Help - Italy specialists...
 

Greetings all...

My hubby & I want to get away, desparately, immediately and I'm thinking of Italy. I was looking at an escorted tour as we do not speak the language and I do not deal well with stress (specifically the stress my H gives me when we get lost somewhere!-LOL) However, both money and time are definitely an issue and I feel sure - esp. after reading some of these wonderful posted trips, that we could see exactly what we wanted to see and do it cheaper on our own. WE have 14 days incl travel, so its more like 12 days. i don't know if we'll ever get back so I want to see as much as possible!

now I am just starting the research so please bear with me if I'm asking some stupid questions...but any help or points in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. Especially on the rail/transportation issue! This will be a last minute booking in March or early April (hoping to avoid some lines by going in late March) and we don't want to miss Rome (3 days), Pompeii, Florence (2 days), Venice (2 days)-Question is what other area -in our limited time schedule- should we NOT miss?

Rome-can anyone recommend a good place to stay that has its own bathroom in the $50 to $95 range and would be close to the hist. sites or close to rail ransportation? also is cab ok from airport to hotel-not to far or pricey? Any really good daytrip operators that can give us an orientation overview of city on 1st day? Idea on price?

2) POMPEII-is our must see. I think I read someone's report of getting there by rail from Rome but it was an all day event. Would anyone recommend staying somewhere close by instead? same requirements as rome, bathroom, $50-$95 range,close to transportation.

3) Capri/Sorrento-should we not miss these or would our time be better spent at another area?

Rail to Florance-does this sound best? I've been reading some recommendations of car rentals, but I'd rather not drive. Any recommendations on hotels (same list as above)?

Rail to Venice-Recommendations on where to stay? Also looking for a good day trip/gondola trip orientation of city.

I've read some reviews of taking flights from Venice back to Rome, but they've sounded a little scary & aggravating to me-what's the census out there? Rail still best?

To everyone who reads & responds - THANK YOU!! I've been digging around through the posted hotels on this website & others and the list of possibilities just seems to get longer & longer with very few reviews posted to help narrow the search.

Hello qbea, it is quite late and I need to get to bed but just wanted to respond to your thread.

If you have 12 days in Italy I would strongly suggest that you buy open jaw air tickets which means you, for example, fly from home to Rome and home from Venice. That way you will not be backtracking as you would if you flew into Rome and home from Rome.

Will check back on this thread tomorrow. Your planning on travelling independently versus a tour will no doubt be the most economical and best way to see Italy. Best wishes.

qbea, you will have to do a fair bit of research to fit this requirement:
"Rome-can anyone recommend a good place to stay that has its own bathroom in the $50 to $95 range"

You want a well-located double room with private bathroom in Rome for about 40-80 Euros. I'd suggest looking at convent possibilities here:
http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html
Another option which is probably too expensive:
http://www.hotelpanda.it
Another in Trastevere, which does fit your requirements:
http://www.residenzabellirome.com/

(Note that I haven't stayed at these places. I stayed at Hotel Julia at http://www.hoteljulia.it , but that's over your price range for a double room.)

There are various possibilities near Temrini, but most don't consider this the nicest area with the best hotels. There might also be some good options closer to the Vatican.

You can read the tips on this site about cabs in Rome. I know that you can also take a shuttle service from the FCO airport for about 12 Euros, or the train from the FCO airport to Termini station is about 9.50 Euros.

Enjoy Rome walking tours are pretty good, in my experience. See:
http://www.enjoyrome.com/

I don't think you will get lost in Rome if you get a good map and just be very patient. The streets are very windy, of course, but you'll soon learn to "feel" your way around. Just allow yourself plenty of time.

qbea, in Italy I haven't been south of Rome. However, I have done some research. I know some budget travelers recommend staying in Salerno to get convenient and cheap accommodation for daytrips to Pompeii, Naples, Sorrento, and Capri.

Hi

In Rome for 65E stay at http://www.mariahostel.com. Double room with private bath AND use of a kitchen to save you more money. I think the use of a kitchen at the establishments you stay at will help greatly with budgeting.

Do not worry about being able to speak the language. Italians have an excellent command of the English language. Sometimes I struggle for the Italian words so I'd tell them in English and they would translate for me!

I have done tours as well. There is no way you can do these cheaper than organising it yourself. Train travel is easy, cheap and extensive in Italy. If hubby is one to get a bit stressed out when getting lost (sounds like me) stick to the destinations you've listed.

Good luck and buon voyage

Hi q,

>POMPEII-is our must see.

May I suggest that you fly into Naples for 3 nights. See the Archaeological Museum, visit Pompeii, visit the Amalfi coast.

Train to Rome: 4 nights
Daytrip to Orvieto

Train to Florence: 3 nights
I can highly recommend the B&B Peterson. www.bedinflorence.it

Daytrip to Siena or Bologna.

Train to Venice: 3 nights

Fly home.

See www.kayak.com for open-jaw air fares.

See www.trenitalia.com for train schedules, prices and tickets.

Youg et from Naples to Pompeii via the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Pompeii Scavi.

See my trip report for further details.

Ira’s Trip Report (Italy)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Ira’s Italy Photos
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34552733

Also see:
Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

Have a lovely visit.

((I))

ttt

In Rome.. I would spend a bit more and stay at Hotel Margutta on Via Laurina near the Spanish Steps (about 120 euros a night) with breakfast. Wonderful, location, quiet and comfortable. I stay at Margutta all the time..THen take a Carrani Tour to Pompeii. Bus will pick you up at dawn at the (end of Via Laurina) Margutta, it is comfortable, stress free and they include lunch and a stop at Sorrento for about $80 per person...and you could ask to be dropped off/stay in Sorrento. Then I would visit Capri and then stay in Amalfi..Hotel Luna is a bargain.

