Italy - best two central locations
Feb 7th, 2016, 10:51 AM
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Italy - best two central locations
Friends heading to southern Italy. Visits with family for a few days at the start and end of the trip with time in between to tour around, so we need to land back down south at the end. We want to do way too much over the 21 days so figure we need to be somewhat flexible in the transportation. Also need to be flexible in case family trips are planned. Here is our wish list:
Sicily - may be a family trip as we will be close to the Messina, but not sure if that is a day on a train, car or simply this round. If you had one day in Sicily where would you go? It will take us an hour to get to Messina.
Matera/Bali/East Coast - Trying to figure out the best way to see this area. Train from Lamezia area or Catanzaro would be nice and then are there buses that take you into the region? We are thinking a very long day trip, but maybe this might be the one where we start a train to the rest of Italy from where we will be staying (in between Lamezia/Catanzaro)? Help? I really would love to see these beautiful places.
Now into the travelling away from home base ...We are looking for two central spots...we think?
One to use for commute/day trips to Pompeii/AC/Rome/Naples with Sorrento, Rome and Pompeii hiking up the volcano must dos. Was thinking Formia/Gaeta area but now wondering if it would be better to stay in Sorrento and just commute a couple days to Rome?
The other area would be north and just can't decide. We'd love to see the Verona area (i.e. wine and history) for a day, also go to Cinque Terre (hopefully some of the hike but likely have to do train/bus too as will only have a day), Florence/Pisa (this is a much looked forward to stop with history, art and shopping) and Tuscany (Wine and Hot Springs / baths). Is Bologna a good place, or Genoa, of just stay closer to Florence and commute up...or maybe more than two bases? Or??
We know we have an incredible amount packed in and don't mind long days/train trips. We will be there in May.
Help please? We are going to taking trains/buses and may have to do a tour of Tuscany if limited time. We don't mind renting a car if it is better for any part of the trip, but prefer not to if possible??
Thanks to all for your help!
Sicily - may be a family trip as we will be close to the Messina, but not sure if that is a day on a train, car or simply this round. If you had one day in Sicily where would you go? It will take us an hour to get to Messina.
Matera/Bali/East Coast - Trying to figure out the best way to see this area. Train from Lamezia area or Catanzaro would be nice and then are there buses that take you into the region? We are thinking a very long day trip, but maybe this might be the one where we start a train to the rest of Italy from where we will be staying (in between Lamezia/Catanzaro)? Help? I really would love to see these beautiful places.
Now into the travelling away from home base ...We are looking for two central spots...we think?
One to use for commute/day trips to Pompeii/AC/Rome/Naples with Sorrento, Rome and Pompeii hiking up the volcano must dos. Was thinking Formia/Gaeta area but now wondering if it would be better to stay in Sorrento and just commute a couple days to Rome?
The other area would be north and just can't decide. We'd love to see the Verona area (i.e. wine and history) for a day, also go to Cinque Terre (hopefully some of the hike but likely have to do train/bus too as will only have a day), Florence/Pisa (this is a much looked forward to stop with history, art and shopping) and Tuscany (Wine and Hot Springs / baths). Is Bologna a good place, or Genoa, of just stay closer to Florence and commute up...or maybe more than two bases? Or??
We know we have an incredible amount packed in and don't mind long days/train trips. We will be there in May.
Help please? We are going to taking trains/buses and may have to do a tour of Tuscany if limited time. We don't mind renting a car if it is better for any part of the trip, but prefer not to if possible??
Thanks to all for your help!
Feb 7th, 2016, 02:23 PM
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I can understand your desire to see all these places, but I don't think trying to do so in a trip of 21 days is a good idea -- you will spend MUCH too much of your time in transit, with far too little time actually seeing anything. Have you looked yet at just how long some of these trips will be? Or determined whether you will actually have enough time in any of the places you visit to actually see the things you want to see?
You might want to try marking up a calendar, including all of your transportation time, as well as some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.), and don't forget meals, hours during which the things you want to see are closed, etc.
Good luck!
You might want to try marking up a calendar, including all of your transportation time, as well as some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.), and don't forget meals, hours during which the things you want to see are closed, etc.
