ITALY-The official thread!!

So we leave on Sunday and I just wanted to post our itinerary as it stands now. I got a few great ideas from LIW ladies, The Knot and Tripadvisor and I think it is only fair to pass them on.

Of course, when we get back - I can give more details and my personal comments but this is what we have so far since I am surprisingly in the mood to type it all out!

Rome

Transfer from airport to hotel:
we booked a reservation with Rome Cabs. They are highly regarded on Tripadvisor and reliable. For 45 Euro we get a private transfer to our hotel, and most importantly - the driver will wait for us outside of customs with a sign that says my name. I am so overly excited about that detail it is embarrassing.

4 nights in Rome at the Hotel Duca D'Alba :
A 'few steps away from the Cavour Metro stop, within walking distance of everything (the Colosseum and Forum are particularly close)'. It is rated #110 of 995 hotels in Rome and the reviews on Tripadvisor are favorable. It includes a buffet breakfast.

Tours:
we booked both the Vatican and Colosseum tours in advance with Icon Tours. They are well regarded on Tripadvisor.

You have make a reservation in advance for the Borghese Gallery and we did so through their website. The gallery is located within 'Rome's central park' so following our reserved 2 hour window to tour the gallery we are going to have a picnic lunch in the park. I made arrangements for this through Gina Roma. We ordered sandwiches, fruit salad and vino. . This was another Tripadvisor find. I am really looking forward to that.

The rest of our itinerary is loosely based of the Rick Steves suggested list. You can view that here. However, there are detailed maps and self walking tours in his book - so you should totally pick one up.

Florence

Train from Rome to Florence:
we booked online with Trenitalia.

3 nights in Florence at the Star Hotels Michelangelo:
Rated #81 of 520 hotels in the city on Tripadvisor. 'Located in the center of Firenze, opposite the Parco delle Cascine'. The rate includes breakfast.

Tours:
(more to come)

Again, we used Rick Steves suggested list for reference. You can view that here.


Venice

Train from Florence to Venice:
we booked online with Trenitalia.

3 nights in Venice at the
Hotel American Dinesen:
rated #5 of 360 hotels on Tripadvisor. 'Venetian-style Hotel located on picturesque side canal, just off the Grand Canal; near Academy of Fine Arts & St Mark's Square.' Breakfast included.

Tours:
Doge Palace - I booked the 'Seceret Palace Tour' on the advice of many at Tripadvisor. You get to see areas of the palace that are not open to the public tour for only 4 additional Euro.

And the Rick Steves Venice suggested itinerary helped me plan out the rest of the trip.

Wow Laurie, your itinerary helps so much for my mediterrnean cruise. Thanks and have a great trip!

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Posted by olivia30

Wow Laurie, your itinerary helps so much for my mediterrnean cruise. Thanks and have a great trip!

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I am so glad!

Depends where you're going but here are some of my favorites:
Main cities: Milan and FLORENCE
Others to see: Venice (if you're staying in a hotel, splurge in this city because good clean hotels with your own bathroom are hard to find if you're going for 3 stars!), Naples and Rome.
Off the beaten track: Sirmione/Lago di Garda (Lombardi region), Orvieto (Umbria region), Urbino (Marche region)
If you're religious Assisi is beautiful. Perugia is very close to Assisi and they have yummy chocolates!

Recommendations for Lake Como and Venice

Lake Como-Varenna We stayed at Eremo Gaudio in Varenna. I highly recommend this hotel. It has the best view hands down and because it's a 5 to 10 minute walk from town the prices are reasonable.

Venice-Ca'Angeli-good location, on the grand canal, awesome breakfast, CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS WERE MY FAVORITE! and friendly staff. Very modern and clean rooms. Nice library where you can view the grand canal and watch life go by.

Both of these hotels are on Tripadvisor also

This thread is really helpful -- I am in the middle of trying to book our honeymoon to Italy.
Possible Places:
Amalfi Coast
Rome
Florence
Venice

Hello ~ any help with where to stay in Venice, and Rome? Also, where would you prefer to stay Positano or Sorrento?
TIA, Stephanie

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Posted by stephdv94

Hello ~ any help with where to stay in Venice, and Rome? Also, where would you prefer to stay Positano or Sorrento?
TIA, Stephanie

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I didn't care for our hotel in Rome - so I wouldn't recommend it.

But we loved the hotel in Venice (copied from above)

3 nights in Venice at the
Hotel American Dinesen:
rated #5 of 360 hotels on Tripadvisor. 'Venetian-style Hotel located on picturesque side canal, just off the Grand Canal; near Academy of Fine Arts & St Mark's Square.' Breakfast included.

Stephanie, when are you going to Italy? We are going to Venice, Rome, and Positano. We booked our airfare, but not the hotels yet. Been busy looking them up on tripadvisor.
Laurie, I would love to hear more about your trip. You had a great itinerary. Hope you had a wonderful time.

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Posted by JennyJim
Laurie, I would love to hear more about your trip. You had a great itinerary. Hope you had a wonderful time.

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We had an awesome time, LOVED it.

If you have any questions, HTH!

We are booked!!! So excited. How are everyone's plans coming?

Its been like 10 yrs since I've been to Rome and Florence, so can't really help there...but Venice is one of the coolest places I've been... the best thing to do there is just explore... get lost in all the allies. FH were there during high season, but as soon as you turn off of the main square and just walk through the smaller allies, there will be no one! VERY ROMANITC. And when in Venice definately take a trip to Burano... very cute town with houses painted in different colors.

If you have time and want a break fromt he busy cities, try somewhere in Süd Tirol...I haven't been yet, but FH says its really pretty. Another option would be Lake Garda.