First Trip: 10 days: Venice or Amalfi Coast?

This is a tough choice, as there's much to see in all the places you mentioned- each with a very different vibe. I spent five nights in Sorrento several years ago and used it as a base to take side trips to Capri, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello - and all without a car. Such a beautiful area. You might consider eliminating one day from Tuscany and adding it to Amalfi. You'll likely hear various recommendations, so trust your instincts. You can't go wrong (-:

Itinerary #1 wins in my book. I have been to Italy several times and all the places you mentioned, most 2 or 3 times.

They are all good, but Venice is a very special place and should not be missed.

Hi. I agree with dovrosen18 about Venice. Venice is really romantic and since you are newly weds, Venice is a must see. We once saw Venice, Florence and Verona in 4 days but that was in a rush and said to myself I will go back and spend more days in each place. I also think Amalfi coast is worth visiting, especially Pompeii Positano and Sorrento. If you can, trade one day from Florence for one on the Amalfi coast. Have fun!

I would go with the first itin - only 2 nights on Amalfi Coast - the length of time it takes to get there - then the really long distance from AC to Tuscany - wasted time. We had 3 nights in Atrani and I felt like we barely had time to see anything.

I don't know if you want a mosque or a synagogue.

I don't know much about mosques on Venice but probably there are others here who would, but I would suggest that if you are Jewish visiting the Jewish quarter in Venice and having Shabat in the original Ghetto among like minded people would be special. It is easy to walk in Venice and the buildings are not too tall, and while you have to cross bridges you wouldn't need to deal with the vaporettos on Shabat if you didn't want to.

On a secular level, I would have loved to have had my honeymoon in Venice. For me it is a very special place, completely unique. We will be having our 40th anniversary there this year, most likely.

Rome also has a small Jewish quarter, close to the river, and has had Jews there for thousands of years. I find that it merges right into the rest of that part of Rome and for me it was not as atmospheric. To get to the area you must cross main roads with lots of bus and other traffic. Some Rome buildings are a little taller.

Good luck, and congratulations on both the honeymoon and the baby. Mazel Tov. (I just this minute worked out that if your name is Rosen you are probably more interested in synagogues than mosques).

Overall I like #1 better.

Should you choose #2, I would go to the AC on arrival day and put all your days in Rome at the end, but as you indicate this is not possible, I think you would have a more enjoyable trip with #1.

Thanks, everyone, for all the helpful advice! It sounds like the consensus is mainly Venice over the Amalfi Coast. Has anyone attempted both in a 10-day trip - perhaps skipping or skimming something in the middle, such as Florence?

Thanks again!

One year as part of my annual road trip from England as I reached Italy - after a week driving down through France and Switzerland I had 4 nights in Venice for a quick stop, then Ravenna and Bologna for 2 nights, Florence for 3 nights (another far too quick stop), then straight past Rome to just outside Sorrento for 5 nights (loved Paestum and the Bay of Naples but only visited the towns on the south side twice, both times driving between Sorrento and Salerno, not enough time to get to Pompeii or into Naples), then up to Rome for 4 nights, and then started home.

I had plenty of holiday built up - rail crew get 38 days a year - so had plenty of time for even then too short visits. Trying to combine Venice and the Amalfi Coast in one 10 night trip and including other places too, especially if you curtail sightseeing on Shabat - twice - isn't a recipe for a happy marriage. Especially if you are 2 and a half instead of 2. Unless your wife is different to most women, 6 months into pregnancy she will be getting tired very easily, even if she doesn't complain, and long hours of travelling may become uncomfortable.

Only my opinion though.

In 2014, my mom came to Italy with us - hubby and I had been a few times already, so we had familiarity with how stuff worked. We flew from London (she had been visiting my sister in the UK) to Naples, arriving late. Next day we went to Pompeii, then to Atrani, on the coast, where we spent 3 nights. Then 5 nights in Rome (2nd visit there) and 3 nights in Venice (which was our 4th visit there). I mean, it could be done, you could always leave off a night or two in Rome to get in Florence, but it is nice to take it slow - I know spending 24/7 with hubby can get old really fast, and we've been together for a dog's age - toss in the stress of travelling and changing cities, trying to see everything, your wife pregnant as well...I don't see it working well.

You need more time in rural Tuscany and Florence. You are giving them both a quick look. Adding transportation time to the Amalfi Coast will eat away your stay on the AC.

I cast another vote for #1. Venice is so romantic. Be sure to get out early before the cruise ship passengers arrive. Put the Amalfi and southern Italy on your bucket list for the next time. (You may think that you will never return, but we all say that. Then we start planning our next trip back at some point.) To see all the villages on the Amalfi requires more time, and you can add side trips to Pompeii, Capri and Paestum. Being pregnant, your wife will need to have some coins with her to use the pay toilet facilities! Just in case!! Have a wonderful time in this beautiful country, and enjoy your two-ness before the three-ness.

