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Advice on Italy/Tuscany honeymoon

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cdt1101

cdt1101

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Nov 9, 2005
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We made our choice to go to Italy for our honeymoon
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Our main focus will be Tuscany. This is the intinary we have put together so far (we have not booked yet however).

Rome – 2 nights
Florence – 1 night (mainly because it''s fashion week when will be there, hotels are super expensive and not much available)
Tuscany – 6 nights
Venice - 2 nights

My question for you knowledgable ladies is would you change anything? Is it too much in a 2 week time frame?

Also, we are looking into this apartment in Tuscany.

http://www.homelidays.com/radicondoli/apartment-flat9835en1.htm#planning

Would you consider this a good location in Tuscany? Meaning, is it central enough to do day trips (we are renting a car)?

Any advice would be great!!!
 
That itinerary looks fine to me, and Tuscany is compact enough that it will be easy to do day trips. My only suggestion would be to consider shopping around a little more for places to stay, to see if you can find something a little more authentic and a little less ''British''. Look on Tripadvisor.com for accomodation in towns like Lucca, Arezzo, or my fave, Montepulciano (aka HEAVEN ON EARTH!!!). Part of the joy of Italy is going out for a walk after dinner when everyone else is also out in the streets. If you stay out there in the countryside with only other tourists to talk to, it won''t be as rich an experience. These towns should have plenty of reasonable accomodation, at LEAST as nice as what you''ve chosen, and probably more so. Don''t forget that you can negotiate if it''s not high season.

There''s no need, necessarily, to spend a night in Florence if it''s expensive. You can go there as a day trip.

Keep in mind that Tuscan towns are NOT car friendly. You''ll have to leave the car outside of town in many places, and walk.

And just note that Venice is very, very far from Rome. I think the train ride is about 8 hours? Something like that. So keep in mind you''ll need a full day to get back from Rome if you''re flying home from there.
 
thanks IG! Actually we are planning on flying home from Venice, we do not want to do more traveling then we have to so we are not planning on going back to rome to go home.

I will definitely look into your other suggestions. RE: car rental, do you think we shouldnt'' rent a car then? Is it better to do trains for day trips?
 
Well, trains are a better option if you are staying somewhere central, and a less great option if you''re not, because you''ll have to be changing trains. So, a car might well be a better option for you, so long as you''re not averse to doing a little walking. Most of the towns you''ll visit are small and totally walkable, and, in fact, more pleasant on foot, so it shouldn''t be a huge problem unless you guys are really out of shape (lots of hills!) or one of you has a disability or some such.

Definitely look into Montepulciano. It really is one of the most wonderful spots on the entire planet. And hopelessly romantic. The whole place feels like a ship perched on top of a hill, with windy alleys, and vineyards that make some of the best wines in Italy (the so-called ''Vino Nobile di Montepulciao''. Plus, the local cellars let you taste for free. And their idea of a taste is enough to make you verrrry tipsy!
 
i would argue that if you''re a museum person, you may want to spend a night or two in florence. you could easily spend a day and half just going to museums, not to mention the bridges, the duomo, and everything else you want to see there. on the contrary, i''ve been to venice twice and don''t really feel like there''s all that much to see there. you HAVE to go, of course, and ride in a gondola and all of that, but there''s not too much to do there - and it''s so so touristy. it''s much harder to find those little delicious off the beaten path cafes and things like that.
 
Thanks indie. We are fine with walking (why we wanted to go to europe so badly..to explore). I don''t think we will have any issues with that. I think we are going to stick w/ renting a car while in tuscany for now.

Thanks for the suggestion of Montepulciano. Sounds wonderful! We are big wine drinkers, so I''m definitely excited to go to Tuscany for that reason alone!
 
One thing I just thought of, re Montepulciano, is that it is quite far south. So it might add an extra 45 mins to your travel time to get to some place day trips wise. Just FYI.

Oh, and you don''t HAVE to go to Venice if what AceP says is true. I''ve been to almost every corner of Italy (and the world for that matter) and I have still never been to Venice. Haven''t lost a limb or anything (teehee!). I''m a little ''meh'' about the idea of going there, because it''s supposed to be so touristy. You could instead dip south first, visit Naples (wow!) see Pompeii and Herculaneum. That''s only about 2 hours south of Rome, and that''s REALLY something to see. A living museum!

Just another idea.

