One or Two nights in Orvieto
Apr 5th, 2004, 08:36 AM
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One or Two nights in Orvieto
My question is buried below: after Rome traveling from Sorrento to Milan via train Monday-Wednesday, should we stay two nights in Orvieto or one in Orvieto and one further north (Florence or Bologna)?
Background/context: I've got our airline tickets and want to finish hotel reservations. We'll buy train tickets in country, choose restaurants as we go, and try to take advantage of any unexpected delights we come across. We travel with one wheeled carryaboard and small pack apiece. I tend to be very active on my trips--going to learn and enjoy, but not necessarily to relax. My traveling companion is my archeology college student niece. We have to go to Milan on set dates for business.
I've been to Lugano, Florence, Siena, and Cinque Terre 5+ years ago. She's been to Europe, but not Italy.
We arrive in Rome for 2 nights at Notti a Roma B&B (90E romeby.com), planning to see the Forum and Colloseum, a little of Vatican/St Peters, Pantheon, and wander past fountains and Campo di Fiori.
Then we train to Sorrento, perhaps stopping at museum in Naples on the way. Three nights at Hotel Mignon (85E booked direct). Take train to Pompeii and Herculaneum one day; bus to Ravello or similar another day to hike and wander through towns.
Finally--here's my question:
We'll start heading back north on a Monday and have to be in Milan on Wednesday afternoon (not sure what time yet). I was thinking of booking one or two nights in Orvieto, giving us the option of stopping again in Rome or heading directly to Orvieto as we wish (museum in Naples closed on Monday). This way my niece can see a hilltown on our limited time budget. I expect us to do the underground tour, maybe shops, maybe the museum.
My question is, should I book two nights in Orvieto (Hotel Valentino 82E direct) and then have to catch an early train on Wednesday for the 5 hr trip to Milan. Or should I book just one night in Orvieto, assume we will be through sightseeing there by early the next evening, and plan to catch an evening train to somewhere closer to Milan? That would give my niece a glimpse, but no more of another city (Florence or Bologna) that evening and the next morning and provide a shorter trip for me to reach my meeting in Milan. What do you Orvieto and train experts recommend?
For context, we'll be staying 3 nights in Milan (Hotel Demidoff E80 via their website Global Hotel Reservation System). Then taking the train to Venice for 2 nights (Hotel Rossi E77 direct) to just wander around the city and see the Doge's Palace before training back to Milan for 1 night before morning flight from MXP.
Background/context: I've got our airline tickets and want to finish hotel reservations. We'll buy train tickets in country, choose restaurants as we go, and try to take advantage of any unexpected delights we come across. We travel with one wheeled carryaboard and small pack apiece. I tend to be very active on my trips--going to learn and enjoy, but not necessarily to relax. My traveling companion is my archeology college student niece. We have to go to Milan on set dates for business.
I've been to Lugano, Florence, Siena, and Cinque Terre 5+ years ago. She's been to Europe, but not Italy.
We arrive in Rome for 2 nights at Notti a Roma B&B (90E romeby.com), planning to see the Forum and Colloseum, a little of Vatican/St Peters, Pantheon, and wander past fountains and Campo di Fiori.
Then we train to Sorrento, perhaps stopping at museum in Naples on the way. Three nights at Hotel Mignon (85E booked direct). Take train to Pompeii and Herculaneum one day; bus to Ravello or similar another day to hike and wander through towns.
Finally--here's my question:
We'll start heading back north on a Monday and have to be in Milan on Wednesday afternoon (not sure what time yet). I was thinking of booking one or two nights in Orvieto, giving us the option of stopping again in Rome or heading directly to Orvieto as we wish (museum in Naples closed on Monday). This way my niece can see a hilltown on our limited time budget. I expect us to do the underground tour, maybe shops, maybe the museum.
My question is, should I book two nights in Orvieto (Hotel Valentino 82E direct) and then have to catch an early train on Wednesday for the 5 hr trip to Milan. Or should I book just one night in Orvieto, assume we will be through sightseeing there by early the next evening, and plan to catch an evening train to somewhere closer to Milan? That would give my niece a glimpse, but no more of another city (Florence or Bologna) that evening and the next morning and provide a shorter trip for me to reach my meeting in Milan. What do you Orvieto and train experts recommend?
For context, we'll be staying 3 nights in Milan (Hotel Demidoff E80 via their website Global Hotel Reservation System). Then taking the train to Venice for 2 nights (Hotel Rossi E77 direct) to just wander around the city and see the Doge's Palace before training back to Milan for 1 night before morning flight from MXP.
