Expert advise needed on revised itinerary - Please!!
Feb 9th, 2005, 06:21 AM
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Expert advise needed on revised itinerary - Please!!
Ok, on my last posting, I was accused of trying to do the amazing race through Italy! 
So, I revised our itinerary to focus on only 3 places. Please let me know if you think this will be do-able and somewhat relaxing. Remember, everyone in my travel party has spent considerable time in Rome Florence so that is why they are absent from our sightseeing plans:
5/25 - Fly into Rome. Catch train to Sorrento. Stay the night in Sorrento.
5/26 - Morning in Sorrento, take bus to Positano for the day. Sleep in Sorrento
5/27 - Take the ferry to Capri for the day. Sleep in Sorrento
5/28 - Ferry to Naples. Rent car (or take bus/train) to Siena. Sleep in Siena
5/29 - Wine tour of Siena/Dinner in the Siena square. Sleep in Siena
5/30 - Morning tour surrounding Tuscany towns. Afternoon, drive (or train) to Venice. Sleep in Venice
6/1 - Tour Venice. Sleep in Venice
6/2 - Tour Venice. Sleep in Venice
6/3 - Fly out of Venice for home
Thank you in advance for your comments!
So, I revised our itinerary to focus on only 3 places. Please let me know if you think this will be do-able and somewhat relaxing. Remember, everyone in my travel party has spent considerable time in Rome Florence so that is why they are absent from our sightseeing plans:5/25 - Fly into Rome. Catch train to Sorrento. Stay the night in Sorrento.
5/26 - Morning in Sorrento, take bus to Positano for the day. Sleep in Sorrento
5/27 - Take the ferry to Capri for the day. Sleep in Sorrento
5/28 - Ferry to Naples. Rent car (or take bus/train) to Siena. Sleep in Siena
5/29 - Wine tour of Siena/Dinner in the Siena square. Sleep in Siena
5/30 - Morning tour surrounding Tuscany towns. Afternoon, drive (or train) to Venice. Sleep in Venice
6/1 - Tour Venice. Sleep in Venice
6/2 - Tour Venice. Sleep in Venice
6/3 - Fly out of Venice for home
Thank you in advance for your comments!
Feb 9th, 2005, 06:28 AM
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It's doable, but I don't think it's very relaxing!
While your revised itinerary is less hectic than your original, it's still more hectic than I would want.
If I was taking a trip of that duration, I'd focus on either the Amalfi Coast of Tuscany for the first 5-6 days, rather than trying to do both.
But, that's me.
While your revised itinerary is less hectic than your original, it's still more hectic than I would want.
If I was taking a trip of that duration, I'd focus on either the Amalfi Coast of Tuscany for the first 5-6 days, rather than trying to do both.
But, that's me.
Feb 9th, 2005, 06:36 AM
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I like to move about bowman, so I think this is a great itinerary.
Your last morning before Venice, you have saved to tour Tuscany. You may want to change that to Bologna. I've been told (and am planning it for September) that its an easy enough stop to walk the main city streets and have a nice lunch. I see it as a great way to break up the travel time from Tuscany to Venice.
Depending on how many people are in your party, it might be cheaper to drive if you'll already have a car from Siena. (for our group of four, Ira priced it and it's better for us to keep the car and drop it off in Venice)
Your last morning before Venice, you have saved to tour Tuscany. You may want to change that to Bologna. I've been told (and am planning it for September) that its an easy enough stop to walk the main city streets and have a nice lunch. I see it as a great way to break up the travel time from Tuscany to Venice.
Depending on how many people are in your party, it might be cheaper to drive if you'll already have a car from Siena. (for our group of four, Ira priced it and it's better for us to keep the car and drop it off in Venice)
Feb 9th, 2005, 09:33 AM
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Travelphile, that is a great idea as we have 4 people in our party as well. A couple of questions for you:
1. Did Ira approximate how much it would be to rent a car vs taking a train?
2. How long does the trip take from Tuscany to Venice by car vs train?
3. Is it convenient to drop off your car in Venice?
Thank you in advance for your feedback!
1. Did Ira approximate how much it would be to rent a car vs taking a train?
2. How long does the trip take from Tuscany to Venice by car vs train?
3. Is it convenient to drop off your car in Venice?
Thank you in advance for your feedback!
Feb 9th, 2005, 10:56 AM
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To my mind, you'd have a more pleasant trip if you concentrated on just one of the three destinations your current itin aims to hit. In northern Italy, for instance, you can get the variety of experiences your current itin provides (and more) with much less train time. Along with your three nights in Venice, you can pick and choose between:
-- the wine-producing hills of the Veneto or (a little further afield) the Piedmont
-- Padua, Verona, and Vicenza -- towns not far from Venice with great art
-- the Ligurian Coast, which will give you a fix of gorgeous coastline and works well in tandem with the Piedmont
-- the lake district
-- the Dolomites
-- Ravenna, with mosiacs that rank among Italy's greatest art treasures
You could look at Tuscany or Campania and come up with a similar list of fruitful ways to spend your time --requiring even less travel, but a providing a little less variety.
It's tempting to try to take in as much as possible in one trip, and Venice, Tuscany, and the bay of Naples are all fantastic places to go. But one of the beauties of Italy is that there are great experiences to be had all over. With only a week at your disposal, it's kind of a crime to burn up a day (or more) in transit because you're trying to cover too much territory.
-- the wine-producing hills of the Veneto or (a little further afield) the Piedmont
-- Padua, Verona, and Vicenza -- towns not far from Venice with great art
-- the Ligurian Coast, which will give you a fix of gorgeous coastline and works well in tandem with the Piedmont
-- the lake district
-- the Dolomites
-- Ravenna, with mosiacs that rank among Italy's greatest art treasures
You could look at Tuscany or Campania and come up with a similar list of fruitful ways to spend your time --requiring even less travel, but a providing a little less variety.
