Italy, Here We Come!
ITINERARY
- Day 1 🛫 Fri. 04/10/26 CVG → LHR
- Day 2 🛫 Sat. 04/11/26 Arrive Naples Airport – Transfer to Sorrento
- 🏨 Grand Hotel Capodimonte (1/3)
- Day 3 🌅 Sun. 04/12/26 Sorrento
- 🏨 Grand Hotel Capodimonte (2/3)
- Day 4 🌅 Mon. 04/13/26 Sorrento
- 🏨 Grand Hotel Capodimonte (3/3)
- Day 5 🌅 Tue. 04/14/26 Ferry Amalfi Coast → Ischia
- Day 6 🌅 Wed. 04/15/26 Ischia
- Day 7 🌅 Thu. 04/16/26 Rome
- Day 8 🌅 Fri. 04/17/26 Rome
- Day 9 🌅 Sat. 04/18/26 Rome
- Day 10 🌅 Sun. 04/19/26 Rome
- Day 11 🌅 Mon. 04/20/26 Train to Florence area (Monteriggioni)
- 🏨 Hotel Monteriggioni (1/3)
- Day 12 🌅 Tue. 04/21/26 Monteriggioni
- 🏨 Hotel Monteriggioni (2/3)
- Day 13 🌅 Wed. 04/22/26 Monteriggioni
- 🏨 Hotel Monteriggioni (3/3)
- Day 14 🌅 Thu. 04/23/26 Florence
- 🏩 Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti (1/3)
- Day 15 🌅 Fri. 04/24/26 Florence
- 🏩 Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti (2/3)
- Day 16 🌅 Sat. 04/25/26 Florence
- 🏩 Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti (3/3)
- Day 17 🌅 Sun. 04/26/26 Depart Florence → CVG
💶 Currency Rate Calculator
🚅 Trenitalia – Travel Italy by Rail
Mobile Passport Control (MPC)
Day 1 🛫 Fri. 04/10/26 CVG → LHR
Cincinnati, OH (CVG) → London Heathrow (LHR)
BA0120 7:55 am – 10:04 am
London Heathrow (LHR) → Naples (NAP)
BA0121 5:10 pm – 10:00 am +1 day
Day 2 🛫 Sat. 04/11/26 Arrive Naples Airport – Transfer to Sorrento
Transfer from Naples Airport to Hotel
Private transfers: Taxi, Private Driver, or Welcome Pickups.
About 3–4 days prior to arrival, you will receive your driver’s details (photo, contact). Email/SMS updates continue until you meet at the gate. Drivers know exactly where to meet and handle delays.
Flight delayed? Notify them via the support bubble at this page.
🏨 Sorrento – Grand Hotel Capodimonte $1,090 (Booked)
Classic Double Balcony
A panoramic hillside retreat with cascading pools, sweeping sea views, and effortless access to Sorrento’s historic heart
Via Capo 15, Sorrento
Phone: +39 081 8784555
Expedia Reviews
Set above Marina Grande on Via Capo, Grand Hotel Capodimonte blends resort-style amenities with true walkability. Guests enter through a dramatic rock-cut passage before stepping into bright terraces, Mediterranean tilework, and iconic views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Five cascading pools flow down the hillside, creating a signature multi-level sun deck. Rooms are spacious and traditionally styled, many with sea-view balconies. Breakfast and aperitivo on panoramic terraces. The hotel’s restaurants and bars offer classic Neapolitan flavors with unforgettable views. Despite its elevated position, it’s just a 5–10 minute walk from Corso Italia and Piazza Tasso.
Option: 🏨 Hotel Il Faro – Sorrento $1,026
Superior Double Room, Balcony, Sea View
Rooms in a panoramic position with windows overlooking Vesuvius, the Gulf of Naples, and Sorrento’s tourist port. Includes breakfast and Wi-Fi.
Via Marina Piccola 5, Sorrento, NA
T. +39 081 8781390
Get directions | Expedia Reviews
Sorrento Lift
Marina Picola is an area close to the ferries that take you to the other towns along the coast.
