10 Day First Time Trip to Italy
Feb 4th, 2013, 10:18 AM
#21
>>>Anyone know of any shuttle service? <<<
The bus shuttle from Sorrento to Naples airport is Curreri. Cost is 10€, but not likely to run early enough for a departure flight.
If you haven't booked flights yet, I would fly into Naples, Curreri shuttle bus to Sorrento, visit Sorrento, train to Naples and on to Rome, visit Rome, train to Florence, fly home from Florence (or Pisa).
The bus shuttle from Sorrento to Naples airport is Curreri. Cost is 10€, but not likely to run early enough for a departure flight.
If you haven't booked flights yet, I would fly into Naples, Curreri shuttle bus to Sorrento, visit Sorrento, train to Naples and on to Rome, visit Rome, train to Florence, fly home from Florence (or Pisa).
Feb 4th, 2013, 10:45 AM
#22
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I'm sorry - but you actually have only 7 days on the ground - not 10. And you are trying to see/do way to much in such a limited time.
And you have not allowed time for travel between cities. You would have a half a day in Venice, 1.5 day s Florence and Rome and 2.5 days in Sorrento.
If it were me I would stick with Rome and Sorrento and actually see something - and have a chance to sit in a cafe and relax with a glass of wine - rather than be running constantly from one place to another.
For hotel you wil have to give us a specific budget in $ or euros and let us know if this is for a triple room and if two can share a double bed.
As for meals - you can eat for practically nothing if you picnic or buy food at street markets. For a sit down meal we allow a minimum of $30 per person for lunch and $75 for dinner (more courses and wine).
And you have not allowed time for travel between cities. You would have a half a day in Venice, 1.5 day s Florence and Rome and 2.5 days in Sorrento.
If it were me I would stick with Rome and Sorrento and actually see something - and have a chance to sit in a cafe and relax with a glass of wine - rather than be running constantly from one place to another.
For hotel you wil have to give us a specific budget in $ or euros and let us know if this is for a triple room and if two can share a double bed.
As for meals - you can eat for practically nothing if you picnic or buy food at street markets. For a sit down meal we allow a minimum of $30 per person for lunch and $75 for dinner (more courses and wine).
Feb 4th, 2013, 12:23 PM
#23
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Someone told me that they did not have a train from Sorrento to Rome? not sure- Do they have a train that goes from Sorrento to Naples?>
Just to be clear there is a train from Sorrento to Naples Centrale (actually to a station attached to it and connected by a long walkway) and then it is about 1.25 hours on the fastest train to Rome Termini from where the Leonardo Express takes about 30 minutes or so to the main Rome airport - yes if from Rome be in Rome the night before - way too may train strikes in Italy to depend on taking trains the same day to the plane if not in your departure city.
Just to be clear there is a train from Sorrento to Naples Centrale (actually to a station attached to it and connected by a long walkway) and then it is about 1.25 hours on the fastest train to Rome Termini from where the Leonardo Express takes about 30 minutes or so to the main Rome airport - yes if from Rome be in Rome the night before - way too may train strikes in Italy to depend on taking trains the same day to the plane if not in your departure city.
Apr 3rd, 2013, 11:38 AM
#24
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Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions. We tried to get info on the trains from their websites. It was too early to obtain the information for when we will be going. So we decided to rent a car. We were fearful that we would not have enough time on the trains to get to the airport on time.
Several posters have told us sometimes the local trains go on strike,etc.
But we would like to know some suggestions of things to see in Rome. We are going to the Vatican. The rest of the 3 days are "open". Any suggestions?
Several posters have told us sometimes the local trains go on strike,etc.
But we would like to know some suggestions of things to see in Rome. We are going to the Vatican. The rest of the 3 days are "open". Any suggestions?
Apr 3rd, 2013, 12:34 PM
#25
Several posters have told us sometimes the local trains go on strike,etc. >>
not often enough for you to decide to drive for the entirety of your trip instead of using the far more convenient train.
and why not just wait for the timetables to come out? they won't be very different to the present ones.
and with respect, you are starting at the wrong point of the trip planning.
if you are flying out of Rome, the logical step is to put the Rome part of the trip at the end. that way you have plenty of leeway for getting to the airport, and don't have to worry about getting from Sorrento to Rome in time to get the plane.
from the airport, go straight to Florence, then to Sorrento, then Rome.
