Ciao everyone!

We are in the midst of planning another wonderful trip to Tuscany and am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for an off-the-beaten-path destination for us to day trip from Pienza? We have been to ALL of the major places and some minors (Florence, Arezzo, San Gimignano, Chianti area, Siena, Cortona, Montalcino) and would love to have some input from others. We are planning to go to Montepulciano.

TIA!

Monteriggioni. Search for it, you won't believe how charming can be a small town like this.

^^ Thanks maryg1 for the suggestion - it IS a most charming place, I neglected mention that we had a memorable visit there as well......

Any others?

have you visited the Lake Trasimeno? It's a nice trip

Edited: I'm looking at Google map for inspiration...Orvieto is one of the most beautiful city in Italy
Perugia & Assisi could be doable in 1 day but they are a bit farther (the Basilica in Assisi with Giotto's and Piero della Francesca's frescos is worth the trip though)

has anyone been to naples/the amalfi coast? looking for a nice place to stay there on our honeymoon in october. :)

Originally Posted by dusty paws

has anyone been to naples/the amalfi coast? looking for a nice place to stay there on our honeymoon in october. :)

I'll be heading back there in November, but since we're not on our honeymoon (instead, our goal is to buy a table in Sorrento which will be most of our budget) most of the hotels we're considering are probably not as romantic as you want. I would suggest that you consider not staying in Naples itself, but rather Pompei or Sorrento, from which you can take the train back into Naples for day trips, and easily get to the rest of the Amalfi coast. My husband just chimed in from behind me and said "tell her to stay in Amalfi or Positano if they're on their honeymoon!" They are lovely too, but they are more expensive than staying closer to Naples and will be harder to get out of for day trips. Check TripAdvisor for good recommendations on nice places.

You will love it- we spent our 10th anniversary in that area last October :)

And for comparison, the places we'll be staying this November are Hotel Diana in Pompei (it was wonderful last time, if not the most romantic place) and either Maison Tofani or Antiche Mura in Sorrento

Hello, there is great information in this thread! maryg1.....you have great travel advise!
I am also thinking of visiting the Amalfi Coast in November. I love to travel when the weather is not overly warm or cold!
I see that maryg1 suggested staying in Sorrento as a "home base" and I was looking at the Hilton hotel. From what I am reading Sorrento is better than Positano for a base?
Any thoughts? Weather?

Originally Posted by dusty paws

has anyone been to naples/the amalfi coast? looking for a nice place to stay there on our honeymoon in october. :)

I wouldn't go to Naples city, it's not safe.

Originally Posted by Myrkur

I wouldn't go to Naples city, it's not safe.

That's what everyone kept telling me too before I went, but it really was fine. Sure, it's a bit dirty at the moment with the trash issue, but the Neopolitans are just so passionate, I guess would be the word-- or maybe intense, even-- about everything. And it's like any big city--if you go to the bad areas, you could get in trouble. It's pretty obvious when you should be avoiding somewhere (like a block from the main train station). But I found it to be much less touristy and a lot more like I expected traditional Italy to be, which was a nice change from Rome where everyone spoke English and there were more tourists than locals. And the pizza....there's just nothing like it anywhere else.

Originally Posted by Myrkur

I wouldn't go to Naples city, it's not safe.

Sorry, but it's Western Europe, the safest location in the world.

Originally Posted by Codygirl

Hello, there is great information in this thread! maryg1.....you have great travel advise! I am also thinking of visiting the Amalfi Coast in November. I love to travel when the weather is not overly warm or cold! I see that maryg1 suggested staying in Sorrento as a "home base" and I was looking at the Hilton hotel. From what I am reading Sorrento is better than Positano for a base? Any thoughts? Weather?

thank you! I'm happy to help when I can.
The Sorrento suggestion came from our dear Elara, not me.

As for Naples...I've never been there, but I think that as long you're using common sense you'd be fine. Bad experiences with thieves happen everywhere, not just Naples.
don't wear flashy jewelry, don't act too much like a tourist (looking at your map leaving your bag unzipped), stay in the city center, read the Forum on Tripadvisor and ask all questions there.

Originally Posted by Codygirl

Hello, there is great information in this thread! maryg1.....you have great travel advise! I am also thinking of visiting the Amalfi Coast in November. I love to travel when the weather is not overly warm or cold! I see that maryg1 suggested staying in Sorrento as a "home base" and I was looking at the Hilton hotel. From what I am reading Sorrento is better than Positano for a base? Any thoughts? Weather?

I would definitely go visit Positano, I studied abroad in Italy this summer and spent a week here it is amazing! The only downside to Positano is it is difficult to get to and travel from but it is worth it in my opinion. Positano is a real get away and has a small town feel to it. In the week we stayed there we got to know the bus drivers and all the staff at the restaurant we went to on the beach. While Sorento is more easily accessible to other places I felt like it lacked the charm of Positano.

I will go tomorrow to Minori (Amalfi) for one week a last weekend to Firenze (eng. Florence?) for a perfume exhibition. We choose the Villa Romana hotel a Minori.

Just booked a four night stay in florence for thanksgiving solo- trip. It was VERY spurr of the moment. I saw that the hotel I had stayed last time was having a REALLY good deal and couldn't pass off. I just don't know where to go after florence. Should I stay in Italy or go to Paris?