Vacation Fall 2012 in Italy

Sandra,

With the destinationa you name above, I think you will have a very hard time finding a tour company that does all of these on one tour.

Also, know in advance that if you are doing a tour, you will be on a bus for your travel between destinations.

Travel in Italy is really very easy, especially if you want to visit the destinations you name. All are simple via train.

Skip Paris and keep this an all Italy trip. 2 days in Paris isn't nearly enough anyway and you might as well get the most for your money by changing destinationa less.

Also, I wouldn't recommend traveling to Sicily just to visit Palermo on it's own. It's your trip and you certainly can if you want, but you need to consider costs.

Start by looking at train travel times and costs on www.trenitalia.com.

Also, help us by telling us what had caused you to pick the destinations you list. Art, history, architecture, scenery, famous sights?

Do you mean $4000 per person to include airfare? That's really tough for a 20 day trip. Also, do your 20 days include flight days to/from the US?

Know that you can do a trip to Italy for MUCH less if you do it yourself. If you pack light, you don't need anyone to handle your luggage. If you ask questions here and do your homework, you don't need anyone to arrange taxis or anything at all!

I've done 4 trips to Europe on my own using the wonderful advice from Fodorites and information from trip reports here. You can do it too!

I agree, drop Paris and you could do the rest nicely in 20 days. To strat in Palermo you will likely have to connect via Rome of Milan, but why not? Also, from Palermo you may decide to fly to Naples but stay in Sorrento. Nice trip---keep plugging.

Thanks, for a quick response!!

Paris- I could do without going here this round. We did decide to cut out Athens because of the time and expense...and you are probably right about Paris. It was just kind of a throw in .....and when we talked about Paris, my husband did say well...if we are going to France..we might as well visit Normandy....saving this for a future trip would most likely be best!!

Thank you for the train schedule...my concern about us taking the trains is.....the ease of getting to a train station and figuring out how to use the system.

History and architecture is the biggest reasons...When in Rome i would love to visit Lake Nemi, The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, The Pantheon and many others...and i cannot leave out the food!

I do want to visit the island Capri and Pompeii....Sicily and Palermo are not one of the really high items on my list.
Since they are so far south....your right about it cutting out alot of the time and expense.

Most of the packages that i have printed out the itineraries are btwn $3,000-$5,000 but they don't have exactly what i am looking for......i may end up doing one of the packages just to make the plans easier.

I would love to make all the arrangements myself...i am so afraid of not getting something right.

Do you know anything about going through a travel agency...would they be able to plan all the details out at a reasonable price ?

4 trips to Europe...that is awesome! What hotels in Italy have you stayed at that you would recommend?

Thanks for all your suggestions..they have helped!
Sandra

Bob,

Thank you too for your quick response...I am definetly going to keep at it...I have been non-stop looking for 2 solid weeks! Very excited....When i started planning...i figured i would start at one point and work my way up or down....I need to read more into the transportation system...
I think you too are prob right about skipping Paris...another time
Sandra

Sandra, I'm also going to chime in here to encourage you to do this on your own. You will find good advice here and by studying some guide books. For me, the planning and research was half the fun.

Don't know what your budget is for hotels per night but I was just in Rome in April and stayed at the Hotel Raphael just off Piazza Navona and it was wonderful. We walked everywhere except a few times at night when we went further afield for dinner and then we took taxis which seemed reasonably priced.
Another hotel that has been recommended to me and is a little cheaper is Hotel Artemides on via Nazionale.

The first time we went to Rome and took our teenage son (2008) we stayed at the Relais Le Clarisse in Trastevere which is a very old part of Rome across the Tiber river from the historical centre. It was quite a reasonable price, included a lovely breakfast and the staff was very helpful. Again we were able to do a lot of walking from there or we took the tram.
You can find all these hotel websites through Google.Sorry I'm not savvy enough to include the links.

I agree you should save Paris for another trip, on our first trip there we had nine days and did not tire of it or run out of things to do.

I think you could also save Sicily for another time and perhaps stay in Sorrento and see Pompei and Capri from there.

Also to save backtracking you might want to book an open-jaw trip, for example: fly into Venice and fly home from Rome , or vice versa. Just be aware that most flights back to North America from Venice leave very early in the morning.

And keep asking questions here. Also check out people's trip reports to Italy. Starting with Bob the Navigator's, he has great ones and good advice.