Good luck!
Feb 7th, 2016, 03:37 PM
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Your post is really kind of confusing. Where exactly is the family you are going to visit? Where are you flying into? How many days do you plan to stay with them? You said you want to be sort of flexible but that's not really realistic in May. Places like the Amalfi Coast and Rome really need reservations. Of course it's probably possible but you'll waste a lot of time and money trying to travel in those areas without reservations. If you give more details then we can advise you better. Why do need to return to the family at the end of the trip, can't you just put them at one end or the other and then save all the backtracking?
If you want to see the places you mentioned in the Amalfi Coast area an Rome you should probably plan on at least a few days in each. Sorrento would be the best base for what you mention (Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Naples). I would say a minimum of 4 nights (which is really 3 days) and that would be rushed but you could do one day to Amalfi and Positano, one day to Pompeii and one to Naples. If you want to see anything in Rome you'll need at least three nights (and that would be very rushed).
You are mentioning a lot of places in the northern part. How many days do you have to allocate to that portion of the trip? From a base in Florence you can easily do day trips to Siena, and to Lucca and Pisa, and take a day tour to some Tuscan hilltowns. Some people do the Cinque Terre as a (very rushed) day trip from Florence. But that's a minimum of 4 or 5 nights.
If you want to see the places you mentioned in the Amalfi Coast area an Rome you should probably plan on at least a few days in each. Sorrento would be the best base for what you mention (Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Naples). I would say a minimum of 4 nights (which is really 3 days) and that would be rushed but you could do one day to Amalfi and Positano, one day to Pompeii and one to Naples. If you want to see anything in Rome you'll need at least three nights (and that would be very rushed).
You are mentioning a lot of places in the northern part. How many days do you have to allocate to that portion of the trip? From a base in Florence you can easily do day trips to Siena, and to Lucca and Pisa, and take a day tour to some Tuscan hilltowns. Some people do the Cinque Terre as a (very rushed) day trip from Florence. But that's a minimum of 4 or 5 nights.
Feb 7th, 2016, 03:59 PM
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It is really confirming what I was thinking. For context we are escorting my girlfriend's Mom and she is staying with her ailing sister while we travel hence why we need to go back. We are flying in/out from Lamezia.
On the reservations for May that is really good to know. We were actually hoping to avoid multiple unpacking hence central locations for a base.
We have 4 days on both sides with family so travel from 11th to 23rd to central and north.
So the first part sounds exactly what we were thinking but could we use Sorrento as a base for a couple nights commuting to Rome or too far?
I think we really would like to go to Florence and then wine regions. We were thinking Tuscany and Verona area over 5 or 6 days.
Not including 11th and 23rd as travel days we are thinking 11 or 12 days. If we could spend 5 at each central spot...would it be Sorrento and Florence?
Really appreciate the advice all.
Fyi. We are looking at B&B type lodging right now too.
On the reservations for May that is really good to know. We were actually hoping to avoid multiple unpacking hence central locations for a base.
We have 4 days on both sides with family so travel from 11th to 23rd to central and north.
So the first part sounds exactly what we were thinking but could we use Sorrento as a base for a couple nights commuting to Rome or too far?
I think we really would like to go to Florence and then wine regions. We were thinking Tuscany and Verona area over 5 or 6 days.
Not including 11th and 23rd as travel days we are thinking 11 or 12 days. If we could spend 5 at each central spot...would it be Sorrento and Florence?
Really appreciate the advice all.
Fyi. We are looking at B&B type lodging right now too.
Feb 7th, 2016, 04:31 PM
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Commuting from Sorrento to Rome is really a nonsense. You would be spending more than 5 hours just in transit - leaving you few hours in Rome - and I think after dinner in Rome it would be too late to get back to sorrento unless you don;t mind getting back to the hotel after 1 am on the local train.
Feb 7th, 2016, 04:41 PM
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Honestly, I don't think any of us can answer the questions as you are framing them. Sorry! It simply depends too much on what YOU want to see an experience.
Just one example: A day trip to Rome would drive me nuts -- I hate spending a lot of time in transit for a day trip, and I felt hard pressed to see the things I most wanted to see in Rome with 5 full days there (6 nights). Other people might think it an efficient use of precious time.