You can take the road, or stairs to the town at the top of the cliffs. Or use the convenient Sorrento Lift for 2 euros, round trip. 🔗Click for more info.
Things to Do in Sorrento
A Complete Guide to Visiting Sorrento and the Sorrentine Peninsula
Visit Sorrento: 2026 Travel Guide for Sorrento, Campania | Expedia
Option: Pompeii Express Tour by Train
Meeting Time: 9:30 am
Meeting Point: Sorrento Train Station (Circumvesuviana) at the newsstand Edicola on ground floor (map).
Read more about – Pompeii Express Tour by Train from Sorrento
Option: Ferry to Amalfi and Visit to Ravello
Avoid the hassle of local trains and crowded Pompeii lines with this fast-track tour. Meet your assistant at Sorrento train station, board, and disembark just outside Pompeii. Skip the long line and enter directly with your guide for a two-hour visit to top villas, temples, and more before returning to Sorrento.
- Assistant provides train tickets and helps you board in Sorrento
- Priority admission to Pompeii with guide
- Focus on the most important ruins in the vast site
- Headsets provided for clear commentary
Capri Daily Boat Tour – 9 am
Meeting Point: Near Bar Ruccio Marina Piccola (map)
- Visit the Blue Grotto, Faraglioni, and other coastal highlights
- Dock for lunch on land (not included)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks and bottled water
- 3–4 hours free time to explore Capri
Skip crowded ferries with this boat tour to Capri departing directly from Sorrento. Skirt the Sorrentine Peninsula coastline, sail around Capri to see caves and rock formations, relax over lunch on the waterfront, and stop to swim/snorkel in clear waters.
Read more about – Capri Boat Daily Tours
To reach Capri town center from Marina Grande, the fastest way is the funicular (map), which climbs through lemon groves to the Piazzetta.
Walking Times on Capri
- Capri – Marina Grande: 15 min or less. Start at Piazzetta behind clock tower, follow port signage.
- Marina Grande – Capri: 30 min – steep uphill with steps (avoid with luggage).
- Capri – Marina Piccola: Not worth the bus – walk via Via Mulo stairs from Due Golfi.
- Anacapri – Marina Grande: 20 min via spectacular Scala Fenicia stairway from Axel Munthe’s Villa gardens (1,000 high steps – good fitness required).
- Capri – Anacapri: 1 hour – all uphill!
- Anacapri – Capri: 30 min – watch for shortcut staircases.
Need a Taxi on Capri?
- Taxi Anacapri, Piazza Vittoria – 081 8371175
- Taxi Capri, Piazza Martiri D’Ungheria – 081 8371175
- Radio Taxi Capri (24h) – 081 8370543
Day 3 🌅 Sun. 04/12/26
🏨 Grand Hotel Capodimonte (2 of 3)
Day 4 🌅 Mon. 04/13/26
🏨 Grand Hotel Capodimonte (3 of 3)
Day 5 🌅 Tue. 04/14/26 Ferry Amalfi Coast → Ischia
🏨 Hotel Terme Tritone Resort & Spa (1 of 2)
Known for extensive thermal facilities, multiple heated mineral pools, full spa, elegant rooms (many with balconies), and refined dining with fresh island cuisine.
🚤 How to Get to Ischia (Hotel Terme Tritone) from Sorrento
Ferry from Sorrento to Ischia
- Route: Sorrento → Ischia Porto
- Duration: ~1 hour
- Operators: Alilauro, Caremar (seasonal schedules)
- Departure point: Marina Piccola, Sorrento
- Arrival: Ischia Porto (main port of the island)
- From Ischia Porto to Hotel Terme Tritone: Once you arrive at the port, you have two easy options:
- 🚕 Taxi (recommended) – Time: ~15 minutes | Cost: Usually €20–€30. Tell the driver: “Hotel Terme Tritone, Forio – San Francesco Beach.”
