least one sense in which Positano and the other Amalfi coast destinations are authentic -- they are authentic Italian seaside resorts. You will see a side of contemporary Italian life there that you might not see elsewhere. Then give yourself over to sun and sea and food and wine and you'll discover how it came to be so popular and touristy.

If it helps, you can always go to Pompeii as a long daytrip from Rome. I did this on my first visit to Rome, and it was worth every minute and every cent.

Everybody else is giving their advice so I'll give mine.

The places you want to see are very good.

Touristy? Well unless you're not a tourist why would you try to avoid touristy places?

There's a reason people go there. Your job at each destination is to try and avoid the touristy ripoffs. The places themselves are great.

It is so true, everyone has their own opinion and taste. You know what might help? See if you can rent Italy DVD's from your library, record/DVR shows about Italy on tv, etc. That helped me a lot. Sometimes "seeing" the place in addition to reading about it helps. I even went to Picasa and searched on various locations to see travelers' photos. Maybe give that a try!

None of your plan will disappoint you. It seems that these are the places that you were anxious to visit, so why not? We had a marvelous time in Positano, where we relaxed, ate, did a bit of strenuous hiking, sucked up the views, and took trips to Pompeii and Amalfi.

If you can live with the long jaunt from Forence to Positano, stick with your plan, its a good one. Preplanning is half the fun, just don't burn yourself out second guessing or over preparing.

I agree with Bobthenavigator, but for a different reason. With a trip of only 12 nights (11 full days), I wouldn't want to lose more than half a day getting from Florence to Positano. I'd pick Umbria over Tuscany, but that's just my personal preference.

In May/June 2008 we flew into Rome, spent 5 days, then caught the train to Sorrento which we used as a base to see Pompeii and the Amalfi coast. We then caught a train to Florence for several days. It was easy travelling, the trip from Napoles to Florence took several hours but we just used that as a forced rest day which we needed by then, we were pretty tired. I don't see why you couldn't do much the same as we did beginning in Florence. A little tip for you - Pompeii was REALLY hot and although i had a hat, sunnies and water I did wish I had packed a little umbrella to keep the sun off. I live in Sydney and I'm used to hot weather, but that was pretty extreme heat.

>>>I don't know why bob says flying into Florence is not easy. Depending on where you are coming from, even the US, it can be very easy and very cheap.<<<

Usually Florence are the most expensive flights from my area of the US and as Bob stated "not easy". That means there aren't any direct flights from the US as there are for Rome which will make you change planes somewhere in Europe and makes for a later arrival time. Flying into small airports in Italy will almost always be more expensive. If I were going to spend the bucks I would fly into Naples (much more convenient to get to Positano)and start my trip in Positano. Spend 4 nights, train to Rome 4 nights, train to Orvieto 1 night (hill town between Rome and Florence) and spend the last 3 nights in Florence flying out of either Florence or Pisa.

Wow! All of these responses are great and very helpful! Thank you...I will do a little more thinking about where to fly into. I live in Iowa (hence my desperation to see warm, blue waters, I think!), so will fly out of Chicago at some point. I am also going to check out some DVDs...should have done so already, considering I work at a public library. I order the travel books here, so I'm already set on that!

Thank you, all!

I like to start my European travels with a more relaxed location and move to a city after jetlag has subsided. I prefer jetlag in towns that close up shop earlier anyway rather than in big cities that are more likely to be awake nearly 24/7. For that reason I like kybourbon's suggestion to start your trip in Positano then travel to Rome and Florence.
Ann Marie