So again, hit the guidebooks, identify your highest priorities, and work with a calendar (and GOOD information about transportation) to figure out what will work best for you.
For lodging, including B&Bs, look at booking.com
Just one example: A day trip to Rome would drive me nuts -- I hate spending a lot of time in transit for a day trip, and I felt hard pressed to see the things I most wanted to see in Rome with 5 full days there (6 nights). Other people might think it an efficient use of precious time.
So again, hit the guidebooks, identify your highest priorities, and work with a calendar (and GOOD information about transportation) to figure out what will work best for you.
For lodging, including B&Bs, look at booking.com
Feb 7th, 2016, 05:01 PM
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Same question.
Why do you need to go to the same area twice, especially South, not near major airports? That will eat up a lot of travel time and money.
You are wanting to go the whole length, North to South, of Italy, which is a very long country.
For the places you want to see, only two bases won't work. Too much time wasted going back and fourth.
Sicily for only one day doesn't seem a good plan, especially considering where you come into the country. You won't have many choices of what to see because most places are too far to travel for a day.
The East Coast is way to far from Catanzaro for a day trip.
When is the trip? Will weather (hot or cold or rainy, etc.) be an issue?
How long will you stay with family?
How many are in your group?
Ages?
With so many places, what are your priorities?
How important is Sicily to you?
Rome?
Allow travel time.
Very important: do your 21 days include arrival and departure days? Exactly how many days on the ground?
Remember, you will need to be in the city of departure the night before.
Playing around with itinerary timing, just a start. Still pretty rushed, but doable.
Land someplace in the North, perhaps Florence.
Florence - 4 nights (3 days)
Travel to Rome (1/4 day travel)
Rome - 3 nights (2 days & 3/4 days)
Travel to Sorrento (3/4 day travel)
Sorrento - 4 nights (3 days. 1 for Pompeii, 1 for Capri, 1 for AC)
Travel to (Matera, coast, etc? 1/2 day travel) - 3 nights, 2 1/2 days
Travel to Canataro - (travel 1/2 day?) 4 nights? (3 & 1/2 days)
That is 17 days.
Add a day to return to departure city, 18 days.
Leaves about 2, maybe 3 days.
Add them to the family time?
Add them at the beginning for the CT?
No time for Sicily.
If you go to Sicily rather than the CT, stay there and fly home from Catania or Palermo, so not backtracking. Might be easier to depart from there than to go back to Naples or Rome for a flight.
Why do you need to go to the same area twice, especially South, not near major airports? That will eat up a lot of travel time and money.
You are wanting to go the whole length, North to South, of Italy, which is a very long country.
For the places you want to see, only two bases won't work. Too much time wasted going back and fourth.
Sicily for only one day doesn't seem a good plan, especially considering where you come into the country. You won't have many choices of what to see because most places are too far to travel for a day.
The East Coast is way to far from Catanzaro for a day trip.
When is the trip? Will weather (hot or cold or rainy, etc.) be an issue?
How long will you stay with family?
How many are in your group?
Ages?
With so many places, what are your priorities?
How important is Sicily to you?
Rome?
Allow travel time.
Very important: do your 21 days include arrival and departure days? Exactly how many days on the ground?
Remember, you will need to be in the city of departure the night before.
Playing around with itinerary timing, just a start. Still pretty rushed, but doable.
Land someplace in the North, perhaps Florence.
Florence - 4 nights (3 days)
Travel to Rome (1/4 day travel)
Rome - 3 nights (2 days & 3/4 days)
Travel to Sorrento (3/4 day travel)
Sorrento - 4 nights (3 days. 1 for Pompeii, 1 for Capri, 1 for AC)
Travel to (Matera, coast, etc? 1/2 day travel) - 3 nights, 2 1/2 days
Travel to Canataro - (travel 1/2 day?) 4 nights? (3 & 1/2 days)
That is 17 days.
Add a day to return to departure city, 18 days.
Leaves about 2, maybe 3 days.
Add them to the family time?
Add them at the beginning for the CT?
No time for Sicily.
