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Help me please, planning first trip to Italy

Help me please, planning first trip to Italy

Old Jan 21st, 2014, 03:17 PM
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Help me please, planning first trip to Italy

I live in boston and want to see Rome,Florence, Amalfi coast
Thinking 9 days.
Is there someone who could simplify to me what I should be thinking.
My thanks to all of you ahead of time.
If you need questions about Aruba, I am good at that
Thanks
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 03:22 PM
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do you mean 9 days 'on the ground' (meaning and 11+ day trip) -- or is it 9 days 'home to home'?
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 03:39 PM
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9 days on the ground
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 03:48 PM
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Bonebal, you need to let us know what time of year you are going.

With only 9 days, I would skip one of those places. If you must.. start in Florence and spend 2 nights. Train to Rome (90 minutes) and spend 4 nights. Train to Sorrento and fly home out of Naples.

Let us all know, too, what it is you're interested in- art/architecture/history/food/scenery?
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 04:32 PM
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Agree that time of year makes a huge difference - for almost 6 months a year the Amalfi Coast doesn;t make a lot of sense - unless you like walking an empty beach in cool/cold weather.
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 06:18 PM
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Wow, thanks so much
We are planning to go in the beginning of May, my wife and myself.
Bucket list is to touch all Ancient Rome sculptures and buildings along with seeing the Vatican
Other than that, food, wine, scenery, food wine and scenery again
Please keep going as this is so great
If it matters, we are in our fifties.

Thanks, Bonebal
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 06:26 PM
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My daughter and I did 11 days in Italy a few years ago. We did PositAno, Rome, Venice. My biggest regret was too much time in PositAno and not enough in Rome. I LOVED Rome! I agree- 9 days not quite enough for all 3. If I had to do it all again, I would spend 5 in Rome and 4 exploring smaller areas of Tuscany. (Or vice versa). That could include Florence but also smaller towns.
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Old Jan 21st, 2014, 09:49 PM
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On any first trip to Italy, I'd always suggest you not miss Venice.
Fly into Venice (2 nights)
Train to Florence (4 nights) Take a 1 day bus day trip to Siena. You could also rent a car to see San Gimignano and Volterra for a day trip.
Fast train to Rome (balance of time.)

There's so much to see in Rome that you could spend your whole trip just there.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 10:25 AM
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With only 9 days on the ground, and saying you want to see ancient sites and scenery, I'd probably suggest flying into Venice.

Stay 3 nights Venice and train to Rome. Spend the rest of your time in Rome. (One day in Rome, you can take a 30-minute train ride to Ostia Antica- a "must see" if you like ancient sites. That will use up 1/2 a day.) Vatican city will take a full day. (You might try to see if you can still get reservation for a Scavi tour. Another "must" to see.)

Fly home from Rome.

Buon viaggio!
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 10:26 AM
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Since you mention sculpture, I have two must-see stops for you.

In Rome, do not miss the Capitoline Museum, the sculpture one. The painting one is a couple notches below. Other sculpture museums too, but that's the top.

In Florence, do not miss the Bargello. Accademia and the Duomo museum too, but Bargello top priority.

Personally I would do 5-6 days in Rome and 3-4 days in Florence, skipping Amalfi coast. There's fabulous scenery all over the world, but the man-made stuff in Italy is unique.

However, if you don't take my sage advice and go south, don't miss the Archeological Museum in Naples. Incredible treasures from Pompeii: bronze sculptures, mosaics etc.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 10:31 AM
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OK, here's my stab at it:

Day 1 - arrive Naples, driver to Positano, explore town
Day 2 - day trip via ferry to Amalfi/Ravello
Day 3 - morning in Positano, driver to Naples, fast train to Rome, check into hotel, etc.
Day 4 - Rome
Day 5 - Rome
Day 6 - day trip to Florence via fast train, returning on late train
Day 7 - Rome
Day 8 - Rome (or day trip to Hadrian's Villa or Ostia for ruins)
Day 9 - Rome
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 10:40 AM
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I believe there is a bus from the Naples airport to Sorrento. From there back to Rome by train you change [including systems] in Naples. Rome to Florence is 1.5 hours on the train.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 01:18 PM
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Ok,
First many thanks
So with all this great advice:
Fly to Rome-4 full days. . Where do we stay

Then somehow get to Florence and area
Where to stay?

Where do I fly home from
Of course, next will be your restaurant suggestions

Thanks again
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 02:10 PM
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It's funny how people's opinions can be different. I did 1 night in Venice, 3 nights in Positano, and 5 Nights in Rome in August(with another short stop to see family). It was so perfect for me - I guess it really depends what you are looking for. Rome is amazing, I could spend forever there, but it does get tiring and overwhelming and a few times I found myself wishing for the peacefulness and chic setting of Positano.

In Rome I stayed at Hotel Navona and I loved the location. I second whoever recommended the scavi tour (I found it much better than the vatican museum tour, mainly due to crowds and a booorring tour guide). My favorite restaurant was Cul de Sac near Piazza Navona! I also took a day tour to Tuscany (DarkRome) I know it was only a brief taste of Tuscany but it was a nice moment out of the city.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 03:53 PM
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Bonebal- Very easy to get to Florence. You go to Roma Termini train station. Hope a bullet train (Frecciarosa or Frecciabianco) to Firenze S.M.Novella station. That is in the heart of Florence.

Here is the Trenitalia website to purchase train tickets in advance. www.trenitalia.com

It takes 90 minutes to get to Florence from Rome on one of these trains, fyi.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 03:54 PM
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PS You can fly home from Florence. Or spend two nights Florence and train to Venice. Finish your trip in Venice and fly home from there.

Good luck!
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 06:59 PM
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Has anyone stayed at the hotel forum? In Rome
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Old Jan 22nd, 2014, 07:00 PM
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Sorry, The Hotel Forum Roma
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