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Assistance with trip to Positano, Rome, Florence, and Venice

Assistance with trip to Positano, Rome, Florence, and Venice

Old Jan 31st, 2011, 05:58 PM
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Assistance with trip to Positano, Rome, Florence, and Venice

Hello -

Just looking for some advice on a trip we are planning to Italy in late May/early June.

We plan to fly into Naples and out of Venice. Here is the game plan:

Positano - 4 nights (Likely La Tavolozza B&B)
Rome - 4 nights
Florence - 3 nights (Likely Il Giglio D'oro)
Venice - 2 nights

I know we are moving a lot but I don't think we'll be able to make it back to Italy and I wanted to see much of the country. I am open to suggestions on the number of days per location, and especially any B&B recommendations. We are looking in the range of $150/night.

I would certainly appreciate any assistance offered. These forums are a great help.
Thanks in advance!
Paige
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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 06:47 AM
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The B&B in Florence is way to far from the city center. Don't stay there. Here are some more central places to stay in Florence-

http://www.davidhotel.it/
http://www.proconsolo.com/
http://www.florencegrandtour.com/index.php
http://www.rentinginitaly.com/villa/bbpiazza/
http://www.touristhouseghiberti.com/eng/01-home.html
http://www.residenzailvillino.com/index.cfm
http://www.hotelporcellino.eu/
http://www.hotelcestelli.com/
http://www.hotelbalcony.com/en/rooms.htm
http://www.hotelsantacroce.it/12,12.html
http://www.sanlorenzohotel.it/rooms.php
http://www.bbrepubblica.com/index.html
http://www.ilsalottodifirenze.it/en/index.php
http://aflorencebedandbreakfast.com/index.html

This one is rated #1 on Trip Advisor and is very nice-
http://www.hoteldavanzati.it/

Apartments in Florence-
http://www.residenzailcarmine.com/


Some nice places to stay in Venice-

http://www.lacalcina.com/

http://www.corte1321.com/en/index.htm

http://www.locanda-sanbarnaba.com/default.htm

http://www.casarezzonico.it/

http://www.pensioneaccademia.it/

http://www.alpontemocenigo.com/en/rooms.htm

http://www.caangeli.it/eng/caangeli.html

I would take one day from Florence and add it to Venice.
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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 08:01 AM
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Yes, you need another day in Venice. I assume your plane flight out of Venice leaves very early. So at best - leaving early from Florence - you'll have 1.5 days in Venice. I'd be inclined to take that day from Positano or Florence.

Zoecat has good suggestions for Venice acommodations.
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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 10:35 AM
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Hi P,

I suggest adding a day to Venice.

I would take it from Rome, but that's merely my opinion.

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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 10:37 AM
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PS,

We were very happy with http://www.hotelmaikol.com/ when we visited Rome last October.

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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 10:53 AM
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IMO, don't take off from your time in Rome: there's plenty to do and 4 nights will just scratch the surface. You could take a day off Positano... though there's plenty to do in the area as well.

Do your time estimates above include travel time?
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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 12:37 PM
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Hello! Thanks so much for all your suggestions. It sure it hard to figure out how to split the time!

I did not include travel time. We will be arriving around 11am on the first day in Naples. I added an extra day in Positano than I normally would as I figured we would be a little fuzzy from jet lag.

I also was hoping to take a day trip somewhere in Florence (i.e. Siena) so thats why I did the 3 nights there. Man! I sure wish I could take more than 2 weeks off at work

Thanks so much for the hotel input. I am having a tough time finding rooms since we are planning so late in the game.

I had looked at Il Giglio D'oro based on tripadvisor reviews so I appreciate the input. I will also check out your Venice recommendations.

Any word on B&B Bibi and Romeo in Rome???

Thanks again!
Paige
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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 01:19 PM
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To be on the safe side, estimate that you'll spend approx 1/2 day each time you move. For example, if you are taking public transportation to Positano, it will be about 2 1/2 hours from Naples, plus add time for checking in, settling in the room, etc. From Naples Termini to Rome Termini can be an hour and a half, but you'll then need to add the time from the train station to your lodging...

I went to the Amalfi Coast for the first time this past spring. We had 5 nights in the area, and loved every minute of it! We delayed leaving Naples until a 3pm train (put our luggage in the Left Luggage at the train station and went off to the archeological museum in the morning), but that chipped away time from our stay in Rome. Ah, decisions! But it was such a great trip, in the end it didn't really matter how we split our time.
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Old Feb 1st, 2011, 02:10 PM
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I don't like the location of B&B Bibi and Romeo- it's not central enough.

I suggest you do a search using the "Search the Forums" tool on the upper right to find some previous threads with some good suggestions for Rome.