If you go to Sicily rather than the CT, stay there and fly home from Catania or Palermo, so not backtracking. Might be easier to depart from there than to go back to Naples or Rome for a flight.
Feb 7th, 2016, 05:10 PM
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Just read your recent posts and info. How about arriving in the North and putting girl friend's Mom on a flight to her family? If not, then you really have to narrow your places to visit. Rome is definitely not a day trip from Sorrento! If you are going to Florence anyway, just stop in Rome for a couple of nights on the way to Sorrento.
Feb 8th, 2016, 12:31 AM
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I will be devil's advocate here and say sure you can do a day trip to Rome. It just requires an early start and late finish. Aim to be on the first train out of Sorrento at 6am and connect with a service from Naples to Rome by 7am-7.30am. You will be in Rome by 8.45 and ready to enjoy your day.
Feb 8th, 2016, 03:17 AM
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If you travel light then packing and unpacking is not that big a deal as long as you don't do it every day. I'm a big fan of day trips from bases but sometimes it really makes more sense to have more bases.
Starting on the 11th I'd do five nights in Sorrento (the 11th being a travel day so you need an 'extra' day there besides the number of days for the things you want to see). Then train to Rome early and spend two nights (16th & 17th). Then to Florence. I'd probably split it and do 3 nights Florence and 2 Verona but you could do Verona as a day trip from Florence (about 2 hours each way on the train).
If I'm going to move frequently and only have 1-3 nights in a place I try to pick hotels fairly close to the train stations (right next to them can be a less desirable area, but five minutes walk away, in the direction of the town center, can be nice). That way it minimizes the amount of time getting to and from the hotel so when you arrive in a town you just walk to the hotel, drop your bags and can start sight seeing.
Starting on the 11th I'd do five nights in Sorrento (the 11th being a travel day so you need an 'extra' day there besides the number of days for the things you want to see). Then train to Rome early and spend two nights (16th & 17th). Then to Florence. I'd probably split it and do 3 nights Florence and 2 Verona but you could do Verona as a day trip from Florence (about 2 hours each way on the train).
If I'm going to move frequently and only have 1-3 nights in a place I try to pick hotels fairly close to the train stations (right next to them can be a less desirable area, but five minutes walk away, in the direction of the town center, can be nice). That way it minimizes the amount of time getting to and from the hotel so when you arrive in a town you just walk to the hotel, drop your bags and can start sight seeing.
Feb 8th, 2016, 08:13 AM
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To do that trip from Sorrento to Rome, everything has to work perfectly time wise. The fast train from Naples to Rome is expensive, 44 euros plus possible reservation costs.
First, 20 minutes to 1/2 hour from hotel to train station in Sorrento.
If you get a direct train, about 45 minutes Sorrento to Naples.
Non direct is 1 hour, 18 minute.
Allow five minutes or so in Naples to go from one station to the other.
Fast train to Rome about an hour.
Regular train, 1 & 1/2 hour or more.
So minimum, if all goes perfectly, from hotel to Rome, 2 hours, 15 minutes +
Average time, 3 hours +
First, 20 minutes to 1/2 hour from hotel to train station in Sorrento.
If you get a direct train, about 45 minutes Sorrento to Naples.
Non direct is 1 hour, 18 minute.
Allow five minutes or so in Naples to go from one station to the other.
Fast train to Rome about an hour.
Regular train, 1 & 1/2 hour or more.
So minimum, if all goes perfectly, from hotel to Rome, 2 hours, 15 minutes +
Average time, 3 hours +
Feb 8th, 2016, 09:09 AM
#13
1) Aaaaaaaargh
2) Get a map and see how big the country is.
3) Go on viamichelin (not google) and do some road trip times
4) Go on rome2rio and get a few train times
5) Then you need to understand that many Italian cities do not allow non-locals to drive cars in them
6) Wine region, the WHOLE country is a wine region! it is either the world's biggest or second biggest producer of wine.
So what most people do, normally in pairs or up to 3 people is to use the train to get about and if they want to do exploring in non train areas (lots down south) they hire a car. Not everyone but it is a style of travel.
Great idea to base in Florence, you can spend days in Florence visiting fine art, or you can take trains to Pisa/Lucca/Siena or into Umbria.
