Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

...I've relented and told FH I would research Italy as a HM option (I'm pushing for Greece!). I've narrowed the search down to the Amalfi Coast - Ravello, Positano...Naples, Rome & Tuscany.

I've done a search on here and found some helpful info but I hope no one minds posting more helpful info in this thread so I can keep it all in one place.

We'd be leaving either 9/5/04 or 9/6...and are interested in spending 2 weeks there. I'm from Naples & Sicily and FH is from Rome so we'd want to see those places...but spend the bulk of the time relaxing.

What is the weather like in Italy that time of year - I assume it's like ours...end of summer, early fall.

We're planning on visiting a travel agent (would love recommendations on TAs too!) next week to gather some ideas...get an idea for pricing and such. But I like being armed with research so if any of you could help - it would be MOST appreciated!

Interested in: hotels/spas/villas, must-see-places, restaurant opinions, length of time suggested in each place, how many places can we visit - while remaining relaxed - in a 2 wk period, etc.

Activities: relaxing , eating good food, drinking good wine, light shopping...in Rome we are most interested in seeing the old ruins.

Thank you all so much!!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

The weather in October was pretty warm (warmer than it is here in October by at least 10 degrees) so Im guessing it would be hot in early Sept.

Venice was my favorite city by far so unless you plan on returning soon (which you may be doing since your FH is from Rome) i would definitely recommend seeing some of the North as well.

I was not crazy about Rome ... so I would say that a few days there is enough if you are mainly planning on hitting the ruins. If your focus is on relaxing, Capri is beautiful for that.

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

I personally love the Tuscany region...there is so much to see/do and it is so relaxing....

I would stay at the Villa S. Michelle in Fiesole (AMAZING PLACE) and drive all through Tuscany.

I also think the amalfi coast is amazing too...in a different way though. Capri is very touristy and you don't need more than a day or 2 there (in my opinion) but Positano on the other hand is WONDERFUL and really worth spending some time....

I have never been to sicily, so I can't comment.
I can reccomend hotels in Capri, Ischia and Positano though if you want.....

I loved Rome, but it's a big bustling city....not really relaxing at all...but if you are going to see it b/c that is where FH is from, make sure you stay at a really good hotel (I feel that Rome's 'star ratings' for their hotels are slightly skewed (sp?))

Let me know if you want or need any specifics....

As for weather...I will let you know when I get back, but this year it was still in the 80's and 90's in the beginning of Sept.!!!!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

Oh, forgot to mention Assisi! That was a great place to stay for a day or two if you are traveling thru italy. Beautiful old world architecture, great food and a nice break from a large city. I never really expected to like it so much but it was great!

We stayed at the Hotel Giotto which was a refurbished monestary and had a lot of old world charm and a great view.






Can you tell we liked this place?

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

Stef & Jess - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING!!!

I have to run out for lunch...will respond when I return.........

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

Sounds like a great trip! I think the weather should be fine. Obviously not as warm as the summer months, but sometimes that is even too hot!!

FI and I are going to Italy for our HM in June. I am in the process of doing all the research and hotel blocking now. We have both been to Italy (me especially since alot of family is there) so we didn't really want alot of touristy stuff. But on the other hand wanted to have the option to walk about the piazza, have gelato, and see some sights. The perfect HM to us!!

Here is what we are doing:

3 nights on the Italian Rivieria at Hotel Splendido in Portofino

4 nights in Fiesole (right outside Florence) at Villa San Michele which has a shuttle bus into Florence daily

4 nights in Positano at Hotel Poseidon

2 nights in Ravello at Palazzo Sasso (just because I want to stay there so bad!! )

If you want more info on the sites around these areas and what we are planning on doing to have pool time and touring time - send me an FM!!!

Good Luck!!!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

I love Italy!!! for me, it is the best vacation spot in the world!! we will be going there on our honeymoon, probably staying in rome, florence, and lake duomo. We are going at the end of june beg of july of next year, so it will be hot!

If you like antiquity, you will love Roma!!!

I wish you all the best! Have a wonderul time!

ciao

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

If you're going to Naples, you can also go to Capri. Capri is a 40minute ferry ride from Naples. FM me if you want more info...

