Italy - Rome, Florence and Naples or Rome, Florence and Venice ??
Apr 13th, 2009, 09:02 PM
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Italy - Rome, Florence and Naples or Rome, Florence and Venice ??
Help!! So many questions.
My mother, myself and sister are travelling in Sept or Oct 2009 to Italy. Any preference?
1) Should we fly into Florence and start our trip there or fly into Rome and take a train directly to Florence and tour Rome at the end of our trip? Which is cheaper, I heard flying directly into Florence could be more costly vs. into Rome then train to Florence.
2) - Stay in Florence for 3 nights to visit Lucca, Lisa, Siena and Assisi or none, some or all. (3) nights too long? From there train to Naples for (2)nights to visit Sorrento, Pompeii, maybe Capri then train to Rome for last days/nights and fly out of Rome back home.
3) 10 day tour, is that enough? Oh, what about Venice, should we forget Naples and go to Venice?
4) We are 69, 50 and 44. Want the "must sees" Tower of Pisa, Colosseum, St. Peter's, Spanish Steps, gardens/little towns, people watching, wine, food, shopping, etc. We only thought of Venice for the Gondola ride as seen in the movies.
5) Any flea markets - love, love, love flea markets...small quaint towns with little shops?
Read about Piazza dei Coimpi and Piazza delle Pulci flea markets? Worth going to?
Mercato Delle Cascine or Porcellino?
6) Also want a wine tour... in Florence? Any recommendations or are they all over, just book when we get there.
7) We are NOT going to attempt renting a car so this would all be via walk, train, ferry and bus.
I know a lot to ask...help if you can. Getting confused on how to get from A to B back to A????
My mother, myself and sister are travelling in Sept or Oct 2009 to Italy. Any preference?
1) Should we fly into Florence and start our trip there or fly into Rome and take a train directly to Florence and tour Rome at the end of our trip? Which is cheaper, I heard flying directly into Florence could be more costly vs. into Rome then train to Florence.
2) - Stay in Florence for 3 nights to visit Lucca, Lisa, Siena and Assisi or none, some or all. (3) nights too long? From there train to Naples for (2)nights to visit Sorrento, Pompeii, maybe Capri then train to Rome for last days/nights and fly out of Rome back home.
3) 10 day tour, is that enough? Oh, what about Venice, should we forget Naples and go to Venice?
4) We are 69, 50 and 44. Want the "must sees" Tower of Pisa, Colosseum, St. Peter's, Spanish Steps, gardens/little towns, people watching, wine, food, shopping, etc. We only thought of Venice for the Gondola ride as seen in the movies.
5) Any flea markets - love, love, love flea markets...small quaint towns with little shops?
Read about Piazza dei Coimpi and Piazza delle Pulci flea markets? Worth going to?
Mercato Delle Cascine or Porcellino?
6) Also want a wine tour... in Florence? Any recommendations or are they all over, just book when we get there.
7) We are NOT going to attempt renting a car so this would all be via walk, train, ferry and bus.
I know a lot to ask...help if you can. Getting confused on how to get from A to B back to A????
Apr 13th, 2009, 10:13 PM
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I'd suggest flying open jaw into Venice.
Three nights in Venice.
Train to Florence
Three nights in Florence (bus to Pisa, etc).
Train to Rome.
Three nights in Rome.
Fly out of Rome.
The Venice arrival is really stress free and magic, and there's more to Venice than gondolas.
We spent nine weeks in Venice over Christmas, and know that there's yet more to see. We barely scratched the surface.
Three nights in Venice.
Train to Florence
Three nights in Florence (bus to Pisa, etc).
Train to Rome.
Three nights in Rome.
Fly out of Rome.
The Venice arrival is really stress free and magic, and there's more to Venice than gondolas.
We spent nine weeks in Venice over Christmas, and know that there's yet more to see. We barely scratched the surface.
Apr 14th, 2009, 11:52 AM
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Dawn~ Welcome to Fodor's forums. There is a separate forum specifically questions about Europe. If you repost there you will get a much greater readership. Not too many people check into the "Travel Tips" board. all the best, Suze
Apr 15th, 2009, 08:53 PM
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You won’t find too many fleas at the Rialto market in Venice – but it’s the fish market to die for. Go early in the morning – 6:00 AM – and watch it come to life.
