16 nights- pisa, cinque terre, florence, rome, amalfi coast

Hi Jean, In CT we stayed in Vernazza and enjoyed it there. We rented Maria Capellini's Cozy Studio. In Rome we stayed at Downtown Accomodation. It was simple, but clean. If you stay there, ask for a room in the back as it is on a busy street. Sorry, but I can't help with your other questions. Have a good trip!!

Honestly I do think you have to be a little more specific here to get good advice - the question is a bit of a laundry list! You can find inexpensive, reputable hotels in Florence on Venere: http://www.venere.com/italy/florence/?ref=120533 You can check what you find there against Rick's books or other sites for reviews, etc. It sounds like an ambitious trip - good luck with your plans!

Hi Jean, I'll tackle one part of your question. The Amalfi Coast, because I love it so much! I'm going back for the 3rd time on July 16th for a week, staying in an apartment in Positano. September will be glorious there; I would stay the five nights. If you want to maximize the time, I'd stay in one convenient base like Sorrento and then do day some trips, like 1): a day to tour the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento all the way to Ravello (including Positano, Amalfi), stopping in whichever cities interest you. Use the SITA bus, it's very inexpensive. Then take the ferry back to Sorrento from Amalfi. 2) Train from Sorrento to Pompeii 3) ferry to Capri and do a full day there, including the Blue Grotto & the chair lift in Anacapri & ending with a visit to Marina Picolo and dinner at the restaurant overlooking the beach there 4) relax and enjoy a full day of Sorrento on your last day. Note: I have never been to Ischia; it's bigger than Capri, so I don't know if you can do it as a day trip. I rarely ever hear people commenting on Ischia. I too am curious if we should make time to visit this island, since I'll have a whole week. An apartment may be an option for you if you stay five nights; it allows you to shop in the local shops and prepare some meals yourself, saving $ (and it's fun). We rented through summerinitaly.com

Thank you Andrea and Kerry. Both of your replies were very helpful. Kerry we were hoping to stay in positano or amalfi to actually be right on the amalfi coast and use the Sita bus or hire scooters to visit the other villages. Do you feel that sorrento is a better base?

Jean, A lot of people seem to like Sorrento as a base because 1) the city is very walkable (not as hilly) and bigger 2) it has the ferry and the train, making for easy connections. However, Positano has it's merits because it lies in between Amalfi and Sorrento, making for an easy trip between those cities. Positano also has a ferry port. I am going to give Positano a try for my weeklong stay in July. I have also stayed in Amalfi, and liked it very much. It's a much smaller city than Positano. I don't think you can go wrong anywhere on the Amalfi Coast. It's just amazing!

Hi Jean, I'm not sure about a spa, but the Amalfi Coast is a great place to relax. If you are finishing your trip in Naples, just stay an extra day in Positano or Sorrento and relax. Positano has a nice beach (stones, not sand), where you can rent chairs and umbrellas. The Cinque Terre has a beach too, in Monterosso. What is your itinerary like? People can probably comment on specific cities if you let us know how long you plan to be in each. Here's my two cents: 1. Pisa - an armpit. I hated the city - see the tower and get out (no offence to anyone who really likes Pisa!). 2. Cinque Terre - beautiful! Hike between the villages, eat a ton of pesto, and relax. I stayed in Manarola (in a hostel), and loved the village. It's small, with less crowds than Vernazza. 3. Florence - amazing! Take a daytrip or two into Tuscany if you can. Siena is lovely, but there are lots of towns to explore. Florence is my favourite city in Italy. It just has a good, safe vibe to it, I think, along with great art. It's also really walkable and compact. 4. Rome - make sure you do the highlights of the Forum, Colosseum, Vatican, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon. Lots to see in Rome! 5. Amalfi Coast - maybe visit Pompeii? It was very cool, if you are into Classics. Positano is lovely. Naples, not so much! I stayed in hostels mostly, and often you can find private rooms in hostels for cheaper than hotels. Check out www.hostelz.com for reviews.

Jean, With only 16-days, I'd suggest "prioritizing" in terms of where you spend your time. Would something like this work for you: > Fly to Pisa - see the Tower if you wish, but travel to the Cinque Terre that day. > Cinque Terre - 2 nights. As you're "on a budget", you might want to stay in Riomaggiore or Vernazza. The Hostel in Manarola is clean and well run, but the strict lockout for several hours during the day is a problem for me. For reasonable accommodations in Riomaggiore, have a look at Mar Mar Rooms. > Florence - 3 nights. If you're planning to visit the Uffizi or Accademia, reservations would a good idea, even in Sept. Check Trip Advisor for information on Hotel Aldobrandini to see if it fits your price & comfort criteria. It's an easy walk from Firenze SMN station, and the owner is fantastic. The accommodations are "basic" but comfortable. If you add a night in Florence, that would allow you to take a day trip to Siena via Bus (very easy). > Rome - 4 nights. You might want to check a Guidebook regarding Roma Pass or other tour options. Plan your touring well, as there's lots to see! Would you prefer a Hostel in Rome or a budget Hotel? > Amalfi Coast - 7 nights. This is a somewhat large area so lots of choices. You could easily split your time between two locations. Are you planning to visit Ishcia or Capri as day trips? For example, you could stay in Positano for a few days (visit Ravello or Amalfi), and finish the trip in Sorrento (visit Pompeii). There's a Bus from Sorrento to Naples Airport which would be convenient for your flight home. I assume you're in Dublin, IE? If so, your travel time to & from Italy will be short! Happy travels!