hwatson

My friend and I are landing in Rome in mid-June and leaving from Paris mid-July (roughly 28 Days/27 nights). As two females in our 20s, inexperienced with Europe, some travel advice would be great!

We're backpacking, have nothing booked except our first accommodation in Rome(which we can change up until the day before we leave) and we're going with the flow from there. We're unsure of how to order the major places we're visiting because we are travelling by train and are unsure of the most logical order to visit each destination point without unnecessary back-and-forth travel (There is a bit of east to west back and forth right now). This is our very loose and flexible itinerary:

Rome: 7 nights in Rome = 6 days in Rome with a mid-week day trip to Pompeii? We may cut a day short of Rome and move onto Florence early. Alternative option is spending 4 or 5 nights in Rome and the rest in Amalfi coast? ideas?

Pompeii/Amalfi coast: We were planning to take a day trip from Rome to see Pompeii and the Amalfi coast, but is it possible to accomplish this in one day? If not, our next option is keeping our relatively inexpensive hotel in Rome to store our luggage and spending a night in the Amalfi coast. Then we would make our way back to Rome, finish our visit and move on North.

Florence/Tuscany: 4 nights = 3 full days in Florence because of travel time the day we arrive and the day we leave. Also hoping for a day trip to Pisa at some point?

Rimini: 2 nights = 1 full day in Rimini for the beaches and the evenings saved for night life

Cinqueterre: 3 nights = 2 full days in Cinqueterre to explore the 5 towns with a little wiggle room the night before and the morning we depart.

Venice: 2 nights = 1 full day in Venice and leave early the next day for a trip to Milan

Milan: 1 Day (might just spend a day in Milan as our last stop in Italy and not sleepover, heading straight for Nice in the evening? Or Option 2 would be leaving Venice a day early or cutting Nice a day short for a night/full day in Milan)

Nice: 5 nights = 4 full days in Nice

Aix-en-Provence: Just a day trip/stop-over point on our way from Nice to Paris

Paris: 4 nights = 3 full days in Paris


Other tips we're looking for: What is the best way to travel to/through the Amalfi coast?
Keeping in mind we're on a budget, does anyone have accommodation suggestions in Florence, Venice, Milan, Paris? Any other recommendations please send them our way!

nytraveler

A day trip from Rome to Pompeii and the AC is not possible. You could do JUST Pompeii if you take a very early train - but not get to the AC too - which would require yet another train ride and then a painfully slow bus on the coast road.

I would spend a couple of nights in Sorrento - with one day at Pompeii (again EARLY in the day since there is no shade and it gets hellishly hot - bring water and a hat or umbrella) and then spend the afternoon in your hotel pool. The next day you can hope the bus down the coast to see a couple of the quaint towns - or take a ferry or hydrofoil to Capri.

I would bag Milan (a business city) and stay at least another day in Venice.

As for accommodations - you really need to give a specific amount in euros and what you expect/are willing to give up. Are private bath, AC and elevator absolute necessities? And I assume you can share one double bed - which is the usualconfiguration in europe.

hwatson

Great, thanks! We will definitely look into Sorrento.

In terms of a budget for nightly accommodation, we're hoping to not exceed 40 Euros EACH (so 80 euros for a room a night is a maximum). A preferred amount would be 50-70 euros a night for a private room, on a regular basis. We're aware that we have to sacrifice some luxuries, and spend a little more in certain cases when we can't book a cheaper place, but AC and private rooms (with or without private bathroom) are priorities. Sharing a double bed is fine, we're not picky except for having our own room which is a must.

bobthenavigator

Rimini to the CT makes no sense---too far.
See one coast, not both.

HappyTrvlr

You are short changing Venice, add more time there .

Judy

I would be surprised if you can find rooms with AC at that price. I'd certainly research to see what is available. It sounds like you want to be flexible but finding what you want may be a challenge and better booked ahead than to be disappointed when you get somewhere.

hwatson

We have places we want to see in both Rimini and CT, so we're going to make it happen somehow .

Would it make more sense to go Rome > Amalfi coast > Florence > Rimini > Venice > Milan > Cinqueterre > Nice > Provence > Paris ? That way its a little more of a circle as opposed to such a harsh coast to coast travel?

bilboburgler

Milan is not wonderful but there are a few sites you might like there. I'd drop it. I'd also drop Amalfi coast at this time of the year (wall to wall tourist buses). Venice booking is critical. Venice itself is the place to visit. With your money you may struggle to find anywhere in the Lagoon. I only occasionally recommend staying in Mestre (which is a lot cheaper) and is only one bus or train jump to the lagoon. If you take that idea up try to spend at least one early morning and one late night on the Lagoon just to see how the place changes.

Sassafrass

Cut Milan altogether unless the cathedral has special appeal, you want high end shopping or you have tickets to see The Last Supper. If none of those, then use the time for another place.

From Florence, you could visit Pisa on the way to the CT, perhaps even Pisa in the morning and Lucca in the afternoon before continuing on to the CT for the night.

Consider getting a cheap flight from Venice to Nice.

Aix is lovely, lots of college age students living there and a great place to spend a night. Try airbnb for an apartment there.
You might want to take the train from Aix to Arles (then bus to Les Baux or St Remy for an afternoon from Arles) and catch the TGV to Paris from Avignon.

If you cut Rimini, skipped Milan and took a day from Nice, you could spend some time in Provence or another place in France. Many other options for the use of that time.

If Rimini was only for the beach, there are a couple of popular beaches not far from Rome where lots of locals go and the Lido in Venice. It may not be world class, by Caribbean standards, but it is pretty and you could easily spend an afternoon there.

