Italy Honeymoon Help

YoungBaker

Hi there

Me and OH are planning our Honeymoon to Italy and have got our flights and everything sorted. Just looking to share my plan and get some feedback and opinion from you guys on it - would also love any good hotel or resorts to stay in for each place as we haven't sorted accommodation yet.

I previously posted a thread about the best places to visit and so have tailored our stay according to this.

Flying to Naples to stay in Sorrento (2 nights) to visit Pompeii
Staying in Rome (likely 2 nights)
Staying in Florence (2 nights)
Travelling to Verona to stay at one of the Lakes (most accesible?) (5 nights) (Looking to relax / sunbathe etc. here rather than more cultural part of the trip)
Staying in Venice (2 nights)

As I say, any comments on our plan above? We plan to use interrail to travel by train between each place (any alternates?). And would love if anyone has any accommodation suggestions.

Cheers

McKneff

If you havent already done so, get your travel insurance sorted as soon as possbile.

YoungBaker

I already have annual cover... not really anything to do with the questions i had but thanks

claire16c

I would take out at least one place, possibly two, so that you can spend more time in one place to explore, instead of checking in and out of hotels and on the train.

Italy isnt far you can always go back and do say Venice or Rome for a long weekend another time.

poet123

Do you have a budget in mind? We have done a couple of similar trips and used a variety of accom both more budget and the luxury end too. I have loads of hotel suggestions depending on budget.

YoungBaker

Yeh I guess we could rejig the schedule... I mean we only are really going to Sorrento so we can go to Pompeii so dont know if it's even going to take 2 days.

Basically we would definitely like to go to Pompei, Rome & Florence for a few days each and then up to Verona to stay at one of the Lakes so it's not alljust a cultural honeymoon and we can get the more typical relaxing sunbathing type of thing too for part of it - then head to venice as we would fly home from here.

In regards to budget, we would probably be looking for something more luxury for our first stop (so in the schedule above, Sorrento as this will be the first couple of nights on our honeymoon) and would quite like a nice resort or something for the Lakes. Would be willing to have a less nice place for the others in between though.

Thanks a lot

Miss_Havisham

i know this is adding to your itinerary but you can get to Pisa easily from Florence and imo it's worth an afternoon's outing especially if the sun's shining - all the white buildings sparkle.

I love Italy but it's the worst place I've been to for mosquito bites. If you are attractive to the little devils I suggest you wear tropical strength repellent and get one of those plug-in thingies for your room, they release repellent into the air so you don't get them droning round your heads all night.

Also try to avoid rooms overlooking a main street - italians like to zoom up and down on their Vespa scooters late at night and if you have the window open for some air it's impossible to sleep.

I love Italy, but it needs some preparation !

Have a lovely wedding & honeymoon.

Miss H

poet123

Ok, we liked Sorrento but for romance you can't beat Positano (and it is a short ferry ride from Sorrento so Pompeii is still doable)

In Positano try the Eden Roc hotel ( the Imperial suite has a hot tub on the balcony) or for a real splurge Le Sirenuse. Even if you don't stay there do try to eat in the candlelit balcony restaurant it is spectacular. If you do decide to stick with Sorrento then

http://www.laminervetta.com/ is fabulous, a real find, very small and intimate.

As for Rome, you cannot beat the Albergo Del Senato overlooking the Pantheon ask for the balcony room on the front which is the best view in the hotel.

With regard to the Lakes, we have just come back from both Garda and Como and of the two Como is the most romantic. I would recommend the Grand Hotel Menaggio it has a lakeside pool, or the Grand Hotel Tremezzo which also has a lakeside pool. Both are stunning places to stay, and mean all the other lakeside towns are accessible by boat.

As for Venice which is my favourite place on earth.... We loved the http://www.abbaziadeluxe.com/ ask for the suite overlooking the bridge. You can take breakfast in the adjacent sister hotel's garden which was formerly a convent. We have stayed in loads of hotels and apartments in Venice, Pension Wildner is on the lagoon front, or Hotel Columbina is near San Marco, both lovely hotels.

In Florence we stayed here
http://www.whythebesthotels.com/florence-hotel-santa-maria-novella/en/florence-hotel.php

it was very well located and reasonably priced.

Have a look at those and if you want any further info post back.

YoungBaker

Wow thank you all very much for the advice - really appreciate all the accommodation recommendations poet Will look into them.

How much spending money per day would you guys advise for Italy for 2 adults (likely do usual touristy things, eat out most days and nights).

Just trying to make sure our costings are realistic - have managed to get pretty cheap flights for both of us which is great.

Also have any of you experience with the trains, or a pass such as interrail?

poet123

Italy is not cheap, but if you go off the main tourist areas in the cities then you can eat well and for a reasonable price. Try to avoid the tourist menus, as though they seem cheap, it is for a reason!

Try the website http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/index.asp It has tons of info on everything.

We took the train from Rome to Naples without any problems. You can book via Trenitalia which has an English translation. You get seat reservations. You need to remember to validate your tickets on the station before getting on the trains or you get fined, this applies on the water buses in Venice too.

legoman62

Went on a cruise last month to many of the places you mention.
Landed in Civitavecchia (port) and made our own way to Rome on the train.
Bought a day pass for 12 euros each.
Can be used on the train and Metro..great value.
Really enjoyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Local guide very informative.
Enjoyed Venice. Bought 24hr vaporetto pass for 24 euros.
You might need wellies now though.
Watch out for pickpockets in Naples/Pisa.

Have a great time:)