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[asam78]

My husband and I are traveling to Italy in September. This is our itinerary.

Fly into Rome
Day 1-4: Rome
Day 5: Day trip to Pompeii or Amalfi Coast
Day 6: Rental car in Villa Borghese and drive to Orvieto and San Gimignano
Day 8: Drive to Cinque Terre (stop at Pisa and Chiani along the way)
Day 9: Cinque Terre
Day 10: Drive to Florence and drop off rental car at Florence airport and take a bus to the center
Day 11: Florence
Day 12: Train to Venice
Day 13: Venice
Day 14: Venice
Day 15: Fly home

I have a few questions:
1) Do you recommend starting in Rome and traveling towards Venice or starting in Venice and traveling towards Rome?
2) Do you recommend any other places in Tuscany such as Montepulciano, Cortona, Lucca? If so, how would you rate them in order of "must see" vs. "not as important."
3) If I had 1 extra day, would you use that extra day to travel to Pompeii in a day trip and use the next day to see the Amalfi Coast or would you use that extra day to stay in Siena and explore more of Tuscany?
4) After renting a car in Rome, would you recommend any other stops on the way to Tuscany besides Orvieto or SG?
5) After renting a car in Rome, where would you stay the night? In Siena or elsewhere?
6) If you had to choose one day trip, would you choose a day trip to Pompeii or to the Amalfi Coast (Capri, Sorrento, etc).

Thank you in advance!

[liscio]

Hello,
where are you from? when will you come to Italy (first, or second half?)
do you enjoy driving?

[asam78]

Hello,
where are you from? when will you come to Italy (first, or second half?)
do you enjoy driving?

We can go to Italy at anytime in September. Is there a time you recommend over the other?

[liscio]

Hello,
i just gave (yesterday) some advices to a friend couple, coming from SuthDakota... john, are you? ahahah
anyway, i'd suggest you not to come on the first days of september, 'cause is considered yet as a part of summer-holidays... so, places would be more crowded... and hot..... first half of september, expecially in Rome and Pompei, can be very hot.
I'll think about your questions, and post a reply soon.

[asam78]

Hello,
i just gave (yesterday) some advices to a friend couple, coming from SuthDakota... john, are you? ahahah
anyway, i'd suggest you not to come on the first days of september, 'cause is considered yet as a part of summer-holidays... so, places would be more crowded... and hot..... first half of september, expecially in Rome and Pompei, can be very hot.
I'll think about your questions, and post a reply soon.

Oh sorry. No I'm not John. I didn't post where I was from. From Los Angeles. Thank you!

So the latter half of September then? What about October?

[liscio]

Usually, in October, southern Italy (like Amalfi, Pompei) is good weather, some kind of summer (but daylight is shorter, and sun goes down earlier)

Anyway, weather in october can be odd, but every year it's a different thing... if you want to take the "risk", in october, there is very less turists, expecially less internal tourists (italians)... so, it can be more peaceful, and pretty nice... even if, the most-must-see places are crowded 365 days... i mean, Venice, Colosseo (Rome), San Pietro (Rome), Firenze...

it's up to you... personally, i usually spend the summer in the mountains, and i tour the cities in fall/spring... i really hate crowded places.

[liscio]

Hello!
Did you plan your trip?
Do you need any help/advice?