meaganc

Hi everyone,

Just a few quick questions about a trip I have this summer with my husband (age 28) for our first time to Europe!

1. Is two nights in Venice enough to get a nice feel of the city or do we need a 3rd?

2. We were thinking of visiting Pompeii but not quite sure how/where to go from. We will be doing the following Paris (4 nights) - Venice (2-3 nights) - Florence (3 nights) - Positano (4-5 nights) - Rome (3 nights). All city to city transportation by train (except from Paris to Venice of course!)

3. From Florence, would we take a train to Salerno then ferry to Positano? Or is there a different option that is better?

4. Day Trips:
a) We were thinking of doing a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre (guided) and another day trip to Tuscany for a vespa wine tour (also guided). Is Florence the best location to do these from?

b) We also were thinking of a day trip to Capri from Positano. Any thoughts?

5. Should we be looking at 4 nights or 5 in Positano? We wanted to relax, swim, etc but we are unsure whether this is the best location as it is high season. We are open to suggestions.

6. Food:
How much on average should we budget for food everyday? Some of the places do have breakfast, but we will likely do sandwiches and grazing throughout the day and then a nicer dinner (with wine of course!) Would averaging 130$ a day be enough (2500 for the 18-19 day trip)?

7. We are planning to be in Paris for Bastille. Just was curious what this was like? Is it a big deal with lots of festivities?

Thanks everyone!

Michael

If staying on the Almafi coast I would drop Cinque Terre. Undoubtedly different, but with the little time you have, I would stick to inland sights from Florence. Besides, with only three nights that gives you two full days. One of them should be spent in Florence itself, and the second would be Tuscany over Cinque Terre.

meaganc

Thanks Michael!

nnolen

If you're going to be in Positano for that long, I'd go to Pompei from there. It's not terribly far - if you can get to Sorrento, you can take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompei and then walk.

You have options for how to get to Positano from Florence. You could do what you're talking about, or you could take the train to Naples, then the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento, then a bus from Sorrento to Positano. Or you could hire a driver to go from Naples to Positano- it's not too expensive and would save you time/headache. I think you can book through the office in the train station so you don't get scammed.

Easy to day trip to Capri - might as well since you're in Positano for a long time and are so close - but I'd suggest an overnight in Capri instead. There is SO much to see there, it's absolutely gorgeous and you lose a lot of the daytripper crowds after the last hydrofoil leaves. Capri is magical at night. During the day...it's kind of just crowded. (Especially in the summer)

If you're open in terms of location on the Amalfi coast, I'd base in Sorrento. It's MUCH easier to get places (back to Naples, into Pompei, to Capri on the hydrofoil). Yeah, it's a little less charming than Positano, but you could still go to Positano for a day with no trouble. Sorrento is still cute and, IMO, much more convenient.

Also, you didn't ask for this advice, but I'd also go to the archaeological museum in Naples. It has most of the good stuff from Pompei.

I'd say based on your eating plan that your budget is fine. With only one sit-down meal a day that seems about right. Of course, if you research restaurants ahead of time you'll know for sure and not get surprised.

HAVE FUN!!

vincenzo32951

Re your food budget: Arrive at a figure you think you'll spend and then add 20%. No, seriously.

Do three nights in Venice. I honestly have no idea what a suitable amount of time there is for you, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone say three nights was too many for them.

To visit Pompeii, I'd suggest you do it on the way to Positano. So you'd take a train into Naples and from there a train to Pompeii. Then you could take the train to Sorrento and a bus to Positano.

There's a ferry that connects Positano and Capri. You can do a day trip using the ferry. Is Positano the "best" location during high season? Given that every place is going to be crowded, there's probably no better place.

msteacher

I agree with dropping the Cinque Terre. It would be a very lengthy day trip, and you will get a richer coastal experience in the Amalfi area. You will also want to have the time to explore Florence. Buon viaggio!

danlev

You can actually take an overnight train from Paris to Venice, the "Thello".

I would add at least one day in Rome if possible.

I second the recommendation for the Archeological Museum in Naples, if you go to Pompeii. It is stunning. The mosaics alone are worth the trip, and there is much more.

letsgeaux

1. You can get a good feel for Venice in 2 nights but I would spend a 3rd if possible. 2. Based upon your schedule, Positano is the logical place from which to visit Pompeii. 4a. Yes. We had a great time in the CT. We drove there from Florence. But I have to agree with the others who advised that with only 3 days in Florence, skip the CT this time and spend the extra day in Florence or the Tuscan hill towns. 4b. Capri is an easy ferry ride from Positano. 5. Five nights. We stayed for a week and did not want to leave. 6. You will find delicious food in all price ranges from Michelin starred gourmet restaurants to casual wine bars and pizza parlors. Sounds like a great trip.

