All -

I am planning our honeymoon to Italy and I would like some input. We are planning on leaving Sept 26 and returning Oct 7 or 8 (these dates are flexible).

I have Starwood points and would like to use them for hotel stays - not transfer them to airline points.

Having said that, does anyone have any recommendations for credit card deals (or other deals) that could get two of us from Minneapolis to somewhere in Italy at the end of Sept?

We would like to travel to Venice, Florence and Rome but don't care where we fly in to.

Thanks!

Anything for a fellow St. Paulan. Mrs. Ispolkom and I will be traveling to Italy next fall on frequent-flyer miles. The best deals we found were on American Airlines. If you're willing to travel after October 15 you can get a round trip MSP-ORD-FCO for 40k miles, or at least you could when I booked a couple of weeks ago. Business class can be had (though availability is much less) for 50k miles each way.

American Airlines has offered pretty generous bonuses for their credit cards (we got in on the recent 75k one), so 80k miles would be quite doable, I'd think.

I can't remember ever traveling on American, so I make no claims about service or their suitability for a honeymoon.

Check out the 75k American Airlines credit card offer. Sign up for both personals each (same day) and you'll each have 150k miles (aka enough for F class round trip US-Europe).

I say the same thing, but do it fast before award seats are gone.

I can say the Grand Hotel in Florence is an SPG hotel and a great one to stay at. And its a mere 20k a night

I just came back from Italy a couple of days ago... I used SPG points to stay at the Westin Excelsior in Rome. Beautiful 5 star hotel in an awesome, upscale area (Via Veneto)!

I'd definitely recommend it for a special occasion; it's 12K points per night, which seemed like a pretty good deal for a quality hotel.

I was in Italy for over a month this past summer. Let me hand you some great tips.. I'm guessing you want this to be Romantic so lets go undercover and not just touristy locations visiting Museum etc....

Most likely arrival place is Milan. Optimal place is if you can arrive in Rome which will be the most easiest. You may buy a mileage award ticket to city like Paris CDG or Madrid MAD because these are easier. Get an EasyJet or RyanAir ticket to Rome.

If you arrive in Milan, switch to Venice first, then Tuscany, then Rome.

Not many tips for Rome from me, but you will need to take the TrenItalia to Florence. In Rome I'd spend 3 full days including 1 for Vatican City.

Then... I would definitely stay in Tuscany area at least 5 days. This can be 5 nights in Florence... or if you are feeling a little adventurous to spend more, you can sleep in the exclusive cities that I will name...

Take 2 full days in Florence. You need to visit for sure the Boboli Gardens and have at least 4 hours there. There is beautiful view and secluded places for romantic moments there. Also go to Piazzale Michelangelo for awesome view of Florence.

3rd day in Tuscany. Chianti. The famous vineyards... Is your wife adventurous/fit? If so, I strongly suggest Hiking and Wine Tasting in Chianti. The company FlorenceForFun tours in Florence provides a wonderful tour that I went on. It is a good hike and will leave both of you sweaty sexy. Then lunch and A LOT of Wine Tasting! ...If you want to go all out get a hotel in the Chianti. In the small town Panzano in Chianti. If she is not fit, then I don't know, they also have tours with those things on 2 wheels that you stand on and lean forward... mental block...!!

4th day in Tuscany. If you decided to keep your base in Florence, great you won't need to be moving hotels again. Cinque Terre. Search for this place on Google. I did not get a chance to go, but I saw many many pictures from my friends who went. It is amazing. And they also LOVED it! It is classic Italian place! It is a beach town so you can go for a dip if that is what you guys enjoy. You can take the train from Florence and just spend the day. Do a lot of research on it so you do not get lost. You can take a tour but less flexibility/romantic moments. You can also get a hotel there in Cinque Terre.

5th day in Tuscany. I can suggest a nice Beach if you guys are into Beaches.... Otherwise, final day in Florence to calm down and party hard before leaving for Venice.

After this you can take TrenItalia to Venice. Venice is a nice place. Unfortunately it rained when I was there. 1 FULL DAY is more than enough in Venice.


More Florence Tips
Osteria del Gatto. Make sure to go there to eat. Its is a nice restaurant not too pricey but very very clean atmosphere. About 25 euros a person.

After you eat dinner there, prepare for the best night life of Florence. Insider tips here we go...I know you want to have fun!... SALAMANCA. which stays on Via Ghibellina with Via dei Pepi. If he's there, ask Stefano for a Chupa-me-la-Pinga. Its his specialty. -- Also try a Negroni. Its the standard Florence drink and was invented in Florence. Very strong. Drinks are 5 euros here, range to 8 at other places.

After Salamanca head over to the chic lounge for a quick snack. OIBO. It is a 5 minute walk towards the Arno River on Via Giuseppe Verdi. Right on Piazza Santa Croce. Your gonna be on a busy road, a lot of partying going on. Ignore it all and go for the snack and cup of wine in MOYO. You won't be disappointed.

After OIBO you guys will be feeling GREAT so keep walking down the road towards the partying/Arno river. There is a KARAOKE place. It will be on your RIGHT; walking towards the river. A large crowd outside, red entrance. Have fun there.

Thats it for night life in Florence. That should be enough for you guys... Now also, Italy will be a bit chilly come this time. Check the history weather so you know how to pack.

Will post more if I think of anything... feel free to ask!

If you're flying into or out of Milan anyway, don't you dare miss out on a night or three in the town of Varenna on Lake Como, only 1hr by train north of Milan. YOU WILL NOT FIND A MORE ROMANTIC PLACE TO SPEND YOUR HONEYMOON :-:

Best place to stay: Albergo Milano. Be sure to book the frontal lakeview room with terrace, and book it as soon as you can because they get snapped up 6+months in advance. Egidio, the owner, is also the chef of their restaurant, which is superb. Be sure to check out their honeymoon package, it's lovely.

Photos from our stay there: Varenna/Lake Como on Flickr