Or, another great resource is to check hotel/b&b reviews here-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/hotels/list.asp?r=Rome
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Old Feb 2nd, 2011, 12:17 AM
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Paige, in Venice we are staying at Campiello Zen. Havent stayed yet, but it gets great reviews, and the owner has been very helpful in emails.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2011, 07:16 AM
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Thanks again for the helpful input!

So far for accomodations, I am thinking:
-Positano - Residence la Tavozolla
-Rome - Baldassini: any opinions? It looks central, spartan but good at 120euros per night
-Florence - Residenza il Villino
-Venice - no luck so far I have tried many a place and no openings in our price range so far. I did try Campiello Zen, thank you. But shoot, they are full!

I am also still trying to determine the breakdown of the days. I want to do Capri, visit the coastal cities and Pompeii in Positano. Rome is so big and I want to do a tour of Tuscany cities for one day in Florence. And then there is Venice.... Not a bad problem to have I suppose.


THANKS again for all of your advice!!
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Old Feb 2nd, 2011, 07:26 AM
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Here's a possibility for Venice that may meet your needs, B&B Al Palazzetto:
http://www.guesthouse.it/
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Old Feb 2nd, 2011, 07:42 AM
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Try www.hotelgalleria.it or http://www.aitagliapietra.com/

Have stayed in both and liked both locations.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2011, 09:33 AM
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Jam -

I did try the Ai Tagliapietra in round 1 - booked! Boo!

Your suggestion of Hotel Galleria looks great, thanks! I am just a little skeptical b/c the only double room available for our time frame is the corner room which would mean sharing a bathroom. The price seems good for location/view but I am not certain of the shared bathroom. Did you happen to have any experience with that there?
Thanks!
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Old Feb 2nd, 2011, 12:55 PM
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Getting my 2-cents in a bit late, but...

I agree with another poster's idea for reducing a day in Positano and adding it to Venice... BUT Venice is expensive, so maybe you're okay with only the two days. (Personally, I'm in LOVE with Florence, so I'd be inclined to add a day there instead of Venice, but...)

Have you thought about staying in Sorrento for the Amalfi Coast portion of your trip? There's easier access to Capri and Pompeii and you could easily go to Positano for a day.

Lastly, here are some thoughts about lodging:

Sorrento (if you choose): Casa Astarita
Rome: Hotel Andreina (budget, but near the train station)
Florence: Relais Cavalcanti
Venice: Locanda Orseolo (not in your budget, but if you only do 2 nights it could be worth the splurge!)

Also, if you're looking for a wonderful escorted tour of Tuscany, I recommend Under the Tuscan Sun Tours (ask for Andrea).

All of these hotels/B&Bs have reviews on TripAdvisor, as does Under the Tuscan Sun Tours.

You'll have a great time! I'm jealous!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2011, 06:46 PM
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Hello!

I have considered Sorrento vs Positano. It seems every forum discussion had a different view. I am pretty drawn to the pics of Positano so thats what made my decision.

Oh no! Hotel Galleria replied that they were booked even though the website showed availability. Ocanda Orseolo is also booked, but looks lovely.

The following places have availability - Locanda Antica Casin, Ca Dogaressa, and Alle Vita Dorata. Any suggestions on the better spot??

Thanks again! This has been quite a help
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Old Feb 3rd, 2011, 07:57 PM
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Hi Paige. I was having the same Positano vs. Sorrento vs. Amalfi debate, and when I asked a friend of mine who lives on the AC he said that I should stay in Positano because "when you see it you will feel you should sleep there!" Good enough reason for me - and there is lots of great transportation there (bus and boats).
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Old Feb 3rd, 2011, 10:58 PM
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HI Paige,

Actually that double room was the room we had - we also shared a bathroom because it was the only one available. We dont generally do this (in fact it was the only time) and we found it to be fine. Wouldnt do it by choice, but the location is great, and we didnt have any problems - no wait for showers etc. I believe there is also a sink in the bedroom so no need to go down the hall to brush your teeth etc.

Hope this helps!
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Old Feb 4th, 2011, 07:40 AM
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Paige and ekc, to reinforce your inclinations: IME (last spring), Sorrento is a place to stay for the convenience to *get to* other places; towns on the Amalfi Coast (e.g., Positano) are places to stay for the sake of being where you are. (With 5 nights, we did a bit of both. Glad we got to places along the Bay - but I'd go back to the AC in a heartbeat to kick back and soak it all in!)

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Old Feb 5th, 2011, 08:33 AM
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Me again!

Thanks ggreen that makes me feel better about the choice! There are too many great options in Italy, its hard on a gal

So, down to 2 hotel choices for Venice and Rome.

In Rome, I am between Baldassini and Arco del Lauro.
In Venice, I am between Alle Vita Dorato or Locanda Antica Casin.

Any thoughts to crack the indecision??

Apparently it is the start of the Biannual Contemporary Art Festival when we are staying in Venice which is making it fairly difficult to find a spot. Hopefully its not too much of a zoo when we are there!

Thanks again for your assistance!
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