I also support Itinerary 1. And don't skip Florence for the Amalfi Coast! With Rome, Florence/Tuscany, and Venice you have the best destinations, and can hope you will return some day. Another option would be to focus this trip on Venice, Florence and Tuscany and figure you will get to Rome and the Amalfi Coast on another trip.

Venice.

Our host Rick here has suggested: “Assume you’ll return.”

You don’t yet understand how isolated is the AC and how deferrable is Sorrento. You are proposing to ruin the plan by having it both ways.

Thanks for all of the replies. It sounds to me like Venice is the way to go, and we will have to return for another trip that focuses on the south. I have a few more questions for the experienced travelers out there:

1. Direction: Does anyone have thoughts on whether to go Rome-Venice or Venice-Rome? I'm not sure it makes too much difference, but thought perhaps Venice would be a better "grand finish" to the trip, and also Rome is likely hotter so the earlier in May the better.

2. Timing: If we could swing the trip in April, any thoughts on whether that would be "better" or "worse" than mid-May from a weather standpoint? For us, the worst scenario would be intense summer heat - which, in some parts of the Med, begins in May. But Italy north of Rome is perhaps different than, say, Sicily or Greece in this regard.

3. Pregnancy: Would appreciate any further advice from those who have traveled pregnant to make the trip comfortable and relaxed, yet experience Italy fully.

Thanks to all!

"Does anyone have thoughts on whether to go Rome-Venice or Venice-Rome?"

There are two considerations for this.

First, many find Venice an easier place to acclimate to Italy than Rome. I didn't find Rome as difficult to adjust to as many others do, but it is a common theme that people feel overwhelmed by Rome if it's their first taste of Italy.

Second is flights. You didn't say where you are flying from. Flights out of Venice often involve a connection and these can leave shockingly early. Getting to the Venice airport early in the morning is expensive (a water taxi is about €120) or time consuming and difficult (a night vaporetto followed by the first bus from the Venice bus station at Piazzale Roma to the airport). However, for some of the year, there are flights nonstop from Venice back to places like JFK, Newark, Philadelphia. Atlanta, and Chicago. These flights leave later, so getting to the airport for these flights is easier. If you live in one of these places, this can work well; if you have to connect to get home, make sure you can do so on the same day, or you'll have to spend a night in the US arrival airport to make a connection.

Rome gets nonstop flights back to the US year-round. But, even if you have to get to the airport early in the morning, a taxi from central Rome takes about 35 minutes and has a fixed fare of €48. So, flying into Venice and out of Rome is much easier for most. Again, look into flight options now, from your home airport(s), for various dates (the flights from the US to Venice are "seasonal," and the exact start date varies with the specific flight).

"If we could swing the trip in April, any thoughts on whether that would be "better" or "worse" than mid-May from a weather standpoint? For us, the worst scenario would be intense summer heat - which, in some parts of the Med, begins in May."

April will be cooler, with more chance of rain. May will be hotter and a bit busier (April is no longer "off season," but May is already peak season, precisely because it is so hot in mid-summer). You can look at historical weather (better than "averages") on sights like Wundergound. For instance, here's Rome on May 17, 2018: https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/iy/rome-ciampino/LIRA/date/2018-5-17. First, click and drag the graphs to see the whole 24 hours. Then, play with the dates for various recent years to see the actual temperatures. With climate change, anything more than a few years old is not likely to reflect what you will find in 2019.

Mazal tov on your wedding and impending first child. Given the limitations of Shabbat, choose Itinerary 1 (which would have been my choice anyway). Will you have jetlag? If so, Venice is much better to start, gives you time to adjust in a low key place. Rome is bustling and has major sights.

Stay in or near the Ghetto (maybe Canareggio). On Friday night you can go to the Chabad rabbi's dinner in the piazza of the Ghetto. The food isn't great but but the atmosphere is always friendly and conversation is lively. They also have lunch after services in the the morning, but I've never gone then. Several years ago I went to morning services at the Sfaradi synagogue and they had a huge buffet meal after services, though that may no longer be the case, the synagogue is beautiful and the community is welcoming. There's a kosher restaurant, GamGam, just outside the Ghetto. You can reserve (pay in advance) Shabbat meals there.

I've been to Italy several times in February and weather was generally fine. April should not be cold, though it can be rainy. The obvious advantages - you won't be "as pregnant", there will be fewer tourists, weather probably won't be hot. OTOH, May shouldn't be very hot, less likely to rain.

I'm less familiar with Rome's religious side. The Rome Ghetto is about 1 long city block, with lots of restaurants, some of which are kosher. There are Shabbat services at the great synagogue. You may want to stay in Trastevere, which is across the Tiber from the Ghetto. Most of Rome's Jewish community do not live near. My impression is that, like in Paris, the Jewish communities aren't near the tourist areas.