In Rome, apart from the Vatican [you do know that this is a museum don't you? - and a very big one, or technically, several museums in one and you said above you don't actually want to see museums] there is St. Peter's, the colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, the Centro Storico, Castel San angelo, Trastevere, etc. etc. etc. In all honesty, you need to look at a guide book or 6.
not often enough for you to decide to drive for the entirety of your trip instead of using the far more convenient train.
and why not just wait for the timetables to come out? they won't be very different to the present ones.
and with respect, you are starting at the wrong point of the trip planning.
if you are flying out of Rome, the logical step is to put the Rome part of the trip at the end. that way you have plenty of leeway for getting to the airport, and don't have to worry about getting from Sorrento to Rome in time to get the plane.
from the airport, go straight to Florence, then to Sorrento, then Rome.
In Rome, apart from the Vatican [you do know that this is a museum don't you? - and a very big one, or technically, several museums in one and you said above you don't actually want to see museums] there is St. Peter's, the colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, the Centro Storico, Castel San angelo, Trastevere, etc. etc. etc. In all honesty, you need to look at a guide book or 6.
Apr 3rd, 2013, 12:41 PM
#26
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None of the places you are going in your OP is conducive to cars once you;re there - especially Capri!
Florence and Rome and of course Venice have restricted private vehicles from their city centre - we always get slummoxed folks posting here that after they got back home they got some steep fine/ticket for violating the no-go zones (if you drive be sure to familiarize yourself with those signs saying no private vehicles allowed.
check out these fab IMO sites for loads of good stuff on Italian train travel - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. And there are some Fodorites like kybourbon who are real Italian rail experts - www.trenitalia.com is the site of the Italian Railways and on it you can score some nifty discounted tickets if you want to book weeks if not months in advance - fares as little as 9 euros flat fare between any two high-speed train stations - using trenitalia.com can be tricky for a novice but again folks like kybourbon have unfaillingly come to their help when they posted their problems - so just ask as folks here have a wealth of knowledge and experience with Italian trains.
Florence and Rome and of course Venice have restricted private vehicles from their city centre - we always get slummoxed folks posting here that after they got back home they got some steep fine/ticket for violating the no-go zones (if you drive be sure to familiarize yourself with those signs saying no private vehicles allowed.
check out these fab IMO sites for loads of good stuff on Italian train travel - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. And there are some Fodorites like kybourbon who are real Italian rail experts - www.trenitalia.com is the site of the Italian Railways and on it you can score some nifty discounted tickets if you want to book weeks if not months in advance - fares as little as 9 euros flat fare between any two high-speed train stations - using trenitalia.com can be tricky for a novice but again folks like kybourbon have unfaillingly come to their help when they posted their problems - so just ask as folks here have a wealth of knowledge and experience with Italian trains.
Apr 3rd, 2013, 02:11 PM
#28
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Diana, we often fly USAirways out of PHL, our first trip to Italy was Rome and Sorrento. Since your family really wants to see the Amalfi Coast would you consider a trip with just those two locations since it's a relatively short trip?
We took the train from Naples to Rome for the first part of our trip and then returned to Rome for the days before our departure. We did not have a car while in Sorrento except for a one day rental to drive the coast. That driving day was a nightmare--narrow roads and a gazillion scooters that weave in and out of traffic passing on the left and the right with little regard for the fact that our car was where THEY wanted wanted to be!!
Enjoy the Amalfi but leave the driving to others. Deborah
We took the train from Naples to Rome for the first part of our trip and then returned to Rome for the days before our departure. We did not have a car while in Sorrento except for a one day rental to drive the coast. That driving day was a nightmare--narrow roads and a gazillion scooters that weave in and out of traffic passing on the left and the right with little regard for the fact that our car was where THEY wanted wanted to be!!
Enjoy the Amalfi but leave the driving to others. Deborah
Apr 3rd, 2013, 02:29 PM
#29
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I think deborahann has the right idea. You may enjoy the trip better with just two destinations.
Another option to consider is that if you want to go to Florence but aren't interested in art, then it's only a 90 min trip by fast train from Rome. You could treat it as a day trip and enjoy wandering around the city which is only small. Stroll across the pont de Vecchio, visit the duomo, the piazza della signorina, the outdoor markets and enjoy a nice lunch somewhere, then catch the train back to Rome.
Another option to consider is that if you want to go to Florence but aren't interested in art, then it's only a 90 min trip by fast train from Rome. You could treat it as a day trip and enjoy wandering around the city which is only small. Stroll across the pont de Vecchio, visit the duomo, the piazza della signorina, the outdoor markets and enjoy a nice lunch somewhere, then catch the train back to Rome.
