First trip to Italy, married couple
Apr 2nd, 2017, 07:29 PM
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First trip to Italy, married couple
I have read some of the posts on the forum and it seems like the members here give some wonderful advice, and I am looking for some help planning my itinerary, so here it goes:
Married couple in our early 30s, first trip to Italy.
We have travelled internationally before, but never to Europe.
12 day trip. Tentative dates 7/8-7/20, but this could be moved forward a day or two if flight/hotel prices are favorable on other days.
Ideally, we would like to visit Rome, Florence, and Venice. Main interests are art/history/architecture and food.
So...if we fly out from the US on 7/8, the flights we are looking at arrive in Rome on the morning of 7/9, and now after reading several other posts on here, I am thinking it would be best to take the train straight on to Venice first, stay there a couple nights, then train to Florence, stay in Florence, then train to Rome and end the trip in Rome and fly back to the US from Rome.
Would anyone be able to help with a suggested itinerary? I know we are going to lose quite a few days to travel.
July 8 -depart from US
July 9 -arrive Rome, train to Venice
July 10-11 Venice
July 12- train to Florence, 1/2 day in Florence
July 13-15 Florence
July 16 train to Rome, 1/2 day in Rome
July 17-19 Rome
July 20 - depart from Rome
1.) Should we leave Florence a day earlier to have 1 more day in Rome?
2.) Would a day trip to Pisa or Bologna be possible? if so, when would you do it?
3.) What about Pompeii? Seems kind of far away but have seen day trips advertised
4.) We really could fly into any of these three cities and do them in any order, so if you have a better plan in mind, please suggest.
Is this even doable to see all 3 cities in this timeframe? We thought about cutting one out, but we want to see as much as we can. We don't have children yet and not sure when/if we will get to take another trip like this.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Married couple in our early 30s, first trip to Italy.
We have travelled internationally before, but never to Europe.
12 day trip. Tentative dates 7/8-7/20, but this could be moved forward a day or two if flight/hotel prices are favorable on other days.
Ideally, we would like to visit Rome, Florence, and Venice. Main interests are art/history/architecture and food.
So...if we fly out from the US on 7/8, the flights we are looking at arrive in Rome on the morning of 7/9, and now after reading several other posts on here, I am thinking it would be best to take the train straight on to Venice first, stay there a couple nights, then train to Florence, stay in Florence, then train to Rome and end the trip in Rome and fly back to the US from Rome.
Would anyone be able to help with a suggested itinerary? I know we are going to lose quite a few days to travel.
July 8 -depart from US
July 9 -arrive Rome, train to Venice
July 10-11 Venice
July 12- train to Florence, 1/2 day in Florence
July 13-15 Florence
July 16 train to Rome, 1/2 day in Rome
July 17-19 Rome
July 20 - depart from Rome
1.) Should we leave Florence a day earlier to have 1 more day in Rome?
2.) Would a day trip to Pisa or Bologna be possible? if so, when would you do it?
3.) What about Pompeii? Seems kind of far away but have seen day trips advertised
4.) We really could fly into any of these three cities and do them in any order, so if you have a better plan in mind, please suggest.
Is this even doable to see all 3 cities in this timeframe? We thought about cutting one out, but we want to see as much as we can. We don't have children yet and not sure when/if we will get to take another trip like this.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Apr 2nd, 2017, 07:55 PM
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I think you can do three cities in your time frame.
Can you fly in to Rome or Venice, and out of the other? The cost difference for an open jaws flight is usually negligible.
Many here suggest flying in to Venice and out of Rome. That way you could keep to your original plans, without the train ride from Rome to Venice.
Day trips are always possible. I for one think that Pompeii is just too far for a day trip. A visit to Ostia Antica from Rome is often suggested as a good substitute.
I like Florence a lot but I like Renaissance art and Florentine food. Not everyone does. You could probably cut a day but I might not.
What are your particular interests?
Can you fly in to Rome or Venice, and out of the other? The cost difference for an open jaws flight is usually negligible.
Many here suggest flying in to Venice and out of Rome. That way you could keep to your original plans, without the train ride from Rome to Venice.
Day trips are always possible. I for one think that Pompeii is just too far for a day trip. A visit to Ostia Antica from Rome is often suggested as a good substitute.
I like Florence a lot but I like Renaissance art and Florentine food. Not everyone does. You could probably cut a day but I might not.
What are your particular interests?
Apr 2nd, 2017, 08:46 PM
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When looking for flights, look for multi-citi or multi-destination options. Try to arrive Venice, depart Rome.
I like the time you allowed in each place. Rome is a bit short changed, but keep the time in Florence and do day trips if you are finished in Florence. I can't imagine it, but if one day seems enough in Venice, visit one of the little islands or Padua or Vincenza.
I like the time you allowed in each place. Rome is a bit short changed, but keep the time in Florence and do day trips if you are finished in Florence. I can't imagine it, but if one day seems enough in Venice, visit one of the little islands or Padua or Vincenza.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 04:48 AM
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Tuscanlifeedit and Sassafrass: thank you for the reply!
