runforfun

Hello! I am a early 20's US female and have never before been to Europe. I'll be in Italy from Sept. 8-18, flight is already booked. Budget is about ~$600-800 USD for the trip. I speak no Italian but am fluent in English and Spanish. My interests are: smaller towns, oceans, walking everywhere, possibly hiking/trails if possible, culture/Vatican City. I don't really care much about actual art museums or shopping but I do like architecture and I like seeing legitimate/off-the-beaten-path culture. This is a short trip, I know, but I'm trying to figure out how to plan it so I get the most out of it without feeling rushed.

Sept 8: Arrive in Rome 8am

Sept 18: Leave Rome 6am.

Thoughts on where to travel?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

yorkshire

Does your budget include lodging? Granted my hostel days are long behind me, but that still seems tight. I'd start by looking into accommodations.
It may be helpful to add how many days you wish to spend in Rome. Beyond that, the options are so numerous it is hard to venture a guess.

runforfun

I've narrowed it down a bit and want to incorporate hiking into my trip. Here's my thought:

Main question - how will the hiking be in September? Is it safe for a single female who doesn't speak Italian? Thank you.

Arrive in Rome 8am Sept. 8

Sep 8: Stay in Rome

9: Rome

10: Rome

11: Travel to Cinque Terre

12: Cinque Terre Hiking

13: Cinque Terre

14: Travel to Venice

15: Venice

16: Venice

17: Travel to Rome

18: Leave Rome 4am -- flight leaves at 6:50ma

tonfromleiden

Your budget is indeed very limited. USD 800 is around EUR 70 per day, out of which you have to pay for lodging, eating, local travelling and the occasional entry tickets.
Flying in and out of Rome adds to the cost (and eats in your limited time). Try to find flights into Venice and out of Rome or vice versa.
I'm a little bit amazed finding Cinque Terre on your list. It's very much a beaten path, more suited for those taking a cruise than for someone of your age and with your independence.
Some years ago I have done some nice walking between those hilltowns in Tuscany, such as Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano.
And don't worry about your being a solo female traveller. Tens of thousands do it every year, without any harm.

PalenQ

Budget is about ~$600-800 USD for the trip.>

per day? No way for the whole trip not even counting air fare.

Taking trains? You should if traveling solo and going to those car-unfriendly places - check www.trenitalia.com for fares and discounts if you book far in advance- for lots on Italian trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com- latter has good info on discounted tickets.

I'd take a day of the Cinque Terre and put it in Rome or even stop by Florence for a day's look. If weather is wet - as can be then hiking is a wash-out and there is not much there there in those small even at that time heavily touristed small towns.

runforfun

I already booked the flight so 800 is for room/board/transportation within Italy.

Ok, thanks for the advice, I'm thinking I will book air bnb and train tickets far in advance to get those discounts.

Very good to know. Is there a nature-y area or small town area you would recommend other than Cinque Terre?

RonZ

For lodging, search hostels on booking.com. The site is known for its system of guest ratings. Cinque Terre is an overly popular resort area and cheap rooms will be hard to find. To save $$ on transportation you may wish to find places closer to Rome.

Lotsa info here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Italy

Train tickets here using italian city names [general info on themaninseat61.com].

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

Kathie

I think you will need to augment your budget in order for this to work. Right now you are expecting to live on US$80/70 Euro per day all in - lodging, food, transport, admissions. You might be able to do that staying in hostels, but unlikely in AirBNB. And take a look at what your train tickets will cost. You could save some money by staying close to Rome, so you don't have that long train ride from Venice, but even then...

Good luck to you.

RonZ

Orvieto [my favorite town in Umbria] from the Termini station in Rome takes about an hour. If choosing this area I would head there directly, stay in Rome last.

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...ly-on-a-budget

annhig

no idea how you're going to stay within that budget but IMO the first thing you should do is to put your stay in Rome at the end of the trip so you don't break up your time there; it's more efficient cost and time-wise.

use your first day when you land to travel to your furthest destination e.g. Venice, and work back to Rome. That said, Venice is one of the most expensive places in Italy; if you want to stick with that budget, you'll need to think of places which are less popular with foreign tourists. Why not look at a few guide books or on-line guides for ideas? [where is Zeppole when you need her?]

yorkshire

Cinque Terre is among the most popular areas for hiking -- though I don't think a lot of the tourists who visit necessarily do any hiking. It is very pretty but very crowded. The convenience is really tempting because of the train line. Portofino national park is along the coast and easy to get to. Somewhere like Elba might be a possibility.

runforfun

Alright... thank you for the feedback. What of this for a plan?

Italy Itinerary:

Arrive in Rome 8am Sept. 8

Sep 9: Travel to Naples via high speeded train 23 dollars

10: Naples

11: Naples to Amalfi Coast (Positano)

12: Hike Amalfi Coast (stay a different place)

13: Hike Amalfi Coast (stay a new place)

14: Make way back to Positano, stay overnight

15: Travel back to Rome in AM

16: Rome

17: Rome

18: Leave Rome 4am -- flight leaves at 6:50am

Questions: Best/cheapest way to get from Amalfi Coast to Rome?

Blueeyedcod

The Amalfi Coast is small and the hiking is day trips. You'd be best to base yourself in one place.
Nocelle is budget friendly as it's high above Positano and doesn't have the beach access - it does have a half hourly bus down to Positano.