Good luck, you can do it!!

You may want to take a look at "Untours" which offers independent travel with support from local staff. They provide the essentials for the trip, accommodations (usually apartments), transportation within the country (train or rental car), transfers to and from the airport, and orientation upon arrival. You are then on your own to do as you please yet there is a support staff member available to help with logistics. It is a great compromise for those who would like some direction but do not want to be tied to a tour group/itinerary. Website is www.untours.com, go to "Untours Samplers" which allows you to pick different areas for one week stays. We did the Prague, Budapest, Vienna untour a few years ago and it was very easy to navigate with all of the information and direction that was provided. Have fun with your planning.






www.untours.com

Do reduce your fears of the train system, you might begin by reading the excellent description and instructions for the Italian train system at this link:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

I would not use a travel agency to plan and book your trip unless it claimed to be an Italy specialist PLUS I would want to hear personal reviews from their clients.

Here's a link to lots of info on trains in Italy, written by a long-time, reliable Fodors poster (GAC) and a former poster who lives in Italy (Alice Twain).

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/

Raincitygirl,
Thank you for your suggestions...i will look into those hotels! It has been fun trying to plan, but at the same time I am not all that sure I will plan efficiently It is good to know that the taxi prices are reasonable! I do not mind long walks at all.
Thanks for the tip on Sorrento too! I probably will save Paris for another round!!!
The Tiber River...i can't wait to see that as well!
Thanks so much for your help!!

Cjogo, i will check into the untours..i have never heard of them

Ellenem and Jean, thank you both for the train link..i have saved it...it will help learning more about the train system....I've used the subway in Japan and the train in Chigago...somehow the ones in Europe sound complicated!

Thank you too for the tip on travel agents, i will keep this in mind.

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond....anything else you think of will be gr8!

Sandra

Dennis_Joseph,
Thanks, yes, i maybe taking a closer look at maps and mileage will help me out.
I appreciate the suggestion too!
Sandra

I just returned from a two-week trip to Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris. It was a package arranged by Costco Travel, and the cost of about $3200 per person included airfare, airport transfers, hotels and train fares, and limited sightseeing in each city. And the hotels were awesome...4 and 5 stars. These packages can be customized to spend as many days in each place as you wish. I thoroughly recommend it.

Thank you, Azzure, i will check into it
Sandra

Congrats Sandra with all your requirements you would do better

self guiding my wife and I travel well and cheaply over there

a lot we just booked up 3 weeks in the spring flights on

aa.com AAdvantage Credit Cards 20000 FF miles per leg

seat61.com/italy regional trains cheap go everywhere anytime

you like easy to hop on off 3 euro per hour of training.

www.eurocheapo.com www.slowtrav.com We usually come in under

$1k/wk per person easily this way.

We do splurge on hotels like intercontinental.com

Rome Ville $180 bid priceline.com in May betterbidding.com

Hilton 5 star in Venice $120 bid priceline.com in May last

$120 happy planning.

More structure less fun will not do the route you want

smartours.com perillotours.com affordabletours.com

for discounts on Globus and Tauck all good but lots

of early AM bus rides and stale hotel food with folks

you might or might not like.

Still not bad for a newbie but self guiding cheaply

works best for us these days we get exactly what we

want when we want never wire money always paywith no

foreign fee CC and insuremytrip.com worksbest for us.

Happy Planning!

Sandra do be aware you have commercial trolls on your

thread in clever disguise as a "helpful" poster

Caveat Emptor! use only bbb.org A rated compamies

like smarttours.com Perillo Tauck for best experience.

qwovadis,

Thank you for all the great links and advise. I will definitely check to make sure the company has good ratings/reviews. I have heard that insuring the trip is a good idea...do i need insurance for everything..i do have medical insurance through my job....
Thanks,
Sandra

I'm afraid you're headed to the Amalfi coast and Capri at the wrong time of year. A beach resort off season - when it can be chilly and raining is not really ideal. By November some hotels and restaurants will be closing for the season and ferry service may be completly stopped or cut way back. Also seas are much more likely to be rough - which means ou can't do the Blue Grotto - even if you can get to Capri.

Not sure if you have looked at the weather in Italy the time you will be there. October and be quite pleasant - but by mid November many places are likely to be chilly and rain is certainly possible. Also daylight hours are very short and some sights have off-season hours (open only from 10 to 1 or 2 in the afternoon).

