Itinerary--Fall 2016

[jan]

I still have lots of planning time but I am almost set.
We will be driving down to South Florida to visit family just before we go and will return there to overcome jet lag at the end.

Sept 12 Fly MIA to LHR, LHR to AMS

Sept. 13 arrive Amsterdam--1 week
stay here: https://www.vrbo.com/465010

Sept. 20 Fly AMS to Bari, Puglia, Italy
Haven't decided yet about how we'll get from Bari to Lecce. Trying to save $$ by not renting car too soon. so probably bus or train???

Sept 20—27 Lecce, apartment--1 week
https://www.vrbo.com/1597574ha

Rent car in Lecce Sept 24th.

Sept 27, 28 Matera--2 nights Corte San Pietro http://www.cortesanpietro.it/ (on the high side budget wise but...)

Sept 29 Trivigno--1 night--agriturismo recommended by Valerie. Can't remember the name right now.

Sept 30, Oct 1,2 Trani--3 nights http://www.suitehometrani.it/bed_and_breakfast/?id=3&n=suite_home_porto in the Green room

Oct 3,4 TBD--This is my really confusing part. So many options. Today I am thinking of staying 2 nights in Bari and flying (really cheap--like 40euros each) to Florence and taking train to Lucca. Or drive to Naples (or anywhere that's about half way) and stay for the 2 nights and drive on to Lucca. Suggestions welcome!


Oct 5—19 Lucca, apartment--2 weeks https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p1052049 (Good friends arrive around the 9th, staying in another apartment nearby, and will be with us in Piemonte)

Oct 19, 20, 21, 22,--4 nights La Morra, Piemonte. http://www.cortegondina.it/
Go to Truffle Faire in Alba (bucket list even though I may be overwhelmed with crowds)

Oct. 23—Nov. 13--3 Weeks Venezia, apartment https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p6612399
Stayed here in 2015. Love the location!

Nov. 14—Dec 1 --3 weeks apartment Verona. We have good friends living there.

Fly back to Miami from Verona, one stop at FCO.

Thanks in advance for your comments!

 

[BryanS]

Sept 29 Trovigno--1 night--agriturismo recommended by Valerie. Can't remember the name right now.

La Foresteria di San Leo in Trivigno. http://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhouse/basilicata/potenza/LaForesteriadiSanLeo-5180101/index.html

Sept. 20 Fly AMS to Bari, Puglia, Italy

The train station in Bari is right at the airport terminal. The station in Lecce is just on the outside of the centro, not too far from your rental.

 

[jan]

Grazie Bryan.

 

[Pauline]

What a trip! I like that apartment in Lecce! We spent a week in Ostuni and there was a lot to do in that area. We didn't even make it to Lecce (which I regret). One place near Lecce which we liked is Otranto. The church has incredible tile floors. But get there early because it closes at noon, I think.

How did you choose Trani? I have not heard of it before and had to look it up (on the coast north of Bari). Aren't you back tracking to get there? I would keep on going from Trivigno and spend a couple of nights in Sperlonga on the coast south of Rome. (Althought Trani would work if you fly from Bari). And then in Southern Tuscany before Lucca. But maybe you have been to these places?

Do you want the car in Lucca and after?

 

[jan]

Yes, it's quite a trip.
Don't remember where I heard about Trani but it just struck a chord for me. Probably it was a restaurant review, knowing me.
We won't have a car in Lucca--unless we rent for one day or 2. Trains and busses should work from there.

I'm really leaning towards flying from Bari but will give in some time to sink in. Fare on Veuling is 30euros. I'm assuming added fees for bags but we travel on the light side so willing to pay some. Ken is not in love with driving in Italy, especially on the autostrada.

 

[Jane]

This looks like a great trip....a little envious I must add. The apt in Amsterdam is beautiful. One hint: if you are planning to go to Anne Frank's house, get your ticket on line--date and time. We did that and went right in the special door for those with reservations. The line to buy was very long and then when they go the ticket it wws for a designated time later in the day.

 

[jan]

Thanks, Jane!

 

[Jim Zurer]

>>How did you choose Trani?<<

I love Trani...in the top 10 of my very favorite places in all of Italy!!!!

