Honeymoon in Italy

FH and I are considering honeymooning in Italy, but we know nothing about where to go, which hotels etc etc. We were hoping to do a Mediterranean cruise but the departing dates don't fit our schedule.
Is anyone going or been there for their HM?

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

Oct04bride just came back I think -- maybe FM?

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

We are going to Italy, too! I bought several books (Fodor's, etc.) to get some ideas, then I went to a travel agent. She's from American Express and specializes in honeymoons and Italy. To be honest, I am someone who likes to get things done now, and she takes her time. A few times I've had to call her b/c she didn't call me when she said she would. BUT, she's been very helpful in sticking to our budget and giving us advice on hotels and stuff like that. I would have been lost without her help. She's located in the glass building in front of Roosevelt Field-Maryanne Moorehead- FM me if you want her number...

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

we just came back from there and hit milan, florence and venice. we booked through dawn @ cruise one - FM me for details...

ETA: rick steve's books were pretty good as far as food and tours, hotels i don't know about because we booked through dawn...

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

I went this summer as well, if alot of sightseeing is ok with you guys it was amazing, FM if you have any questions I can help you with, I did it all by researching online Fodors.com, tripadvisor.com, there is also florenceby.com, romeby.com and veniceby.com, oh and and sidestep.com was pretty cool as it compared prices of all the major discount online sites in one.

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

Ok sorry if I got carried away there LOL

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Both FH and I have family in Italy and have been there several times we have a home there also. FM me if you have any questions! You'll love it, there's no place in the world like it!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

It really depends on what you want to do. If it is your first time there - which is sounds like it is - then I would hit a few major cities like either Florence or Venice and then wind down and relax possibly on the Amalfi Coast. That is what I planned for my friends who got married last year and they loved it! We went on our honeymoon to Italy as well, but we have been there several times so we did the more relaxing outside areas. Portofino on the Italian Riviera, Fiesole (outside of Florence for cooking classes and wine tours) and ended on the Amalfi Coast staying in Positano and Ravello. Once you narrow down where you want to go and the type of trip you want to have - FM with any specifics and I will be glad to help!

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FH & I are planning on going to Italy also, at this point we haven't booked anything, but the cities that everyone recommends are Rome, Venice, Florence & then to relax we're planning on spending 5-6 days either on the Amalfi Coast or Portofino.

I was told by many people not to go to Milan because it's mainly churches & shopping & since we're only going for 2 weeks, we should enjoy the other cities that have more to see.

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

Tarakinspa - those are beautiful pictures!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy

I honeymooned in Italy -- and was dying looking at Tarakinspa's pictures. I thought she stole mine! I have SO many of the same ones (of course, not the ones with her in them!).

We flew into Milan and then spent 5 days on Lago di Garda, which is a lake east of Lake Como. We went in late August, and wanted to avoid the high heat in southern italy. From there, we went to Tuscany, to a small town near Asciano, which was itself about 15 mins south of Siena. We used the internet to book everything, and there are tons of websites that cater to helping you find rental properties. I think we used villanet.com for the Tuscany property. From Tuscany, we drove up to Cinque Terre for 3 days, and then we drove down to the Amalfi coast, where we spent about a week in Praiano, which is in between Positano and Amalfi. Ravello was stunningly beautiful, and I highly recommend it for either a stay or, at a minimum, dinner one night. From there, we drove up to Rome, where we spent about 4 days before flying home. We stayed at a hotel near Piazza Navonna. It was a great trip because we got to see a lot, and under varied states of relaxation. There was a fair bit of 'touristy' stuff -- we took day trips to Verona and Venice from Lago di Garda and spent 2 solid days in Florence when we were in Tuscany -- active stuff (we hiked a lot, particularly in Cinque Terre, and did some biking around Lago di Garda) -- and total vegging out (Tuscany and the amalfi coast). We had a WONDERFUL time. Driving in Italy is a blast, too, although I definitely would not take a car to Rome again. You don't need it, it's impossible to park there, and we spent far to too much time worrying about moving the car from metered area to metered area.

Anyway, hope that helps - have a wonderful time, whatever you do, but feel free to FM with any questions about Italy if you decide to go that route.