Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Info on recent 10 day trip of Highlights of Italy

We returned last Thursday from a 10 day trip of the “Highlights of Italy” with my MIL’s church group through NAWAS. Yes, it was a whirlwind, and yes, we had to wake up early some days, LOL, and yes we were the young ones on the trip, but we honestly had the BEST time. Everything, including the weather, could not have gone more smoothly.
I won’t give a play by play of the trip, but will give a few highlights of my own and tips. If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to try to answer. We visited Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, Florence, Pisa, and Venice.

Also, although we were told the hotels were 4 stars, we didn’t go into it expecting 5 star accommodation, food, and service. Everything was for the most part comfortable, very clean, and food better than I was anticipating.

Tour Group:

A huge bravissimo to our tour guide Debra, from England. She honestly made the trip. Full of so much knowledge and insight with such humor. Also, our driver Giuseppe was amazing, especially through the Amalfi coastline!

Pluses of going with a tour group:
- quick entry to some of the tour sites!
- Provided guides for the city tours and sites such as Vatican, Pompeii, Uffizzi, etc.
- Didn’t get lost driving!

Hotels:

Rome – Hotel Diana, just off Via Cavour not far from Republic Square, Train station, and the Forum. Great location, lovely hotel. Good breakfast buffet and dinners. Walking distance to almost all the sites we visited.

Sorrento – Hotel Flora, in Sorrento proper just a few blocks from Piazza Tasso. My husband and I were put in the room on the top floor above the restaurant. LOL, not sure if it was the penthouse or servants quarters. There was no elevator access to this room so that is why we (the youngest in the group) were assigned the room. Nothing too fancy, but larger than the normal rooms with an extra twin bed and windows on both sides of the room. One overlooked the sea and the other the street. Nice dining room with good breakfast buffet and good dinners. Gorgeous lobby.

Florence – Hotel Raffaello, in residential area of town, not near touristy sites of Florence. Really nice hotel with good food as the others. Only complaint was that it was hot and stuffy. Not a/c yet this time of year, and when we opened the window (as we did at the other hotels for cooler air) mosquitoes came into the room.

Venice – Plaza Hotel in Mestre. While originally disappointed we weren’t in Venice, this hotel was very nice and comfortable, directly across from train station. Same as above, good breakfast and dinner. Good drinks in the bar.

Restaurants:

All breakfasts and most dinners were at our hotels, but here are the restaurants we did visit.

Rome

Paneterria/Pizzeria – corner establishment about 1/3 mile down Via delle Fornaci outside Vatican. Worth a visit if nothing else but for its quaintness. Sort of an Italian deli up front, with small tables for the restaurant downstairs in the wine cellar. All locals, not much English spoken (great opportunity to practice my Italian!). 5 small cheese pizzas, 3 beers, a coke, and 2 waters cost 17E. Pizzas were served cold, but still not too bad.

Zio Ciro – great dinner with outdoor tables in front of the Pantheon. Reasonably priced given the amazing location – Pantheon at sunset! Delicious Chianti, bruschetta, lasagna, 4-cheese pizza, and veal.

Sant’ Andrea – Happened upon this restaurant with outdoor tables while we were walking from the Pantheon to the Spanish Steps. Very good lunch of spinach and ricotta ravioli and lasagna.

La Galliana Bianca – Pizzeria recommended by hotel. Pretty good, not the best pizza we had though.

Pompeii

Hotel Vittoria – Tour guide called ahead to this hotel and made reservations for our group. Salad, margaretta (what we call cheese) pizza, and gelato for dessert for 12E per person. Slow service, they were very busy, but the pizza was delicious! Worth the wait. There is a small gelato stand outside the hotel as you exit the ruins that had the best strawberry gelato of the trip.

Florence

Enoteca Boccadama – along square in front of Santa Croce church. My favorite meal!!! The best lasagna I have ever eaten. SIL had a veal dish, and husband Italian sausages. Great potatoes baked with olive oil and rosemary. Excellent wine as well.

Enoteca Vinarius – (Borgo S. Croce, 15r) randomly picked this beautiful wine bar off Florence map. One street over from Santa Croce. The girl working had just bought the place off the previous owner and reopened 10 days prior. Had the best wine tasting. Just the three of us in the place. Sampled 6 wines and 4 cheeses (Piccarino, my fave, Brie, Parmesano, and Taltaggio). Bought a bottle of the favorite wine tasted – Fonte Venna 2003 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. If you go, say hello to Cryielle, the new owner!

Venice

Ristorante Canal Grande – We wanted on last pizza before leaving so we picked this restaurant on the north side of the canal near the Rialto bridge because they had an open table for two along the water. Lucky timing! Good pizza and wine, but amazing atmosphere and view. We stayed for about 1.5 hours just taking it all in.

Travatore Restaurant – Dinner through the tour. Was mostly good, pasta and pork, but disappointed in the vegetable, LOL. I think it was frozen spinach. I think it was only time the entire trip that the vegetables were not fresh.

Sightseeing:

Rome – Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Colleseum, Forum, Michelangelo Steps, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain

Ruins in Pompeii

Sorrento – lemon orchard, Amalfi coastline, Amalfi

Florence – Uffizi, Academy, Ponte Vecchio, Baptistry Doors, Duomo, Santa Croce, Piazza Vecchio and outdoor gallery, Piazzale Michelangelo, visit to leather factory (purchased gorgeous leather handgloves)

Pisa – Leaning Tower (duh!)

Venice – St Marks square, Doges Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge, Bell Tower, Glass Blowing Exhibition, gondola ride

Favorite Moments:

Forum and Colesseum at night in Rome
Wine tasting in Florence
Everything about Venice, especially gondola ride with my husband
Walking through lemon orchard and sampling lemoncello
Climbing the Duomo in Florence
Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Marks Basilica
The Uffizi
Gelato, of course

Tips:

1) Learning Italian – I learned quite a bit of Italian prior to the trip through www.mydailyphrase.com/Italian and www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/

2) Free audio guides – downloaded to our mp3 players from this site www.italyguides.it/us/italy_travel.htm

3) I carried this bag I bought from Dillards. Perfect size to carry my passport, wallet, phone, and essentials I needed for the day. Turned the zippers in to face my body so I never worried about pickpockets. My husband kept his wallet and passport in the front pocket of his pants. http://www.lesportsac.com/store/7627_5205.html Also brought a backpack along some days to carry purchases, guide book, travel journal, etc.

4) Bought 300E from a coworker prior to departure. Used a bancomat (ATM) to get extra money. Used credit card as much as possible.

5) Bought frankobolo (stamps) at Tabacchi shops. They are everywhere, just be sure to specify you need them for America.

6) Bring wine label removers! I brought a pack of 10 to put the labels in my travel journal. Should have brought more because so many on our group were asking for some, but unfortunately I didn’t have any to spare.