We (2 adults + 2 boys aged 14 and 11) are planning a 4 week trip to Italy in Sep / Oct 2014 and would appreciate some thoughts and recommendations on our itinerary - we obviously have lots of time before our trip but we will potentially start booking parts of it in the coming months. This is our first trip to Italy. We will probably be arriving from Paris but we're not sure how yet, maybe flying or by train into Venice. We will probably fly out of Rome so that, or somewhere near Rome, should be our final stop. We would like a car while we are in Tuscany at least so we can take day trips. We are looking for a mix of city time and more relaxing country and coastal time. Current must-sees for us (with some approx. times in each destination) are: Venice (3 days) Tuscany and surrounding (incl Florence) - probably renting a house somewhere (7 days) Cinque Terre (3-4 days) Rome (5 days) Total time so far, excluding travel, is 19 days. The main questions we have are: In the remaining week or so, where else should we go? Ideas so far include Corsica, Puglia, Amalfi, and North Italy. If you had to choose one of these, which would you go for? Arguments against Amalfi are that we are already planning to go to CT so is it too similar? Some time near beaches is appealing but will the weather be warm enough as we get into October? Any thoughts on the order we visit places and the best way to get between places, remembering we will have a car in Tuscany at least and could keep it for longer? Thanks for any advice you can give.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32404 posts
Marshall, It's great that you're getting an early start on planning, as that will allow lots of time to work out the details. For travel from Paris to Venice, a budget flight would be the best (and probably cheapest) option, especially if it's booked well in advance. Have a look at EasyJet, which offers flights from both ORY and CDG. Be sure to read their "Terms & Conditions" carefully, especially regarding luggage limits. If you'll be travelling with heavy luggage, it's cheaper to pay for the excess weight at the time of booking, rather than at the gate. Also note that they usually only allow ONE carry-on item per passenger. Having a car in Tuscany can be an advantage for getting to smaller towns, but there are a few "caveats" to be aware of. Each driver will require an International Driver's Permit, and you'll need to be extremely careful to avoid the dreaded ZTL areas, which are especially prevalent in Florence (heavy fines!). The Cinque Terre and Amalfi coast are not really "similar". The C.T. is somewhat "rustic and informal" while the Amalfi coast tends to be more "posh". The scenery is a bit different in each area. October could be warm enough for some beach time in the C.T. in October, but you'll have to check the forecasts closer to the time you'll be travelling. I'd recommend ordering (or downloading) a copy of the Italy 2014 Guidebook. The 2014 edition will be available for sale on 24 October, and the E-book versions a couple of months later. It provides a lot of good information on hotels, restaurants, transportation, sightseeing, etc. Good luck with your planning!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
Ken, as always, has great advice. I vote for the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is a good base for day trips. You can visit Capri by boat, Positano and Ravenna by bus, and (probably more interesting for the boys) by train to Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum. I don't think having a car will be an asset anywhere you're going except Tuscany. By the way, friends of mine have rented places in Tuscany with a swimming pool. And the boys might enjoy climbing the Leaning Tower while you're in the area. Perhaps you meant Sicily and not Corsica? The best way (I'm told, as I'm sort of planning a trip there) is to fly there and then rent a car.
Posted by
OP
Auckland, NZ
6 posts
Thanks for the feedback so far. We were thinking of Corsica because 1) it is closer to where we will be, and 2) I have heard good things about it. However, we could be convinced to look at Sicily as an option.
Posted by
St Pete, FL
216 posts
If you are going to be in Venice, consider adding a few days for Verona (incl day trip to Vicenza). When in Rome, take a day trip to Ostia Antica. My teen aged boys loved it. Glenn