Italy

We are going to Italy in July also.......

I don't think it's the lack of food that's making you grumpy, bxgell2. i think it's the amount of stress you're undergoing!

I really have no idea...Both of my sisters went there for their honeymoon...I will probably follow what they did....

Are you nervouse about 'getting around' there???I do not speak Italian well...I was told not to be worried at all, a lot of people speak English, but being in a foreign country and not being able to communicate well makes me nervous

More excited than nervous, but language barriers always add a stressful component. I'd be more nervous if I was going alone, but i'll be with my hubbie. Hopefully the language barrier will be the last thing on our minds.

wrong thread dopey...

I've been to Europe a few times... language barrier usually isn't a problem as long as you stay in the more metropolitan areas, where everyone speaks english... be a little more careful when you travel out to some of the more rural areas

Sicily is gorgeous. My family is from Naples. They are along the amalfi coast line. Not to metnion, you have Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, Pompeii. It's all breathtaking.. beauty like you have never seen!

I have yet to see a place prettier than Capri.

I am sure what ever your decision is, it will be amazing.

Oh.. and Rome is really nice too. So much history!! It is a big city, but remember, it's a european city.. nothing like NYC!!

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Posted by matron

LIJuneBride, Where did you stay? Any recommendations for hotels?

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I was actually there on a cruise so the only city where I stayed in a hotel was Genoa as it was the last stop on our trip. We had a really cool hotel room - it was three levels, and the hotel was in walking distance to town. It's a nice city to spend a day or two. I can't remember the name of the hotel, but if you're interested I'm sure I can find it around my house somewhere. I'd definitely spend more time in Florence and Rome, and I didn't get to see Venice.

The Amalfi Coast is beautiful. I would stay in a bigger town there like Positano as opposed to Capri. We are staying at Hotel Poseidon there based on a friend's recommendation. We are also spending two nights in Ravello. It is close enough to Positano that you can make a day trip to there. It is a long trip, but friends have done it in a day. There isn't much there, but it is the highest point on the Amalfi Coast so the views are spectacular. We are going to a summer concert there so we decided to spend a night there. There are much bigger and well known hotels in Positano, but my friend loved that small family run hotel feeling at Poseidon and said it was in a great location. At for a reasonable price you can get even a junior suite like we did versus a standard room at places like Le Sirenuse. It all depends where you want to spend your money. We chose to go crazy on the Riviera and in Tuscany.

You mentioned Lake Como. It is breathtaking!! But I am not sure how much running around you want to do. Como is in Northern Italy and then if you want to do Amalfi and Sicily that is alot to cover for 10 days. In my opinion, I would do maybe Florence, Amalfi, and Sicily. But that is just my opinion. If you do go to Como a gorgeous hotel there is Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Let's what else did you mention. For Florence, if this is your first time in Italy you may want to stay in the city itself as there is so much to do there. FI and I have both been there so we opted to stay on the Tuscan countryside about 15 minutes outside of Florence. This way we can go to wineries and some of the other towns like Siena and Montepulcino that we haven't been to, but still be able to make a day trip to Florence. The hotel we are staying at there is Villa San Michele. It is very expensive!!!! Another reason we chose Poseidon in Positano. But it is our honeymoon - so we justified it that way.

As far as Sicily the only place I have been to is Taormina. We stayed at a lovely hotel Grande Albergo Capotaormina. This was a few years back - so I am not sure what it is like now.

Here are some links to the hotels I mentioned.

If you need anything else, please ask!

Hotel Poseidon - Positano

Palazzo Sasso - Ravello

Grand Hotel Tremezzo - Como-Bellagio

Villa San Michele - Fiesole Tuscany

Hotel Capotaormina - Taormina Sicily

We stayed in beautiful hotels in Venice and FLorence. They are both owned by Westin.

Florence - The Westin Excelsior
Venice- The Westin Europa

I too am planning a trip to Italy for my honeymoon in early September.

2 things I've heard though - Italians are not known to speak English fluently, and be careful going in the summer since this is when the Italians are on holiday and hotels may be booked all over.

I am torn between the Amalfi coast and Rome/Florence/Venice. My aunt just went to Amalfi and loved it. It seems more romantic to me...But my mom reccomends that I do the latter, because those are the essential 'must see' cities in Italy. I've heard so-so things about Venice though.

my aunt reccomends two travel tour companies - Club ABC Tours (www.clubabc.com) and Grand Circle travel (www.gct.com). You have to pay to gain membership to ABC, but this is her favorite.

hope this helps - I'm still looking around too so I'll keep you posted if i find out anything else.