Or, if you base in Lucca for a few days, you could visit Pisa (love it!) and then go to Cinque Terre which is extraorinary. That would make a nice alternative to Venice too. I''m usually not a one for seeing ''the sites''. Very unimpressed by things like the Eifel Tower. But I have to say that I was deeply moved by the beauty of the leaning tower of Pisa and its neighbouring buildings, especially the baptistry, where the security guard sang for me to show off the accoustics. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life, actually. And Pisa is just a great little city.
 
cinque terre is also extraordinary, if you want the beach and things like that. think villages set into cliffs that fall off into the sea. that's kind of the other direction, though - northwest italy, or thereabouts.

also, not sure what time of year you're going, but if it's summer, you may want to take weather into account. southern italy will be extremely hot in the summer.

ETA - indy beat me to the punch on cinque terre. great minds...
 
wow....lots to take in. This can be very overwhelming for a first timer
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We are going the last 2 weeks of June. As I understand it, it will be hot, but not super hot.

thanks again ladies!
 
I''ve also heard that cinque terre is not to be missed!
 
Don''t worry cdt! No need to be overwhelmed. The thing is, if you fly into Rome, put on a blindfold and put your finger randomly on a map of Italy, and then you go there, you will still have the most AMAZING trip. Just keep in mind that it is impossible to go too far wrong and maybe you''ll feel less overwhelemed. Sure, some things will be nicer / less touristy / more authentic than other things, but EVERYTHING will be great. It''s just degrees of great. So don''t fret!

Last two weeks of June will indeed be hot, but not, like tropical hot or desert hot. Probably somewhere between 85-100. Just pack a sunhat, drink lots of water, and no problemo.
 
that''s what we are planning...no real plan...hehe...we just want to take each day as it comes kind of thing. But obviously have a place to sleep at night
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wowza..didn''t realize it would be that hot. I was thinking 80''s. I will be sure to pack LOTS of sunscreen then. I''m pretty fair.
 
Well, just depends where you are, of course. Obviously, Sicily will be sizzlin. Tuscany has an AVERAGE temperature in late June of around 88.
 
I would recommend going to www.venere.com to book some of your accomodations. We used that site almost exclusively when we planned our trip to Italy and the hotels we stayed in were wonderful! I also recommend Cinque Terre; had an awesome time there! Venice was mehhh... Stayed for one day/one night and it was enough. If you''re going south, we stayed three days in Positano and absolutely loved it! Always wanted to go there after seeing "Under the Tuscan Sun" and it was just like in the movie! Also took a day trip to Pompeii; great sight-seeing. Didn''t get to go to Capri but that''s another option.

Agree that if you can manage, you should stay longer in Florence. Lots to see!

My vote is to rent a car while you''re there. We did and thought it was the best choice. You''re on your own schedule for one; secondly, as you''re driving to your next location, you can make little pit stops along the way to many of the towns that have something of interest to see but not enough to spend a whole day. We did this and were able to see Pisa (Tower), Verona (Romeo and Juliett), Genova (good beach), and more... The drive along the coast to Positano was one of the best moments of the trip; it was breathtaking.

Good luck with your planning!
 
Oh, forgot to mention, we were in Italy the first two weeks of June and it was terribly hot, especially in Rome (near the Colosseum). Pack lightly when you go sightseeing (my bag felt sooooo heavy by the end of the day). Bring a hat with a brim and have water with you at all times!

Assume you''re going to St. Peter''s Cathedral? If yes, when they ask if you want to walk up to the top or take the elevator, pay to take the elevator!!! You will still need to climb quite a bit once you get off the elevator and those stairs were exhausting in themselves!
 
To be perfectly honest, I''d skip Venice. I was there for a weekend, and I wouldn''t want to be there much longer. The place itself is definitely cool with the waterways and St. Anthony''s with it''s gold mosaic work, but it''s sooooo touristy. Are you going in the summer? Summer in Venice is nearly intolerable - the humidity is so bad that when you walk out of your hotel, you''ll be instantly wet. I don''t think my hair ever dried the entire time I was there (mid-June). If I were going to be in northern Italy, I''d want to go to Milan (but not sure I''d want to finish a honeymoon in a metropolitan city).

OH - and I don''t know if you can make it work, but I have a love affair with Assisi. It''s an amazing city, but practically in France if I remember right.

Trains in the Tuscan region are wonderful. I stayed in Florence, and hopped on the train for little day trips all the time. Siena, Verona, Pisa, Cortona... honestly, I would take the trains (but depending on where you stay it might be easier to have a car). Viareggio was the beach that we all went to - that was about an hour or so from Florence. Plus, the trains are a really fun place to meet people from all over the world. And, five years ago they were super, super cheap.

