I will be leaving on April 12 from Berlin (Monday). I have 5 days free before I meet up with a friend in Florence (April 17). My goal is to spend 800 Euros or less on a 5 day vacation somewhere relaxing. I would prefer not to rent a car and love the idea of being near the beach. I would like to take my time eating and casually sightseeing. The warmer the better. I thought about the Algarve but it seems you need a car. I thought about Greece but I don´t think I have enough time. I also thought about the Amalfi Coast but don´t know if there´s some better place to consider. Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?
Katrina, i don't know what your plans are with your friend, but you can't go wrong with any of the hill towns near Florence. Siena, Lucca, Pisa, the list goes on and on. Or try Bologna and make sure you have some tortellini.
For warmer weather in April (hopefully) you could fly Air Berlin from Berlin to Rome and take the train to the Amalfi Coast.
I also love Bologna and would recommend it but it's not near the beach. The Cinque Terre would be another possibility--especially if you like hiking!
Katrina, if you want a beach and low cost, how about Ravenna or Rimini on the Adriatic coast of Italy? I would suggest looking into an inexpensive flight from Berlin to Venice. See if you can find a hostel for a couple of nights in Venice, then train to Ravenna or Rimini for a few days on the beach, then train to Florence.
The Cinque Terre is a beautiful area but not really very hot yet in April. I'd say it's best to visit the Cinque Terre during the summer. Florence is a gem of a city and all the hill towns around are just splendid.
Since you're meeting your friend in Florence and I assume will spend time there, I would recommend Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast. It's my favorite place in Italy. You won't need a car, and there are lots of great places you can go, either by ferry, train, or bus...Pompeii, Herculaneum, Positano, Capri, etc. And if you don't want to make day trips, just being in Sorrento is relaxing and wonderful. Sorrento is a magical place.