suze

<<I DO believe they can travel at a low cost. I do not believe that at their ages they can do so "on the fly.">>

I don't understand the realtionship between someone's age and traveling on the fly. Unless they are mobility imparred or have health issues.

I don't think it has anything to do with age, rather it has to do with how experienced of a traveler you (they) are. If this is their first trip out of the country, it's going to be a huge eye-opener at best!!

If they've traveled extensively before and are willing to trim the itinerary, I don't really see a huge problem with any of this.

Plenty of people in the world stay at cheap hotels, arranged last minute by walking around a city, or dealing with the train station tourist kiosk, take 2nd class trains, etc.

There's 70 year olds who backpack and stay in hostels (not saying these folks should, just saying people do).

janisj

I know you are not a troll and this is an honest question. But I do agree w/ yk - how is this their dream trip and you want to make it perfect for them - but they haven't done <i><u>any</u></i> planning/booking other than the transatlantic flights?

If your Mom is this disorganized, I honestly don't think there really much you can do to fix this for them. Their budget is awfully low, they want to cover too much territory in too short a time (the more moving the more cost), and they are leaving in 10 days.

This is just too much mess to pretty up . . . .

Get them some rooms ASAP. They won't have the luxury to pick and choose. Just whatever is available. They may have to change plans completely simply because of lack of rooms in their price range.

They should not worry a bit about inter-city trains until they find out where they will sleep each night . . . . . .

iris1745

Mia; Suze is right. They can do it. It doesn't mean that the first trip over will not cause a bit of nervousness. Take a deep breath. You have had much advice. I had suggested changing your budget to $1500. As 'yk' said, you can't get hotels for 10 nights for $1200, but for $1500 you would be getting closer. Again, on tripadvisor.com you can punch in your dates for each city and select 'under 100euros'. I don't know what your dates are in Rome, but I used the 20th departing on the 23rd. Hotel Re Di Roma has rooms for three nights at 297 euros, including breakfast. In Venice, the 23rd, departing on the 26th. Hotel San Moise had a room for 225 euros for three nights including breakfast. Both hotels are rated good in trip advisor. Paris as previous posts have said, is not advisable. But if that is their wish, you might be able to get an apartment for 500 euros. on vrbo.com But from Venice to Paris may require a 'plane' on one of the inter europe airlines. You will get this done. Iris

slangevar

If you do keep Venice in the itinerary, don't go over a weekend... the rates skyrocket.

I would normally pick Venice over Florence, but if you're able to get reservations at Florence's museums, it could be nice for your parents (if nothing else, hello museum air conditioning), especially given how hot and smelly Venice can get in the summer.

Re: Paris, I would recommend your parents stay in the 1st, 3rd, 4th or 5th arrondisements, as they're flatter and have easy access to sights and transportation.

I would try these hotels first:
Hotel College de France - http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/

Hotel Familia - http://www.hotel-paris-familia.com/

This is also a good resource for hotels around the 80 euro mark: http://gridskipper.com/60660/top-pic...c-paris-hotels (stick to hotels 6, 8 &amp; 9).

Air conditioning is still nice to have in Paris, but it's not as important as an elevator. MANY budget hotels have no elevator and lots of stairs, and it sounds like that might be a problem for your parents.

Good luck! (btw, I found tons of hotels and B&amp;Bs for your dates and price in Rome, so don't worry, but do start researching)

nytraveler

Sorry -

To find decent hotels at that super budget price at this late date is not going to happen. And the train fares for 2 of them will more than eat up the few dollars they have left over.

They are trying to do this trip on a shoestring, in high season, with no advance planning, no experience, no reservations and a schedule that would fell an ox.

Will they even have money for food and sightseeing - I know you say that;s extra - but how much extra? Do they have a clue what anything costs in europe? Have they looked at the price of museum entrances? Basic food?

I'm really concerned that your poor parents are headed for a disaster. Is there nothing you can do to talk sense into them.

MichaelL913

I wish them luck on this trip. I agree, of course, with everyone who recommends fewer cities and booking hotels ASAP. I, personally, would suggest they do 5 days in Rome and 5 in Paris. There are daytrips they could do from Rome (Ostia Antica, Florence, Naples, Capri, possibly Pompeii, etc.) and Paris (Loire Valley, Versailles, or Mont St. Michel). They could even book escorted daytrips (check Expedia or Travelocity), assuming things are still available and budget allows. With their budget, I would suggest they stay well away from Venice. With elderly travellers, I would think they would want a private water taxi to help with the luggage from the train station to the hotel (I can't imagine most 70-year-olds hauling luggage around Venice, over bridges, and on/off a public water bus unless they pack very light); a one-way water taxi would eat up a full night's hotel budget for this trip. I've never been to Venice in the height of high season, so I can only imagine that the crowds would be crushing in August. I'm sure they can find some food in Venice that isn't expensive, but most of what I enjoyed there was very pricey. I absolutely love Venice, but I just don't think it's practical for two elderly people on a very tight budget. If they can supplement the budget a bit, they might have a shot at a pleasant visit to Venice. Good luck, and I hope the trip is enjoyable for them. If they can get hotels booked, they could read guide books on the long transatlantic flight to get oriented and quasi-prepared for their tour.

zeppole

Aren't they only spending mia's inheritance? If she's comfortable with them going over budget, what they hay?

(I am worried about the heat and the person over 70 with asthma, but everybody are grown ups here.)

crefloors

I think a tour would be the thing for them. It looks like they only have 9 days on the ground?

You haven't been to Europe so you don't know the cities, they haven't been and they don't know the cities.