Also - you idea of having someone arrange everything for you is likely to be way beyond your budget - since it would require considerable time of a travel agent (at hourly rate) to sort out all of those arrangements.

Agree that if your budget includes air fare it will be a tight squeeze with modest hotels (shared bath and elevator) and some picnic meals.

"I would love to make all the arrangements myself...i am so afraid of not getting something right."

Just because you go with a tour or agency for planning does not mean everything will be "right."

Things happen: flight delays, cancellations, weather, strikes, closures, high or low water levels. If you read enough trip reports here, you will see that even the best, most concrete plans can take a different twist, and believe me, it is probably more likely to happen with a tour than on your own. Please don't worry about getting everything right. Of course you plan, but sometimes the best experiences come out of things going a bit awry. Because of plane changes due to storms, we've ended up in different cities, and once in a different country. Both times we had the best trips. Wherever your travels take you, just enjoy the moment.

You seem to think of cities for the most part. You could take the ferry from Palermo to Naples. You might be interested in my trip reports, Sicily for our stay in Palermo and then the one covering Naples, Rome and Florence this past year. I highly recommend the B&B in Naples. Click on my name to find the reports.

Because your travels can be done by public transportation, I see no need for a tour. You might want to follow the recommendations of other travelers for accommodations in Rome and Florence. A general guidebook on Italy might be the most appropriate (Michelin Green Guide and/or Fodor's) given the amount you want to cover and the time restrictions. Each of these guidebooks will have enough to do and see for the time you would be in each city.

Sandra,

I wouldn't recommend using a travel agent. Very few have the extensive, first hand experience the Fodorites have.

Here's what I would recommend:

Fly in to Venice
4 nts Venice

train to Florence
4 nts Florence
use 1 or 2 days for day trips to countryside
either by bus or private guide

train to Sorrento or continue on by SITA bus to one of the Amalfi Coast towns
4 nts
visit Pompeii
visit Capri if weather allows
do the Amalfi Coast via SITA bus

train to Rome
5-6 nts

Venice is a nice place to get adjusted, get over jet lag and gain some basic knowledge of how to get around and do things in Italy. It won't be crowded in late Oct. No cars, relatively quiet, fun to walk. Relaxing.

No. of days in Florence is up to you. Personally, I would spend 2 nts there, rent a car and head for 4-5 nts in a hilltown! Driving in the countryside is a breeze. Make sure to have a detailed map, understand your route before setting out for the day, don't rely completely on a GPS. They get confused in ancient hilltowns.

Personally, I wouldn't want to stay in Sorrento. I would visit Pompeii either on the way to/from one of the Amalfi Coast towns. Weather that time of year could be anything, but at least the Amalfi Coast won't be crowded - and much more enjoyable in that sense. Also, nice time to see Pompeii, not so hot and dusty.

If you must visit Capri you may need to leave this part of your trip unreserved as far as lodging. You won't know if you can get over/back. Personally, I didn't care much for Capri on a mid-Sept visit. Far too touristy, overpriced, insanely crowded and not any more beautiful than the Amalfi Coast. There were things I enjoyed - small boat tour around the island, hike up to Villa Jovis - away from the crowds.

Finish in Rome. You will be ready for it by now. You will enjoy it more if you have enough days there not to feel too rushed. So much to see and do! Busy, wonderful city. Rushing too much with the sightseeing can be overwhelming. If you need a day trip out - many easy ones to choose from.

If you have a full 20 days on the ground - add one or two nts along the way - maybe Verona on the way to Florence. Maybe Orvieto on the way to Rome!

Does this give you some ideas?

I agree with Poster above about using Untours. I book my own air, but use Untours for an apartment, car, train,etc. they are wonderful to work with and you are on your on unless you need their help while there. I am planning my 4th trip with them this spring.

I predict that once you have taken your first train ride in Italy, the transportation will seem simple. I would study the
train schedules, print out the schedule(s) you want and go
to a travel agency in your first city, buy all your tickets and have the agent make the reservations for your seats. There
are lots of travels agencies in the major cities or go to American Express.

One piece of advice-if you are planning to go to Sorrento, I
would do it towards the beginning of the trip because
the ferries to places like Capri go on limited schedules after
a certain date (I can't remember the date).