We looked at open jaw flights, and perhaps the price difference is usually negligible, but right now it seems round trip flight and hotel packages are so inexpensive for some reason, that our being able to go at all hinges on this discount. We are looking at airfare for two and 3-4 nights in a 4 star hotel for ~ $1,900, then we have to book our other two hotels separately, and train tickets are going to run us about $200 total for all three x two people. Open jaw would be ideal, but unless I am missing where to find those flights for a reasonable cost, it would add about $800 and that would not be doable for us. We are ok with taking an extra train to be able to make this trip of a lifetime (in our opinion) happen
I'm so glad you all think it's possible to see all three cities. I guess I just need to decide if we want more time in Florence or Rome. I am easy to please though, and will likely be content to be in either city walking around with my husband.
We looked at open jaw flights, and perhaps the price difference is usually negligible, but right now it seems round trip flight and hotel packages are so inexpensive for some reason, that our being able to go at all hinges on this discount. We are looking at airfare for two and 3-4 nights in a 4 star hotel for ~ $1,900, then we have to book our other two hotels separately, and train tickets are going to run us about $200 total for all three x two people. Open jaw would be ideal, but unless I am missing where to find those flights for a reasonable cost, it would add about $800 and that would not be doable for us. We are ok with taking an extra train to be able to make this trip of a lifetime (in our opinion) happen
I'm so glad you all think it's possible to see all three cities. I guess I just need to decide if we want more time in Florence or Rome. I am easy to please though, and will likely be content to be in either city walking around with my husband.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 05:42 AM
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I think your schedule is OK, without a day trip.
To help you determine how much time to spend in each place, and whether more in Rome and less in Florence, suggest you map out a rough daily itinerary of what you want to see and do in each city. That will help you plan out your schedule.
I know there are advocates of the "wing it" approach, and I like to wing it once in a while, too. But on your tight schedule, I think you're better off over-planning. You can always modify it when you're there.
To help you determine how much time to spend in each place, and whether more in Rome and less in Florence, suggest you map out a rough daily itinerary of what you want to see and do in each city. That will help you plan out your schedule.
I know there are advocates of the "wing it" approach, and I like to wing it once in a while, too. But on your tight schedule, I think you're better off over-planning. You can always modify it when you're there.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 05:55 AM
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Hi
Congrats for the wedding
You will love Italy.
I don't really like Pisa and would recommend a day trip to San Gimignano or Siena.
My second rec would be to be light with museums. I had an overdose when doing a similar trip.
Congrats for the wedding
You will love Italy.
I don't really like Pisa and would recommend a day trip to San Gimignano or Siena.
My second rec would be to be light with museums. I had an overdose when doing a similar trip.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 07:30 AM
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Agree that open-jaw is ideal, even if you have to pay extra.
If you are doing round-trip, Rome will have best options & I agree with going to straight to Venice. Don't be surprised if your rail tickets are more than what you're estimating. Risky to book non-refundable ticket on a day you're flying.
Venice will be more congested and your tolerance for crowds will be higher at the start of your trip. Also less things in Venice require an advance ticket, so altering plans to accommodate jetlag is less of an issue.
I like your time budget. Would only suggest a stop at a hill town before arriving in Rome. Orvieto? or someplace right on the rail line?
Advance tickets for Vatican/Coliseum are a must at that time of year.
I'd climb the Duomo dome in Florence instead of St Peter's in Rome
If you are doing round-trip, Rome will have best options & I agree with going to straight to Venice. Don't be surprised if your rail tickets are more than what you're estimating. Risky to book non-refundable ticket on a day you're flying.
Venice will be more congested and your tolerance for crowds will be higher at the start of your trip. Also less things in Venice require an advance ticket, so altering plans to accommodate jetlag is less of an issue.
I like your time budget. Would only suggest a stop at a hill town before arriving in Rome. Orvieto? or someplace right on the rail line?
Advance tickets for Vatican/Coliseum are a must at that time of year.
I'd climb the Duomo dome in Florence instead of St Peter's in Rome
Apr 3rd, 2017, 10:29 AM
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Hi Amm,
>thinking it would be best to take the train straight on to Venice first,
It is about the same price to fly into Venice and out of Rome.
see www.kayak.com
>thinking it would be best to take the train straight on to Venice first,
It is about the same price to fly into Venice and out of Rome.
see www.kayak.com
Apr 3rd, 2017, 10:43 AM
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Very much concur with woinparis above - suggest Siena, not Pisa. That is a very nice day trip.
do not stress over arriving at the one perfect itinerary. You are free in Italy, for god's sake, THAT is the perfect decision.
flying into Milan or Bologna , then rail to Venice, then leaving Rome are also feasible options that, depending on when you are doing searches, may yield a better deal. if cost is not a big deal, then that suggestion would be perceived as being dumb, but if cost is a factor, then it is worth at least a look.