LoveItaly, WillTravel, World in a Bag, Ira, Artbella and dewdrops:) - thanks for all your helpful tips...will investigate all the threads, links and websites thrown out there (sometimes the planning is just as exciting as the trip!) I'm off to read anothers question on appropriate clothing & hoping for some tips on shoes-can't bring myself to wear white new balance sneakers with skirts and my feet won't forgive me if I wear anything else-such delemma's! Once again-thanks to all & feel free to throw any other info you think might be helpful my way!

I can recommend Hotel Magic for a no-frills but clean, reasonable and convenient place to stay. A mother and daughter team, Carmella and Rosanna run the place. They're friendly in a professional kind of way. A couple of years ago, they were very sweet to my sister who fell and broke her foot the first day she arrived!

It's a quick walk from Termini. I found it nearly 10 years ago through Rick Steves. At that time you could get a small discount by showing his book. Also you may get a better price by asking for the room with NO breakfast included.

There was a small fruit store nearby, across the street, and a nice restaurant close by on the same side of the street. The first bar that you see as you exit from Termini towards the hotel is on the corner called Bar Trombetta. They have excellent prices on wines, water, etc. It's convenient to have Bar Trombetta around the corner.

The hotel is on the 3rd or 4th floor. No elevator, as I recall which can be a problem for some..

http://www.hotel-magic-rome.com/

You're going to hear a lot of people saying you should avoid this area. I've never felt unsafe. Even though I probably won't be staying in this area again, it meets your criteria so that is why I recommend it to you.

The most economical way to get to your hotel from the airport is to take the express train leaving from the airport to Termini station. (stay on it until everyone gets off. I think there are two "Termini" stops) If you read more posts, you'll find out when it departs FCO. I think it's 5 after and 35 after the hour and costs around 10 USD give or take a couple. Keep reading. There's a wealth of information on this site. Have a great trip!

2 questions: where are you flying from and is your price per night for two people?

Right now, USAirways has very very good fares in March from Philadelphia to Rome. Open jaws tickets may be a better option, but I never seem to be able to find them with good connections and prices from my hometown. Not saying you won't.

thanks wantagig-will check into hotel magic's website(guessing it's in rome?)

tuscanlifeedit-HEY-youse guys! Leaving from Philly (of course!) LOL! anyway, the open jaw tickets are A LOT more expensive (and time consuming with the layovers) then RT from Rome back to Philly. rather spend a few hours (esp. if we can travel at night) traveling back to Rome & staying somewhere close to the rail & airport then spending $300+ pp more on airfare and getting flights with 2-3 layovers.

also just read ira's posting of his italy trip and IRA if you read this-I'm positively petrified of sheer cliffs-have your master cylinder go out on your vehicle while on an icy Mountain rd in VT and it stays with you for the rest of your life! Go Figure! Anyway your wife has my complete empathy! and I'm staying away from that drive! Arizona with me driving is bad enough!

gbea -- I have a couple of specific ideas of you.

For your budget, the hotel in Rome where my uncle just stayed, the Hotel Alimandi, is in your price range. I think my uncle paid 90E or so at Christmas. (I stayed there six years ago as well; this time we stayed in an apartment.) The Alimandi directly faces the walls of Vatican City; it is one block from the Vatican Museum (Sistene Chapel) entrance. It is about two-three blocks from the Ottaviano Metro stop. In a sense, you are not that much farther than Termini from the big sites, and you get a better neighborhood to enjoy in the evenings.

It is a decent hotel; rooms are small but it is modern, fairly attractive and has full breakfasts with sausage and the like.

If money were no object I'd say stay by the Pantheon or Campo or something like that, but personally I'd prefer the neighborhood by Ottaviano to Termini. I don't think Termini is dangerous, though.

Nuns' lodgings are nice too and there may be one even closer to the big attractions.

For all your hotel research in Rome, look at a site like http://www.mappy.co.uk/
to see where your hotels are.

Now one final thought:

You mentioned you desperately wanted to get away and you brought up a tour as a low-stress idea. I would remove at one of your destinations from your list and enjoy the remaining ones for longer. (Your first few days you may be a little tired from jetlag.)

Personally, I'd do Ira's tour, but leave out Venice. Venice is much farther and would work with a trip to Germany and Switzerland.

We found Florence to be a great walking city, and so many sites if you love art or science. You also could take a train to Lucca or another Tuscan town for memorable day trip.

Hi Q,

www.kayak.com shows PHL/NAP|VCE/PHL one-stop in late March for $608 pp.

PHL/FCO RT, same dates one stop is $602.

((I))

Here's a B&B that 3 of us stayed at in Venice last May:
Ca' Turelli -- we found it through the veniceby.com website, under B&Bs. A triple with breakfast was 120 euros (which is not bad for Venice in May). I liked the Dorsoduro location very much.

I finally got to Pompeii on this last trip and it exceeded my expectations! We used the audio guides (I also liked these at the Forum in Rome) so we could explore at our own pace. I read somewhere that Pompeii is the most-visited site in Italy and it was crowded...but since Pompeii was a bustling city in its day, the fellow visitors seemed appropriate!

When we were there, they had recently opened a "new" bath house right near the entrance; you needed an extra ticket to get into it, but the extra ticket was free; ask about this when you buy your entry ticket.