While you already have wonderful ideas of places to go, I
advise you to take a day bus trip to Sienna from Florence and
to consider a coups nights in Verona. Above all, don't miss
the Scrovengi Chapel in Padua, advance reservations required.

I think you will have a wonderful time.

Pat

Nytraveler,
Going another time would be gr8...but we are going for our Anniversary that is in November....i take off every year at this time Thanks, for the tips though...i will have to check further into seeing what will be open for us!

Sassafrass, i do understand about things that happen even if the trip is well planned...going to Hawaii last year, our flight was delayed due to mechanical issues and we ended up rebooking with another airline to get us there. I was thinking that a guided tour may or may not be able to take care of things better than i could.
It's good to hear that you had a gr8 vacation with being in a different city...and another country...I plan on having alot of fun...as long as i can find a place that has gr8 food..im happy!
Thank,you!

Michael,
Thank you! I will look into your trip reports...very excited to read them!

Dayle, thank you for the suggestions! Your right...i don't want to be rushed in Rome....I'm sure my time will fly by wayyy to fast!!!

Kraines,
I will check into untours as well..thanks!

Pat, I am trying to understand the train schedules..but your right...firsthand i will probably learn more! ...it will probably seem less terrifying then, lol!

I am so glad that everyone has taken the time to give me advice....I've got a long way to go, but i have a better feeling about things...I am looking into all the trip suggestions as well and feel that in the end i will end up with a wonderful vacation!!

Keep the tips and suggestions coming in..they are really helping me alot!
Sandra

You can plan and do this trip easily without a tour and without a travel agent. Everything is available on-line from hotel reservations to train schedules, etc. And people here will answer all your questions once you start planing.

If you have $8000 for the two of you for a three week trip you can certainly do that including airfare and stay at nice mid range hotels (NOT shared bath). Except in Rome and Venice you will easily find perfectly nice hotels, in good locations, for under €100 a night for a double. In Europe a room with a private bathroom is called "ensuite". Most hotel rooms are ensuite these days except really low budget. The site tripadvisor.com can help you choose hotels, check prices and read reviews from people who have stayed there.

I don't think it matters if you start in the north or the south, there will be pros and cons to both.

Palermo is not the 'best' part of Sicily so if you don't have a lot of time or want to rent a car then I would probably skip it.

For Pompeii and Capri I would stay in Sorrento. It's a lovely town, larger than some of the Amalfi Coast villages so there will be plenty of hotels open in Oct and even November. You can do day trips to Amalfi and Positano as well as Capri and Pompeii. At that time of year, and given the other things you want to do, probably 4 or 5 days is plenty. Here is my trip report - I describe how we got around (trains, buses, boats), how much things cost and give a link to the hotel we stayed in. There's also a link to my photos. http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/amalfi-coast-rome-and-croatia-images-of-three-hot-but-wonderful-weeks.cfm

For the Tuscany portion I would probably stay in Florence if you do not want to rent a car. You can easily do day trips to Siena, Lucca, Pisa and many smaller towns using buses or trains. Buses in Europe are not sketchy like they are in many parts of the US. They are clean, comfortable, economical and go to places that don't have train lines.

Rome can be as short or as long as you like. There is so much to see you could spend weeks but lots of people see the highlights in just 3 or 4 days. In the fall since the weather may be more 'iffy' than summer, it's nice to spend more time in cities since there is more 'inside' stuff to do which is less weather dependent. I was in Italy last fall and got some really rainy weather (but still had a great time) but just the week before some people I know had great weather so you can't go by forecasts. Here's a link to that trip report - http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/some-reflections-on-europe-in-the-fall-photos-of-italy-and-the-uk.cfm

Most people find 3 or 4 days is enough in Venice. The area around Venice (the Veneto) has many wonderful small and mid sized towns so you might want to consider time there - Verona, Padua, Vicenza, etc. I did that area as part of a trip to other parts of Europe a few years ago - I had already been to Venice twice. With the amount of time you have you could spend a few nights IN Venice plus a few nights in one of the surrounding towns. Here's that trip report - http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/isabels-summer-trip-photos---to-italy-vienna-and-budapest.cfm

With twenty nights I would probably split the time about equally - Sorrento/AC, Rome, Florence/Tuscany, Venice/Veneto. Or skip the Veneto, shave a night off all the others and have four for Paris. But if you do that be sure to book 'open jaw' plane tickets - into Rome and out of Paris - so you don't have to back track.

