sisterhoney

I'm planning a trip to visit a friend who lives outside of Pisa. I am leaving quite possibly July 8th from Philadelphia.

I've been looking for a decent flight for quite a while, and the best deal I can find right now is $971 to Pisa, with a layover in Germany.

A client of mine who is a travel agent said it might be a nice idea to take a plane to Rome, and then take a train to Pisa. Do you think this is a good idea for a 20 year old female traveling by herself? Will it be easy for me to find where I'm going from the airport in Rome? I just checked another website and there is a flight from here to Rome, with one layover in Paris for $917. Isit worth it to just take a train from Rome, and enjoy the scenery?

Also, my friend who I'm staying with just informed me that travelling far is a problem for her, she suffers from panic attacks, therefore we wouldnt be able to go to Rome. After going all the way to Italy, I was really looking forward to going to Rome. Are there trains that go from Pisa to Italy, possibly in soem sort of tour group?

Thoughts? Ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated


Denise

Singletail

First of all, get over any worries about being alone and traveling.
Yes, you can take a train from Rome to Pisa, some make fewer stops than others.
You can, if you wish, take a train from the Rome airport into the city to the main station (Termini) and change there for your train to Pisa. You could buy ticket(s) for the entire journey at the train station at the airport if you wish.
I wouldn't go to Italy and then feel as if you had missed out (on Rome) regardless of your friend's "difficulties" and if you don't see Rome I think you'll end up regretting that and, possibly, start becoming resentful toward your friend as well.

sisterhoney

Thanks for the response.
I think you're right about regretting going to Rome, but now I feel like I'm stuck in between and rock and a hard place. I'm thinking I should just take the flight that arrives in Pisa, and then look for some tour groups that go to Rome, do they exist? I'm sorry I guess I'm clueless about all of this. Now I'm debating whether I should even go

ira

Hi Denise,

There is no reason why you should feel uncomfortable traveling by train in Italy. School kids do it all of the time.

If you go to http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm

You will find flights PHL/Pisa on July 18 with a connection in Florence for $879.

PHL/Rome (FCO) on Delta (actually Alitalia) is $847 via Boston.

Also consider an open-jaw PHL/Rome-Pisa/PHL or VV.

Rome to Pisa on the IC train is 3 1/4 hrs and costs 23E 2cl.

See www.trenitalia.com/en

I would do a RT from Rome.

You will not get lost at FCO since everyone is going to the train station to get to Rome. You buy your RT ticket FCO/Rome and your RT ticket Pisa/Rome at the same time.

I would schedule my trip so that I either spent a few days in Rome ahead of visiting Pisa or a few days afterward, but I definitely would not skip Rome.

In addition, it costs only 7E to take the train from Pisa to Florence (1 hr). I suggest you do a daytrip.

Here are some links that can help you.

Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

Trenitalia Tickets Online
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34465647

Enjoy your trip.

Singletail

I still think you should go...it isn't as hard to do all this as it sounds..everybody was a bit concerned the first time and once you've done it you'll feel like a pro.

What i would do is plug in those various itineraries Ira suggested but using YOUR dates since that will obviously affect the final price.

Do NOT allow your friend's problems to keep YOU from traveling.

ira

Hi Denise,

What is the problem here?

Are you saying that your friend won't let you visit unless you spend your entire time in Italy with her?

There is no reason why you can't go to Rome by yourself; 17-yr olds do it.

LN

Hi

You might consider asking a friend from the States to go along too - that way you'd have company seeing Rome, Florence, and any other lovely Italian town.

Whether you go by yourself or with an additional friend - go and have a great time as Italy is very special.

sisterhoney

No, I dont think my friend would mind if i went to Rome for a day, I was just a bit nervous about it, as I'm by myself.
Thank you ira, I will check out those links.
"Rome to Pisa on the IC train is 3 1/4 hrs and costs 23E 2cl." Does this mean 23 Euros?

Are there any guided tours from Pisa to Rome? Flying into Rome and staying for a bit would be a great idea, but I really dont want to do that all by myself, but if i could find some sort of group that would be great.

ira

Yes Denise. 23E is euros.

I understand your trepidation about going to Rome on your own, but it is unfounded.

I suggest you start a thread "Twenty year old woman alone in Rome. Is it safe?"

I predict at least a dozen responses from women who will tell you what and how.

I also expect 14 smart alecky remarks and at least 5 guys suggesting that you meet them somewhere.

sisterhoney

ha thanks foe the advice.
I just dont think it will even be fun to sightsee by myself. I'm really not very street smart.

Maybe it just wasnt meant to be this year. I'll give it some thought

Dottie

I understand your feelings on traveling alone. I have been very lucky so far to have a family member travel with me( mostly my daughter).My daughter and I traveled to South Africa last year by our selves.I was a bit nervous and my daughter was sure we would be killed or something. But everything worked out beautifully.

I think I may face, going it alone, this time if I am going to travel to Italy.But if I must go alone, so be it. I really want to see Italy, mostly Venice. You might think about arranging to be picked up at the airport in Rome and transfered to your Hotel.It makes me feel better to have someone meet me in a strange place.

You could arrange day tours in Rome to see what you want. www.gate1travel.com shows a lot of day tour options you might look at.Also perhaps your travel agent contact might be able to find guided tours in Rome.Than you could take the train to Pisa from Rome.

I would go for it! Life is so short!