Dayle

If you do decide to day trip to Capri, make sure you have your hotel make reservations for your ferry/boat ride a couple days in advance. Otherwise you won't get there at all.

annhig

here's another vote for longer in Venice. I've been there 5 times now and still have loads that i still want to see but haven't.

you've had good advice about your other questions, so I'll stick to the costings one, as I can easily remember what my food cost me in Venice about 2 weeks ago:

Breakfast - €5 [coffee, fresh juice, pastry]
Lunch - anywhere between €5-10, depending on what we were doing.
Dinner - €20.

total - €35

if you have your main meal at lunchtime, it will probably cost less than that, if you can find a "prix fixe". However you should make an allowance for mid-morning and afternoon drinks, and/or a gelato or two - say another €10 each. [it may be less, but in Paris in particular, non-alcohol drinks can be very expensive.

so erring on the pessimistic side, say €45/each, which is within your budget, I think.

meaganc

letsgeaux - Thanks! Do you think we should stay in Florence an extra night versus Venice (i.e. Venice 2 nights Florence 4 nights) or 3 and 3 is okay? Also you mentioned Tuscan hill towns. Anywhere specific? Would you spend a night in one of these towns? It sounds like you have down the Florence thing before - if you enjoyed yourself I would love to hear your itinerary for that area as it might give us some ideas.
Also:
You mentioned you were in Positano for a week - was this in the high season? What sort of things did you do during the day? The place we are looking at staying is a 15 minute walk uphill - will this be very impractical? We aren't out of shape but did you find you were in and out of your hotel several times a day?

Dayle - thanks for the suggestion re: the ferry! Not sure how much the Ferry cost but I found a neat boat tour that does Capri (not sure how they compare price-wise) and it looks like they take you in the grottos, etc. Here's the link, let me know what you think http://www.bluestarpositano.it/barche.htm

Danlev- thanks for the suggestion re: the train to Venice from Paris. It's only about $100 a person (Canadian) to fly so we are thinking this may be smarter?? Also, the Archeological Museum in Naples you suggested - will I see that on the Pompeii day trip?

RE: the Cinque Terre day trip - this was the one we were looking at:
http://www.viator.com/tours/Florence...-5070CINQUE/TR

You feel like this is a waste since we are doing Positano?

You guys are seriously the best!

meaganc

Thanks annhig re: the food budget. I appreciate that!!

Is it expensive to drink in Italy and Paris? For example, would wine be very costly at a restaurant for a glass or two?

Do they have liquor stores like they do here where you can get a bottle to enjoy after dinner - may also help to not break the bank with restaurant prices.

Also, this question may sound funny, but what is the law with regards to drinking in public? Are you allowed to be in the city at night enjoying a bottle of wine?

nnolen

There's not a lot to do in Positano, honestly. Most people are there for the views and to sun themselves. The town is cute, but VERY small, so I'd plan on going other places unless you want to spend the week at the beach - and there's nothing wrong with that, of course.

Cinque Terre and Positano look similar, but have a different feel. It's never a waste...but if you spend lots and lots of time traveling between places (which you are already going to with the number of cities you're hitting), you have less time to actually see things. But again, that's a personal travel feeling. Some people like going lots of different places. Same thing with the hill town - you'd be losing time to travel again. BUT - if you want one: Todi, San Gimignano, Perugia, Spoleto, Assisi (Umbria here) are all lovely and have different atmospheres. You could also go to Fiesole on the outskirts of Florence which isn't as far but has that kind of feeling.

The archaeological museum is in Naples, which is a train ride away from Pompei. You could do both in one day if you had to.

Drinking can be cheap or expensive depending on the restaurant and the wine you choose. Many places have a house wine that can go from 3-10 euros a glass (depending on the fanciness of the restaurant). You can easily find an enoteca to buy wine to take back to the hotel room. Regular grocery store also sell wine (Sometimes for as little as 3 euros a BOTTLE. And decent quality.)

vinoroma

Drinking wine in italy is usually not expensive, as restaurants/bars do not add a huge markup as elsewhere. Usually (except for michelin star level places) a bottle of wine can be had at a 50% markup on retail price. By the glass is of course more expensive. Remember you are not tipping and no taxes added at the end to your bill, so do get a bottle of wine, usually there are very nice wines to be had in the €20-€30 bracket.

meaganc

vinoroma - no tipping? no tax? I definitely did not know that!! Do you not tip at any restaurants? What about bars?

nnolen - thank you for your honesty re: Positano. Yes we are looking for some relaxing but I know my husband will get bored after a day or two of this (especially if the beaches are really busy!) What day trips would you recommend from here? OR would you recommend staying elsewhere?