I just got back from Italy last week. I went to Rome, Naples, Capri, Ravenna and San Marino.

Good luck to you!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

Anybody know what it is like in March. My fiance was born in Naples so we are not going there so we want to go to florence, Tuscany ad Venice I think. thanks a bunch

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

Stef - Assisi looks beautiful - your pictures are great - it looks like you both had an Amazing time there!!

We're not really interested in touristy spots...which is why I was ruling out Capri, Florence and Venice (someone please correct me if I'm wrong on my idea that the latter two are very touristy as well).

We're definetly interested in romantic strolls, cliffside dining, beautiful water views, great food and just relaxing. I think 2 or 3 days in Rome should be fine -f rom what I've read here and other places (thanks Jess for the tip on the hotels!). I just can't imagine going to Italy and not seeing the Colisseum! (I should correct that we're both American but our families are from Naples, Sicily & Rome.)

Where is this Blue Grotto that I've read about on here (thru Search)?

I think any additional information on Positano, Ravello, Tuscany, Amalfi & Naples & Rome would be excellent!!

Thank you all again!!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

The Blue Grotto is in Capri....

Although Florence is heavily traveled by tourists, I wouldn't call it touristy (i know that must sound strange) but I LOVE Florence....
It is so quaint and romantic, it's not overwhelming, and there is so much to see!!!

All of Tuscany is at your fingertips from Florence...
We went to Montalcino, Montepulciano, The Chianti Region, Radda, San Gimignano (amazing) and many more....We went wine tasting at the Banfi Vineyard....AMAZING!!!!

We also stayed in Cinque Terre for a few days....and if you want secluded, cliffside and romantic....this is IT!!!!! It stands for the 'the five towns' or 'the five earths' or something like that...and it's 5 small towns connected by trails and all of the 5 towns are on the edge of cliffs and overlooking the ocean...gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!!

Let me dig out the names of the hotels in Positano and Ischia and I will post back in a bit!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

We spent 12 days on the Amalfi coast on our HM last year. It was absolutely amazing. Here was our itinerary:
4 nights at the San Pietro in Positano - Incredible hotel, wonderful town, not too crowded in Sept - 4 nights was just enough time there. If you visit, try to get to the restaurant, Donna Rosa's - It is about a 15min cab ride up into the mountains but the food was amazing.
3 nights at the Quisisana in Capri - I was not too fond of this hotel but Capri was beautiful. I would recommend staying overnight if you visit simply because the island is SO crowded during the day with tourists that you can't really enjoy it until later in the afternoon / evening. I would have been fine with two nights though - I was ready to move on after that.
3 nights at the Palazzo Sasso in Ravello - Again, another incredible hotel. The staff/ervice was out of this world. Beautiful pools, hottubs, views of mountains/sea, etc. If you visit Ravello, you must go to the Villas - The Villa Rufolo and the Villa Cimbrone - Absolutely gorgeous!
2 nights at the Hotel Intercontinental in Rome - Horrible, horrible hotel. Expensive, awful service/staff (rude, nasty), but good, central location (by the Spanish Steps). I listened to a travel agent on this hotel and shouldn't have. The Hassler, next door, was gorgeous and the same price. I would have stayed there if I had to do it again. The hotel really ruined our stay in Rome - It wasn't the best ending to an amazing HM.
Anyway, if you have any questions, feel free to FM me. Good luck!

Re: Honeymoon in Italy...Help!

Did i mention how much I hate that he wore that Old Navy shirt in Italy? grrr..

Assisi isnt really a touristy spot in the traditional sense. I mean - we were there so i guess it is - but its very quant and beautiful. Not much to do beside eat and go walking and just enjoy the atmosphere if that makes sense.

I think Venice and Florence CAN be touristy but its also bustling cities that are must sees. Much like Manhattan can be a tourist trap but I wouldnt exactly say is a place that only tourists go to- you know? (The Colliseum in Rome is 100X more touristy than the even the most cheesy spot in Venice.)

The reason we loved Venice so much is because it is literally like no other city in the world. We spent the whole day just walking around the city, stopping in shops and cafes. The food is excellent and the city is just bursting with activity.

Italy is a huge place and there is so much to see and enjoy that you will love it no matter where you go!