It's tempting to try to take in as much as possible in one trip, and Venice, Tuscany, and the bay of Naples are all fantastic places to go. But one of the beauties of Italy is that there are great experiences to be had all over. With only a week at your disposal, it's kind of a crime to burn up a day (or more) in transit because you're trying to cover too much territory.
Feb 9th, 2005, 11:09 AM
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Much better and very doable. My only question is the ferry to Naples. You may not be able to coordinate timing and the dock is a distance from the station. I would pay for a driver or take Circumversuviana direct to the station--you do not want to drive in Naples. Of course, you can get the car in Sorrento and drive to Siena--easier with 4 people and bags.
Feb 9th, 2005, 11:19 AM
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Hi Bow,
>1. Did Ira approximate how much it would be to rent a car vs taking a train?
You can get train schedules and prices at www.trenitalia.com/en
You can get car rental prices at www.novarentacar.com and www.autoeurope.com. However, it might be difficult to rent a car for less than 3 days.
2. How long does the trip take from Tuscany to Venice by car vs train?
You mean Siena to Venice?
See www.mappy.com and www.viamichelin.com
3. Is it convenient to drop off your car in Venice?
You can drop off your car at the train station Venice Mestre and take the train to Venice San Lucia (10 min) or drive to the Pzza Roma in Venice to drop off your car and walk to the vaporetto stop.
>1. Did Ira approximate how much it would be to rent a car vs taking a train?
You can get train schedules and prices at www.trenitalia.com/en
You can get car rental prices at www.novarentacar.com and www.autoeurope.com. However, it might be difficult to rent a car for less than 3 days.
2. How long does the trip take from Tuscany to Venice by car vs train?
You mean Siena to Venice?
See www.mappy.com and www.viamichelin.com
3. Is it convenient to drop off your car in Venice?
You can drop off your car at the train station Venice Mestre and take the train to Venice San Lucia (10 min) or drive to the Pzza Roma in Venice to drop off your car and walk to the vaporetto stop.
Feb 9th, 2005, 11:56 AM
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Your time in the South sounds fine because you can do as little or as much as you wish during those days.
The time that I feel is problematic concerns your time between Sorrento and Siena.
If you rent a car, it would be easier to pick it up in Sorrento and then get on the road instead of bothering with the train to the car. The time you save driving will be spent getting to the train, waiting for the train and on the train.
Wherever you choose to rent the car, the drive will still be between 4.5 and 5.5 hours—without getting lost and without stops along the way. Something to keep in mind is that depending on the time you leave Sorrento, you may or may not have enough time for a wine tour of Siena.
Also, if you plan to tour some Tuscan towns, you should plan to arrive in Venice in enough time to drop off your car. Check the hours of operation for the locations. We dropped off our car at the airport and took a water taxi into Venice. The process was relatively easy.
Personally, I would eliminate Siena on this trip. But if Siena is important to you, it is certainly doable…just a bit rushed. Having said that, we did a drive from Florence to Rome once on the Chiantigiana, stopping in Siena for an overnight. We had a fabulous time and enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, it is a memory that has stayed with us more than some places where we spent more time. Go figure!
The time that I feel is problematic concerns your time between Sorrento and Siena.
If you rent a car, it would be easier to pick it up in Sorrento and then get on the road instead of bothering with the train to the car. The time you save driving will be spent getting to the train, waiting for the train and on the train.
Wherever you choose to rent the car, the drive will still be between 4.5 and 5.5 hours—without getting lost and without stops along the way. Something to keep in mind is that depending on the time you leave Sorrento, you may or may not have enough time for a wine tour of Siena.
Also, if you plan to tour some Tuscan towns, you should plan to arrive in Venice in enough time to drop off your car. Check the hours of operation for the locations. We dropped off our car at the airport and took a water taxi into Venice. The process was relatively easy.
Personally, I would eliminate Siena on this trip. But if Siena is important to you, it is certainly doable…just a bit rushed. Having said that, we did a drive from Florence to Rome once on the Chiantigiana, stopping in Siena for an overnight. We had a fabulous time and enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, it is a memory that has stayed with us more than some places where we spent more time. Go figure!
Feb 9th, 2005, 12:07 PM
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Cortona, Cortona, Cortona!!
I was in Italy last march and this was my favorite place. Very small but beautiful city in Tuscany. Train goes to the bottom of the mountain at some little town then you take a bus for about 10 minutes to the top or you can miss the bus like me and hike up but that took a really long time. Beautiful montasteries and cemeteries. My best pictures from Italy came from Cortona.
I was in Italy last march and this was my favorite place. Very small but beautiful city in Tuscany. Train goes to the bottom of the mountain at some little town then you take a bus for about 10 minutes to the top or you can miss the bus like me and hike up but that took a really long time. Beautiful montasteries and cemeteries. My best pictures from Italy came from Cortona.
Feb 9th, 2005, 12:28 PM
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Hi bowmangreen, I agree with the Fodor's Editor. I too sure understand your wanting to see as much as possible but with the length of time you have I would stay in one area.
I have known so many people that are so exhausted from trying to see too many places when visiting Italy and have confessed a month later that their whole trip became somewhat of a blur.
mlongobard gave suggestions that IMHO would make a beautiful trip. And remember, the next trip can be spent in another area. Because for sure there will be more trips.
Whatever you decided do have a wonderful time.
I have known so many people that are so exhausted from trying to see too many places when visiting Italy and have confessed a month later that their whole trip became somewhat of a blur.
mlongobard gave suggestions that IMHO would make a beautiful trip. And remember, the next trip can be spent in another area. Because for sure there will be more trips.
Whatever you decided do have a wonderful time.