Isabel,
Wow, your pictures are amazing...i didn't get a chance to look at all the albums...but i do have them bookmarked and plan on spending some time on them!
Very good to know about the private bath called "ensuite" so i will make sure i have that! I don't think i would be comfortable sharing a bathroom with others!
I am doing the same thing from your trip report...studying for hours all the gr8 info!
What is "open jaw"?
Thanks for the help,
Sandra

Open jaw (usually called multi-city on airline websites) means depart from home to one city, fly from a different city back home. I suspect you already planned to do that, even with your first itinerary. (Home-Palermo, Paris-home)

In my travels in Italy, I haven't seen "ensuite" used as much as "with bath."

Thanks for clarifying ellenem
Sandra

Thank you all again....i am still in the plannning phases...i have changed things up a bit on my planning and these plans are not yet set in stone.
I know now that i will have to expand my budget....but that is okay, after searching prices on airlines and hotels ...not to mention food and other what-might-happens....

Still working on things but here is a basic start and i would love to here your suggestions...believe me..they have helped out alot!!

Day one- Fly to Naples
Day two- arrive and spend on night in Naples
Day three- Ferry or boat to Capri/AnaCapri spend one night
Day four-Ferry or boat to Sorrento spend 4 nights
Day five, six and seven- fit in Almalfi coast and Pompeii
Day eight- travel to Rome spend 7 nights in Rome
Day nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen and fourteen -Rome
Day fifteen-Lake Nemi our Anniversary night here one night
Day sixteen-Travel to Florence - 4 nights
Day seventeen, eighteen and ninteen..explore Tuscany Region and visit Pisa
Day twenty- Travel to Venice spend three nights in Venice
Day twenty-one and twenty-two - explore Venice
Day twenty-three fly home


Thanks,
Sandra

I like it--much better.
I am not sure I would stay only one nite on Capri---it would be ideal to let the weather dictate at the time.

You sure did keep plugging and it shows.

Your itinerary is really coming along. You'll be a pro soon! I'm glad to see you're not moving too quickly but spending some time at each stop.

Some quibbles: assuming you arrive in Naples fairly early in the day, you could go on to Capri that day. (Bus or taxi to the port.) Naples might be a bit of a (culture-)shock that first jet-lagged day. If you want to spend time in Naples, stay a night there en route to Rome. And I'd like you to have another day in Venice. But that's because I love Venice.

Now that you have decided to spend several days in most of your destinations, may I suggest you start looking at apartments? You will have more space for your stuff and for relaxing after a day's touring, a kitchenette, a small fridge, and more privacy, often for less than you would pay for a room with bath and breakfast. It does mean doing light shopping for groceries in little local stores, but that's one of my favorite parts of visiting Italy. We generally eat a main meal out at noon, and then in the evening have something like a salad or small dinner in the apartment. And breakfast in our "jammies.

Look at sleepinitaly.com or Italyperfect.com among other sites. Also check slowtrav.com or tripadvisor for apartment reviews. There's a zillion apartments for rent, so don't get overwhelmed. Just take a little time to research them and make the best decision you can.

Bob the navigator...i am hoping the weather allows for it! It will be around the 20th of Oct. I tried to adjust the times where our Anniversary falls in Rome...the way i've got things set i could start my trip a week earlier and leave closer to the 11th or 12th of Oct.

Mimar, thanks, that is a gr8 thought....I actually had it that way going straight from Naples airport to the ferry...then i thought..well, while i am here...why don't i spend a day here before moving on.....

Charnees....when i had a thought about staying in Rome for about 3 weeks and just taking day visits...i got a gr8 price on an apt in Rome that seemed really nice...3 wks for 1200 Euros i believe. Then yesterday i found some Bed and Breakfast places that are reasonable priced...i am thinking about going ahead and paying for them now so i don't lose the gr8 deals i found. They all have wonderful reviews on trip advisor and the ones listed on www.venere.com had gr8 reviews as well. My only issue is my time off on work is not guaranteed and i won't be able to know for sure until after August. Most of the Bed and Breakfast places let you cancel with no penalty if you give them an advance notice.
I don't think we will need a kitchen...i am so excited about trying all the food out there i don't think i'll cook. When go on our fishing trips we do get a condo so that we can cook...unless we camp.
Thanks for the review sites, they will come in handy!!

