Rome, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Venice, Florence
Dec 21st, 2014, 10:46 AM
#1
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Rome, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Venice, Florence
A friend and I are planning on a 6 day (ground days) trip to Italy. We are planning on spending 2 full days in Rome, 1 day in Florence and a stop over to Pisa before we go to Cinque Terre for a day. We will spend approx. 1 day in Venice, 1 day in Milan and fly out of Milan. Is Cinque Terre worth the trip? We were originally thinking of going to Pisa for a few hours before Florence and then heading straight to Venice for 2 days. Any ideas would be great 
Dec 21st, 2014, 10:51 AM
#2
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This trip sounds unpleasantly rushed to me. You don't seem to be taking the distances between these locations -- and the time you will need to spend getting from one to another -- into account. And, IMO, you aren't giving any of these locations enough time. I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from the train/bus station or whatever, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.).
Dec 21st, 2014, 10:57 AM
#3
Is Cinque Terre worth the trip? None on your list are worth the trip if you don't stop long enough to see them. This is the most offered advice, I think, on this forum. Pick 2 places, fly into one and out of the other, as you seem to be doing and be there long enough for a good glimpse, if not a wholly satisfactory stay. Which 2 depends on interests and time of year, among other details.
Dec 21st, 2014, 10:58 AM
#4
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I've been to Florence before and have traveled to numerous of places in Europe. We aren't too big on museums/cathedrals/etc. We'd like to see the most touristic places, eat some Italian food and go on our way. We are also both in our early 20s. I have taken the time between cities into consideration. Like I said, we just can't choose if Cinque Terre can be seen in such a short amount of time.
Dec 21st, 2014, 11:12 AM
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If you only want to stop by famous places, then le Cinque Terre certainly qualifies. I am not sure what you mean by "worth it." In reality, it looks exactly like the pictures you can find online -- provided that you realize that most of those pictures are taken at times of the years or days when there are very few tourists, and when it is completely sunny.
So look at the pictures of le Cinque Terre, and if your travel dates are between mid-April to mid-October, try to imagine the same scenery, towns and trails crowded with lots of tourists. If you are traveling between now and mid-April, try to imagine what it would look like rainy and grey, too chilly to enjoy being outdoors much, because that is a real possibility. Might help you figure out if making the effort to get there to gawk for a few hours is "worth it" to you personally.
So look at the pictures of le Cinque Terre, and if your travel dates are between mid-April to mid-October, try to imagine the same scenery, towns and trails crowded with lots of tourists. If you are traveling between now and mid-April, try to imagine what it would look like rainy and grey, too chilly to enjoy being outdoors much, because that is a real possibility. Might help you figure out if making the effort to get there to gawk for a few hours is "worth it" to you personally.
Dec 21st, 2014, 11:31 AM
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I don't see how you can have taken the travel time into consideration. Do you have a magic carpet?
It takes a minimum of three hours to get to Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre by train from Florence, more if that's not the town you're going to. Add the time to get packed up and to the train station, and then to get to your lodging in the Cinque Terre, and it will be time for lunch. If you include the stopover in Pisa, it will be almost time for dinner, and there goes your one day in the Cinque Terre.
It takes 5 or 6 hours by train to get to Venice from there. How much of your one day will be left when you get there? Both of these trips involve multiple changes of train, and often steps up which you have to drag your luggage to get to the platform. If you miss a connection, your trip will be longer.
Even if you're young and energetic, and not much into museums, I don't know what you'd get out of this kind of trip.
It takes a minimum of three hours to get to Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre by train from Florence, more if that's not the town you're going to. Add the time to get packed up and to the train station, and then to get to your lodging in the Cinque Terre, and it will be time for lunch. If you include the stopover in Pisa, it will be almost time for dinner, and there goes your one day in the Cinque Terre.
It takes 5 or 6 hours by train to get to Venice from there. How much of your one day will be left when you get there? Both of these trips involve multiple changes of train, and often steps up which you have to drag your luggage to get to the platform. If you miss a connection, your trip will be longer.
Even if you're young and energetic, and not much into museums, I don't know what you'd get out of this kind of trip.
Dec 21st, 2014, 12:41 PM
#9
i was once 23 and energetic, but I can't imagine coming up with a scheme like this.
assuming 6 whole days, this is actually what your trip amounts to:
Day 1,2 - Rome
Day 3 - train to Florence, arrive by lunch time. taxi/walk to hotel. check in. Afternoon and evening in Florence
Day 4 - Train to Pisa, [at least an hour] taxi to Campo dei Miracoli, see Tower etc, taxi back to Pisa Centrale, back on train to CT, arriving mid afternoon. spend rest of day in CT.
Day 5 - train to Venice. Arrive mid afternoon. rest of day in Venice.
Day 6 - train to Milan. arrive about lunch time. Rest of day in Milan.
Day 7 - fly home.
I estimate that you will be spending roughly 50% of your time travelling and once you take account of the need to spend ⅓ of what is rest sleeping, this leaves very little time for the important things like seeing things, enjoying being in Italy, eating, etc.
If that's what you want out of a trip, fine, If you would like to do more than see the inside of a load of trains and stations, you need to think again.
assuming 6 whole days, this is actually what your trip amounts to:
Day 1,2 - Rome
Day 3 - train to Florence, arrive by lunch time. taxi/walk to hotel. check in. Afternoon and evening in Florence
Day 4 - Train to Pisa, [at least an hour] taxi to Campo dei Miracoli, see Tower etc, taxi back to Pisa Centrale, back on train to CT, arriving mid afternoon. spend rest of day in CT.