Being based in Napoli is not bad and gets you access to the Amalfi Coast/the volcano and Pompei/Herculanium etc.
Or Roma (loads to do here).
Matera/Bali/East Coast (Matera is in the middle of the south) Bali?? maybe you mean Bari. I'd stay some where like Gioia di colli. Not very special in itself (the USA bombed Libya from here) but they make nice Chardonnay and Buffalo mozzerela. It is well placed for lots of other towns like Martina Franca (which is a bit nicer but too far away to be a centre) or Gravina (with churches cut into the cliffs under the town) but the town is a bit meh. Just a clue about southern Italian towns, they tend to look a bit sordid on the outside, but the old heart (centro storico) is often wonderful. Gioia has a Norman castle hidden away in the centre.
B&B look out also for agriturismo and masseria, both tend to be farms converted into B&B type places, masseria tend to be fortified against the Turks/Libyan/Greeks you name it.
2) Get a map and see how big the country is.
3) Go on viamichelin (not google) and do some road trip times
4) Go on rome2rio and get a few train times
5) Then you need to understand that many Italian cities do not allow non-locals to drive cars in them
6) Wine region, the WHOLE country is a wine region! it is either the world's biggest or second biggest producer of wine.
So what most people do, normally in pairs or up to 3 people is to use the train to get about and if they want to do exploring in non train areas (lots down south) they hire a car. Not everyone but it is a style of travel.
Great idea to base in Florence, you can spend days in Florence visiting fine art, or you can take trains to Pisa/Lucca/Siena or into Umbria.
Being based in Napoli is not bad and gets you access to the Amalfi Coast/the volcano and Pompei/Herculanium etc.
Or Roma (loads to do here).
Matera/Bali/East Coast (Matera is in the middle of the south) Bali?? maybe you mean Bari. I'd stay some where like Gioia di colli. Not very special in itself (the USA bombed Libya from here) but they make nice Chardonnay and Buffalo mozzerela. It is well placed for lots of other towns like Martina Franca (which is a bit nicer but too far away to be a centre) or Gravina (with churches cut into the cliffs under the town) but the town is a bit meh. Just a clue about southern Italian towns, they tend to look a bit sordid on the outside, but the old heart (centro storico) is often wonderful. Gioia has a Norman castle hidden away in the centre.
B&B look out also for agriturismo and masseria, both tend to be farms converted into B&B type places, masseria tend to be fortified against the Turks/Libyan/Greeks you name it.
Feb 8th, 2016, 09:11 AM
#14
mich, could you give us a schedule of what dates are basically available and which are "held" for family events so we could look for tie ups etc? I know it may be open to change but we your plan looks too big and complicated and we need to see the size a bit better.
Feb 8th, 2016, 11:08 AM
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@ sassafras - organisation is the key. If the OP books ahead they can get fares for 19 euro.
(How do you figure half an hour to get from hotel to the Sorrento station? That's a bit of a stretch)
If they OP leaves on the first CV out at 6.01am they are in Naples at 7.07 am so I don't know where you get your 1hr 18 minutes from.
I would allow longer than 5 min to get from the underground Garibaldi upstairs to the main platform - 5 minutes is rushing too much. Allow 15 minutes. Then 1 hour 10 min to Rome.
So my point stands - in Rome by 8.45 am and ready to have a great day.
If people are flying 15-25 hours to get to Italy in the first place then a 2.5 hour one way trip is neither here nor there and they shouldn't be dissuaded from taking what is essentially a very straightforward trip.
(How do you figure half an hour to get from hotel to the Sorrento station? That's a bit of a stretch)
If they OP leaves on the first CV out at 6.01am they are in Naples at 7.07 am so I don't know where you get your 1hr 18 minutes from.
I would allow longer than 5 min to get from the underground Garibaldi upstairs to the main platform - 5 minutes is rushing too much. Allow 15 minutes. Then 1 hour 10 min to Rome.
So my point stands - in Rome by 8.45 am and ready to have a great day.
If people are flying 15-25 hours to get to Italy in the first place then a 2.5 hour one way trip is neither here nor there and they shouldn't be dissuaded from taking what is essentially a very straightforward trip.
