screen_name_taken

as I read through posts (gathering info for our own upcoming trip) I came across this post, which mentions a place in Venice in your price range, but in Jan 2009? worth checking it out, though ... isn't the web fantastic?

screen_name_taken

well, how silly of me, I forgot to include the link ...

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...gna-rome-1.cfm

scroll down to the relevant part of the trip (although I did enjoy reading the whole report - lots of interesting and detailed information).

kybourbon

You do know it takes over an hour just to get from the Milan airport into Milan?

As others have pointed out, you don't have time to do the things you've listed. You need to cut a few places or you will spend all your time in airports and train stations. I would cancel the flight from Venice and drop Naples area.

I would not risk flying from Easy Jet Rome to Milan on the day of departure home. If EJ is late, you will miss your flight home and have no recourse except to buy an expensive ticket.

jello1369

I highly suggest the Best Western in Mestre (just outside Venice). My friend and I stayed there for several nights before and after a cruise that left from Venice. It's very reasonable. You can take a bus into Venice or walk directly across the street and take the train for 1 euro each way. The trains run early in the morning through late in the evening and depart just about every ten minutes....keep that in mind as we were unable to locate a time table for our trip but was asured by the locals there was a train every ten minutes (and there was!). The room was simple and clean and had a private bath. They also gave a fantastic breakfast in the morning including sliced meats, scrambled eggs, selection of cereals, yogurts, juices and the best american coffee I've drank (even when comparing it to here in the states). They also had free internet access on the computers in the lobby.

franco

Staying in Mestre would ruin your Venice experience - Mestre and the Lido are big no-nos for Venice travelers. The very simple reason has been excellently described by jello1369: you'd have to take a bus or train to get into Venice. And one of the best things about experiencing Venice is that you don't see a car (or a train) for the whole time that you spend there - just boats and pedestrians. So no hotel in Mestre can be good or cheap enough to make up for the presence (and use!) of cars, busses and trains.

annhig

krystle,

there is nothing like getting up early in the morning and walking down to the rialto to see the grand canal about as deserted as it gets, then crossing over to the market to see it setting up, or wandering around the streets late at night when no-one else is around.

you can't do those things if you're staying in Mestre.

charnees

BTW, the point about not trying to do so much the day you arrive in Milan is jet lag. You will be surprised.

krgystn

i think krystle bailed...

nytraveler

Better to get the information now that get there and find ot how many of the things you hae planned simply aren;t possible in the hours that they're open - or there are in the day.

Just the idea of "seeing" Pisa, Siena and San Gim in one day is really scary - they must all just be drive bys.

krystle920

Thank you for all your responses and I apologize for the delayed reply. I've spent the past few days trying to reorganize the itinerary.

We've decided to skip Potenza and the Amalfi Coast for this trip. It does seem like too much to do. Although we still have a lot of places to see, our strategy is to minimize the must-see attractions to see in each place so we can savor the actual day-to-day life more.

The updated itinerary is:

Thurs, Sept 16
-arrive in Milan at 810 am
-take bus to central station and drop off bags at nearby hotel - Four Points
-go to Bellagio - either through Como or Varenna
-back to Milan
-explore Navigli district

Fri, Sept 17
-Last Supper - reserved for 1115 am
-Duomo
-Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
-La Scala
-Cimitero Monumentale di Milano
-take train to Florence in the early evening

Sat, Sept 18
-Best of Tuscany tour - http://www.walkaboutpass.com/nqconte...ytour_homepage

Sun, Sept 19
-Uffizi
-Galleria dell'Accademia
-Duomo

Mon, Sept 20
-train to Venice in the morning
-stay at Locanda Salieri
-Basilica di San Marco
-Palazzo Ducale
-Rialto

Tues, Sept 21
-exploring Venice

Wed, Sept 22
-take early morning EasyJet flight to Naples
-Pompeii

Thurs, Sept 23
-Museo Archeologico Nazionale
-Capri

Fri, Sept 24
-take early morning train to Rome
-buy Roma Pass
-check in at Westin Excelsior
-Vatican
-Pantheon

Sat, Sept 25
-Colosseum
-Roman Forum
-Capitoline Hill
-Palatine Hill

Sun, Sept 26
-exploring Rome or others not done Fri and Sat

Mon, Sept 27
-take early morning EasyJet flight to Milan
-fly back to New York

sam86

I'm not really in a position to criticise this itinerary as I am doing something similar next month.