Day 5 - train to Venice. Arrive mid afternoon. rest of day in Venice.
Day 6 - train to Milan. arrive about lunch time. Rest of day in Milan.
Day 7 - fly home.
I estimate that you will be spending roughly 50% of your time travelling and once you take account of the need to spend ⅓ of what is rest sleeping, this leaves very little time for the important things like seeing things, enjoying being in Italy, eating, etc.
If that's what you want out of a trip, fine, If you would like to do more than see the inside of a load of trains and stations, you need to think again.
Dec 21st, 2014, 01:07 PM
#10
Rereading the OP's 2 statements, the itinerary seems already decided and the only thing they want to know is whether to add the Cinque Terre, yes or no. All things considered, sure, why not.
I see no mention of hotels so maybe it will be 24 hour days on the go. That adds another 48 hours or 2 whole days. That could make all the difference. Right?
I see no mention of hotels so maybe it will be 24 hour days on the go. That adds another 48 hours or 2 whole days. That could make all the difference. Right?
Dec 21st, 2014, 01:53 PM
#12
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I think the OP is looking for affirmation, not advice.
She writes:
We aren't too big on museums/cathedrals/etc. We'd like to see the most touristic places, eat some Italian food and go on our way.
_____
While visiting Italy if you don't consider museums and churches tourist sights, what are tourist sights.
She writes:
We aren't too big on museums/cathedrals/etc. We'd like to see the most touristic places, eat some Italian food and go on our way.
_____
While visiting Italy if you don't consider museums and churches tourist sights, what are tourist sights.
Dec 21st, 2014, 04:16 PM
#14
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Have you looked at train schedules?
At the opening times and days of the sights you want to see and how long it takes to see them (Michelin green guide is good for this? But you can;t see the Colosseum in 15 minutes nor the Roman Forum in 30. If you are not interested in these - what are you planning on seeing in the few hours you have in Rome?)
If you don;t want to see any sights - but just wander the streets and eat - well then I guess this trip might work.
At the opening times and days of the sights you want to see and how long it takes to see them (Michelin green guide is good for this? But you can;t see the Colosseum in 15 minutes nor the Roman Forum in 30. If you are not interested in these - what are you planning on seeing in the few hours you have in Rome?)
If you don;t want to see any sights - but just wander the streets and eat - well then I guess this trip might work.
Dec 22nd, 2014, 09:03 AM
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The OP is a list ticker, therefore, there is no point in offering any sensible advice at all. List tickers do not need any time IN a place at all.
Sedaa91, you might want to consider joining the Travelers Century Club. An 'exclusive' club whose members must have 'visited' 100 or more countries. They even count as a 'visit' having stopped to refuel in a country but without having stepped off the plane while there. Sounds right up your alley.
http://travelerscenturyclub.org/
For regular posters here on Fodors, you might get a laugh at this quote from their site:
"This is the Travelers’ Century Club’s official list of countries and territories, a total of 324 as of Jan. 1, 2014. Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from the parent country, either geographically, politically or ethnologically (see the Territory Status page for detailed criteria). After consideration as to how long one must have stayed in a country or territory to qualify, it was decided that even the shortest visit would suffice — even if only a port-of-call, or a plane fuel stop. This greatly widens the field and will give the traveler a better chance to qualify for one of the most unusual clubs in the world. Anyone who has visited 100 or more of the places listed below is eligible to join."
Since there are around 200 actual countries in the world you can imagine the stretch to get to 324. They count Prince Edward Island, Canada as a 'country' for example.
Sedaa91, you might want to consider joining the Travelers Century Club. An 'exclusive' club whose members must have 'visited' 100 or more countries. They even count as a 'visit' having stopped to refuel in a country but without having stepped off the plane while there. Sounds right up your alley.
http://travelerscenturyclub.org/
For regular posters here on Fodors, you might get a laugh at this quote from their site:
"This is the Travelers’ Century Club’s official list of countries and territories, a total of 324 as of Jan. 1, 2014. Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from the parent country, either geographically, politically or ethnologically (see the Territory Status page for detailed criteria). After consideration as to how long one must have stayed in a country or territory to qualify, it was decided that even the shortest visit would suffice — even if only a port-of-call, or a plane fuel stop. This greatly widens the field and will give the traveler a better chance to qualify for one of the most unusual clubs in the world. Anyone who has visited 100 or more of the places listed below is eligible to join."
Since there are around 200 actual countries in the world you can imagine the stretch to get to 324. They count Prince Edward Island, Canada as a 'country' for example.
Dec 22nd, 2014, 09:36 AM
#17
I agree that the OP is a "list ticker" of some description, was sort of the direction I was going with the 24 hour travel, although I hadn't arrived at the label. And in the same spirit, Sojourntraveller seems to be a point maker. Sometimes I agree, at least in part, with his/her points but often do not, or don't read them, they become so long with no room for disagreement or discussion. I may be guilty of point making myself on occasion but, in the case at hand, the 2 here seem very much alike. As in "don't confuse me the facts, my mind is made up".
Dec 22nd, 2014, 11:18 AM
#19
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I think you should all be very grateful to the OP for giving you another opportunity to write about what superior people you are. There seems to be a bottomless appetite for it on Fodor's, with people grubbing to hear echoes from a like-minded group of people (they've probably never met) who will "affirm" for them that tripping around is NOT -- tsp tsp -- a valid form of travel. Harrumph!