Feb 8th, 2016, 02:42 PM
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I have to first say a big thanks as this is the detail that helps.
So... I had a good smile today bilboburgler and blueeyedcod. I love wine, it is part of my problem and Italy has just way too much good stuff I also commute 2 hours to work as crazy as that sounds, so a 2hr train trip isn't going to be an issue. It is a nice time to sip coffee, collect thoughts, and step on train neighbours toes as we sardine it together .
I have been digging out all the train schedules. I am really happy on the suggestions of adding the times against location...sadly I believe Sicily is not this trip.
The detail on the south is amazing and thank you! We are going to make a day of travel and stops as we head north it seems as another great suggestion from Sassafras to start North. We can't start there but can do a train up the east to Bologna and then breathe.
We are travelling light as worried about dragging luggage.
Okay... so. In looking at actual train schedules and thinking CT is going to be in there plus Verona/Wine - does Bologna make sense as a spot for 5 days or is it too far from CT/Florence and Verona? It is such a short trip to Florence from there. Is this doable?
Below would mean leaving for the trip likely on the 10th if we want to see south first and then doing full 8 hr trip on 12th to Bologna
Day one land train from South, Bologna a bit (12th)
Day two - head to Verona and area (wine tour), train to Bologne
Day three - head to Florence, little Pisa side trip with dinner and then home to Bologne (late as 1hr to Pisa and really want to see a lot in Florence)
Day three - Cinque Terre (not sure whether to go via Pisa up or Genoa?) would do a train for part and walk other and expect a very long day .. back to Bologne
Day four/five - Bologne to Rome 2 hr trip, maybe base here a couple days
Day Six - Tour to Tuscany, Rome rest - maybe head to Sorrento late but worried on B&B check-in times...hum.
Day Seven - Rome to Sorrento, enjoy cafe, limoncello, cheese and shopping day.
Day Eight - Mt V and Pompei hiking
Day Nine - Amalfi Coast, shopping and enjoy
Day Ten - Naples, more Sorrento relax
Day Eleven - rest and head back south (22nd as would like to be back there by the 23rd).
When I was looking at tours, it was becoming challenging figuring out how to get from Sorrento to them on time, so thinking maybe need to be in Rome for a few days too? Also know we have to sacrifice hiking in CT for train to see it in just a day.
Okay... ready for thoughts and thanks again! Also, confused on if we should get a pass now as some trips will be long. Read a few sites and it sounds like it would be better to just book key ones in advance direct but interested if that has been your experiences given the agenda above??
Signed - exhausted already and maybe have to shorten a bit more
So... I had a good smile today bilboburgler and blueeyedcod. I love wine, it is part of my problem and Italy has just way too much good stuff
I also commute 2 hours to work as crazy as that sounds, so a 2hr train trip isn't going to be an issue. It is a nice time to sip coffee, collect thoughts, and step on train neighbours toes as we sardine it together .I have been digging out all the train schedules. I am really happy on the suggestions of adding the times against location...sadly I believe Sicily is not this trip.
The detail on the south is amazing and thank you! We are going to make a day of travel and stops as we head north it seems as another great suggestion from Sassafras to start North. We can't start there but can do a train up the east to Bologna and then breathe.
We are travelling light as worried about dragging luggage.
Okay... so. In looking at actual train schedules and thinking CT is going to be in there plus Verona/Wine - does Bologna make sense as a spot for 5 days or is it too far from CT/Florence and Verona? It is such a short trip to Florence from there. Is this doable?
Below would mean leaving for the trip likely on the 10th if we want to see south first and then doing full 8 hr trip on 12th to Bologna
Day one land train from South, Bologna a bit (12th)
Day two - head to Verona and area (wine tour), train to Bologne
Day three - head to Florence, little Pisa side trip with dinner and then home to Bologne (late as 1hr to Pisa and really want to see a lot in Florence)
Day three - Cinque Terre (not sure whether to go via Pisa up or Genoa?) would do a train for part and walk other and expect a very long day .. back to Bologne
Day four/five - Bologne to Rome 2 hr trip, maybe base here a couple days
Day Six - Tour to Tuscany, Rome rest - maybe head to Sorrento late but worried on B&B check-in times...hum.
