RP from 08: Italy help

So we are looking into booking our trip to Italy for March/April. We are taking a week to be with his family and a week to tour on our own. We decided just to rent a car and go off on our own because we both don't like tour guides.

So here is my question. I know nothing about Italy. Where should we go and how far are these places from each other. I am guessing we should do Rome and Venice but I have no idea how far apart these are. ANy other places?

I also heard the Alfami coast is nice but how far is this from Rome?

Thanks so much!

Rome and Venice are very far from each other.... at least 6-7 hours in the car. Venice is in the very north east corner of the country while Rome is almost dead center... Anything south of Rome is considered southern italy.

Also, DH and I go to Italy often as my FIL is from there and we have a house there..... traveling by car is expensive! One the cost of gas is very high in Europe in general, so you will pay about $8.00-$9.00 a gallon. (so if you rent a car, DON'T rent an automatic. it's more expensive and not as good on gas as stick shift.) Even knowing that though, where it really gets you is the tolls. All Italian highways are tolled. Picture something like the NJ Turnpike.... However, the tolls are very high. We went from northwest Italy to northeast (to Venice) and the toll was over 15 euros ONE way... so you're looking at a lot of money that way.

the train systems, particuarly if you are going to touristy/large cities, may be a cheaper option.

Also, the Amalfi coast would be at least 4 hour from Rome I would think.

I agree taking the train around Italy is the probably the easiest and cheapest option. That's what we did on our HM. We started in Rome for 3 nights, then took the train down to Naples, I think it was about a 2-3 hour train ride. We had a private tour booked that picked us up at the train station and drove us to Pompeii for a 2 hour tour, then continued onto the Amalfi Coast.

On the Amalfi Coast we stayed in Sorrento for 3 nights, and luckily had cousins living in Italy who took us to the other neighboring cities of Positano, Amalfi & Ravello...all are gorgeous! But I wouldn't try driving it yourself...lots of scary mountain driving...there are tour buses and excursions that take you the same places I'm sure you can book. From Sorrento we also took a ferry to the island of Capri.

After the Amalfi Coast we had a car service take us back to the Naples train station, then took the train up to Florence, I think that was 3-4 hours long. If you stay in Florence you can book excursions to Pisa and the Tuscan countryside nearby. We stayed in Florence 4 nights.

Then we took the train to Venice where we stayed for 3 nights, but you probably only need 1 or 2, as there's not much to do there, though it is beautiful. I recommend eating dessert outside in St. Marks Square at night, where there are dueling string quartets set up to entertain you. You can also take ferries to nearby islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

I can probably write a whole book on my Italy trip but I'll stop there...FM me if you need more details. Best of luck planning your trip!

i agree with the others that trains are the way to go; it is SO easy to train everywhere, especially major cities. When i went years ago, my friend and i went to Venice, Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. We took the trains everywhere; took a local from Naples to Sorrento and from Sorrento the bus up the amalfi coast to Praiano, where we stayed (less touristy/crowded than Amalfi or Positano). It was so easy. When dh and I went on our HM, we just saw venice florence rome (b/c he had never been) and I had some cousins who met us in florence and drove us to the outskirts.

I would say if you are doing wine country like Tuscany, or non-cities or the coastal areas like cinque terre or something, drive. If you are sticking to major cities + amalfi, take the trains. We never used tour guides we did everything ourselves. I think Italy must be one of the easiest cities... all you need is a book and maybe a street map. It helps if one of you is familiar with the language like i was but it's not totally necessary.

fm if you want more info; we were just there in June. Sigh - I'm jealous/nostalgic even thinking about it! You will have an awesome time.

I was there several years ago and went by train which worked out great!

We actually took a boat from greece and then hopped on a train in Brindisi (which is very south party of the heel). Then were in Rome 4 days, then Florence one night, then took a day trip (via train) to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then train up to Venice for 3 days. It was such a great experience and defintiely wish I had more time. I want to go back soon, like in the next 2 years!!! I definitely want to do the Amalfi Coast when I go!

My DH and i just went for our honeymoon, stayed with family and then went on our own to venice florence and rome.

Where is his family from? i would rent the car while you are with family so that you can escape when you want to..and you can do day trips and what not without having to depend on anyone.

After family, i would drop the car off in venice and i would stay there 3 nights.

From Venice, take the train to Florence, stay there 4 nights.

Then Rome...well i personally dont like Rome. Its not romantic and it reminds me a lot of NY, minus the colosseum and the vatican. Two or three nights in Rome is good.


Travel Tom totally hooked us up with awesome hotels and train tickets..i would suggest using him. We got our own rental car through Hertz and when we went to pick it up we asked if they could upgrade us to an automatic for free and they did.