Wine tasting – with good wine at about 5 Euro a bottle, you can taste heaps.
I did a kind of trip report about our time in Venice, along with the 3 night gig we did in Rome. You might find it interesting.
Wine tasting – with good wine at about 5 Euro a bottle, you can taste heaps.
I did a kind of trip report about our time in Venice, along with the 3 night gig we did in Rome. You might find it interesting.
Apr 16th, 2009, 03:05 PM
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You will adore Venice! My most favourite place on earth. So beautiful and one big market at night near the railway station. Most nights the stalls are set up until late except Mondays as far as I remember.Lovely family atmosphere too and quite safe to stroll around- you will enjoy just walking these enchanting streets. If you are up to it, the 1/2 hour to 1 hour walk from St Marco to the Ferrovia Railway station is a must! Return by ferry if you can't walk back. The shops at the station are good too and seem to be cheaper than near St Marco. Try to go to Murano and Burano islands as well - magical places and a lovely boat ride to get there. Get the public transport ferries the locals get from St Marco Square. Full of lovely things to buy (and just look at),often very cheaply. You will want to return to Venice time and time again as me and my sister do.
And you will love Rome and Florence too!
It is a pity you cannot see Naples as well as it is also wonderful. One of the finest Archeological museums in the world is there and close to Pompei and Herculaneum. Sorrento is a fabulous day trip from Naples but you can't fit everything in. I guarantee you will want to return to Italy to revisit places and discover new ones!
And you will love Rome and Florence too!
It is a pity you cannot see Naples as well as it is also wonderful. One of the finest Archeological museums in the world is there and close to Pompei and Herculaneum. Sorrento is a fabulous day trip from Naples but you can't fit everything in. I guarantee you will want to return to Italy to revisit places and discover new ones!
Apr 23rd, 2009, 03:23 PM
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Hi Dawn!
Wow so many questions, but I have a some hints for you.
I would fly directly into Rome as it is cheaper...but these days an open jaw trip is just as reasonable. Check it out
Definitly stay in Florence, I lived there for 6 months and couldn't get enough of the city. Visit Pisa, Siena and Assisi for sure. Beauitful cities and the trains rides are easy. But take some time in Florence...a full day at the most.
As far as a wine trip....you don't really need to take one. In every restaurant they have "table wine" which is incredible. It's inexpensive but great for dinners. You can stop by any wine shop and grab a bottle, there was a great wine and chocolate shop in Via Nationale near the train station with the greatest wine and chocolate selection. Hope he's still there, he was adorbale. Keep in mind if you take a wine trip, it won't be a complete tasting room experience. It's different in the states. The ones I went to didn't have the tasting rooms, you walked through the cellars tasting wine, the honor system. They do like you to buy at least a bottle and are best to be taken home and cellared for many years. If you want wine, buy at the shops, many of them even offer tastings.
Personally I wouldn't even go to Naples, I've been several times and didn't really enjoy it. Rather spend 2 or 3 nights in Sorrento, a beautiful costal town, spend the day in Pompeii and then the next day take the very to the island of Capri and one day in Sorrento. They have some of the best shops, boutique style, the most tasty lemonchello, and the most incredible restaurants. We, my Mom and I, came back from our day trips every night to enjoy the beautiful sunset and the incredible 2 hour dinners!
Venice is incredible, a must see, at least 2 days Such beautiful architecture, the waterways, and more. Great shopping here too. I was able to buy Morano glass and the shops shipped it home for me. Venice is a town that you won't get out of your mind!
Rome is a destination all in itself. I would spend at least 3 days there. I couldn't ramble on forever with the must sees. But let me know I loved Rome
10 days is a do-able trip. But you will be pooped if try to fit it all in. So I suggest, 2 days in venice, 3 days in Florence, 3 days in Sorrento and 2 days in Rome. But then again it would be great if you could spend longer in each!
Hope the info helps. I loved living in Italy.
Wow so many questions, but I have a some hints for you.