Love the idea to stay in Tuscany for a week and do the touristy places in just a couple days. That''s all you need, IMO.
 
thanks CD! I will have to forewarn my FI about the weather, didn''t realize it would be so hot.

I''m starting to think our itinary will look more like this based of some of your suggestions.

Rome – 2 nights
Florence – 2 night
Tuscany – 6 nights
Venice - 1 night

definitely renting a car and will look into some of the places in Tuscany suggested.

keep the suggestions coming!!!
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I was going to echo what Indy said about the car. Italians themselves would make me think twice about driving, but the parking...THAT would make me think thrice! Personally, I loved taking the trains.

I liked Venice too...but I was there in early Feb, then late March....so it was touristed, but not unbearable. I have to say though...I could tell a difference even in those two months.
 
Public Transport is great in Italy and soooo cheap. Trains are good too.

The only one to watch is you can get to Siena from Florence by train, but don''t even think of trying to get there from Arezzo or similar, it take HOURS!

I would only suggest a car if you are cool with maniac drivers or want to go to completely out of the way places. Taxis are very expensive and will rip you off if you''re not Italian.

Most people outside Florence do not speak english - except in major tourist hotels etc.

Florence to Venice is about 5 hours on the Eurostar - which is expensive. But I would second that a day is not enough time.

Personally I loathe Florence and find it hot and too full of tourists - I would stay elsewhere.

Montepulciano is AMAZING and very romantic - stay there if you can.

Arezzo is also gorgeous and I can recommend some places to stay (I was there 6 years!). It''s also on the main ROME-FLORENCE trainline so very handy. The first weekend of each month it''s home to the biggest antiques fair in Europe and it''s very hard to get a hotel room, so book far in advance if you are there at that time.

July and September the have the Giostra del''Saraceno - which is a jousting contest. It''s great fun, but be warned - it is not a tourist spectacle, it is an important local event and the riot police are not there for nothing. That said tourists won''t get caught up in the potential fights!
 
I was in Arezzo when they had the Giostra a couple of years ago. It was SO MUCH FUN! I loved it. But yeah, people sure do get pretty riled up.
 
Pandora - Would you mind recommended places in Arezzo?

Re : not speaking english....we don''t speak italian, although we plan to at least grab a book on the language, I don''t think we''ll know much by June...my fiance does speak Spanish though, so I imagine he''ll have a pretty understanding of some words and such. Anyway, do you think staying in Tuscany for a week will be a huge issue if we can''t speak the language?

still torn on the rent-a-car issue....hmmm....don''t know what to do!!
 
Date: 1/10/2008 2:44:14 PM
Author: cdt1101
Pandora - Would you mind recommended places in Arezzo?

Re : not speaking english....we don''t speak italian, although we plan to at least grab a book on the language, I don''t think we''ll know much by June...my fiance does speak Spanish though, so I imagine he''ll have a pretty understanding of some words and such. Anyway, do you think staying in Tuscany for a week will be a huge issue if we can''t speak the language?

still torn on the rent-a-car issue....hmmm....don''t know what to do!!
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I don''t speak Italian and spent a few weeks in Italy when you add it all up. I also went to some off the beaten path places (like Bari to catch a ferry) and can vouch for the fact that not everyone speaks English, especially through Tuscany.

That being said, I never had a problem. Hand gestures work wonders. I once tried to make a reservation in a hotel in Sorrento over the phone. I spoke Spanish with an Italian accent and it seemed to work. "Uh, perdone me-eh, per favore, cuarto for sete noche...uh, I mean, notte?" Not a problem.
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TG - hehe..that''s funny...I will definitely relay to FI....he''s going to have to brush up on his italian accent!
 
Oh that sounds like so much fun - did almost the exact same trip last summer.....personally I would extend the time in Rome and lessen the time in Tuscany. On our whirlwind trip of Italy, by far the most fun day was a wine tasting day trip that we took out of Florence. We booked through Expedia with a company called Tuscan trails for ~$100/person and spent a full day drinking and being merry with maybe 8 other Americans. We went to an old castle, a winery and the cutest Tuscan restaurant, tastetesting wine all the while :). I would highly recommend.

This year we are doing the Cinqu Terra - never been there b/f - so excited!
 
Date: 1/10/2008 2:44:14 PM
Author: cdt1101
Pandora - Would you mind recommended places in Arezzo?