Apr 3rd, 2013, 04:28 PM
#31
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That driving day was a nightmare--narrow roads and a gazillion scooters that weave in and out of traffic passing on the left and the right with little regard for the fact that our car was where THEY wanted wanted to be!!>
and yes it can even be scary for Nervous Nellies riding the world-famous Amalfi Coast buses - huge vehicles having to navigate a sinuously twisting narrow road. Cars can no faster than these snail-paced buses of course due to the nightmare of traffic DebbieAnn so aptly describes in an above post.
Annhig = sensible = oxymoron?
and yes it can even be scary for Nervous Nellies riding the world-famous Amalfi Coast buses - huge vehicles having to navigate a sinuously twisting narrow road. Cars can no faster than these snail-paced buses of course due to the nightmare of traffic DebbieAnn so aptly describes in an above post.
Annhig = sensible = oxymoron?
Apr 4th, 2013, 05:43 AM
#32
Annhig = sensible = oxymoron?>>
my family would probably agree with that, PalenQ.
I do try to give sensible advice here, though, as do you.
however, at the moment the boot is on the other foot as I'm trying to plan a trip to the Antipodes for me and Mr. Annhig, and I'm sure that I'm coming up with the most idiotic ideas.
so far everyone has been too polite to tell me so.
my family would probably agree with that, PalenQ.
I do try to give sensible advice here, though, as do you.
however, at the moment the boot is on the other foot as I'm trying to plan a trip to the Antipodes for me and Mr. Annhig, and I'm sure that I'm coming up with the most idiotic ideas.
so far everyone has been too polite to tell me so.
Apr 4th, 2013, 01:46 PM
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Antipodes for me and Mr. Annhig, and I'm sure that I'm coming up with the most idiotic ideas.>
Antipodes? where in the heck is that? Some remote Greek area?
Oh Google tells me it is OZ and kiwi land.
Antipodes? where in the heck is that? Some remote Greek area?
Oh Google tells me it is OZ and kiwi land.
Apr 4th, 2013, 02:17 PM
#36
Peter - but you're not there now, are you?
or have i misunderstood?
DD liked it a lot but she was there in June and it rained. Sadly it doesn't seem to fit into the itinerary that we are trying to work out; we want to see a Test match AND to be home by Christmas so that rules out Melbourne. we are considering Brisbane and Adelaide.
instead of hijacking this thread, I'd be very happy to continue this discussion on my thread on the subject if you'd be kind enough to joint me there!
or have i misunderstood?
DD liked it a lot but she was there in June and it rained. Sadly it doesn't seem to fit into the itinerary that we are trying to work out; we want to see a Test match AND to be home by Christmas so that rules out Melbourne. we are considering Brisbane and Adelaide.
instead of hijacking this thread, I'd be very happy to continue this discussion on my thread on the subject if you'd be kind enough to joint me there!
Apr 4th, 2013, 03:22 PM
#38
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I think just 2 locations (Rome and Sorrento) is very good advice. And I agree that it would be easier to visit Florence as a day trip than changing hotels, especially since you won't be visiting museums. If you can fly into Naples, visit that area, then move to Rome and stay there, flying out of Rome, that may be easier.
When I'm researching the train schedule on Trenitalia I just plug in a date a week from today. I don't think it changes much and it gives me a good idea for planning purposes. It's simply a terrible idea to rent a car for this trip - you will be in places where you will not want to drive and that will be miserable.
For hotels, I always look at Tripadvisor and booking.com. Tripadvisor also has restaurant reviews that are generally OK.
For activities in Rome, you really must use a guidebook. When I'm planning I get a map, spread it out, then go through the guidebook and put a little post-it on a spot I want to visit. That way it's easy to see the pattern of where I should spend my time.
When I'm researching the train schedule on Trenitalia I just plug in a date a week from today. I don't think it changes much and it gives me a good idea for planning purposes. It's simply a terrible idea to rent a car for this trip - you will be in places where you will not want to drive and that will be miserable.
For hotels, I always look at Tripadvisor and booking.com. Tripadvisor also has restaurant reviews that are generally OK.
For activities in Rome, you really must use a guidebook. When I'm planning I get a map, spread it out, then go through the guidebook and put a little post-it on a spot I want to visit. That way it's easy to see the pattern of where I should spend my time.