Day 6 🌅 Wed. 04/15/26
🏨 Hotel Terme Tritone Resort & Spa (2 of 2)
Day 7 🌅 Thu. 04/16/26 Rome
🏨 Best Western Royal Santina (1/4)
- ⛴️ Ferry Ischia → Naples
- 🚅 Train Napoli Centrale → Roma Termini
If the weather is bad and you don’t wish to walk, there is a taxi stand just outside Roma Termini station. Use the official taxi queue at the end of the station. Make sure they use the meter and accept credit cards. If someone approaches you asking if you need a taxi, it is likely a scam! Wait at the official stands.
🏨 Best Western Premier Royal Santina
🏨 Best Western Royal Santina Rome
Booked: King Comfort Room $1672
- Check-in: from 2.00 p.m.
- Check-out: by 11.00 a.m.
- Breakfast: 6.30 – 10.30
- Via Marsala, 22 – 00185 – Rome (RM)
- Phone: +39 06 448751
- E-mail: royalsantina@rgrhotels.it
🌟 Just steps from Rome’s Termini Station, the Hotel Royal Santina offers 118 modern, elegantly designed rooms tailored for comfort and convenience in the heart of the Eternal City. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, you’ll enjoy thoughtful amenities like chromotherapy lighting, free Wi-Fi, 55” TVs, and a pillow menu for personalized rest. Choose from a range of accommodations—from cozy Small Rooms to spacious Junior Suites with private balconies and views of St. Peter’s Dome. The hotel also features fully accessible rooms and family-friendly options, ensuring every guest feels at home. Discover Rome with style and ease at Hotel Royal Santina.
Option: Hotel Flower Garden
The Flower Garden hotel is about a five-minute walk from the Termini Station. With the tracks at your back, exit the left side of the station.
Activities in Rome
Please review this collection of activities and contact me to book any that you wish to do. If you have other places you would like to visit, let me know.
Rome Attractions
- Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, The National Opera House and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli – 5 mins on foot
- Trendy district of Monti full of galleries, restaurants, bars and chic boutiques – 10 mins on foot
- The Trevi Fountain – 10/15 mins on foot or 1 stops on Metro Line A to “Barberini” from “Repubblica”
- The Spanish Steps and the designer shopping district – 2 stops on Metro Line A to “Spagna”
- The Coliseum & Imperial Roman Forum – 15 mins on foot or 2 stops on Metro Line B to “Colosseo” from Termini
- Basilica of St John Lateran & the Holy Stairs – 15 mins on foot or 3 stops on Metro Line A to “San Giovanni” from Termini
- Circus Maximus and the Bocca della Verita – 3 stops on Metro Line B to “Circo Massimo” from Termini
- The nightclubs of Testaccio – 4 stops on Metro Line B to “Piramide” from Termini
- Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese, the Borghese Gallery and shopping – 3 stops on Metro Line A to “Flaminio” from Repubblica
- The Basilica of St Peter, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – 5 stops on Metro Line A to “Ottaviano” from Repubblica
- The Basilica of St Paul – 6 stops on Metro Line B to “San Paulo” from Termini
🎟️ Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Tour
Meeting Point: Brastours Office
Via Santamaura, 28 (map)
Meet 15 minutes prior the departure time of 2:00 pm. No refunds will be issued to customers who are late and miss the tour.
Directions: Hotel to Vatican Museums.
Discover the priceless treasures in the Vatican’s art collection—and visit Vatican City’s most important landmarks—on this introductory tour. Upon arrival, skip the long lines and head right inside the Vatican Museums. See Michelangelo’s world-famous Sistine Chapel, venture to the Tapestries Gallery and other museum highlights, and then transfer to neighboring St. Peter’s Basilica. Headsets are included so you can hear your guide’s commentary clearly as you explore.
- Enjoy an introduction to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
- Save time when you skip the long lines and head right inside
- Discover Michelangelo’s iconic Sistine Chapel
- Small group ensures personalized attention from your guide
Read more about – Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Tour
The visit to the necropolis beneath the basilica, where the Tomb of Saint Peter is located, is a special privilege granted by the Fabbrica di San Pietro on a case-by-case basis, according to a designated schedule.
