How to get from Point A to C....

You take the train.

Is there some reason you are electing to uproot yourselves so often? Florence, Pisa and Lucca are all within easy reach of each other, and often people do Pisa and Lucca as day-trips by train from Firenze. While enjoy the city of Pisa, most people without a special interest in art and architecture run out of things to do in Pisa after seeing the leaning tower and its adjacent monuments, very easily accomplished in a day. Lucca can be very nice, and a relief from all the motor traffic in Firenze, but you would simplify your trip enormously if you just slept every night in Firenze, since it is only 90 minutes from there without train changes to Rome.

You can use trains for the entire itinerary--easy, peasy! But why are you spending so much of your time in Pisa?

train

www.trenitalia.it for schedules and pricing, although you will need to wait to purchase as the site has some problems with US credit cards.

Many people feel that 2nd class is the better buy with very reasonable amenities.

In Italy buying point to point tickets is chepaer than passes.

there are I believe several discussions here on the logistics of buying at Italian stations. You can also google for more how to info.

You'll have the advantage of Venice Santa Lucia as your first station, relatively small and user friendly. If your dates are locked in, you may purchase all your travel tickets there for all your connections.

I agree. We went to Pisa. Once seeing the leaning tower and the Church....that is it. Florence is a wonderful city and there is so much to do and see there. Day trips are so easy by train.
Don't forget to go to go to villa d'ESte in Tivole, Italy.
It is just beautiful. Very close to Roma

I think everyone is thrown off by the OP's unconventional way of listing the trip. Here's How I read it:

Venice (2 nts)
Venice to Florence
Florence (3 nts)
Florence to Pisa
1/2 day in Pisa
Pisa to Lucca
Lucca (1 nt)
Lucca to Rome
Rome (3 nts)

Which makes perfect sense, though as others have said, I would not relocate for one night in Lucca. I'd daytrip from Florence, especially since a train to Rome will probably pass through Florence on the way to Rome.

And as others have said, this entire trip is easily done by train.

So Ellenem, you think we should forego our night stay in Lucca and travel back to Florence, then from there go to Rome.

I guess I do not know logistically the distance between these places...we will be in Venice (Arrive 11:00 am) Fri-Sat, Flor Sun-Tues, Pisa/Lucca Wed, Rome Thur-Sat, fly home Sun early a.m.. Just thought a night's stay in Lucca, walled city, would be quaint...maybe not. Just a day visit to both Pisa and Lucca and back to Florence to head to Rome....I'm getting frazzled now. Trip dates are Sept 24-Oct 4, 2009.

Where is Firenze? I really should have researched this better, huh?

Should we just keep Venice,Florence and Rome hotels and do a day trip to Pisa for the tower, that is all we are going there for anyway and then picked Lucca, just seemed like a neat place, is there somewhere else to go, duh, I am sure...it's Italy. Love wine tasting, gardens...it's me, my sister and mom, just creating a memorable trip...we're up for ideas....we're clueless...help, anyone.

Agree just to stay in Venice (Venezia), Florence (Firene) and Rome (Roma) and do Pisa and Lucca as day trip. Much easier than adding another hotel and all the logistics involved,.

Firenze (with a 'z') is what Italians call Florence. It is important to know when you are looking for trains, and to be spell it correctly if you use the internet to look up train schedules.

Be aware that Firenze has more than one train station, as does Pisa. Be sure you get off at the right stops. Any good tourist guide book will help you with that.

Thank you. I feel really dumb. Just realized, thanks to nytraveler that Firenze IS Florence......I am slowly but surely getting it, ha!

Thanks again...

D.

To take a train from Lucca to Rome you will have to change trains at the main train station in Florence. I would not check out a hotel, drag my luggage to Pisa and then to Lucca and check into a new hotel just for one night, especially if I have to return to Florence the next day anyway. I'm not a fan of one-night stays. Lucca is a nice place and does have those walls, but it's not the dreamlike scenery of a town on a hill. Only you can decide if the change of location for one night is worthwhile.

You can check all the train schedules here.

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html

For your itinerary--average trip duration:
Travel Day 1: Venice to Florence--3 hrs
Travel Day 2: Florence to Pisa --1 hr 10 min; Pisa to Lucca--30 min
Travel Day 3: Lucca to Rome-- 3 hr 40 min (change at Florence after 1 hr 25 min)

Eliminating overnight in Lucca--average trip duration:
Travel Day 1: Venice to Florence--3 hrs
Travel Day 2: Florence to Pisa --1 hr 10 min; Pisa to Lucca--30 min; Lucca to Florence 1 hr 25 min
Travel Day 3: Florence to Rome-- 1 hr 35 min

I think it might be time to invest in a guidebook.