You guys are so wonderful!!!

Sandra

For your first trip to Europe, I think you're better off in a hotel or B&B than an apartment. Then you have somebody to answer questions, help you get around, and recommend restaurants.

Sandra,

I have the same thoughts as Mirmar on both posts. I like Naples, but I think for a first, jet-lagged day that would probably be too much. Go on to Capri, relax. Enjoy the Amalfi Coast.

I also agree with 1 additional day in Venice. If you do a little research, you will find there is much to see there.

Places that will let you cancel with a policy that fits your work situation will be a wise choice. Hotel staff and B&B owners are usually very, very helpful.

Keep up the excellent planning. The advice you can get here will really help you have a fabulous first trip!

Mimar,

I have been looking at alot of bed and breakfast and i think i am really liking the way they look... i have emailed a couple for quotes....i think i am going to start booking them now so they will have available rooms!

Dayle,
I am loving the advice here...i don't think i would be anywhere right now without it!! I found a cute B & B in Naples with a view of the bay...i think we will probably go from the airport and just relax the rest of the night...i am sure we will be tired after such a long flight...I know coming home from Hawaii we were exhausted.
Sandra

I've been working on my travel plans and have made a few minor changes including extending our stay by one day. Any comments or suggestions on the bed and breakfast/hotels will be appreciated.

I have a few cities with several hotels selected...i am only staying in one hotel per city...i just haven't weeded it down to one.



Anacapri 2 nights, Sorrento 2 nights, Pompei 2 nights, Rome 7 nights, Nemi 1 night, Florence 5 nights and Venice 3 nights.

We may just do a visit to Nemi if we choose our Anniversary night in Rome (see below).

Day one:
Fly into Naples
Take the Ali bus to the Molo Beverello
Ferry to Capri
Bus to Anacapri
Check into room and rest
1. B&B II Sogno $98 per night or
2. Villa Damecuta $71 per night

Day two:
Explore Anacapri

Day three:
Ferry to Sorrento
Check in room
1. B&B II Tulipano - Sant'Agnello $66 per night
2. B&B Casa Rachele - Piano di Sorrento $66 per night
3. Vacation Rental L'Incanto - Piano di Sorrento $51 night
Explore Sorrento

Day four:
Explore Almalfi Coast

Day five:
Travel to Pompei
Check into room
1. Pompei Resort $156 per night
Explore Pompei

Day six:
Explore Pompei

Day seven:
Travel to Rome
Check in to room
1. Villa Paganini B&B $117 per night ***like this one
2. B&B Le Torri dei Papi $145 per night
3. B&B Marlu $106 per night
4. B&B Greta e Prisca $112 per night
if time allows explore Rome

Day eight:
Day nine:
Day ten:
Day eleven:
Day twelve:
Day thirteen:
The above six days spend exploring Rome


Day fourteen: Anniversary
either: Travel to Lake Nemi
Check into room
1. Aga Guest Residence per night $398
or: Stay in Rome
Check into room
Suite Sistina per night $259-$348 depending on which suite

Day fifteen:
Travel to Florence
Check in to room
1. II Giglio d'Oro B&B $130 per night
2. B&B II Bargello $106 per night
3. B&B Four Rooms $99 $106 or $112 per night
4. B&B Tourist House Battistero $86 per night
If time allows explore Florence

Day sixteen:
Day seventeen:
Day eighteen:
Day nineteen:
The above 4 days:Explore Tuscany area and spend day in Pisa

Day twenty:
Travel to Venice
Check into room:
1. Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo $95 per night

Day twenty-one:
Day twenty-two:
The above to days explore Venice

Day twenty-three:
Fly home

Thank you,
Sandra

Are the hotel rates you have quoted actually in dollars or euro? I ask because a few of the prices seem low for what I know of accomodations.

Ellenem,

I searched using dollars....I am using my dates planned btwn Oct/Nov of 2012. I am sure the rates will go up and down between now and then, but i am hoping to start booking early. I really won't know exactly my time off until around Aug. 2012.
Sandra

Just a couple quick comments:

1. Pompeii is a short train ride from Sorrento so there is no need to actually stay IN Pompeii. And depending on your interest level I dont think you need more than a day.