To get between the Amalfi Coast and Rome on a budget like yours, the cheapest way is train to Naples make a connection with a train to Sorrento and then take the bus to Positano. I would suggest the Salerno/ferry route but the ferry from Salerno to Positano is 18 euro - and there goes a chunk of your daily budget.

I think you're grossly under estimating how much money you will need.

Sassafrass

Look at Hostel Brikette in Positano. You do have to stay two nights minimum. I have not seen it or stayed there, but it seems a good rate. Go to Lonely Planet website for more help with your budget and lodging.

yorkshire

Not sure about your budget and Positano, but in the smaller towns it is certainly possible to get great accommodations for unbelievably low prices.

annhig

The rough Guide to Italy would also be a good place to look for cheap accommodation.

you could also have a look here:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree

runforfun

So I was able to book air bnbs for the above dates (all with extensive good reviews) for a total of 350 dollars including taxes. You would be surprised how cheap air bnbs can be! I will be staying 4 nights in Scala and using that as a base to hike as much as possible throughout the Amalfi coast. Any advice on transportation would be fantastic. Most likely I will combine hiking with uber/public transport as needed.

nytraveler

I'm sorry to be discouraging but your budget just will not cover your costs unless you rely on free lodging (couchsurfing). I think if you do a little research you will find that even hostels and picnics with food from markets or a slice for every meal will be beyond your budget. Never mind trains between cities, any transit within cities and entrance to any sights. Even if you limit yourself to 1 or 2 sights in each city I think you will run out of money.

You really need to get online and see the costs of things - and how little 70 euros per day will buy you:

One night in a bed in a hostel dorm room (6 women): 30 euros
Entrance to Coloseum/Forum: 16 euros
Meals (Bkfst 4 euros, Lunch 5 euros, dinner 8 euros - total 19 euros)

This is 65 euros - and doesn't even leave you enough to buy an ice cream

And on the day you take a train - at 20 or 25 euros - then what do you do?

kybourbon

>>>Sep 9: Travel to Naples via high speeded train 23 dollars<<<

That is only for Rome to Naples and is it $23 or 23€? If 23€ at today's exchange rate it will be $26.55. You didn't factor in the trip from the airport to Rome Termini train station either. The Leonardo Express train from the airport is 14€, but you could also take the Sitbusshuttle which is about 6€.

If you are 18-25 (and interested in seeing a few sites), look into getting the Campania Artecard Tutta La Regione (available in Naples train station - tourist office where the shops are located) - Young Person version for 25€. It's good for 3 days and gets you into these sites free:

Castel Sant'Elmo
Certosa e Museo di San Martino
Città della Scienza
MADRE_Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina Napoli
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
Museo Civico di Castel Nuovo
Museo Diocesano di Napoli
Museo Duca di Martina
Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte
Museo Pignatelli Cortes
Palazzo Reale di Napoli

Campi Flegrei Circuit
Anfiteatro Flavio
Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei nel Castello di Baia
Parco Archeologico di Baia
Parco Archeologico di Cuma

Scavi di Boscoreale ed Antiquarium
Scavi di Ercolano
Scavi di Oplontis
Scavi di Pompei

Caserta e Antica Capuai Circuit
Anfiteatro Campano
Mitreo
Museo Archeologico dell’Antica Capua
Museo dei Gladiatori
Reggia di Caserta

Paestum Circuit
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum
Parco Archeologico di Paestum

Certosa San Lorenzo - Padula
Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta
Parco Archeologico di Elea Velia

50% off entry to these sites:

Catacombe di Napoli: San Gaudioso
Catacombe di Napoli: San Gennaro
Fondazione PLART - Plastiche e Arte
Galleria Borbonica
MAV - Museo Archeologico Virtuale
MEMUS - Museo e Archivio Storico del Teatro di San Carlo
Museo ARCA – Arte Religiosa Contemporanea (Santa Maria La Nova)
Museo Civico Gaetano Filangieri
Museo del Corallo Ascione
Museo del Mare di Napoli
Pio Monte della Misericordia
Polo Museale Suor Orsola Benincasa
Sala degli Arredi Sacri - Basilica di San Domenico Maggiore
Teatro San Carlo - Visita guidata

Ravello Circuit
Villa Rufolo
Villa Cimbrone
Museo del Duomo
Auditorium
Scavi del Monastero della SS. Trinità

It also gets you transport from Naples (and in Naples) along the coast for the 3 days (not Trenitalia trains though).

**on the UNICOCAMPANIA public transport system throughout the Campania region, using road transport (buses, trolleybuses); and rail and cable transport (Metro Line, funiculars, trams, Circumflegrea, Cumana and Circumvesuviana trains).***

If you are over 25, look at the Artecard Tutta La Regione 3 days for 32€. It has similar benefits (transport/entrances), but only 2 free entries and then discounts after that. The 7 day card does not include transport.

Blueeyedcod

Scala is an awesome place to stay. It is on the SITA bus route between Amalfi and Ravello.
Just bear in mind it is not a touristy village so things close between 3pm and 7pm - you'll be lucky to find somewhere to buy a sandwich.

http://www.cntraveller.com/recommend.../ravello-scala