I personally would just do Pisa as a daytrip and spend more time in Lucca, which is lovely.

Thank you all so much.

Ellenem, I will definitely eliminate the overnight in Lucca. You have laid this out perfectly. Day trip only to Pisa-Lucca and back to Florence.

I do have a guidebook, just need to read and PAY ATTENTION more to what I am doing....thank you all so much.

Okay all, I am working this out. I think I take the train from Venice to Florence. Florence to Pisa, a local bus from Pisa to Lucca, right? Surely not the train for a 30 min ride. Then the train from Lucca back to Florence. Train from Florence to Rome.

Whew.

D.

Why not a train rather than a bus. for me, it would depend on departure times and locations. There are more than one train station in Pisa.

K. Just wasn't sure. Will do train.

Thanks.

Sorry--I got called away and hit "submit" without rereading.

The Pisa train station closest to the Fields of Miracles where I assume you are headed to visit the Duomo and Leaning Tower is just a short five-minute walk from the Pisa San Rossore train station which is on the line to Lucca. From there the ride takes about 30 minutes. From the closest bus stop, I believe the bus ride takes 30-40 minutes as well.

I would go to Lucca first from Florence (bus or train - they take about the same amount of time - 70 minutes). Tour Lucca, have lunch, train to Pisa (get off at S. Rossore), tour Pisa, train back to Florence (probably from Pisa Centrale which is a short bus ride from the tower).

If you hope to climb the tower in Pisa, be sure to make a reservation.

Don't miss the Baptistry in Pisa, its beside the Cathedral and Tower. Long time since I was there and it is relatively unvisited but worth it

kybourbon - I am from KY, love your name...and bourbon, ha.

Sounds like a smart idea to do Lucca first, lunch in Lucca, wonderful.

Just going to see, not climb tower in Pisa and do want to see the tower and bapistry but that was all we had planned for Pisa. And any "happy accidents" along the way...

Thanks again to all,

D.

The reason I suggest Lucca before lunch is because many things close for the afternoon in Lucca. I would do it on your Monday in Florence as many of the Florence museums are closed on Monday. If it's hot, it might be better to take the bus which will have AC. The local r trains to Lucca probably won't.

kybourbon - great to know. thank you.

Another question...

Can we do Lucca, Pisa and Siena all in one day trip?

Lucca early a.m. and lunch, Pisa -the tower, baptistry and cathedral sights which won't take time at all, then to Siena for late afternoon/early night - back to FLorence late, if need be. Maybe see Siena at night????

D.

That would be a hectic day. It takes longer to get to Siena from Pisa than from Florence. The last train or bus back to Florence from Siena won't be much later than 9pm.

Okay, so I have another thought... what about Fiesole?

We want something "tuscany" looking.... to stroll around, see hillsides, flowers, sip wine and take in ITALY.

We have sight-seeing and attractions planned, we want somewhere to stroll, shop...chill...

D.

Fiesole is on a hill overlooking Florence and is accessble via the local Florence city bus system. You can decide to go there any day the weather looks good and just catch the next bus. Since it's so easy to reach (#7 bus from the train station) you can go for an hour or two to stroll or sit in a cafe.

Ahhhhh, perfect. Awesome. Another question....money exchange..do we do before we leave or wait until in Italy.

You will want to use your ATM card at bank cash machines to get Euros. It is the least expensive and easiest method. About 5 days prior to your trip, make sure you notify your bank of your trip so that you can use your card in Italy.

For accessing cash in Italy, usually your best bet is an ATM card linked to your checking account at home. It should have access to the major networks like STAR, Cirrus etc. If it is a VISA logoed card you should not have a problem.

There are ATM machinces everywhere in Italy, called Bancomats.

Remember to alert your bank and your credit card companies of the dates you will be overseas so that they do not lock your cards as possible fraudulent use when they see the foreign transactions.

YOu may also want to check on the daily withdrawal limit associated with your ATM card and have the bank raise it while you are overseas. things are more expensive and with the exchange rate 100 euros will be about 150USD.

you might also want to check with the bank about any fees added for foreign transactions.

Many folks like to land with at least 50 or 100 euros in their possession in case of problems, your call. You could pick up a bit at your departure airport (higher fees usually).

With regard to transportation-

Depending on your hotel locations, you will probably want to take a taxi from the train station to your hotel. Make sure you use the taxis at the official taxi stand. Do not use a taxi offered by someone who just walks up to you with their offer of service.

You can have your hotel arrange for your taxi in Rome to take you to the airport on your departure day. Ask them to do so the day before.

There are a few transportation methods to get from the Venice airport to hotels. If you post your hotel link we can advise.

Wow, this is all great info. Thank you, thank you.

