First Trip to Italy! Need guidance

Old Nov 5th, 2015, 02:00 PM
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First Trip to Italy! Need guidance

Hello all!

First time poster. I am headed to Rome in January and had a few questions.

1. Which airport is the best to fly into in Italy? I am flying from the US and want the quickest passport control and luggage pick up line.

2. Has anyone taken Uber to get around in Italy? If so how was the service and did the drivers speak any English?

3. Similar to above, how well was english spoken in Rome, Naples, and Palermo? I know some spanish, but I know 0 Italian. I've been in almost total non speaking countries and it was a slight issue, but didnt know how Italy faired.

4. Has anyone been to Palermo (Sicily), are the welcoming to tourist?

5. What is the best way to exchange US dollars for Euros??

Thanks!!!!
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Old Nov 5th, 2015, 02:14 PM
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Hi, egrizz, Welcome!

to try to answer your questions in the order you asked them:

1. it's very difficult to predict how busy any airport is going to be at any particular time and italian airports are no exception. I would suggest looking for the one that has the best routing for your needs - giving you non-stop flights if possible.

2. I've never used Uber at all, whether in Italy or at home. within Italian cities there are plenty of ordinary taxis and also generally efficient public transport systems and to travel between them, the trains are generally pretty good. some taxi drivers may speak english, but you can't bank on it - so writing the address of where you want to go on a piece of paper and showing it to them is a good idea.

3. in main tourist areas a lot of people speak some english but after all you are going to Italy, so people generally speak Italian. if you know spanish, you should be able to understand some of what you hear, and more of what you read. And you should be able to learn some rudimentary italian easily enough.

4.I've not been to Palermo, but I've not heard that the people there are unwelcoming to tourists - have you heard that they are? if so, where?

5. nowhere. the best and most economical way to obtain € is to use an ATM once you get to Italy just like you would at hime. some people [including me] like to have a few € on them when they land so I usually keep a few from my last trip ready to use when I land. it's probably not necessary though.
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Old Nov 5th, 2015, 02:42 PM
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Palermo is very welcoming to tourists (I have been there).

You will find lots of English speakers in Rome, fewer in Palermo and Napoli. Knowing some Spanish is an asset.
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Old Nov 5th, 2015, 04:07 PM
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To get from one city to another in Italy you use trains. Within each city you use the local public transit or feet - walking is really the only way to get a feel for the various cities. There is no lack of taxis in Italy but I would use only the official taxi in each town so you know you are paying the appropriate fare - and would avoid using taxis unless you really must.

If you mean using a taxi - or uber - between cities - while this is possible if arranged in advance - it would be excrutiatingly expensive.
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Old Nov 5th, 2015, 07:38 PM
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Post your proposed itinerary for constructive comment.
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Old Nov 6th, 2015, 02:10 AM
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Hi there…I'll answer your questions in order you made them:

1) Fly into Fuimicino (Rome) or Malpensa (Milano) from the U.S.

2) Don't do Uber. If you need to get around, a private company that will give you upfront prices for destinations in Rome and other cities is called Top Driver. I have used this company's services for the last 13 years. The person who manages it is called Ferruccio Gagliazzo and here is his contact information below. Drivers speak English. Very honest, very nice cars, and cost from airport to Rome will cost you less than a taxi, but in a Mercedes and no concern that the driver will take the "scenic" route.
+39 all numbers
Off: +39 06 5565483
Mob: + 39 335 360519
Privato: + 39 348 8868767
[email protected]

Otherwise, use public transportation or taxis, but make sure you have a mapping app on your cell phone if using public taxis so that you can map out the route and keep an eye on where the driver is taking you. Most taxi drivers have become pretty good with speaking English.

3) You really shouldn't have an issue getting your point across in English, as Italians have become quite used to the mass tourism. The fact that you speak Spanish is also good, much more similar to Italian. When I go back to Spain I never have an issue getting my point across as they speak Spanish to me, and I speak Italian to them, we always understand one another.

4) Palermo is a fantastic city as perhaps one of the most receptive to tourists. And in January, will be the warmest

5) Click below for some tips on exchanging money. Also visit the FAQ page for some help, since this is your first trip. http://www.southeuropetravel.com/travel-tips/ 

Best of luck to you. I live in Rome, you're going to love the city.

Laura
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Old Nov 6th, 2015, 03:36 AM
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well, lots of people who visit Rome turn out not to like the city. There's no predicting that. We all hope you love it, but it's a bit much to assume all people are "me".
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Old Nov 6th, 2015, 05:13 AM
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A further comment on uber in Italy. I was in Milan a few days ago and was going to use uber app but only black car service is available and I think it might be the same in the rest of Italy. It's more expensive then a taxi but if you don't have euros on you and want the convenience it is available in most major Italian cities (definitely Rome) not sure about Palermo.