Day Seven - Rome to Sorrento, enjoy cafe, limoncello, cheese and shopping day.
Day Eight - Mt V and Pompei hiking
Day Nine - Amalfi Coast, shopping and enjoy
Day Ten - Naples, more Sorrento relax
Day Eleven - rest and head back south (22nd as would like to be back there by the 23rd).
When I was looking at tours, it was becoming challenging figuring out how to get from Sorrento to them on time, so thinking maybe need to be in Rome for a few days too? Also know we have to sacrifice hiking in CT for train to see it in just a day.
Okay... ready for thoughts and thanks again! Also, confused on if we should get a pass now as some trips will be long. Read a few sites and it sounds like it would be better to just book key ones in advance direct but interested if that has been your experiences given the agenda above??
Signed - exhausted already and maybe have to shorten a bit more
Feb 8th, 2016, 04:19 PM
#17
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"Day three - head to Florence, little Pisa side trip with dinner and then home to Bologne (late as 1hr to Pisa and really want to see a lot in Florence)"
I'm not sure you can see a LOT in Florence with this schedule, but then your idea of a lot and mine seem to differ -- I didn't see everything I wanted to see in Florence, and I had 5 full days there.
"Day three - Cinque Terre "
Possible, I suppose, but ONLY if the weather cooperates.
"When I was looking at tours, it was becoming challenging figuring out how to get from Sorrento to them on time"
What tours are you considering? Most of what you say you want to see in the area can be easily seen on one's own -- assuming, of course, you give yourself enough time to do so.
"Read a few sites and it sounds like it would be better to just book key ones in advance direct "
There are some places for which you definitely need advance reservations (e.g., the Academia in Florence, the Borghese in Rome), but I'm not sure you actually have time to visit any of them with the schedule you are proposing.
I'm not sure you can see a LOT in Florence with this schedule, but then your idea of a lot and mine seem to differ -- I didn't see everything I wanted to see in Florence, and I had 5 full days there.
"Day three - Cinque Terre "
Possible, I suppose, but ONLY if the weather cooperates.
"When I was looking at tours, it was becoming challenging figuring out how to get from Sorrento to them on time"
What tours are you considering? Most of what you say you want to see in the area can be easily seen on one's own -- assuming, of course, you give yourself enough time to do so.
"Read a few sites and it sounds like it would be better to just book key ones in advance direct "
There are some places for which you definitely need advance reservations (e.g., the Academia in Florence, the Borghese in Rome), but I'm not sure you actually have time to visit any of them with the schedule you are proposing.
Feb 8th, 2016, 04:32 PM
#18
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Thanks kja. I think I would give up something to have time in Florence...can we get to the volcano and hike it without a tour by chance? The other was a Tuscany wine tour and the Vatucan city early entry tours.
Feb 8th, 2016, 04:52 PM
#19
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There are tons of drivers waiting outside Herculaneum (and also Pompeii) willing to drive you up to the volcano. I have not done it but everyone I've talked said it wasn't worth it. Both Pompeii and Herculaneum are amazing and evening doing both of them in one day is a stretch so adding 'hiking the volcano' is trying to cram in too much. But if you've really thought about it and it's a priority for you it is possible. But I wouldn't book anything in advance. There are also plenty of guides waiting outside Pompeii to take you through but if you do some research ahead of time you can do it on your own. There is a ton of information on line about Pompeii, in fact the rather extensive booklet they give you when you buy your ticket is available on line.
http://pompeiisites.org/allegati/A%2...xcavations.pdf
http://pompeiisites.org/allegati/A%2...xcavations.pdf
Feb 8th, 2016, 05:49 PM
#20
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"I think I would give up something to have time in Florence"
I agree! In fact, I think you would have to give up any number of things to actually see the things you are trying to include on this trip -- I honestly believe you are trying to pack in too much, and so risk seeing too little. YMMV.
I agree! In fact, I think you would have to give up any number of things to actually see the things you are trying to include on this trip -- I honestly believe you are trying to pack in too much, and so risk seeing too little. YMMV.
