vjose

Good day.

This is our first visit to Italy.(We are no expert nor seasoned travelers)

We are a family of 4 Adults and 3 kids (aged 3, 4 and 9) will be in Rome till 29th of July(7 days). We would be heading to Venice for 2 days. Should we make it 3 days?

What is the best way to reach Venice(of course with out paying over the roof)? I guess train is the answer. Should we get the tickets in advance.

We are hoping to find an accommodation (B&B, Apt or Hotel) under 300EUR. Do you think it is realistic or need to revisit the budget (have some flexibility). Which areas are better in terms of less crowd and walkable distance.

Any suggestion on B&B, Apt or hotel will be very helpful.(some of my search for B&B was unsuccessful)

The other concern is the activities and places to visit other than San Marco(should we avoid it during days times). Any suggestions/help on these too would be great.

At the end of our visit we are thinking of renting a Van/Car(7 Seater) to visit Padua and then to Tuscany for 4 days.(I will open another topic on Tuscany/Florence)

Thanks in advance

vjose

ttt (Helping myself)

Rubicund

A week in Rome would be a bit too long for me, 4/5 days would be enough. On the other hand 2 days in Venice is nowhere near long enough IMHO and I'd transfer the time across.

Train is definitely the way to go and the train experts on here will help you out, but see www.trenitalia.com for routes and fares. Check www.venere.com for accommodation. Is your €300 for the two days per room or per room per night?

vjose

Thanks Rubicund.

I am hoping to find accommodation for 300EUR per night(for all). Sound like not quite possible. Will check out Venere.


My Italy plans in terms of days are

Rome 7 days (arriving from Lourdes - Toulouse)
Venice 2/3 days (train from Rome)
Tuscany 3/4 days (Rent a car from Venice)

Is I am backtracking too much?


then some how I would need to reach Wengen in Switzerland.

Pepper_von_snoot

For Venice, you can go to the website of Oceano Mare B&B to send them an email about renting one of their apartments.

I don't know the cost nor do I know if they have anything to accommodate 7 people.

You had better get moving. You don't have much time.

You can not take a car up to Wengen, by the way. It is a car-free town.

Thin

catherinehaas

With that budget and size of the family, I would look into renting an apartment. Maybe not right in Venice but close depending on the availability and funds.

You are backtracking way too much. I would do the "tourist trek" of Rome/Florence/Venice. There is no reason to go past Florence to go to Venice and end up in Switzerland. I would take the train, if possible, from Venice/Milan/Interlaken/Wengen.

I would also not spend 7 days in Rome.

Rome 5 days (you will not see it all so no need to try and pack it all in)
Florence/Tuscany 5 days (renting a car and returning it before going to Venice)
Venice 4 days

JoanneH

Try Al Campaniel web site is: http://alcampaniel.tripod.com/
Close by the San Toma stop like 3 min to B&B. Its simple, clean, decent breakfast, great access to all the high spots within walking distances or via water bus.

vjose

Thanks for all of your valuable suggestions and help.

Pepper_von_snoot, Oceano Mare B&B is not available for our dates.

catherinehaas, will do the "Tourist Trek" and accordingly it will be Rome,Florence and Venice.

We want to take it easy in Rome that's the reason for 7 days,(giving enough time for little ones) even if we rush it would be weekend.

New plan is
Rome - 7days(22nd to 29th July)
Florence - 3 days (29th to 2nd August)
Venice - 3 days(2nd to 5th August)

JoanneH, thanks for the link, they too are not available dates.


I do have flexibility on our budget(Max I could Double it- 600EUr per day). Is this going to help in finding a place in the Venice it self.

Our first preference is Apartment (so the Kitchen can used for Kids special needs -such as milk, boiled water etc-) then B&B and at the end a hotel.

Jean

You may have to pick up the 7-passenger van at the Rome airport. If you're not bringing child car seats, you'll need to make arrangements for those.

http://www.autoeurope.com/go/auto-eu...nal-equipment/

I wouldn't stay IN Florence, especially if you intend to go there by car. I would look for a property in Tuscany with a pool in an area with some sightseeing options nearby. Explore a little in the morning, have lunch somewhere, and then return to the lodging to rest during the heat of the day. Explore a little more in the late afternoon, have dinner somewhere, and return to the lodging. Keep the van until you reach Venice and turn it in on arrival. You can make a short stop in Padova on the way.

