We're planning a honeymoon in Italy for October,from Tampa, Fl. for 2 weeks. We would like to visit, Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Capri Positano and ? On our own, train from town to town. Looking for your recommendations of where to stay (old castle, farmhouse ?) and how to allocate staying a couple of days in main cities as a base. Should we fly into Venice and back from Rome? Reasonably priced, comfortable but not expensive. Thanks and love your whole concept !
Posted by
Wodonga, Australia
440 posts
What a wonderful honeymoon you will both have Vincent. Can I suggest that you limit yourself to two, or three places to stay, so that you may do day trips, or do nothing at all. Lucca perhaps, as a base for Florence, Pisa, CT; Rome has many day trip options, but what I like to do best there, or anywhere, is just slowly amble around. Getting slightly lost is great too. Allow travel time between your base cities/towns, and above all, don't rush. Racing around, mentally ticking places/sites off a list, is a tragic sort of holiday. Italy, as with most places, is to be savoured. Slowly.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
It would be a great idea to fly into Venice and out of Rome. This would help a lot. Second, you could be looking at a week in Northern Italy and a week in Southern Italy. Third, the trip looks a bit tight when you consider that you are visiting 7 places in 14 days. Fourth, you destinations are stretched out enough that it will be hard to base yourselves in a couple of places and day-trip to others. For starters, I would suggest the following for your consideration:
Venice - 2 nights. Day 3 to Florence
Florence - 3 nights. Day trip to Siena. Day 6 to Pisa & the CT
The CT - 2 nights. Day 8 to Naples/Positano (long trip).
Positano - 3 nights. Day trip to Capri. Day 11 to Sorrento and Rome.
Rome - 3 nights. Day 14 depart for home.
Just thinking out loud. This is your dream trip so modify as you wish.
Posted by
Sonora, CA, USA
100 posts
IN to Venice, OUT of Rome works very well. For your first time in Italy, there is nothing quite like gettng off the bus from the airport, getting on the water taxi and TADAAA - there is the Grand Canal of Venice. We went the last week of Sept. & first week and a half of October. Perfect weather - light jacket & thin sweater.
For 2 weeks, the train does work wonderfully and is an experience in/of itself. For less worry and to avoid any moments of anxiety on your honeymoon, I would most definitely reserve your lodging ahead of time, speaking primarily of the CT. A small, but wonderful room w/ a harbor & clock tower/piazza view in Vernazza is http://www.francamaria.com
In Venice, we stayed at the Hotel Mocenigo - only the 2nd water taxi stop. Great deal for the price - just 15 minute walk from St. Mark's but fully of luxury & wonderful staff.
In Rome we stayed at a B&B whose owner literally helped plan our days provided some great helps, but would necessarily recommend for a honeymoon-thin walls.
Florence we were close to things, but again, a cheapy B&B. In Florence, the long, long, walk to the top of the Duomo is worth every single step.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Just an FYI, that TADAA on the water taxi from the Marco Polo airport to the Grand Canal will cost you a minimum 125Euro ($175). The ATVO bus takes 20 minutes to the Piazzale Roma and costs 3Euro. Save some of your honeymoon money.
Posted by
Tucson
137 posts
This is just a response re: the water taxi from the airport. Everyone talks about how much it costs, but, as of June 2nd, when you get to the dock there is a big sign (I took a picture of it) that has the prices right on it.
Direct boat to Venice 25 euros, bus 13 euros. Venice was our last stop and our hotel arranged for a water taxi for my family of 5 to go from hotel to airport and it cost 90 euros.
The water taxi ride to the airport was amazing and we all loved it. I wouldn't bus in or out of Venice. Come on - it's VENICE!! You've gotta go via water :-)
Your other questions... Hotel al Piave in Venice was great. Right in the middle of everything.
We used the philosophy that we should do fun stuff in the am when we were perky and travel in the afternoon. It worked well.
Train schedule is here:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=c79686605528a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Keep in mind AMICA fares if you buy your tickets a couple of days in advance. I recommend printing out the schedule for the few hours before/after you want to go and bring the printout with you from home.
Enjoy the planning - read this board alot, make lots of itineraries before you decide on your favorite.
You're going to have a great time!