 

[artnbarb]

What an amazing trip! I can't wait to see how everything develops!

 

[jan]

Maybe I chose it because of Jim

 

[Anne]

Oct 3,4.... What about adding a couple more nights to your stay in Trani? Then drive to Bari airport to drop the rental car, and catch a flight to Florence. I don't know anything about Trani, but can't imagine running out of things to do/see anywhere in southern Italy. Castel del Monte is nearby and worth a visit, if you have time.

 

[Anne]

PS...we spent a week in Matera last June, it's amazing!!

 

[jan]

Anne, I like your idea.
Trani is very small though and we really want some time in Bari (because I've read about great restaurants there, of course). Gotta think on this one.

 

[Pauline]

I'm really leaning towards flying from Bari but will give in some time to sink in. Fare on Veuling is 30euros. I'm assuming added fees for bags but we travel on the light side so willing to pay some. Ken is not in love with driving in Italy, especially on the autostrada.

If you don't want the car in Lucca, flying from Bari would be good for two reasons.
1. You would return the car where you picked it up. Usually cheaper to do this.
2. You would eliminate a long drive.

 

[jan]

Yes, Pauline. Eliminating the long drive is a big plus.
BTW--I had already booked the car with AutoEurope for a rate of $307 from Sept. 23 til Oct. 5. Pick up in Lecce and return in Lucca. When I called them to change to returning in Bari, 2 days earlier, the rate went up almost $100. The really nice guy on the phone said it's just that the rates have gone up since I booked. But, he said, we can keep our voucher/reso and just drive the car in to the Bari EuropeCar office and say we want to return it early and they will take it with no additional fees. Hope it works!

 

[italian excursion]

Wow, sounds fantastic, Jan! I'm just spending my first week in the Puglia/Basilicatta area in May. I may have something to add once I'm back, but know very little about it at this point. I do suggest since you will be in Lucca and near Heather (Erica) Jarman of slowtraveltours.com, that you contact her and see if she has an artisan workshop going on while you're there. She lives above Lucca in the Garfagnana which is an incredibly beautiful, mountainous region and quite untouched by tourism. We had to walk the side of the mountains on little trails to reach tiny villages where folks were making cheeses, salumi, weaving, etc., in the way of the Old World. Erica lives there and it's only about an hour from Lucca; she has drivers to pick up guests. Anyway, I will be returning there as it was a very unique experience.

I agree with others about flying V. driving. Keep us posted!
Ciao,
Cheryl
www.italianexcursion.com

 

[ellen]

But, he said, we can keep our voucher/reso and just drive the car in to the Bari EuropeCar office and say we want to return it early and they will take it with no additional fees. Hope it works!

I've done that with AutoEurope rentals in Italy without issue. They require a three day rental, which is often less expensive than a one or two day directly from the agencies, so if I don't need the full three days I just return it early.

 

[jan]

Well, we have decided to extend the Trani stay to 5 nights because friends are meeting us and it's their preference.

Still want to fly from Bari to FLR and train to Lucca.
What do you all think will happen if I turn in the car on the "right" day--so, not early, but to a different city. Gotta call Auto Europe and ask.

We booked this apartment:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2251774?eluid=2&euid=1385f822-784c-3209-b87b-042477f75ebb
in Verona for the last 2 weeks.

Also, Jim--can you give me a link to your blog from a Trani stay? Thanks.

 

[jan]

Well, I have done some tweaking:

1 week Amsterdam
1 week Lecce
8 days, Matera, Trovigno, Trani and Bari.
2 weeks Lucca
4 days Piemonte (La Morra)
3 weeks Venice
1 week not totally settled but to include Mantova and Modena (to eat )
11 days Verona.

We added a one nighter in Bari because our flight is out of there at 9 at night and we wanted to spend time in town. If we stay in a hotel the night before (Oct 4) they will, I hope, hold our luggage, while we hang out.

And--After Venice, we still have 2 nights unbooked. We will have a car. I really want to go north to Asolo or Bassano and then we have booked 2 nights in Modena and 3 in Mantova.

So, that leaves only 11 nights in Verona at the end.

Hope this meets with all of you approvals!

 

[Pauline]

That sounds like a fabulous trip!