My first trip to Europe was a tour and I, at that time, wasn't sure if I would ever be able to go back..I've been back on my own three more times. Having been on my own, I know, especially being a neophite, I could NEVER have done as much on my own. I get lost, lines for museums are long sometimes, you aren't familiar with the transportation system. That's not a big deal when you have time, but if you only have six or seven hours in a city, you don't know where things are, you can waste precious time trying to figure it all out.

Just my two cents.

cmeyer54

If you stick to the original plan of 5 places in 10 days, take a look at doing overnight trains - at least then she won't be missing the sites during the day and may be able to use the train sleeping car rather than a hotel. I don't know their ages but this sounds very ambitious for a first visit with all the moving about. Consider perhaps a 3/3/3 trip with equivalent time in Rome, Florence and Paris. We've spent 5+ days in each of those places and felt like it wasn't enough. Just think about Rome - collosseum, St Peters, Forum, Vatican Museums, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese...in a couple of days?? Not likely unless you're on a treadmill and rushing about.

cmeyer54

this might also be a bit late but if you take a look at the 'for dummies' series of travel guides or the Rick Steves guides; they list the various attractions that are 'not to be missed', 'recommended' or 'if you have time' - that might help prioritize what to see with only a few hours in each place.

LoveItaly

Although I agree with almost everyone's thoughts I am chuckling about something. Mia states her mother is in her late 50's and her father is almost 70. Not my description of elderly.

But again I do agree with most thoughts posted on this thread (well I don't agree with taking a day trip to Capri when staying in Rome).

Best wishes mia, I hope somehow this trip can be organized in the next couple of days in a manner that your parents will enjoy their time in Europe. But quite frankly I don't envy you as it is not a project I would want to take on nor a trip I would want to take unless somehow hotels could be found that had AC and the intinerary was for only two locations.

BTW, how did your parents obtain their airline tickets? Through a travel agency or online?

dmlove

<i>Although I agree with almost everyone's thoughts I am chuckling about something. Mia states her mother is in her late 50's and her father is almost 70. Not my description of elderly.</i>

Thank you! I thought I might choke when I read that.

5alive

Mia

Have you gotten their rooms? If not, I would recommend you get a travel agent to help you. Otherwise, to order your own room, you either must find one where you can reserve online or an American chain. 80E could be rough.

In Rome, the Hotel Alimandi has a/c and is across from the Vatican. Also very near 2 metro stops. Everyone in my family really likes the Alimandi. It is 130E.

Nearby, the Alimandi's B&amp;B shows a double room with A/C for 90E. I have stayed at the hotel, not the BB&amp;B so can't give any opinion. Still, I would risk it and take it given the quality of their other locations. You can reserve either one online with them:
www.alimandi.it

Rooms also appear available for various Holiday Inn properties for Aug 19-22. I have visited (but not ended up staying at) the one below, and it is a safe location; I know nothing about the others.

ROME-ST.PETER'S
Crowne Plaza Hotel
VIA AURELIA ANTICA 415
ROME, 00165
ITALY

136E if you pay in full by credit card ahead of time (no cancelling).

jamikins

Another website that might help is www.venere.com as you can see the prices and whats available and book right through them.

bratsandbeer

mia7681
Where do the plans stand right now. I am wondering how this is all coming together.

Don't listen to anyone talk about elderly people traveling. They do it everyday - and they may be in better condition than a lot of younger travelers.

callerid

Check the itineraries of the tours that are already scheduled for the areas your parents want to visit? Perhaps someone had to drop out and they could pick up the touring portion cheaply

suze

While I recommended Rome, Venice and Paris way back up this thread... it could be ANY of the places mentioned just not all of them!

Rome/Venice/Florence
Rome/Florence/Paris
OR

only Rome/Paris (which would be the easiest to plan at this late date, and save a little on train fares or even fly between the two)

Hopefully mia's not here right now, because she's busy making hotel reservations!

slangevar

Sounds like Paris is a must since they're flying out of there.

mia7681, it will probably still be a lot cheaper to fly a regional carrier from Italy to Paris than take a night train, but I understand the romance of the train. I would just recommend springing for the 2-person sleeper berth. Your parents do NOT want to be sharing their compartment with total strangers.

The rest of the trains are easy... they run between the major cities in Italy all the time.

By the way, I really like Suze's idea of using two big cities (e.g. Rome and Paris) as bases. They can still take day trips via bus tours or trains to places like Versailles, Mont Saint Michel, D-Day beaches, and/or Giverny (beautiful!) outside of Paris, and Pompeii, Tuscany or Umbria outside of Rome.

suze

Thanks for all who said nice things about my suggestions. I just think this trip has a much better chance of being a success, the more it is trimmed down to a streamlined and manageable itinerary.

You'd only have to deal with one flight or train ride Rome to Paris (instead of 5 different ones like in the original plan). And 2 hotel reservations (instead of 5 hotels). Much more realistic.

bonne chance!

mia7681

Thanks Suze and Iris and everyone else for all your helpful suggestions and encouragement. I think the 1200 lodging budget can be budged around abit, so long as it is kept under 150 they could probably swing it-of course the better the deal the better-I spoke to both of them and dad would be happy with just Rome and Paris but mom doesn't want to miss Venice, so I think we're going to try to book them into hotels in those three cities, if a hotel becomes impossible to find in Venice then they wil just have to skip it. Right now, I think 4 nights Rome, train to Venice for 2 nights and book a flight to Paris for 4 nights might work best from what you are all saying. Or 3 rome, 3 venice, 4 paris depending on availability.

I love some of the hotel recommendations-definately going to contact the hotel familia in Paris and some of the other places that have been recommended on here. I will be at their place tomorrow night to sort this out.

They booked their flights through Zoom, saw the deal on-line then called in to reserve. They were orignally going to go in late fall or save some more and go in the spring, but then some things came up and they decided it was best to do it this summer. I'll keep you posted on how this pans out, again love all the recommendations on hotel!