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Priorities: Provence to Tuscany/Amalfi?

Posted by (Boston, MA, USA) on

Hello fellow travelers,

My husband and I (active 30 year olds who don't mind a quick pace) are hoping for some advice. After being "heads-down" in the research, our plan is becoming unfocused and I'm feeling a bit discouraged. Do you have any suggestions/ ideas/ advice on how we can best prioritize our ~2 week September trip to France and Italy? We like to have an somewhat active element paired with a relaxed part to our trips.

Note: This "gameplan" is just high-level and not realistic... YET. Purposely starting with too much and will trim/ focus based on your input (& much more research, of course!). Travel time is looking to be too much as it stands.

3 nights: Paris (familiar with Paris, won't be touring - just enjoying!).
Drive to Provence (working on logistics)
4 nights: Cassis (Calanques) plus Arles/ Les Baux.
Transfer: Nice - Florence (train). Sidenote: Cinque Terre is tempting... But we've already been. I'm afraid it is now too discovered and we won't experience the same magic (hope I'm wrong).

2 nights: Florence (not big on museums)
3 nights SIENA, explore hill towns (Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano)

OR: in lieu of Florence/ Tuscan Hill Towns, do we head to Amalfi (Ravello/ Positano - Capri sounds like it's a pass)? Like everyone, we fell in love with Cinque Terre - we're hoping for a similar speed of life somewhere new.

2 nights: Fly out of Rome (familiar with city - not touring)

I'd very much appreciate your advice! I apologize that I'm literally "all over the map"!
Meghan

Posted by
2178 posts

Meghan,
Either Plan A or Plan B is do-able..........but, you really are the only one who can choose between the Tuscany leg or Amalfi. Would you rather experience in-land beauty or is the sea calling to you?

Are you operating with a specific budget, or are you able to throw extra money toward making your travels a bit more seamless?

When you mention an active element, what do you mean by that? Hiking, walking,touring, hot air ballooning, swimming? Ditto for relaxing....do you mean sitting with a glass of wine and enjoying a view, taking a cooking class, a boat ride, or meandering?

To bring focus, I'd suggest looking at some of the group tour offerings for the different areas.....NOT to sign up for a group tour, but seeing what the typical tour-goer would see (as highlights), decide if that's what you want to see/do. That might help to determine if Amalfi or Tuscany is more appealing to you. You can also enter various cities into TripAdvisor and take a look at top attractions (along with posters' photos/reviews). See what appeals to you.

But, you have a huge buffet spread out in front of you, and only so much room on your travel plate.

Posted by
14 posts

Thanks for your reply, Margaret!

I think the sea is calling to me... I'm a little concerned AC will be ritzy? In terms of budget, we 'd have flexibility to streamline, within reason. We're pretty hearty travelers, not resort-folks.

Relaxing: those options all sound perfect :) I'd say: boat ride and relaxing with a glass of wine. We aren't necessarily beach people.

Activity: moderate hiking, walks, swimming!

Thanks again - the RS community is a special place!

Posted by
11613 posts

The Amalfi Coast is beautiful and has a wide range of options, I like Praiano, especially if you are driving. La Maurella is on the seashore and was about €100/double last year, small hotel with onsite parking, beautiful views, between Positano and Amalfi.

Posted by
1817 posts

Forget Cinque Terre. In Liguria look at Dolceacque and Apricale, San Remo, Finale Borgo, Santa Margherita, Lerici.

Posted by
14 posts

Thanks, Zoe!

Mike: Interesting - thanks. Why? Any pointers?

Posted by
1817 posts

Since you asked, Cinque Terre is a beautiful place, but they are no longer functioning Italian towns with Italian people. I don't suggest you can easily visit anywhere that is not greatly affected by tourism, but you can certainly get closer. Santa Margherita and Lerici and San Remo are resorts, but also a living towns and they provides numerous good choices for the visitor. Dolceacqua, Apricale, Finale Borgo, Noli, Cervo, Albenga are beautiful Ligurian towns with wonderful historic areas but are not, for the most part, as incredibly crowded as the CT. Several are described in this series: http://www.apathtolunch.com/2013/12/the-most-beautiful-villages-in-liguria.html

Posted by
14 posts

REVISED:

Hi travelers - I'm back... Does this 2 week plan seem realistic?
9/3: Travel night/ day to Boston to PARIS
9/4: PARIS (not touring- familiar with city)
9/5: PARIS
9/6: morning flight to FLORENCE
9/7: FLORENCE
9/8: drive to SIENA
9/9: explore Tuscan Hill Towns (Montepulciano, San Gimi, Montalcino, etc.)
9/10: more Tuscan Hill Towns
9/11: Apricale? Other Ligurian town? Maybe continue to explore Tuscan Hill Towns
9/12: Ligurian town?
9/13: travel to Rome
9/14: ROME (not touring - just enjoying)
9/15: ROME
9/16: flight back to Boston :(

Thank you for your ideas!

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