Hi all! I am new to the forum but not to traveling and Rick. 😊 My husband and I are returning to Italy next March (our second trip) and I have a couple questions. First, I already researched the forums so my questions are more on lodging than the areas.
We are flying in/out of Venice. We only have 7 nights, 6 days and I have divided it into 2 different itineraries. The first being to rent a car and tour (on our own) the Veneto. We will stay with friends for 2-3 nights in Vicenza, the last 2 nights in Venice. That leaves 2-3 nights somewhere else (not sure where yet). We want to eat, drink and be merry (lol) so wine tasting and wandering are on the list.
The second itinerary is to stay the first 2-3 nights in Vicenza, then go to the Cinque Terre/Riviera for 3-4 nights then back to Venice and home. I know, I know, it's March. The weather is unpredictable, which leads me to the main reason for my post. I'd like to possibly keep both itineraries as options and decide upon arrival, we can get a more current look at the weather. If it's cold and rainy in CT we would pass on this trip. The reason I am even considering CT is I didn't get to go the last time we were in Italy so it is high on my list. I also don't want the crowds of summer. We also don't need the heat or to swim as we live in a warm climate. I mainly just want to see the towns of the area, drink wine and eat delicious food. We would most likely stay in Sestri Levante or Levanto so we can go to Portofino/SML for a day, then south to CT for 1-2 days. I realize it's a ways from Venice on the train but if the weather cooperates I'd love to go.
Is it a good or bad idea to wait to book accommodations until we arrive? This is not normally how we travel, but I figured in March it might be easier.
Keep in mind that we have been to Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Rome and Amalfi Coast and we will hopefully return again in a few years.