As a side note - we do have the option of shuffling things around and doing Nice as opposed to Positano (obviously on the way to Italy) - would this be the better option? I never really investigated Nice before.

letsgeaux

Tough decision, but given the choice between an extra day in Florence or Venice, I would choose Venice based upon the beauty and uniqueness of the place. Tuscany--We stayed in the B&B portion of a villa just south of Florence. We had a rental car and drove to places such as San Gimigano, Volterra, Siens, and Montalcino. We even drove to Lucca/Pisa as well as the CT. With 3 or 4 days in the Florence area I probably would not change hotels and spend a night in one of the towns. Positano- We were there this past April and left the day before Easter. Easter is considered the beginning of the season. It was not that crowded that time of year. We had some beautiful weather but also a couple of days of cool drizzle. We stayed at the Villa Gabrisa which is also a ways up the hill. We loved it. Our room had a large balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. The hill posed no problem for us although we found that walking up and down Via Pasitea was much easier than taking the steps. We took the ferry for day trips to Capri, Amalfi and Ravello.

vinoroma

In most (will come back to that below) cases the price of an item you see on the menu (eg pasta carbonara €10) is what ends up being on your bill, no further tax added. Tipping in the american sense is not done, what might be done here by customers (though even that is not an obligation) is to round up, say for a €43 bill you might leave 45, but you really do not have to. This applies to any type of restaurant, bar, etc. At cafes in rome it is customary to leave a 10-20 cent coin on the counter, but again, not obligatory.
As to the "most" at the beginning: some places do apply a certain percentage (usually 10%) as a "service charge". If they do, they have to write this (and the percentage) on the menu. I have had this happen to me extremely rarely (and almost not at all in the last years) but know it does get applied to tourists in some restaurants. Not nice, but perfectly legal if stated clearly on the menu (and not as a surprise at the end, on the bill). Menus are posted outside venues, so you can always check before you decide.

Leely2

I was in Paris for Bastille Day this past July (had come from Rome). There were many festive happenings: parades, special events, balls, etc. The fireworks were spectacular--lots of fun.

isabel

I would actually take a day from Positano so you could have 3 each in Florence and Venice. Your whole trip is pretty rushed so you are only going to get a taste of each place - but then you'll know where you want to go back to on your next trip.

And if that's the case then you might as well do the day trip to the CT. That actually looked like a pretty good excursion, although you can certainly do it on your own as well - take the train there and then either walk or train from one village to the next. Both the AC and the CT are beautiful and touristy, yet they do have distinct different feels to them so why not experience both.

I wouldn't try to do Pompeii on your way from Naples to Positano - that would be a really long day. It's 3 hours from Florence to Naples, then wait for the local (Circumvesuviana) train, then half hour ride - then Pompei - then another 45 minute ride to Sorrento - then need to wait for the bus and then 45 min bus ride. I would do as you suggested take the train to Salerno and then a ferry - but look up schedules ahead of time, it's not like there are boats every half hour - could be a several hour wait. Alternately you could go via Sorrento but skip Pompeii. So you could do Pompeii as a day trip from Positano or on your way to Rome (makes more sense than on the way from Florence as it's not as far). The archeological museum in Naples will take another few hours and it's difficult to do that as well as Pompeii form Positano. That's why some people prefer staying in Sorrento as it's more central.

The house wine by the glass is perfectly fine for most people in most Italian restaurants. It's only about 2-3€. Much less than in the US. As cheap or cheaper than a soft drink. I've never seen people walking around cities with bottles of wine. Italians drink wine as part of their meal and since it is so affordable you don't need to do what you're suggesting. Of course getting a bottle to have in your hotel room or if you are lucky enough to have a terrace is certainly fine.

There's no tax on meals in France or Italy (not added on to the listed price). They do not tip - they don't expect it and locals don't do it, the only people who tip are tourists. If you are paying in cash you can leave small change but no 15%.

Bastile Day in Paris is a big parade and at night fireworks. But it's VERY crowded. Very. (And that's where you're public drinking will be.)

nnolen

Hi Meaganc - you might not have seen my response further up - Sorrento makes for much easier day tripping to other locations. You could easily go to Pompei, Herculaneum, Naples AND Positano from there (the first three by train and the last one by bus). The train doesn't go to Sorrento so you're bussing it everywhere (which is a little more difficult, in my opinion).

You could also try a day trip to Paestum, you could go up to the top of Mt. Vesuvius, you could go to Capri, Castellamare di Stabia...lots of stuff to do in that area.

I can't tell you about Nice, but I CAN tell you that the costiera amalfitana is not to be missed. It is gorgeous. I'm just saying 4-5 days sounds like a lot to me if you're a person who likes to DO things as opposed to stay on the beach. It's also not the most convenient jumping off point. Yes, you CAN get places from Positano, but it's more difficult and time consuming than from Sorrento.

Ultimately, though, it's your trip, so whatever makes you happy!