help with when to go

In the FAQ posting for this section, there is an excellent website that you can go to that will show you the average weather for anywhere over a two week period based on the previous ten years. That will be much more helpful to you than an anecdote from someone who was in Sorrento once during what might have been an unusual March for weather.

That said, Sorrento is much more charming during nice weather. I would shoot for May instead of March or April, if I were you. You don't want to fork over so much money only to be miserable once you're there.

Thanks Michael...good thought. Thank you for telling me about the weather site which I never knew about...great info. As far as what month to go, I live in Chicago. May starts to get nice here but March is terrible and April is so-so. I often thought it would be nice to go away at those times and Europe is always where I want to go. Thought I had a better chance of nice weather in southern Italy than anywhere else. But you do have a good thought...will consider what you said.

I think it comes down to what you're looking for from your vacation. March will not be beach weather in Sorrento, but it certainly will be a lot nicer than Chicago!

If you go knowing that you might get a couple of days of rain per week, then you might get a great vacation for a great price. And you'd probably get a better sense of what Sorrento is like for the locals than if you go during the tourist season.

Hi Linda,

I'm planning a trip in March 1. Because the kid is off school then 2. It's cheaper.

I'm a hearty Minnesotan (insert Fargo accent here) and cool to cold weather doesn't phase me (high of ZERO here today!). That said, with my research I've seen average lows in the 40s and highs in the close to 60s range, with very few days of rain in March. When we get those types of temps in Minneapolis in the Spring, we're wearing shorts in our family!

Look at the pictures. I see palm trees everywhere. I'll gladly trade wearing layers over the crowds and expense of higher season.

Just my two cents, granted I've NEVER been there, so I'm no expert. But, if you're a Midwesterner like me, 40s-60s will be a treat. Any rain or chilly wind will just be par for the course.

And perhaps it's helpful to know that we never travel in season. I hate crowds. Hate them. And love being able to seem more like a local than a yokel!

Thanks Elizabeth...I like your thinking. You're right 60 degrees is warm for us Midwesterns when it comes in March. Now 60 in July is cold. But swimming is not something I care about, but I would like sunny weather in order to get beautiful pictures. So hopefully not too many cloudy, rainy days would be nice. I guess it's a chance a traveler takes no matter when you go. When we were in Venice 2 yrs ago in May, it rained and was cold. Because of it, Venice did not capivate me as much as Florence, Rome & CT did which had gorgeous weather. I'm siding towards March but still need to convince my husband.

I feel your pain re: scheduling travel as we need to work around our children's vacation schedules which do not coincide with ideal travel times.

Last April we spent Easter vacation (plus an extra week) in Germany & Paris. We knew that Spring weather was iffy. Germany happened to have a warm spell but when we were in Paris --5 days---it rained every single day---and was cold. Rain + cold do not equal a good vacation. Cold alone, yes, you can bundle up and have lots of hot chocolate. Rain is.....damp... to body, clothes, activities. We had plenty of relaxing/reading time in our apartment and we were, after all, still in Paris, though, so it wasn't too shabby, but it was a lot of money and precious time spent and although we did indoor things, it wasn't the same as past trips I've been on when weather might have been cloudy or very cold. The good side was the line at the Eiffel Tower was shorter than usual, and although the view wasn't what it would have been, it was still the Eiffel Tower !

You could roll the dice and have perfect weather. But definitely bring some sort of rain poncho for everyone, just in case. We're thinking of our next vacation just now, and will most likely be more attuned to weather issues next time.

Have fun wherever/whenever you go!

SuzieeQQ

click here to go to the weather website mentioned by Michael of Seattle

Highlights: In the last 10 yrs, March day-time temps have been roughly low to high 50's.

Some details: March 1 to 15, historical avg daily high temp (~4pm) was ~59, avg daily low temp (at night) was ~44. Basically same historical temp range for period March 15 to 30.

hello Linda,

i usually travel to Italy in March because the crowds are fewer, the hotel and airline rates are better but the weather isn't always the greatest; it is in the 50's and can be rainy but last March it only rained one day and the rest of the ten-day stay was sunny and in the high 50's. i never let the weather stop me because usually i spend most of the time shopping or visiting museums. just plan for the weather. I used to go to England and it always rains there or at least most of the time in spring.