2. Be sure that you arent driving IN Florence - if you do a search on this board you will find many instances of people being caught and heavilly fined approx. 8-12 months after their holiday for driving in restricted zones. But to explore Tuscany you do really need a car so maybe stay in the countryside and do a day trip to Florence on the train. Or visit places like Pisa and Siena that are easily accessible from Florence by bus.

Enjoy your planning - its half the fun!

One day to visit the archeological site in Pompeii would be plenty, and as Jamikins said, you do not need to stay in Pompeii. I would not. Rather than change hotels, just stay longer in Sorrento. You could visit Herculaneum though, or Naples. Then you might stay a night in Naples, though you could still do that from Sorrento also.

Just me, but I have stayed in both, and I would stay in Sorrento rather than piano de Sorrento. Wonder what others might say. Those are pretty low prices for Sorrento. Since you are staying in Sorrento, you will have evenings to explore there and walk around, so you really do not need any "days" there. Use the days to go down to Positano, etc.

If you stay only in Sorrento, you could up the budget a bit since you would not be staying at the resort in Pompeii. Perhaps the resort has a special appeal though?

I agree with the others about Sorrento and Pompeii. It is only a half hour train ride. Just stay in Sorrento the extra nights and do day trip to Pompeii and with the extra day explore the Amalfi Coast again or go to Naples or just relax in Sorrento. The area around Pompeii is no where near as nice as Sorrento.

You guys are probably right about staying in Sorrento...it is also less expensive to go that route...i'll keep working on it!

Jamikins,
Thank you...we are not going to do any driving...going to go the bus/train route. I'll keep looking at places to stay maybe outside of Florence....I do want to at least spend one day in Pisa.

Sassafrass,
No, no special appeal to staying there...just a thought...I'll take a closer look revising that area!

Isabel,
Thanks on the tip about the area being nicer. I am going to keep on looking!

Thanks guys!! I probably won't have much time to work on this until Monday night! You guys have been a big help...I am thinking if i would have planned this myself...I'd have been in for a big surprise!!

Sandra

Since i have p

Sandra, I'm not sure you caught the distinctions between Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento and Sant'Agnello. These last 2 are separate towns, not Sorrento proper. They both have stations on the Circumvesuviana commuter train that you will take to Pompeii. So when you arrive from Capri on the ferry, you'll have to get yourselves up the cliff (little buses) and take the train or a bus to get to the town where you're ataying. And then you'll have to get yourselves to the B&B.

Sometimes, cheap accommodations in non-central locations cost more in transit fares and precious vacation time lost in getting to and fro. This is particularly true in Rome.

As a general rule, it is good to look up the address of your proposed accommodation so you know exactly where it's located. Look at a mapping site like Google maps or www.viamichelin.com. Frequently establishments advertise themselves as being more conveniently located than they really are.

Thank you, Mimar, I will take a closer look at the locations when booking!!

Sandra

I am still working on all this....reading tons of reviews and have come back to check out all the wonderful links that you have shared....I'll post an update soon!
Thanks,
Sandra

Sandra - I just read through the thread and so impressed with how quickly you turned into your own great travel planner! This sounds like a really terrific trip.

Rosetravels,
Thank you...I am having fun trying to put it all together....trying to keep in my all the suggestions and working on it a little bit at a time

For anyone interested....i have made slight changes...and i prob will all the way up to the end...I've figured out a little more detail....and have worked a bit further here and there from what i am posting right now...but the later part is still needing work....
I am figuring that an average decent room with be approx $100 a night which is not a problem.
I am also figuring we will get our airfare (i've done a few searches) at about $1250-$1400 a ticket.
I so wish i knew exactly what dates we are going ...it would make this so much easier!!

Day one:
Fly into Naples
Take the Ali bus to the Molo Beverello
Ferry to Capri
Bus to Anacapri
Check into room and rest
1. B&B II Sogno $98 per night
--
2. Villa Damecuta $71 per night ***I emailed for a quote for my estimated dates and this will be $97.84

Both of those are still possible ...but added a 3rd
3. Agriturismo Teerrammare - this is a working farmhouse...i think that is awesome...i so love animals! It is 13 minutes from Marina Grande in Capri where i will be getting off the ferry....they have a driver to pick you up with no charge....this one is $117.40 a night

I am not certain how i will choose between the three...i guess i need to make a list of pros and cons....while we are in town we will use buses, taxis and our feet to get around.



