Itinerary help Italy
Feb 28th, 2016, 06:46 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Itinerary help Italy
I am trying to plan a trip end of April with my husband and 12 year old twins in honor of my mom who passed away recently. I have been to Italy a few times but it has been a while. For this trip we only have 11 days. Help. This is what we were thinking: Venice, Cinque Terre, Rome and day trip to Pompeii.
What makes sense? Fly in and out of say Rome and take the train up to Venice and back? Or does it make sense to fly into Rome and out of Venice? (yes, money is an issue).
With 12 year old boys we thought a combination of ruins, the beauty of Venice, and some hiking along in CInque Terre might be a good mix. I just want to have some time outside of a city and get away from crowds.
Finally, would a travel agent be a good way to book plane tickets and train tickets? Or am I better on Kayak? Do I need to get a train pass for the week?
Thank you
What makes sense? Fly in and out of say Rome and take the train up to Venice and back? Or does it make sense to fly into Rome and out of Venice? (yes, money is an issue).
With 12 year old boys we thought a combination of ruins, the beauty of Venice, and some hiking along in CInque Terre might be a good mix. I just want to have some time outside of a city and get away from crowds.
Finally, would a travel agent be a good way to book plane tickets and train tickets? Or am I better on Kayak? Do I need to get a train pass for the week?
Thank you
Feb 28th, 2016, 11:15 PM
#2
Price, you need to do the search but I'd fly into Venice and out of Rome to save on the double stay.
Buy tickets on trenitalia, don't buy the pass just tickets and reservations
TAgents, well if money is an issue, no. If the agent is an Italian Local then they may be useful if not, no.
Buy tickets on trenitalia, don't buy the pass just tickets and reservations
TAgents, well if money is an issue, no. If the agent is an Italian Local then they may be useful if not, no.
Feb 29th, 2016, 12:23 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think that when you go on a family trip with a lot of participants you need to use a traveling agent or if you want a cheaper yet useful solution you should use a trip planner. There are many like TripAdvisor for example and also RoutePerfect that have great Itineraries for Italy.
Feb 29th, 2016, 12:39 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think you need a travel agent. You are not that many people traveling.
It really doesn't matter where you land and where you fly out for your itinerary, so go with the cheapest route that hasn't got bad plane changes. You can fly into Pisa, Florence Bologna, Venice, Rome or Naples.
In late April, the weather in le Cinque Terre is not reliably sunny and the trails are not reliably dry. You are taking something of risk going there that you will get rainy days and have nothing to do. One way to avoid having nothing to do is to stay instead in Pisa, and only go to le Cinque Terre by train for the day if it is sunny. If it isn't sunny, you can see more in Pisa, or visit Florence.
Since you want to go to Pompei, you might consider spending your time instead closer to the Amalfi coast, and you can do your hiking there. With your group, you might find it nice to stay in Sorrento.
11 days is not a lot of time and even though there are fast trains, you are trying to cover a big triangle in Italy with distant points (and not always good train connections). Plus, you say you want to get away from crowds, but you have picked the 3 most crowded places to go in Italy. April is not the busiest time, but you will still need to actually plan to get away from other tourists in these places. Think again about what your family would most enjoy, and if it isn't terribly important to them or you so see one of the places you listed, then drop it in favor of a more compact itinerary.
It really doesn't matter where you land and where you fly out for your itinerary, so go with the cheapest route that hasn't got bad plane changes. You can fly into Pisa, Florence Bologna, Venice, Rome or Naples.
In late April, the weather in le Cinque Terre is not reliably sunny and the trails are not reliably dry. You are taking something of risk going there that you will get rainy days and have nothing to do. One way to avoid having nothing to do is to stay instead in Pisa, and only go to le Cinque Terre by train for the day if it is sunny. If it isn't sunny, you can see more in Pisa, or visit Florence.
Since you want to go to Pompei, you might consider spending your time instead closer to the Amalfi coast, and you can do your hiking there. With your group, you might find it nice to stay in Sorrento.
11 days is not a lot of time and even though there are fast trains, you are trying to cover a big triangle in Italy with distant points (and not always good train connections). Plus, you say you want to get away from crowds, but you have picked the 3 most crowded places to go in Italy. April is not the busiest time, but you will still need to actually plan to get away from other tourists in these places. Think again about what your family would most enjoy, and if it isn't terribly important to them or you so see one of the places you listed, then drop it in favor of a more compact itinerary.
Feb 29th, 2016, 03:33 AM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is helpful. Sad about Cinque Terre but rainy on those trails does not sound great.
1. husband has never seen Venice and really wants to. Fly into Venice.
2. I love Rome and think my kids would love it as well as day trip to Herculaneum or Pompeii.
3. I would love a two peaceful days outdoors, small town, good food, less crowds (feeling sad over my mother and would love something quiet). Loved Assisi. Have been there several times but maybe someplace else? Not sure where? Suggestions?