Do allow at least two full days, if not three, for the AC.

Rooms with AC at that rate are going to be really tough to find, I think, especially in Venice, Nice and Sorrento. You might have to pick places with easy, cheap day trips as a base or cut the trip shorter by a few days to up the money for lodging.

hwatson

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input. Keep the advice coming!

We're willing to cut out Milan, but we have friends in Rimini and are dying to see Cinqueterre so we don't mind spending a little extra time and money to make it happen. Trying to figure the most efficient way is proving to be a bit difficult.

Aix-en-Provence is something we're interested in, perhaps we could cut a day out of Nice and spend a night or two there.

Venice is a must-see, but if we can't find a place within reason we have to cut it short unfortunately. If it's a little outside of our budget we can splurge for part of the trip, but it would limit other spending, so were ironing out priorities for that portion.

If AC is difficult to come by with our budget I guess we settle without and see how it goes...

nytraveler

I fear that with your budget you are going to have to give up AC and possibly also private bath - unless you are willing to stay fairly far from the center of the city.

I would spend more money on hotel to be able to be in the center - and not spend a lot of time and money traveling back and forth from the suburbs every day.

But I am not an expert on super budget hotels. You might look at eurocheapo.com and other discount sites. But do check the location very carefully - some they list as being IN the city are really in another time outside.

Sassafrass

In Aix and in Sorrento, check out airbnb for an apartment. Most do require two nights and watch for the booking fee. That can add up and negate your savings.

Since Rimini is a must, consider visiting only one coastal area, either the AC or the CT. Perhaps your friends in Rimini could meet you somewhere, or are you staying with them, so saving on hotels for a couple of nights?

kybourbon

I'm very surprised you found somewhere in Rome with AC for 80€. I'm concerned it won't be in a convenient location.

One night on the Amalfi coast is pretty useless. It would involve several hours travel down there, spend the night and then several hours traveling back. No full sightseeing day. Even two nights on the coast aren't really enough to do much at all, but better than one.

It's not impossible to see the coast on a day trip. It just makes for a very long day. You would take the train from Rome to Salerno (at the southern end of the coast). There you catch the Sita bus to Amalfi (takes about one hour). Visit Amalfi, catch the Sita bus to Sorrento (the bus travels along the coast and passes Positano). Takes another hour or so. In Sorrento you would catch the local train to Naples and then the train back to Rome. If you had tons of energy (and still some time), you could stop off at Pompeii (between Sorrento/Naples) for a couple of hours. It will be very hot in Pompeii (no shade).

I would drop a couple of nights in Rome and a night in the CT. I would also drop Milan.

You will find big cities much more expensive than small towns (not counting big tourist attraction areas such as CT).

There are some convents and hostels in Venice which are in your budget (below your budget), but I doubt they have AC (perhaps fans). Here's one example (I have a longer list if you are interested).

http://www.ostellosantafosca.it/oste...Home_Page.html

There's a convent/hotel in Siena in your budget with AC, but it's not on your list.

http://www.hotelalmadomus.it/

The thing about winging it with no reservations in high season, you will find the cheaper, better places already booked including many hostels.

I've stayed in these apartments (have AC) in Florence (about a 15 minute walk from the train station, but you can also take a bus). If you click their special offers and then select July, you will see they have quite a few days discounted in July for 79€. There is a laundry mat down the street and a small grocery.

http://www.residenzailcarmine.com/i_6.htm

BellaIzabella

We were in Italy last year for 3 weeks. We flew into rome and took a train straight to florence and started from there. Took a train to Naples and derry to capri. Our last stop was back in rome and flew out from there. We are going to France in July for 3 weeks but since you ate doing both in a single trip here is what i would do: (keep in mind last year was our first trip to europe, so i know its hard to plan)

fly into rome and take a train directly to naples. From there head to an amalfi coast town(poditano or sorrento). Take a day trip to Capri. Use another day to explore. Use a third day to do a day trip to pompeii. The next day head to rome and spend a few days there. From rome gead to florence. I highly recomend a vespa tour in the country. Viator.com has an amazing one that lasts almost all day. It will be one of the best tours you do. From flirence head to Cinque Terre. From there since you will already be closer to the south of france, head to nice. Stay in Nice for a few days and rent a car to drive to Aix. Explore the region for a few days driving around. One tour we are doing is a truffle tour. Visit some wineries and lavendar fields. Drop off your car in Avignon and take a train to Paris. Depart home from Paris.

This way you are not back tracking at sll except on the day you arrive. You will alsosave money thisway working your way in a single direction.

I would recomnend apartments vs hotels. This will also save you money. Go to markets and stock up the fridge and make your own breakfast and you will also have stufffor snacking. For example we rented an apartment near the Arno in Florence for $400 for 6 nights. If you spent that money on a hotel for 6 nights, you will be ver disatisfied. Another example we rented a room in a farm house on a vinyard near Aix en provence for $300 for 4 nights(breakfast included). Then we rented another in Velleron in Provence for 3 nights for $230. In Paris our apartment is $800 for 7 nights. We only splurged in Nice spending $2100 for 5 nights.

Viator.com
Housetrip.com
Bedandbreakfast.com - searce by country

BellaIzabella

Oh one more thing. You can do a day trip to venice frim Florence. Many people advised againts it and suggested to spend a night there, but it wss totally doable. We left at 9am and returned to florence at 7

hwatson

I think we've decided to shorten Rome, spend a few days in the Amalfi coast and try our best to go with the flow by train to get everything else done.

Thanks for all of the help and recommendations, I took note of everything, going to finish researching and it will all come together