Venice to Wengen by train would be an all-day (8 hours) trek involving at least 4 connections. Do you want to do this in one shot or stop somewhere approx. halfway?

vjose

Forget to add earlier.

Which are the area we should look at for Venice stay. Santa Croce,San Marco, Cannaregio or Castello.

vjose

Jean, Thanks for that. We will pick up a van from Florence train station as we plan to rent it once we leave from Rome.

I was thinking to give it back once we are done with Tusacany and then catch a train to venice. However would consider your suggestion on taking it up to Venice(definitely want to stop by Padova)But I though Venice is almost car free.

Do you have any suggestions on Tusacany stay.Being First timers we would like to get to Pisa and take that ultimate photo of holding up the leaning tower.

8 hours - Venice to Wengen going to be an issue, what about a 1 day break in Lugano. does that make any sense.

julies

Look at VRBO or Air B&B or OwnersDirect or Homeaway or Truly Venice to see if you can find an apartment for 7. We left Venice this morning after a week there in an apartment in Castello. Honestly, anywhere within about 5 blocks of St. Marks' is an absolute zoo and full of people during the day. This was May, so I can't imagine what it will be like in August. Staying in or exclusively visiting the St, Mark's area does not at all give you any idea of how truly lovely Venice can be.

I'd look in Castello or Cannereggio for a place near a large campo where families hang out. This would be a nice place for kids to run around a bit with all of the local kids.

vjose

Julies, thanks . I would keep your suggestions while searching for an apartment.

If you don't mind, can you share the place you stayed since you know the fine details. Further the activities to do/place to visit while in Venice.

Pepper_von_snoot

San Marco is what I call the tsunami area of Venice.

So many tourist that you will feel like you are being carried away by a tsunami.

Ocean b/b is near Arsenale, very quiet area of Venice.

Cannereggio is quiet if you are away from the Lista di Spagna.

Jewish ghetto to Madonna dell'Orto is quiet.

Santa Croce and San Polo can be quiet, it
depends where you are.

Castello/Via Garibaldi area is very nice and close to the public gardens.


Good luck with Venice booking anything at this late date.

Have you tried Expedia? Trip Advisor? Kayak?


Thin

tuscanlifeedit

Do a search here for Venice apartments. Even if you don't find a specific apartment, you will see recommended agencies.

Also try slowtrav.com for recommended apartments in each city.

I have found some good B&B recs on venere.com

vjose

Pepper_von_snoot & tuscanlifeedit . Many Thanks, will check on it.

Finally, I got an offer from Residence Corte Nova
via castello 2869/a - 30122 Venezia. www.residencecortenova.com

It is in Castello, Is this any good

vjose

Few more selections

This one is cheaper
http://veniceapartments.org/rialto_1...gritti_38.html

I like this one, which is close to San Marco
http://www.trulyveniceapartments.com...ngelo-raffaele

This one looks good too
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/venice/s...0805&numPers=6

Kindly help me to choose one.(There are more available)

Thanks

vjose

A serious issue is that I can't find any trains to Milan on 5th of August 2013.

The morning train at 5:20AM(timing is insane or is this normal in Italy) is sold out. the next train is at 14:20PM.

Any ideas/suggestions to get to Milan in the morning so that We could carry on to Switzerland.

Should we rent a car/van for a day and just drive to Milan or to a train station close to Switzerland border, if so any suggestion would be good.

Thanks

ellenem

There are departure between Venice and Milan almost hourly. Did you use this sight to search for tickets?

http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index...0080a3e90aRCRD

Tabernash2

In Rome, try the Domus Julia. They have apartment-type setups, with a kitchen and dining area, a bathroom in each bedroom. You have the use of its sister next door, the Hotel Julia, and breakfast served in the hotel's pretty dining room. It could be close to your budget.

Would a convent stay suit you in Rome? The biggest drawback is a nightly curfew.