Palermo was a wonderful city with very friendly people and I travelled their solo with basic Italian phrases only.

Enjoy your trip!
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Old Nov 6th, 2015, 01:38 PM
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Thanks for the help everyone! Below is my Itinerary. Also has anyone booked VRBO.com places or Air BNB for their stays? If so how did they turn out?

1. We are flying into Rome, will stay there 4-5 days. Going try and see Pantheon and Coliseum. Any other must see places?

2. Taking a train to Naples. Going to see Vesuvius and Pompeii. Where is the best place to stay in Naples close to Vesuvius and how do people get from the town over to the Pompeii ruins?

3. Flying from Rome to Nice, France. Taking train to Monaco. Has anyone done this? Is it and easy airport to navigate, and where is the best places to stay in Monte Carlo/Monaco?

4. Flying out of Nice Airport to Barcelona. What to do in Barcelona???

Thanks everyone!
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Old Nov 6th, 2015, 02:20 PM
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.1.A guide book should give you this info. The St. Peters, the Vatican Museum and Sistene Chapel, the Roman Forum, Piazza Navona, catacombs, . Click on Destinarions tab at the top of this page for more.
2. Take the Circumvesuviana train. It stops right at Pompeii.
3. You can take either the bus with waterfront views or the train from Nice to Monaco. I would stay in the much more interesting Nice and do a day trip to Monaco.
4. Barcelona..time to look at a guide book or two. Destinations tab at top of Fodors page.
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Old Nov 6th, 2015, 02:50 PM
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We rented an Airbnb studio apartment in Rome for three nights in May. The price was reasonable and the location, near the Colosseum, worked well for us. If you click on my screen name, you'll find more details about the apartment.

Lee Ann
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Old Nov 7th, 2015, 09:46 AM
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Anyone has a recommendation on where to stay in near Pompeii ?
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Old Nov 7th, 2015, 11:11 AM
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How long do you have in total?

We just returned from Palermo and really enjoyed it a lot.

We've been to the Cote d'Azur in February. My honest recommendation is to skip the idea of staying in Monaco (the name recognition is more impressive than the reality) and instead explore some other parts of the Cote d'Azur. Nice as a base makes sense. With a car, Villefranche sur Mer makes a nice base to stay in. I do not know about public transportation from here, and I am also suggesting that if you are a first time tourist to Europe (and I am guessing you may be) to not drive.

We've been to Rome in January, and it is a fantastic time to visit (other than the shortened daylight hours). We were told that the second week of January is the slowest week of the year for tourists, and many places that are normally jam packed are relatively easy to get into. We were able to walk right into the Vatican Museum (highly recommended, and plan for an extended amount to time there) when at other times of year there can be long lines. We are not normally people who do tours but enthusiastically recommend Through Eternity Tours for their fabulous tour of the coliseum. Right now, today, send off an e-mail to the Vatican and see if you can get tickets to see the area under St. Peter's; it is an excellent tour that is often difficult to book, so list several times that would work for you.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/in...090216_en.html

If you have any extra days, you might want to consider Venice. We spent five days there in January and enjoyed it. Weather was fine for people who have a coat and gloves and scarf and hat for strolling around.

We've done VRBO and some AirB&B all over Europe and the world and have had good experiences. Just rented this place in Palermo through VRBO. http://www.vrbo.com/1634621ha?unitId=3206315

Barcelona is okay but not our favorite. You'll find two groups of people here--those who love Barcelona and those who are lukewarm about it. Park Guell is very interesting; Las Ramblas dos not do a thing for us, and watch out for pickpockets there. Spending the night at Monserrat, an hour or so outside of Barcelona, is fascinating because it is a completely different place after the day trippers have left.

If you are not a public transportation user at home, it is easy to use and the most cost-effective way to see most of the places you'll be visiting. Invest in some good comfort shoes (not bright white athletic shoes) for walking because you will be doing lots and lots and lots of walking because it really is the best way to get to know all of these places you'll be visiting.

While still at home, buy a good map of the main cities you will be visiting. These are much better than the typical tourist map you will find, and you will find having a good walking map an invaluable resource.Buy a teeny pocket dictionary and/or phrasebook in Italian, French, and Spanish. This will help a lot. This is also a good book to have to help you out with eating.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...BXH8H7FYAYZH7J

Many people at Fodors do not care for Rick Steve's books. For a trip like you are planning, I think you will find his books invaluable because they give lots of nitty-gritty information for someone who wants to see the highlights of a place and are also great because they cover in an easily understandable way how to us public transportation.
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Old Nov 7th, 2015, 11:27 AM
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Where to stay near Pompeii - stay in either Naples or Sorrento - both are at either end of the train line that gets you to Pompeii's door step. Sorrento is more expensive and is a resort town packed with English speaking tourists and no sights of its own to explore. Naples is cheaper and has museums, churches, castles, palaces and great places to eat.
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