I would fly directly into Rome as it is cheaper...but these days an open jaw trip is just as reasonable. Check it out
Definitly stay in Florence, I lived there for 6 months and couldn't get enough of the city. Visit Pisa, Siena and Assisi for sure. Beauitful cities and the trains rides are easy. But take some time in Florence...a full day at the most.
As far as a wine trip....you don't really need to take one. In every restaurant they have "table wine" which is incredible. It's inexpensive but great for dinners. You can stop by any wine shop and grab a bottle, there was a great wine and chocolate shop in Via Nationale near the train station with the greatest wine and chocolate selection. Hope he's still there, he was adorbale. Keep in mind if you take a wine trip, it won't be a complete tasting room experience. It's different in the states. The ones I went to didn't have the tasting rooms, you walked through the cellars tasting wine, the honor system. They do like you to buy at least a bottle and are best to be taken home and cellared for many years. If you want wine, buy at the shops, many of them even offer tastings.
Personally I wouldn't even go to Naples, I've been several times and didn't really enjoy it. Rather spend 2 or 3 nights in Sorrento, a beautiful costal town, spend the day in Pompeii and then the next day take the very to the island of Capri and one day in Sorrento. They have some of the best shops, boutique style, the most tasty lemonchello, and the most incredible restaurants. We, my Mom and I, came back from our day trips every night to enjoy the beautiful sunset and the incredible 2 hour dinners!
Venice is incredible, a must see, at least 2 days Such beautiful architecture, the waterways, and more. Great shopping here too. I was able to buy Morano glass and the shops shipped it home for me. Venice is a town that you won't get out of your mind!
Rome is a destination all in itself. I would spend at least 3 days there. I couldn't ramble on forever with the must sees. But let me know I loved Rome
10 days is a do-able trip. But you will be pooped if try to fit it all in. So I suggest, 2 days in venice, 3 days in Florence, 3 days in Sorrento and 2 days in Rome. But then again it would be great if you could spend longer in each!
Hope the info helps. I loved living in Italy.
Apr 23rd, 2009, 05:13 PM
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Lvs2Trvl- Thank you so much. We have finalized some things and they follow almost your exact schedule. 2 days in Venice, 3 days in Florence, 1 day in Pisa(early am)/Lucca(afternoon to overnight)onto 3 days in Rome.
Question...best ways to get from Venice to Florence, Florence to Pisa, Pisa to Lucca, Lucca to Rome...how about tackling this? Ha.
D.
Hotel in Florence ...any recommendations, something cheap and clean. Hotel Abaco??? or where?
Question...best ways to get from Venice to Florence, Florence to Pisa, Pisa to Lucca, Lucca to Rome...how about tackling this? Ha.
D.
Hotel in Florence ...any recommendations, something cheap and clean. Hotel Abaco??? or where?
Apr 25th, 2009, 07:53 PM
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Do you already have a place reserved in Venice? I rented an apartment for three women last summer through cross-pollinate.com. We stayed in the Ca' Riccio (about 126 Euros per night--cheaper than hotels). The apartment was perfect! Spacious and clean. It was a 5 minute walk to the Rialto.
Your trip sounds good, although it's a bit of traveling trying to see so many places. Be sure to reserve tours (museums, etc.) so you don't waste time waiting in lines.
Your trip sounds good, although it's a bit of traveling trying to see so many places. Be sure to reserve tours (museums, etc.) so you don't waste time waiting in lines.
Apr 30th, 2009, 08:44 PM
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Suze - you are right, the train is the best way to get around. SO easy! To Lucca, you can take the train and then a bus, you won't have a problem.
Ohh Hotel in Florence, there are soo many. Let me look at my books and get back to you. I have a few that were great. I'll let you know soon!
Ohh Hotel in Florence, there are soo many. Let me look at my books and get back to you. I have a few that were great. I'll let you know soon!
May 14th, 2009, 01:25 AM
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try the hotel ariston on fiesole...stayed there last week, bathroom in room, 45 euros for one person, clean, italian tv, very central, lovely people, breakfast of a sort included. there is a flea market in florence at the spirito santo church plaza on 2nd sunday, one by the pulci market on the 4th sunday, & lucca has a huge one on the 3rd saturday & sunday of the month...heading there myself tomorrow.
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