Ira and Ellenem
 

Italy Jun 30 - July
Is NYC the cheapest gateway city to get to Rome from US? My fiancée and I would like to fly from DFW to New York City using my MasterCard Points. Then get a ticket to Rome. Any one have B&B or Hotel Recommendations in : Rome, Ravello, Florence, and Venice.

My fiancée and I are planning a trip to Italy for one week and have put together a rough itinerary of where we want to go. We would like to use the trains. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

1) Fly In - Rome 2) Ravello 3) Venice 4) Florence 5) Rome –Fly Back

Can you get an open jaw tickets with your points? That would save you a day of travel in Italy.

Good Idea

With only a week, you will do well to see two of those.
Ravello is very hard to access and is not near any trains.

Consider Venice and Rome open jaw.
AA has flights from DFW that may take you to Dulles not JFK.

for info on Italian trains check out these superb IMO sites - www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com. And with that much train travel investigate the Italy Eurailpass, especially in first class, which my years of travel on Italian trains makes me highly recommend for the average traveler - especially those on the trip of a lifetime, hauling luggage around and on a pre-Honeymoon as it seems. A much more relaxed way to go, even though 2nd class is not terrible just that first class IME is much more relaxed - often empty seats for me to put my luggage on rather than fending for room in 2nd class that is often chock full and luggage racks may be hard to find room for - but anyone for anyone going by train pack light is imperative - now tell that to your fiance!

www.trenitalia.com has fares and schedules - compare fares in either class to a railpass in either class - if you want to book weeks in advance and have tickets that cannot be changed nor refunded I believe then the trenitalia.com site has some nice discounts - but if you want flexibility to decide enroute which trains you will take then the railpass will probably save money - but if you fly open-jaw as Michael suggests then the railpass may not be the best bet if you do not return to Rome but fly out of Venice or vice versa.

Only 1 week? Four cities in one week is a very aggressive schedule.
Mostly you'll be seeing the Italian train system with nary a moment to stop and smell the cappuccino.

Either .... 1) -- expand your trip to allow at least 12 days in Italy; or
2) -- cut out two of your four destinations; I'd suggest trimming down to Rome & Venice.

You really don't have time to do all these places in one week. Train time will eat up more of your schedule than you think, and leave you exhausted. Pick two of these at most so that you can enjoy your stay! For ease of planning and proximity, choose these pairs: Rome and Ravello, Rome and Florence, or Venice and Florence. Definitely look into the open jaw ticket, so that you can fly into one city, and out of another. Good luck, and congratulations!

1) I'm confused by your title.

2) Your plan is impossible. And that is if you mean 7 days 'on the ground (9 days total). If you actually mean 1 week total - that is only 5 days on the ground so even cutting your plans in half is nearly impossible.

If you do book open jaw (<u>highly</u> recommended) -- it would be better into Venice and out of Rome. US bound flights out of Venice leave VERY early in the morning and getting to the airport is a pain.

Schedule was to leaving Friday afternoon, June 29th and arriving in Rome Saturday June 30th.

Then, we would have July 1 (Sunday) through July 7 (Saturday)to tour. Departing July 8th (Sunday) and Arriving the same day at DFW.

Maybe we should try and add a couple more days.

Even with 2 more days, getting to and from Ravello is difficult and time consuming.

2 more days, would, for me, equal a maximum of 3 destinations. Four is just too many.

"I'm confused by your title."

You mean they're not an item?

>>2 more days, would, for me, equal a maximum of 3 destinations<< . . . IF Ravello is not one of them.

Your plan is really 10 days, 8 on the ground. But day 1 in Italy will be after an overnight flight/connections/jet lag and mostly a wash out. So figure 7 days when you will actually be functioning.

4 days in Rome, a couple of days in Venice and one day in Florence is still VERY aggressive.

Thanks will need to add a couple more days and keep it to 3 locations. I wouldn't cut Ravello though, that's where the Civil Ceremony is to be scheduled!

OK---do Rome and Ravello and access Ravello by train to Salerno and then bus or ferry to Amalfi. Once on the AC just spend time there---Venice is too far.

I totally agree w/ Bob. From Amalfi, just a fyi- you'll have to take a bus or cab to Ravello.

"You mean they're not an item?"

sittin' in a tree . . .?

I'm flattered by your faith, but really can't advise on best gateway since I've only ever lived in NYC and have never had to fight the battle for mileage airline tickets from a different departure city. I've never had trouble cashing in miles because I usually need only one ticket and I travel off-season, neither of which is true for your trip.

Congratulations on your wedding!

Hi mike,

Thanx for thinking of me, but I can't answer, "Is NYC the cheapest gateway city to get to Rome from US?", with respect to MC points.

Your itinerary is very, very, very, very aggressive.

For a 1 week trip you could visit
Venice & Florence
Naples and the Amalfi Coast (including Ravello)
Rome & Florence
Rome or Florence or Venice.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))