tledford

I want to take my 14 year old daughter to Italy during spring break. I have to use frequent flyer miles and can fly out of Venice and into Pisa or Bologna. I can't fly in or out of Florence.

My first thought is to fly into Bologna, stay one night then go to Florence for 3 nights. Then we would take the train to Venice for 4 nights and leave out of Venice.

I don't think my daughter will be interested in touring too many things, so I'm not sure which places will hold her interest.
I know I could spend the entire time in one place, but I am breaking it up for her. I know she will love the duomo, the shopping and the artists in Florence, but I think 3 days would do it.

Any ideas or suggestions? Is this trip too short and choppy?

LoveItaly

Hello tledford, personally I would definetly visit Bologan versus Pisa although having said that I know most children/teens do like to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If I were you I would do exactly as you stated. I would fly into Bologna, one of the oldest university cities in Europe, a very beautiful city btw, train to Florence and then train to Venice and fly home from Venice. Best wishes for a beautiful journey to you and your daughter. You are going to a fantastic area. Have fun!

Eloise

I know many people would agree with the one night in Bologna, but how much time -- realistically, if you arrive at Bologna and have to make your way to the city -- are you actually going to have in Bologna? It also adds an additional change of hotel and makes you backtrack on your way to Venice.

I would suggest that you fly into Pisa -- there is very easy transportation to Florence -- and spend 4 nights in Florence and then proceed as you have planned by train to Venice for 4 nights. If the time in Florence seems too o

Eloise

I know many people would agree with the one night in Bologna, but how much time -- realistically, if you arrive at Bologna and have to make your way to the city -- are you actually going to have in Bologna? It also adds an additional change of hotel and makes you backtrack on your way to Venice.

I would suggest that you fly into Pisa -- there is very easy transportation to Florence -- and spend 4 nights in Florence and then proceed as you have planned by train to Venice for 4 nights. If you see that the time in Florence seems too long for your daughter, you can always do a day trip by bus to Siena. Siena is very different from Florence: a hill town rather than on the flat, medieval rather than Renaissance.

donco

I think she'd enjoy leaning tower of Pisa alot. Both Pisa and Bologna are university towns so there are lots of young people in both places. Florence isn't very far from Pisa by train. You can take day trips from there easily. Venice is about 2.5 hours from Florence. I like ending up in Venice because there are no cars! It's so dreamy. Please report what you end up doing!

Eloise

Oops, sorry: I hit the wrong key and posted in mid-stream as well as with the full message.

tledford

eloise,
are you suggesting that I take the train immediately from pisa to florence, not overnighting? We are coming from california so I thought we would be too tired to take a train that same day, unless I can get it straight from the airport. Is the transportation easier from Pisa to Florence than Bologna to Florence?

I know one day and packing up again is no fun, and I won't see much of that place, but I thought it was necessary. I guess my choice is which place do I want to overnight in. The descriptions helped.

I could also start in Venice for 4 days, then 4 days Florence, take train directly to Pisa on the day home, but I liked ending up in Venice.

Eloise

There is a bus service from Pisa airport to Florence:

http://www.pisa-airport.com/sat/cda/....php?idArea=21

The bus takes 1 hour 10 minutes. You might, of course, have to wait a little for the next bus, but they leave relatively frequently.

The advantage, as I see it, is that you are then in Florence and do not have to move again.

If you decide to fly into Bologna, I would probably agree that you spend the night there. Bologna airport to downtown Bologna and then train from Bologna to Florence would be too much, I think, for anyone coming off a long flight from California.

HowardR

No one has mentioned one of the big attractions about Bologna......the shopping! The combination of ts prices and selection are among the best in Italy.
Why not fly into Venice and leave from Bologna?

Suki

I would fly into Pisa, spend the night, see the leaning tower since that does seem to be a big hit with 14-year old girls, and then travel by train to Florence.By the way, my 14-year old daughter wrote her own trip report which I think you can find by either searching on my name or by its title "Italy Trip Report from a Teens Perspective."

Eloise

Here I am again with another apology: Unless you arrive with certain airlines listed on the link I provided earlier, you cannot take the bus from Pisa airport to Florence.

There is, however, a train link from Pisa airport to Florence:

http://www.pisa-airport.com/sat/cda/...x.php?idArea=4

Again, my apologies!

tledford

Thanks for topping your daughter's trip report. My daughter read it and is very excited.

I'll probably make reservations tomorrow.

capxxx

Pisa, I think (having been to both).

Bologna has a great arcaded shopping district, but so does Pisa. And my experience with teens (my own and others) suggests they prefer to visit sites they and their friends have heard of.

Bologna has more and nicer restuarants than Pisa, but that probably won't matter much to a 14 year old. And Pisa-to-Florence is a shorter trip.

Pisa wins.

In Florence, she may enjoy: the outdoor markets near the train station and south of the Piazza della Republica; climbing the campanille and the Dom and visiting the cellar of the Duomo (from inside); getting a sketchbook and practicing on the outdoor statues near the Ufizzi; visiting the smaller art places like Accademia and San Lorenzo; conducting a careful search for the best gelato in town.

Definitely do Venice last -- all those cars in other cities are too annoying if you go to Venice first.

ira

Hi tl,

Lucky daughter.

I go with the suggestion to fly into Pisa, take the train from the airport to Florence SMN (about 1 hr), see Florence and Siena, train to Venice, fly home.

You will not be too exhausted to continue on to Florence. The excitement of being in Italy will carry you through.

You save one time of packing an unpacking.

Train schedules and tickets from Pisa Airport to Florence are at www.trenitalia.com.

donco

Hi again, Agree with landing in Pisa, taking train or bus to Florence and ending in Venice. (If you DO decide to stay the night in Pisa, Hotel Royal Victoria is a favorite of ours. Wonderful staff and hotel is filled with antiques and about a 20-minute walk to Tower area through an unspoiled town-most tourists go to Tower area only-just ask for a quiet room not on the street side.)

Suki

tledford, it was a pleasure to top my daughter's report since it made me find it and read it again, and that was fun. When you start looking at accomodations, we had a great experience at Locanda Orseolo in Venice. The stay there was really a highlight of our trip.

tledford

I wasa just about to ask the name of that hotel. i hope it's in my price range.
Thanks.

kybourbon

You can take the Terravision bus from the Pisa airport to Florence for 7.50E. www.terravision.it

ira

Thanks KY,

I've posted your note to Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

Eloise

Ira:

Please note that the Terravision bus between Florence and Pisa is restricted to those flying certain airlines:

I have pasted below from the Terravision Web site:

&lt;&lt;Please note that this is <b>a dedicated airport-city transfer for the airlines listed below.</b> As such, all passengers must demonstrate a valid airline boarding pass, ticket or e-ticket in order to board the coach in addition to their valid Terravision ticket or e-ticket.

Ryanair , easyJet , Hapag Lloyd Express , Transavia , Thomsonfly&gt;&gt;