Italy
Jun 30th, 2014, 04:12 PM
#1
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Italy
I've never been to Italy before and am looking to do Venice, Florence and Rome and maybe the Amalfi Coast. I have no idea where to even begin, can I take a train, should I do a guided tour, rent a car etc. I am looking for next summer, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jun 30th, 2014, 04:19 PM
#2
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First you need to provide a little more info>
Are you just a single person? A couple? A family - and what ages?
How much time will you have to see all these places?
What are your major interests?
You will find that most posters here are independent travelers who will generally say you will have a better trip at lower cost - unless there is some specific reason to take a tour. With that itinerary taking the train makes the most sense by far. Car rental makes sense only if you want to do a lot of countryside - not major cities or AC resorts.
Are you just a single person? A couple? A family - and what ages?
How much time will you have to see all these places?
What are your major interests?
You will find that most posters here are independent travelers who will generally say you will have a better trip at lower cost - unless there is some specific reason to take a tour. With that itinerary taking the train makes the most sense by far. Car rental makes sense only if you want to do a lot of countryside - not major cities or AC resorts.
Jun 30th, 2014, 04:36 PM
#3
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I am doing a very similar trip this August. My friend and I will fly into Venice, train to Florence, then train to Chuisi where we will be picked up by my Italian friends and shown around Umbria for a couple of days. We will then take the train to Rome and fly home from there. This is a 10-day trip.
We will not be doing any tours, preferring to organize our own blocks of time in various locations. We will not rent a car.
Get a good guide book and start planning!
We will not be doing any tours, preferring to organize our own blocks of time in various locations. We will not rent a car.
Get a good guide book and start planning!
Jun 30th, 2014, 07:41 PM
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Make sure you have enough time for three or four destinations. That's my best advice.
Dozens (maybe hundreds) of folks come here for help but have planned on too many stops in too short a time.
For three cities, I say no less than 9 nights on the ground.
For the big three and the AC, try to stretch it to 13.
If you are coming from the US, begin to think about flying in to one city and out of another.
Start reading. Take all the Italy guidebooks out of the library. You can buy one or two after you see which pleases you.
Dozens (maybe hundreds) of folks come here for help but have planned on too many stops in too short a time.
For three cities, I say no less than 9 nights on the ground.
For the big three and the AC, try to stretch it to 13.
If you are coming from the US, begin to think about flying in to one city and out of another.
Start reading. Take all the Italy guidebooks out of the library. You can buy one or two after you see which pleases you.
Jul 1st, 2014, 04:01 AM
#7
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Begin right here. Look at the top of the page and click on Destinations. Read about the cities and their delights. Take notes. Think about your choices. Especially think about why you are going in the first place so you know what you want.
Or you can pay a travel agent or tour packager to do the work, and the thinking, for you, but it's fun to do it yourself.
Or you can pay a travel agent or tour packager to do the work, and the thinking, for you, but it's fun to do it yourself.
Jul 1st, 2014, 04:17 AM
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Two friends recently recommended this tour company for Italy:http://www.insightvacations.com/ca/destinations/italy
Both were "single" but paired up with a friend of their choice to do the tour and each has raved about the inclusions, attractions they saw, the fact the guides were "miked" to each person so they got a full explanation of every site they saw. This is an option if you don't want to go the independent route. After having done 3 weeks in Italy on our own and comparing what we paid for hotels, I see that the tour prices are cheaper because they get volume discounts for hotels, air etc etc. It all depends on what you want to try. My girlfriends are Canadians but met Germans, Australians, Americans and British guest on the tour.
Both were "single" but paired up with a friend of their choice to do the tour and each has raved about the inclusions, attractions they saw, the fact the guides were "miked" to each person so they got a full explanation of every site they saw. This is an option if you don't want to go the independent route. After having done 3 weeks in Italy on our own and comparing what we paid for hotels, I see that the tour prices are cheaper because they get volume discounts for hotels, air etc etc. It all depends on what you want to try. My girlfriends are Canadians but met Germans, Australians, Americans and British guest on the tour.
Jul 1st, 2014, 04:46 AM
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If you plan on summer travel, go as early in the summer as possible. If you can go in May, so much the better as Rome and Florence are quite hot in the summer and all of your destinations are quite crowded. If you decide on all 4 destinations, I suggest 16 days on the ground. Travel between locations takes up a lot of time and you should have 3-4 days in each city. Follow the advice above and fly into your first city and home from your last.
Have fun planning and come back for more specific advice once you have settled on the details.
Have fun planning and come back for more specific advice once you have settled on the details.
Jul 1st, 2014, 05:25 AM
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Excellent, excellent advice here.
The emphasis on "Days on the Ground" is critical. Although train journeys are brief, getting up, eating breakfast, getting to the station, getting from the station to your hotel in a new city, checking in, washing up, and having a bite to eat will take you all morning and mid day. You will only be able to do stuff from 2-3 PM on. Not good if you have a long list.
The emphasis on "Days on the Ground" is critical. Although train journeys are brief, getting up, eating breakfast, getting to the station, getting from the station to your hotel in a new city, checking in, washing up, and having a bite to eat will take you all morning and mid day. You will only be able to do stuff from 2-3 PM on. Not good if you have a long list.