Book the Uffizi, Accademia, Vatican now to get the times you want.

Here's hoping we both enjoy our trips! = )

hazel1

Still hectic, but better. I'd be nervous about making the return plane in Milan, however. Hope it's a long layover, just in case you have an Easyjet flight delay.

Jean

Still too hectic for me.

A suggestion: See the Basilica in Venice first thing on 9/21 rather than the afternoon of 9/20 when crowds will likely be larger. Get there before the opening hour and hopefully be near the front of the line.

cherrybomb

Can't you skip the best of tour so you are not rushing the museums? Based on your itinerary you seem to be interested in museums.

Second, I would skip the Roma Pass as you are really only there for 2 days. It will be a waste of both money and time and you are already short on time with this trip plan.

krystle920

Do EasyJet flights get delayed a lot? It's actually a pretty tight layover. Our EasyJet flight leaves 7 am and arrives 815 am, while our flight to NY leaves at 1030 am.

Correct me if we're wrong, but it actually seems that the museum day in Florence would be pretty relaxed especially if we have reservations. I'm thinking maybe 1-2 hours at the Galleria and another 2 hours at the Uffizi. We would be ok with just stepping inside the Duomo and looking around for 30 mins.

We would actually be in Rome for 3 days so the Roma Pass might make sense, right?

cherrybomb

That is a tight flight booking - but it *can* be done. Personally I would change it and eat the cost.

Both those museums in a day plus the Duomo, even with reservations will be tiring and you are likely to suffer overload of the senses and everything will blur and could get boring in the museum portion. Also, the Duomo does take some time to wait on line and climb to the top. Adding in the tour day, you won't have much soaking up the environment time of the city, not to mention you are stuck on the tour guides time schedule. I would highly reccomend skipping the tour.

Finally I really think the Roma Pass will eat more of you time and money even with 3 days and those are not full days.

Just my opinion for what it is worth. Your schedule is pretty packed even if you make the changes I suggested. Also, have you called your airline to see if you can change to an open jaw flight that leaves from Rome? It may not cost much more than the change fee.

screen_name_taken

I know this is going to come off wrong, so I apologize right off the bat, but it seems to me you are determined to stick to whatever you have already planned = you booked before asking for any advice.

And since you already booked all your flights, there is really no point in asking for help with iteneraries, is there?

So go ahead, buy your Roma pass and be happy.

Sure, schedule whatever you think works best in Florence. You might not ever find out that Milan-Florence-Venice-Naples-Rome-Milan is really a waste of time when you only have 11 days. Had you asked before booking, I'm pretty sure you would have looked into open jaw tickets and saved yourself valuable time.

But, hey, what do I know? However, I agree - skip Potenza and the Amalfi Coast this time ... and have a very Happy Birthday.

cherrybomb

Waste of time is a bit strong. I'd say overly packed but everyone has overscheduled at some point, I'll admit to it. In either case there is still opportunity to make changes to make it less packed and a more doable trek.

crckwc1

krystle920- Although I agree with others that your trip is rushed it is, after all, your trip. My daughter and husband actually did a day trip by train to Florence (from Rome)and managed to see Uffizi, Accademia, duomo, another museum, the famous bridge, had a quick lunch and dinner and got back to Rome before midnight. Crazy? Maybe. But that was the only way they could get a taste of Florence. (They loved it!) My biggest concern is the short connection in Milan for your flight home. The only way it will work is if you have carry-on only. I don't think there will be time enough to retrieve your luggage, check in, go through security and make your flight home. If you are checking luggage,I would suggest you eat the Easy Jet ticket (sorry) and fly to Milan the night before. Much cheaper than if you should have to purchase a new international ticket because you missed your booked flight. Have a wonderful trip!

hamlet

"Do EasyJet flights get delayed a lot?"

It doesn't matter if they get delayed often or not. What would matter to me is if it was delayed the one time I needed it on time.

Assuming you are not checking luggage on your flights, you have 2 hours to get off one plane and check in for another flight. (And yes, EasyJet is strict about baggage and they or any airline can change carry on baggage rules at their whim.) Plus you have no idea the distance you may have to travel at the airport between terminals.

You can hope for the best or make plans now to depart from FCO or to get to Milan the day before your departure and increase your chances of making your flight home.

You seem set on the rest of the full itinerary but I think it's still a lot for a 1st trip lasting 11 days.