Day two:
Explore Anacapri- A few places i do want to visit while in this area....Villa Jovis, Blue Grotto, Augustus Gardens, Villa Damecuta, walk La Migliera and weather permitting take the chair lift to Mt. Solaro....if time permits visit Villa San Michele.

Day three:
Ferry to Sorrento - 40 min trip (ferry included from Marina Grande to Molo 1 in Sorrento

Check in room: (ive changed my selections)

1. Villa Adriana - i have emailed for exact quotes, but web prices are:
Queen Terrace 1 - $83.44
Queen Terrace 2 - $75.85
Deluxe Queen - $68.27
They have more rooms, but these all have a private bath and private balcony
This one is 6 minutes away from the port.

2. Villa Monica- I received an email from them with my estimated dates and the room is $97.79 a night. They also have free pick up service everyday to and from the center.
This villa is 10 min away from the port.

3. Belvedere Sorrento - this is a 3rd option if the other 2 are not avail or something later when i book..i haven't researched it much..it is btwn 50 - 110 euros a night....


As for staying in Sorrento 4 nights or doing 2 in Sorrento and 2 in Pompeii..i haven't decided...i know i want to spend one day at the ruins of Pompeii...(at some point visit Naples to see the museum) and spend a day at Mt. Vesuvius.

Some other thoughts...instead of staying in Nemi for our Anniv..i may just spend one night in Nemi (I do want to spend at least a day here) and spend our Anniv in a nicer place in Rome...then do the other 6 nights in a bed and breakfast in Rome......

Still planning.......

San

Echo, I've skipped much so sorry if this is a duplicate or unnecessary piece of advice. DH and I used American Express for a trip from Barcelona to Montpellier to Nice to Paris. We sat down with AE's travel person and mapped out our hotels and dates. AE arranged plane and hotel (flew into Barcelona and out of Paris) and we bought our train tickets at the sites.

Hub and I planned our on itineraries but I believe AE could have helped there (for a price!). A combo of guided and DIY can be a good way to get introduced to travel of any type.

Good luck with your trip!

About the agriturismo in Capri, is it 13 minutes on foot or 13 minutes by car? If it's by car, I doubt they'll be taking you into town and picking you up there on a regular basis. Might be a good place for getting over jet lag -- assuming you're arriving in Naples after an overnight flight. Between impaired sleep on the plane and the change in time zones, you will be hazy for the first day or so.

You are a very promising trip planner. I suspect this is just the beginning of a life-long addiction -- like mine.

TDudette,
Thank you, I have pretty much mapped out the hotels and dates and i think we are going to use the buses/trains to get around..thank you for your help

Mimar,
I am not sure if it is on foot or by car. The email they sent me said they would take and pick up from town daily.
Thank you...i sure hope that we have many future trips, it has been fun planning, i have been behind lately with many things going on... Hopefully, soon, i will get back to fine tuning everything! Thank you for your help!
Sandra

Echo,

Just an observation: it is better, more realistic, and more helpful to others who will benefit from reading about your plans to think about and list the rates for the hotels and B&Bs in euro since that price will stay the same.

Why? If the B&B has posted a price of 100 euro per night as their 2012 rate, that will not change for all of 2012.

However, if you convert euros to dollars and post the rate in dollars, then that rate is true for THAT DAY. You plan to travel 10 months from now. The rates could change significantly by then. Right now, 100 euro is about $127. Seven months ago, 100 euro was about $145. Start thinking in euro now.

(Of course, it is important for your own planning to understand the current exchange rate to know if you are staying within your budget. Planning in euro now will help you understand prices when you actually arrive in Italy and make daily purchases.)

However, if you convert euros to dollars and post the rate in dollars, then that rate is true for THAT DAY. You plan to travel 10 months from now. The rates could change significantly by then. Right now, 100 euro is about $127. Seven months ago, 100 euro was about $145. Start thinking in euro now.


True, but if the only thing left for the OP to remember the cost is the final credit card bill, dollars may be the only information readily available--not all CC billings give both currency amounts.

True, but ten months from now when the OP makes the trip and pays the bill for the hotel, instead of $83.44 the Queen Terrace price may show up on the credit card as $102.78 or $65.25. The price in euro at the time of booking will not change.

Very interesting,thank you...I'll keep track of both numbers. Thanks!!
Sandra