Apr 5th, 2004, 09:21 AM
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Umbria and Tuscany lend themselves to car rentals because most of the small hill towns can be great half-day visits. Since you sound like active travelers but plainly don't want to rent a car I'll save you my spiel about "dolce vita" and recommend that you spend an extra day in Rome (preferably at the beginning of your trip - before you transfer down to Sorrento) since one night should be sufficient for the beautiful but not overly-large Orvieto. You didn't ask about the rest of your itinerary but I'll but in anyways - why three nights in Milan? It is not a very attractive city, so if you do spend that much time there I recommend taking several day trips out of town.
Apr 5th, 2004, 09:48 AM
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I agree with Bob and Ira...one night in Orvieto is nice. Make sure you get to see the facade of the cathedral in late afternoon light. Beautiful! Also agree with them about adding Florence and reducing Milan. Milan is for business...it is just like a big city anywhere. I stay one night in Orvieto, at least 2 but preferably 3 in Florence...and only in Milan the night before your flight (I'm assuming you have a flight out of Milan). Hint: no one ever comes back from Italy raving about Milan (unless that are in the fashion industry...or an opera fan going to La Scala)
Apr 6th, 2004, 02:39 PM
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You are all correct--
We have to go to Milan on set dates for business.
--that's why I'm going to Italy at this time.
I'll let my niece entertain herself while I'm busy in Milan.
I know Tuscany is best explored by car. Last time we were in Florence and took the bus to Siena for the day. I kept wanting to get off in every little town to explore. However, I would be both driver/navigator as my niece rarely drives and gets right/left confused as I have learned from experience on other trips. Not to mention the price--though I liked the looks of the automatic transmission mini on Avis for approximately $170 for one day all inclusive one-way rental from Rome to Milan--the cheapest I've been quoted online when poking around at the popular sites such as autoeurope.
So, we'll book the one night in Orvieto and I'll find another reasonably priced place in Florence for the night. My favorite part of Florence was wandering the streets in the evening anyway. Then we'll be poised closer to Milan for my meeting the next day. Maybe my niece will opt to linger behind in Florence and join me a day or two later.
For those of you who enjoy reading the soap opera version of trip planning--I had to book the cheapest ticket I could find for myself for Milan (being reimbursed from govt money), so it was Alitalia with Delta inside the US. I could get open jaw to Rome for same price if I did connection each way. I booked connection out via JFK and return via Boston as my niece could just join me at JFK and we travel together over and coming back I'd "drop" her in Boston. This week Alitalia changed my reservation to a direct flight home on Delta--better for me, but sort of defeating the purpose of how I'd made the reservations.
We have to go to Milan on set dates for business.
--that's why I'm going to Italy at this time.
I'll let my niece entertain herself while I'm busy in Milan.
I know Tuscany is best explored by car. Last time we were in Florence and took the bus to Siena for the day. I kept wanting to get off in every little town to explore. However, I would be both driver/navigator as my niece rarely drives and gets right/left confused as I have learned from experience on other trips. Not to mention the price--though I liked the looks of the automatic transmission mini on Avis for approximately $170 for one day all inclusive one-way rental from Rome to Milan--the cheapest I've been quoted online when poking around at the popular sites such as autoeurope.
So, we'll book the one night in Orvieto and I'll find another reasonably priced place in Florence for the night. My favorite part of Florence was wandering the streets in the evening anyway. Then we'll be poised closer to Milan for my meeting the next day. Maybe my niece will opt to linger behind in Florence and join me a day or two later.
For those of you who enjoy reading the soap opera version of trip planning--I had to book the cheapest ticket I could find for myself for Milan (being reimbursed from govt money), so it was Alitalia with Delta inside the US. I could get open jaw to Rome for same price if I did connection each way. I booked connection out via JFK and return via Boston as my niece could just join me at JFK and we travel together over and coming back I'd "drop" her in Boston. This week Alitalia changed my reservation to a direct flight home on Delta--better for me, but sort of defeating the purpose of how I'd made the reservations.
Apr 6th, 2004, 06:24 PM
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Hi Kay,
This is probably the first time that an airline did something good, and it isn't to your advantage.
Actually, by the time she is going home, your niece will be a "seasoned traveler", probably basil.
If you are on a tight budget, I can recommend the B&B Peterson in Florence.
See www.bedinitaly.it
This is probably the first time that an airline did something good, and it isn't to your advantage.
Actually, by the time she is going home, your niece will be a "seasoned traveler", probably basil.
If you are on a tight budget, I can recommend the B&B Peterson in Florence.
See www.bedinitaly.it
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