So Venice >> Somewhere peaceful? and lovely??_______ >> Rome >> Day trip to Herculaneum or Pompeii >>> home
Thank you everyone. This group is great.
1. husband has never seen Venice and really wants to. Fly into Venice.
2. I love Rome and think my kids would love it as well as day trip to Herculaneum or Pompeii.
3. I would love a two peaceful days outdoors, small town, good food, less crowds (feeling sad over my mother and would love something quiet). Loved Assisi. Have been there several times but maybe someplace else? Not sure where? Suggestions?
So Venice >> Somewhere peaceful? and lovely??_______ >> Rome >> Day trip to Herculaneum or Pompeii >>> home
Thank you everyone. This group is great.
Feb 29th, 2016, 04:41 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May i suggest an agritourismo. We stayed at http://www.castelloluzzano.com and loved it. It combined relaxation, beauty, history, and education. Not to mention best Barbera wine in the world.
Feb 29th, 2016, 07:05 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<I think that when you go on a family trip with a lot of participants you need to use a traveling agent or if you want a cheaper yet useful solution you should use a trip planner. There are many like TripAdvisor for example and also RoutePerfect that have great Itineraries for Italy.>>
A family of four is not a "family trip with a lot of participants." You don't need a trip planner or to waste time with a travel agent. Do it yourself.
A family of four is not a "family trip with a lot of participants." You don't need a trip planner or to waste time with a travel agent. Do it yourself.
Feb 29th, 2016, 07:42 AM
#8
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with almost all that's been said above. I'd just like to add some advice about the trains.
There are two major train companies on the route from Rome to Venice (and from Venice to Naples). One is Trenitalia, mentioned above. Their web site is http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en . The other is http://www.italotreno.it/?sc_lang=en . It pays to check prices on both. You need to use the Italian versions of the names of the cities, e.g., Roma, Venezia, and Napoli.
Both companies have discounted tickets in limited numbers, which can (and do) sell out, so early purchase is advised. The discounted tickets have very limited possibilities for changes or refunds, so don't buy tickets when you're undecided about the time of travel.
For a group of two or more, you can often save even more money by buying tickets from Trenitalia's overseas agent, www.italiarail.com . This is because they'll put together a package of assorted refunds for your group, whereas the train companies will only sell ticket types for which there are enough tickets left for the whole group. This means that your tickets would have different refund conditions, but you can save considerable money this way.
There are two major train companies on the route from Rome to Venice (and from Venice to Naples). One is Trenitalia, mentioned above. Their web site is http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en . The other is http://www.italotreno.it/?sc_lang=en . It pays to check prices on both. You need to use the Italian versions of the names of the cities, e.g., Roma, Venezia, and Napoli.
Both companies have discounted tickets in limited numbers, which can (and do) sell out, so early purchase is advised. The discounted tickets have very limited possibilities for changes or refunds, so don't buy tickets when you're undecided about the time of travel.
For a group of two or more, you can often save even more money by buying tickets from Trenitalia's overseas agent, www.italiarail.com . This is because they'll put together a package of assorted refunds for your group, whereas the train companies will only sell ticket types for which there are enough tickets left for the whole group. This means that your tickets would have different refund conditions, but you can save considerable money this way.
Feb 29th, 2016, 08:00 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you only have 11 days (how many nights?), then Venice, a smaller place & Rome should be the extent of your travel. Instead of a day trip to Pompeii/ Herculaneum, which would a be long day, consider Ostia Antica, just a short train ride from central Rome. And if the weather turns out to be less than pleasant, there's more than enough to do in Rome.
Not so small, but a lovely city with great food is Bologna. I find it much less touristy, and a great place to sit in a cafe to people-watch. Also easy to get to on the train, if you're not planning to rent a car.
Not so small, but a lovely city with great food is Bologna. I find it much less touristy, and a great place to sit in a cafe to people-watch. Also easy to get to on the train, if you're not planning to rent a car.
Feb 29th, 2016, 02:39 PM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>>>" 3. I would love a two peaceful days outdoors, small town, good food, less crowds (feeling sad over my mother and would love something quiet). Loved Assisi. Have been there several times but maybe someplace else? Not sure where? Suggestions"<<<
If you are starting in Venice and moving down to Rome, some doglegs you could consider for a 2 night smaller town stay are:
Modena
Arezzo
Pistoia
Lucca
Chiusi
Orvieto
If you want some countryside feeling/views and are willing to take a taxi, there are lots of smaller villages and hilltowns or farms where you could go that are near the towns mentioned above, that are reachable by train.
If you are starting in Venice and moving down to Rome, some doglegs you could consider for a 2 night smaller town stay are:
Modena
Arezzo
Pistoia
Lucca
Chiusi
Orvieto
If you want some countryside feeling/views and are willing to take a taxi, there are lots of smaller villages and hilltowns or farms where you could go that are near the towns mentioned above, that are reachable by train.
