Travel in October

In a perfect world, one would fly into Rome, then train to Positano or Amalfi, train to Florence, and on to Venice - flying home from Venice.
There really isn't enough time to do 4 locations. Venice or Amalfi/Positano is the outlier. I looked, and even flights to Naples and train from there eats up the bulk of a day.

I don't know the Adriatic coast of Italy well enough, but maybe there is something on the east coast rather than the west. (I am trying hard to not point out that you will be spending all your time in Venice on a 'coast', but it isn't quite the same blue with height views.)
It isn't on the 'american tourist' map, but Ancona is about 4 hours' train ride from Venice on the Adriatic.
But, you know, sometimes what we anticipate is disappointing in real life. You'll need to research what the 'season' is in Positano, ad it may be tapering down in which case restaurants and hotels will be closed or closing. Then there is the fact that drone imagery can bring the spectacle to your laptop or TV screen. Whether the hassles of traffic, transport, transfers and congestion is worth it; well it won't be worth it for some.

Hi Joe -
Oof. She probably won't like this but is she willing to give up Venice or Florence to make this happen? 3 major Italian cities in 8.5 days - and that's not including the three 1/2 days you'll eat up transferring cities/hotels - is sort of pushing it to begin with, and I've the feeling you haven't given Florence nearly the amount of time it deserves. Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it looks like only 1 day?

So my 2-cents? Given the time it takes to get to Positano or Amalfi + enough left to to explore the region, it isn't worth the effort if you can't give it at least 3 nights/2 full days. And the transfer time to-and-from the region will eat even MORE time in transport than you are already munching on.

Aside from trying to squeeze in the A.C, I would consider going directly to Florence on arrival day, then to Venice and then end your trip in Rome. As arrival day is usually lost to jet lag and acclimation anyway, might as well use the remaining .5 day as travel time?

Sample itinerary below. You could swap out a day of Florence for an extra in Venice but Florence is a great base for a number of day trips. While I almost never recommend this, you could consider a day trip the Cinque Terre from there to see some wonderful blue water, weather permitting? You could also swap out one of the days for an extra in Rome: 4 nights/3 full days is usually my recommended minimum for that one.

8/8: Rome, transfer to Florence
8/9: Florence
8/10: Florence (day trip?)
8/11: A.M. transfer to Venice (partial day)
8/12: Venice
8/13: Venice (or PM transfer to Rome?)
8/14 A.M. transfer to Rome (partial day)
8/15: Rome
8/16: Rome
8/17: fly home

YEAH....that is what I thought as well I tried to tell her we will be surrounded by water in Venice ;) but she said it wasnt the same

I am going to try and look for something on the east coast as opposed to the west coast.

Thanks for affirming what I had already thought....I appreciate it.

Joe

In the spirit of "open to anything," you don't have to go all the way to the Amalfi Coast for water views. There are numerous destinations along the Adriatic coast that might be an alternative. I once looked into staying in Chioggia which is just south of Venice, has similar architecture and where nice hotels still open in mid-October offer sea view rooms at half their high-season prices. One of the beach towns near Ravenna might be another option to consider. I've only stayed in Ravenna, which is a great city to visit, so I'm not sure whether staying on the coast about 7 miles away would require a car.

I wouldn't spend 8+ hours of a short trip to Italy traveling all the way to Amalfi Coast unless you won't be able to return to Italy sometime in for foreseeable future. In that case, it might be worth it.

Edit: Two sentences related to incorrect reading of number of days in Florence deleted.

If I read this correctly you have nine days on the ground. I recommend limiting yourself to three destinations. Amalfi seems like the outlier to me. I would take the train staight to Florence upon arrival rather than have two separate stays in Rome. Ideal would have been to fly into Venice, generally does not make sense to fly out of Venice for logistical reasons. But that’s a moot point since your flight is already set. You could do Florence-Venice-Rome. Or Florence-Amalfi-Rome.

Where are you flying home from? Saw there were inexpensive flights from Venice to Bari. The Adriatic Coast around Bari world be warm in October. From Bari you could fly to Rome or back to Venice. If you want to stay closer to Venice, the coast around Pesaro is scenic.

@Frank, no, the OP is in Florence Oct 10 to 13....with these dates being travel days. So 3 nights 2 days.
But let's check.
Joe, what I get is:
Oct 8 arrive Rome
Oct 9 Rome
Oct 10 travel to Florence
Oct 11 &12 Florence
Oct 13 travel to Venice
Oct 14 Venice
Oct 15 travel to Rome
Oct 16 Rome
Oct 17 Home
If any of these dates have non refundable hotels attached to them, there is no wiggle room.
If uo arrive early in the morning, there is a train from airport to Florence, so Kathy's suggestion coild be considered....but sneaking in an Adriatic coastal town enroute to Rome. So in her scenerio, do an afternoon departure from Venice on Oct 13 for a coastal town, depart Oct 15 knowing it only leaves you one full day in Rome.
It really is just all too tight to add a 4th location. Perhaps a day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence will have to do.

"I cannot find an easy way to get to Positano or Amalfi from Venice without spending the entire day on a train and even then I can't get right there."

You are correct. The other posters have outlined the issues - on a short trip like yours, you just don't have time for this in addition to your other destinations.

"IS it worth the hassle or do you have any other suggestions?"

Unfortunately, I only have three suggestions, none of which is likely to fully please both you and your wife.

1) Take a longer trip, so you have time to add the Amalfi Coast region without regretting it.
2) Cut something from your current plan, and thereby make time for the Amalfi Coast.
3) Skip the Amalfi Coast this time, and see it on your next trip.

This is where a couple of us are figuring he's only giving part of a day to Florence:

We will be landing in Rome on October 8th and will travel to Firenze
on October 10th then on to Venice for a couple of nights until
October 13th.

So if they land in Rome on the 8th, travel to Florence on the 10th and plan to stay 2 nights in Venice "until the 13th", (11th, 12th) that only leaves the 10th for Florence, and then only a partial day if coming from Rome. Obviously some additional clarity would be welcome! :O)

Well Kathy, I read it 3 different times and I swear none of those times read.....'until the 13th'🙄
I was sure he said 'on the 13th'......but, I have been wrong before.

Yes, clarification would help us help Joe.
Thanks for focusing on the part I was clearly not seeing.

Maria, I had to read it half a dozen times myself!

OP could stop by Rimini on his way to Venice for the wonderful blue waters, but of course it is no AC.

Hi All,

Sorry I have been swamped at work.

Thank you all for the replies.

We are now thinking---We land in Rome on October 8th, we will take a train straight to Firenze and spend a couple of days there. From there we will move on to Venice and spend a few days there as well We will find somewhere on the either coast at this point to just spend a day and maybe one night before returning to Rome. We would ultimately like to spend 2 to 3 days in Rome if possible,.,...We fly back the the States on the morning of the 17th.

We are very open to almost anything as we have no set plans except for wanting to see Rome, Florence and Venice.

J