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50th Birthday 2020 - Amalfi/Tuscany (13 days) - Spring or Fall? Or Tuscany & Vencie???

Posted by (Brentwood, TN, US) on

First of all, thank you for anyone who posts their thoughts on this. Also, I've searched but cannot find any posts addressing my question but if so, apologies.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy and we're targeting the last part of April - first part of May 2020 for a 12-14 day trip from the US. Amalfi Coast has been on our bucket list and so has Tuscany. We want to beat the crowds that people talk/warn about in the Summer. So our choices are Spring or Fall. A bit about what we like to do. While we will visit a museum, churches, etc - my wifes goal is to have a laid back and relaxing vacation. "Getting bored" for a week on the Amalfi Coast isn't a concern of hers. She wants to chill. While I like to hike, etc I dont think we will be doing things like that as she's a cancer survivor and she doesnt have the stamina - yes, I know Amalfi Coast has tons of stairs. She's wanting to go so bad she will "will herself" to traverse the steps. We also want to go to Tuscany. CONVERSELY - Venice is on my wife's (and mine) bucket list. Would a Venice/Tuscany/Rome trip make more sense?

Need agenda advice: We fly into and out of Rome. Rent a car for the entire trip. Fly into Rome then drive to Amalfi Coast and stay for 6 nights. Drive to Rome and stay on way to Tuscany and stay in Rome for 2 nights then to Tuscany (basing somewhere there) for the rest of the time but flying out of Rome. It doesn't leave much time in Tuscany so we may cut out the Rome days. Any thoughts or general advice on the itinerary? My wife thinks she wont like Rome but all our friends say that Rome is amazing and don't cut it out of the itinerary.

  • I read there is always a risk in April/Early May for rainy weather and it can get cold. Do you have a strong opinion that we should push to late Sept/early Oct for weather, etc?

  • We have been to Milan for two days when we were in Bavaria for 2 weeks - we rented a car and drove through Bellagio - loved it. So, I'm okay to drive the crazy Italian roads. Rent a car the entire trip?

  • We love food and we love to basically have no agenda. However, we typically will pay more for a better view or location. On this trip, in Amalfi, I may pay to stay in a nice hotel since it's our 50th and because the next few years we will have some weddings to pay for. So, we may not be able to go to Europe for another 5 years or so.

Thanks for any advice in general on the time of year and the other comments.

Posted by
8220 posts

This is a rough plan so If you have not bought plane tickets yet why not fly into Venice and out of Rome.
Spend 3 nights in Venice
Rent the car drive to Tuscany
Spend 4 nights in Tuscany
Drive or take the train to Salerno
Spend 5 nights in Amalfi Coast.

You have to map out where you want to go then settle on a port of entry and departure before anything else

Posted by
907 posts

the above idea for itinerary isn't all that bad.

I took a rental car to the Amalfi Coast. Big mistake. It sat for two days and then we returned it in Naples, ferried back to Positano for the last five days. You will not need a car and you likely won't want one either. Salerno is a good city to jump off to the coast. Positano is nothing but hillside, steps, and lots of up and down. Amalfi is a little better. Piano is popular as is Ravello. Sorrento is flat, nice, but not on the coast and it takes a bit to get to the coast.

Venice is perfect for your wife's situation. Flat, walk everywhere, or boat. Plus a unique and wonderful city.

Personally, given what you have said, I would think a week in a villa/agritourismo in Tuscany and just taking it easy every day would fit the bill. I think you wold enjoy that more than a week on the coast, although, both are wonderful.

Rain, it comes with travel. Don't worry about it. Some of the more memorable times I have had in Italy have happened because of lightning, rain, and wind. Embrace it, it won't ruin the experience.

Posted by
15798 posts

You can read here about my driving experiences on the Amalfi Coast in February. I emphasize the time of year because the crowds start in April and then the roads get crowded and parking becomes expensive and very hard to find.

Late September to early October is probably more crowded than late April to early May. Avoid the week or so around Easter (April 12).

The high-speed trains are the best way to travel in Italy. They are comfortable and cut travel time significantly. The trains go faster than the cars are allowed to, no traffic jams, and no time wasted looking for parking.

Posted by
872 posts

Read this about driving in Italy and restrictions involved [ZTLs]; avoid leaving anything of value in a car when parked:

http://driventoit.blogspot.com/

While having a car out in the countryside is useful if not essential, this is not the case traveling between cities.

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