do not stress over arriving at the one perfect itinerary. You are free in Italy, for god's sake, THAT is the perfect decision.
flying into Milan or Bologna , then rail to Venice, then leaving Rome are also feasible options that, depending on when you are doing searches, may yield a better deal. if cost is not a big deal, then that suggestion would be perceived as being dumb, but if cost is a factor, then it is worth at least a look.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 11:14 AM
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Yes, it is possible to "see" Venice, Florence and Rome in a that time. I just did it. Trip report will be coming but will take me a couple weeks to get it done (have to go to work). BUT you only have two and a half days in each city so no day trips really make sense. And you will have to pick and choose which few sites in each city you want, you will not come even close to seeing the majority in that time frame. Possibly one from Venice might make sense as Venice is very crowded mid day (much nicer early and late) so getting out of town to Padua or Vicenza might make sense for a few hours. Certainly doing Pompeii from Rome with only 2 days there is not good use of time.
And you will need to plan carefully so you don't 'waste' any time. The reason it worked relatively well for us on this trip was that it was my 13th trip to Italy and I was showing my friend the 'highlights'. She really wanted to see those three cities and so we did, but we didn't have to 'waste' time finding our hotels (I had already stayed in them and knew where they were), nor did we 'waste' time figuring out trains. She didn't even have to think about where to go or how to get around as I knew these things. Being your first time it's inevitable that some time will be lost to finding your way around, etc.
So get some good guidebooks, some good maps and plan it out geographically (e.g. in Rome devote one day to the ancient sites and another to St Peter's area, etc.). Also consider skipping some of the major museums which will have long lines. There is so much more to see in these cities than the major museums and when you consider the lost time waiting in lines your time can be better spent (I think) doing walking tours and going into less crowded places. In some cases you can skip lines by booking tours but then you loose flexibility by showing up at specified times.
And you will need to plan carefully so you don't 'waste' any time. The reason it worked relatively well for us on this trip was that it was my 13th trip to Italy and I was showing my friend the 'highlights'. She really wanted to see those three cities and so we did, but we didn't have to 'waste' time finding our hotels (I had already stayed in them and knew where they were), nor did we 'waste' time figuring out trains. She didn't even have to think about where to go or how to get around as I knew these things. Being your first time it's inevitable that some time will be lost to finding your way around, etc.
So get some good guidebooks, some good maps and plan it out geographically (e.g. in Rome devote one day to the ancient sites and another to St Peter's area, etc.). Also consider skipping some of the major museums which will have long lines. There is so much more to see in these cities than the major museums and when you consider the lost time waiting in lines your time can be better spent (I think) doing walking tours and going into less crowded places. In some cases you can skip lines by booking tours but then you loose flexibility by showing up at specified times.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 02:47 PM
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Great itinerary and hard choices. I agree with those who suggest line skipping plans to save time even though I myself am a wing it person. It's hard for me to say cut a day in Firenze since I LOVE it SOOO much to give yourself 1 more day in Rome but....uuugh so hard....I'd do it if it were my first time and I wasn't sure when I'd return. Flying into Venice and out of Rome is a wise suggestion if you can do it. Have fun
Apr 3rd, 2017, 07:37 PM
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ellenem: we are 45 min from LEX and 1.5 hrs from CVG airports.
alandavid: can you elaborate on what you said about buying a nonrefundable train ticket the day you're flying? What would you suggest doing, buying a refundable one, or just buying one when we get there? Sorry I have never travelled by train...
ira and HappyTrvlr: we did look at multicity. Thanks for the suggestion of kayak.com. Just checked on there tonight when I got home. Looks like our tickets would be $1400 per person on there just for airfare instead of $900 per person for roundtrip with 4 nights hotel stay included on Expedia. So still out of our price range...
woinparis and docdan: we are going to look in to Siena tomorrow and hopefully make a decision and get closer to booking this thing!
We have pretty much done nothing but research and plan this trip every day for the last two weeks, haha.
alandavid: can you elaborate on what you said about buying a nonrefundable train ticket the day you're flying? What would you suggest doing, buying a refundable one, or just buying one when we get there? Sorry I have never travelled by train...
ira and HappyTrvlr: we did look at multicity. Thanks for the suggestion of kayak.com. Just checked on there tonight when I got home. Looks like our tickets would be $1400 per person on there just for airfare instead of $900 per person for roundtrip with 4 nights hotel stay included on Expedia. So still out of our price range...
woinparis and docdan: we are going to look in to Siena tomorrow and hopefully make a decision and get closer to booking this thing!
We have pretty much done nothing but research and plan this trip every day for the last two weeks, haha.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 07:58 PM
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If you are doing an air/hotel package be sure to check the reviews and locations of the hotels. Lots of time the hotels in a package are in less than ideal locations requiring extra travel time to the sites you want to see. That said, I just ran your dates on the matrix-ita website and the flights were running $1500/person so it might be worth the savings to have an out-of-the way hotel.
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