I will get some euro's before we leave and the rest ATM. I already called bank re: trip for card usage, thanks for the info though.

Hotels: Venice Hotel Bernardi
Florence Hotel Ariston Firenze
Rome San Miniato Bed and Breakfast

Actually, your Venice hotel has some good directions on their website to get you to your hotel. And, you will be staying near 2 of my favorite places for pizza in Venice- Casa Mia and La Perla. Have your hotel give you directions to them.

The thing I will add is that you can take the inexpensive (3 euro) express bus (leaves from right outside the airport terminal doors) to Piazzale Roma and then from there the #1 vaporetto to the Ca’d’Oro stop. The bus ride take no more than 20 minutes and the vaporetto (which leaves from right there at the Piazzale Roma) takes 15 minutes. This would probably be the least expensive way to arrive.

You can also take the ALILAGUNA launch (13 euro) to Fondamente Nuove stop (40 minutes) then 8 to 10 minutes on foot. This would include a walk from the terminal to the boat dock (~10 minutes).

Here is a link with more information-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/venice/dm_transportation.htm


You will need a taxi to get from the train station to your hotel in Florence.

Yikes! I don't think you will enjoy the location of your Rome B&B. It doesn't seem to be very centrally located. Is there a reason you chose this hotel and location?

Here is some great info on Italy trains-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

In Venice you will not be very far from one of our favorite restaurants. Vini da Gigio, try them for lunch or dinner.

http://www.vinidagigio.com/index_eng.html

If you like movies, Pane e Tulipani (Bread and Tulips) is a wonderful film about an italian woman's adventure in Venice. Makes a good whetting of the appetite for Venice. Should be available on DVD for rental.

Oh, yes notbob, I agree on Pane e Tulipani. A wonderful movie!

Zoecat, Poop, I just picked all hotels via internet/price. Where else would you recommend in Rome, prob a million places, huh. This place is only €70 a night, prob get what you pay for. Give me some centrally located "cheap" places. I want safety, but no luxuries needed. Just a place to shower and sleep, basically.

I will rent movie, thank you notbob.

D.

D.

Your Rome hotel is too far out. If you don't mind a convent (midnight curfew/private bath), there are quite a few in the historic center for close to that price. You might try Santa Sofia, Il Rosario (both within a couple of minutes walk of the forum) or Fraterna Domus which is by Piazza Navona(11 pm curfew).

D,

I usually stay in an apartment, but I know that this B&B gets good reviews and is well located-

http://www.nicolasinn.com/en

Search through the reviews in the Colosseo, Navona, Pantheon, Piazza di Spagna, and Trevi areas on this link (you should be able to find something)-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/hotels/list.asp?r=Rome

You could also do a search on this forum for "inexpensive Rome hotels".

Or, start a new thread with the question.

Thank you. Will do more research.

I've never been to Rome, but just by Googling Dawn3333's choice of hotels in Rome, it looks to be in the heart of things. If you want far out, try this address...viale vaticsno 53.

When I googled San Miniato B&B in Rome, I found its location outside Porta Maggiore at Via Montepulciano 47--seems far out to me.

You can really simplify your travel logistics by getting a room within easy shlepping distance to the Termini station- there are tons within a few blocks, especially towards Via Cavour and Santa Maria Maggiore, ranging from basic to fancy.

I'd consider that to be in easy walking distance of the centro storico, but I enjoy walking. If you don't like walking though, you probably won't like Rome. It's really the only reasonable way to see it to me.

fumobici- We love to walk so I will try these areas. Thank you!

This is frustrating, but I know well worth it...soon I will be in Italy...what more could I ask for!

D.

My bad, ellenem. Not sure what I googled before (bad google!) but you are right. That B&B is even further out that the place I originally booked. At least I was in the City!

I hope Dawn3333 is successful in her quest.

zoecat - We loved La Perla also. Stumbled upon it on our last day in Venice last year and had absolutely loved the pizza! We'll try to find it and Casa Mia on our next trip.

SCFoodie,

I like to use the Chow! Venice guide for reserching and finding (great maps at the back of the book) places to eat and drink in Venice. La Perla and Casa Mia are both in the book. If you do not already have a copy, pick one up before your next visit!

http://www.chowbellabooks.com/

zoecat - thanks for the tip!

Another vote for Chow!Venice; we ate so much better on our second trip to Venice with this book in hand.

Siena is not on your original itinerary, but you mentioned it later. Anyway I think the train station is outside of the main city. Siena is a walled city, so if you do decide to add Siena, the bus should be more convenient. However I only know about the Florence-Siena bus.

I don't know Pisa or Lucca, so I can't comment, but the Siena campo is justly famous.

Thanks 111op. My mom really wants to get Siena in, so we will try. Everyone has said how beautiful it is.

D.