right now my husband and I are planning on an early April 2014 trip, somewhere between 9-12 days. We have never been to Italy and were thinking of flying to Venice, traveling to Tuscany area (maybe base in Siena), hit Rome and want to see the West coast too. Depending on who I talk to we can't miss Cinque Terre but we also can't miss the Amalfi coast! For early April, I am thinking we will want to be further south for better weather.
We enjoy hiking and sight seeing, I imagine by this stage of the trip we will need some downtime too. What is everyone's thoughts on this?
Posted by
New York, NY, 10025
392 posts
For 9-12 days you want NO MORE than 3 locations, if not 2. Your plan to stay south is good, or at least start south and work your way north. So don't start in Venice if that is a consideration. And with that time frame you will want to fly open jaw, too.
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1558 posts
In March 2011 we did something similar but we had more days. For the number of days you have and the distance between towns you should pick three towns. We started in Venice for 4 nights. Maybe we were lucky because although it sprinkled once or twice the weather was pleasant. We had previously been to Siena and Florence. We loved both and either would be a good base. From there you could go to Rome. Spending 3 nights in each location will give you 2.5 days to see the sights; 4 nights, 3.5 days. Assuming you use trains and/or buses you have to add in 1 hour or more to get to the station from your hotel in time for your departure. It will take you longer to arrive in a location, find your hotel and check in. If you add Cinque Terre and Amalfi coast you will spend your time rushing from one location to another and most likely not enjoying or really having the time to appreciate what you are seeing and experiencing. "Depending on who" you talk to has now expanded to, yes, to have a good experience you may have to skip some things on this trip.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
As you are learning, the "must see places for a first trip to Italy," once you've put in everything on everyone's list, constitute a 3-4 week trip - minimum. You have much less than that, so you will have to be ruthlesslessly selec-tive. Start by reading and watching travel shows (Rick's are on Hulu and YouTube, and he has lots of them for Italy). Then, decide YOUR priorities. Don't worry that they are different from someone else's. And don't worry about what you don't see - you'll return and see more another time.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23661 posts
Don't worry too much about the weather for that area. It will cool, to very cool and potentially rainy. For 10 days there is not much change unless you go a long ways south. You will have to skip a lot of what you suggestion. You just do not have the time to do all you want to do. So focus on doing very well the two or three places that do have time for. We just spend 10 days in the Tuscany area and that is all we did and were rushed to see that area well - Florence, Siena, etc. Refine your trip and then come back with specific questions.
Posted by
OP
Dover, NH, USA
2 posts
if the weather won't be noticeably different between CT and Amalfi, I think we may end up using Venice as our coastal experience in Italy. Thanks for the input, trying not to plan too much this early, I will get more serious in the fall with booking flights etc. Will definitely fly open jaw, no question about that.