Re : not speaking english....we don''t speak italian, although we plan to at least grab a book on the language, I don''t think we''ll know much by June...my fiance does speak Spanish though, so I imagine he''ll have a pretty understanding of some words and such. Anyway, do you think staying in Tuscany for a week will be a huge issue if we can''t speak the language?

still torn on the rent-a-car issue....hmmm....don''t know what to do!!
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No problem - give me a few ideas on the sort of thing you would like - ie city centre or slightly out in the country (ie 10 minutes away) modern or traditional, great views - do you need a pool?

You won''t have a problem not speaking Italian - it''s more a case of not expecting them to speak english. Sign language works wonders and the italians are very patient!
 
hi Pandora! I don''t know that we have to have a pool, but definitely wouldn''t be against it, especially w/ the heat. We''d like to stay in a more country atmosphere while in tuscany. Preferably more of an apartment, rather then hotel. But we are open to options at this point. Nice views would be great!!
 
Date: 1/10/2008 2:34:43 PM
Author: Independent Gal
I was in Arezzo when they had the Giostra a couple of years ago. It was SO MUCH FUN! I loved it. But yeah, people sure do get pretty riled up.
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Oooh, which year?

I was a staunch member of Porta Crucifera or Colcitrone as it's mainly known as - the red & green ones. My then bf was a member of Sant'Antonio - the white and green ones and arch-enemies of Colcitrone. We didn't spend the day together!

As I lived in the Piazza I always got to watch from the balconies which was cool - and I helped to drop all the green and red confetti from the towers. My house was where the jousters start the run from.

The best bit was if you won, all the women in the quartiere would run home and get all the food in the house and make a huge impromptu feast for 300+ people in the street outside the HQ building and we'd have a huge party - with all the streets blocked off by the riot police!

We won most years, though have done badly since I left!

This year's is on Saturday 21st June and I really, really recommend getting tickets - don't stand in the sections on the ground as it can be dangerous.

The parade into the arena is really fun with knights on horseback, trumpters etc and the flag-throwers are the best in Europe - it's a great atmosphere. I would be careful with the parade through the town beforehand - the supporters of different teams will shout and throw things at the horses of other sides and it can get quite frightening as the horses start rearing and backing into the crowds, so best to keep your distance.

You can buy scarves of the different quarters in the streets and join in supporting the team of your choice. Piazza Grande or rather more correctly Piazza Vasari is also one of the most beautiful squares in Italy.


Arezzo also has the famous Piero della Francesa paintings in the church - the really fun bit is I can recognise most of the people in the painting, their descendents are quite obviously walking around the town still!


Just to add - end of June is VERY HOT - 30 degrees centigrade and upwards, and Italy is not big on air-conditioning.
 
I second the less time in Venice.
For hotels, I also secind Venere which is what I used and was for the most part very good.
If you haven''t already booked in Rome, do it soon. The city is crowded whenever there is a Catholic holiday and I hadn''t heard of half of them ie easter, advent, etc. I do love Rome and any day you spend there is a good day.

We went in august and found that anything north of rome wasn''t too hot if that helps. I come from colorado, very dry, and I didn''t think the humidity in venice was too bad, although that was the only thing that wasn;t too bad about venice.
We took naps in the afternoon because nights in Rome and Florance are magical, full of lights, musicians and artists, just something to consider.

Here are my two suggestions for Venice. One is to go to cantina de mori (sp). It has been there since the 1400s, was a favorite hang out of Casanova, is cheap and is one of the few places in Venice where the food is really good. The second is to go to Harry''s bar for an original belini. It is Prosseco and peach nectar and the way they make it is frothy and magical.
 
This is a hotel I like a lot - I used to eat at the restaurant a lot and the owners are super-nice.

I''ll have a check for apartments and speak to some friends out there for current reccommendations.

You must go and eat at Osteria del''Agania in the centre of town. The owner Antonio is mad, but the food - especially the tagliolini with truffle is to die for. Tell the owner that Helen sent you and he''ll treat you well. The place was practically my second home...
 
thank you soooooooo much ladies! I really appreciate it. We''ve never been to Europe, so this is very exciting to plan, but also overwhelming.

We have already to made the decision to only do the 1 night in Venice. We''ll do 2 night in Florence instead of the 1.

We are planning on having everything booked before the end of the month. I thought we should book our flights first. And we are still searching on better deals because right now the prices are outrageous for flight from NJ to Rome/Venice.
 
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