As the preservation of this historical and archaeological site is a priority, only approximately 250 visitors are allowed per day.
A request was made for tickets which are extremely limited. 🤞
Visiting the Trevi Fountain
Navigating the New Queue System (details)
Officials have implemented a structured queuing system to enhance the visitor experience. Visitors can access the fountain from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the last entry at 8:30 p.m. The number of visitors is capped at 400 at a time to prevent overcrowding.
On Mondays and Fridays, the fountain remains closed until noon for coin collection, and every other Monday, it opens at 2 p.m. for cleaning.
Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Tour
Meeting Point (map)
COLLE OPPIO PARK – VIA DELLE TERME DI TITO, CORNER OF VIA NICOLA SALVI, INSIDE THE PARK
Emergency phone number:
0039 06 474 2501 (6:30 AM – 8:00 PM)
0039 348 8112027 (Whatsapp only)
Passports are Mandatory
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are three of Rome’s most visited attractions, and this guided tour brings the ancient wonders to life. See where gladiators battled in the iconic Colosseum; discover ancient ruins in the Roman Forum and ascend to Palatine Hill for panoramic views of the Eternal City.
- Take in the views from Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome
- Explore inside the ancient Colosseum, where gladiator battles once took place
- Admire the UNESCO-listed ruins of the Roman Forum
🎟️ Castel Sant’Angelo with Reserved Tickets 9:00 am
Meeting Time: by 8:45 am (map)
Meeting Point: The exact meeting point is at the entrance of Castel Sant’Angelo. Their friendly staff will be easy to spot wearing purple “Crown Tours” shirts and waiting just under the angel statue at the castle entrance. Late arrivals may not be admitted.
Day 8 🌅 Fri. 04/17/26 Rome
🏨 Best Western Premier Royal Santina (2/4)
Day 9 🌅 Sat. 04/18/26 Rome
🏨 Best Western Premier Royal Santina (3/4)
Day 10 🌅 Sun. 04/19/26 Rome
🏨 Best Western Premier Royal Santina (4/4)
Lunch or Dinner Near the Pantheon
Bistro Tabaccheria di Rienzo (map)
Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice 2024
(review)
Stop and enjoy the food, and the service. Tell Luigi that Vincenco from Cincinnati sent you and said hello!
And if you need WiFi, Luige has it!
SSID: Caffe Di Rienzo Guest
PWD: bistropantheon
Day 11 🌅 Mon. 04/20/26
Train to Florence area to rent a a car to Monteriggioni or drive from Rome
Click here for my post on Monteriggioni
Classic Double Room $1149 (Booked)
Hotel Monteriggioni is the only hotel located within the Medieval Fortress of Monteriggioni—an extraordinary setting with centuries of history at its doorstep.
With just 11 romantic rooms, the hotel offers an intimate retreat immersed in charm, only a short drive from Siena and Florence. Each Classic Double/Twin room has its own unique character and is situated on either the ground, first, or second floor. Antique furnishings, refined fabrics, exposed wooden beams, and traditional Tuscan terracotta floors enhance the atmosphere of this historic residence nestled among the rolling Sienese hills.
Day 12 🌅 Tue. 04/21/26 Monteriggioni
Day 13 🌅 Wed. 04/22/26 Monteriggioni
Day 14 🌅 Thu. 04/23/26 Florence (Night 1 of 3)
Loggiato dei Serviti (booked) $1,290
This upscale hotel in a 16th-century structure facing a square is a 3-minute walk from the Accademia Gallery, a 7-minute walk from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Breakfast included.
The elegant rooms offer period furniture, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and desks. They also come with minibars.
Breakfast is served in a casual dining room. Other amenities include a low-key bar, a TV room and a lobby lounge.
Other Options in Florence
Grand Hotel Baglioni, Florence
Piazza dell’Unità Italiana 6, Florence, Italy, 50123
Phone +39 055 23580
Facebook Reels: Breakfast
