Italy Feb 08 from scratch
Jul 21st, 2007, 12:01 PM
#1
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Italy Feb 08 from scratch
Hello all,
Once again calling on my fodorites to help plan a trip. I was able to use frequent flier miles to book a trip to Italy February 1-12 2008. I was researching online and found the Venice Carnivale festivities facinating so that is the main purpose for going during those dates. I have an open jaw ticket (in to Venice out of Rome) and im looking to fill in the gaps. Im thinking Venice, Florence and Rome for three days each and a side trip to Pisa.
My questions:
What can i expect weather wise in each stop?
Hotel recomendations?
Must see sights?
Is a Milan stop worth it?
Should I book RailEurope passes in advance?
Any other helpful insight.
Thanx in advance.
Once again calling on my fodorites to help plan a trip. I was able to use frequent flier miles to book a trip to Italy February 1-12 2008. I was researching online and found the Venice Carnivale festivities facinating so that is the main purpose for going during those dates. I have an open jaw ticket (in to Venice out of Rome) and im looking to fill in the gaps. Im thinking Venice, Florence and Rome for three days each and a side trip to Pisa.
My questions:
What can i expect weather wise in each stop?
Hotel recomendations?
Must see sights?
Is a Milan stop worth it?
Should I book RailEurope passes in advance?
Any other helpful insight.
Thanx in advance.
Jul 21st, 2007, 12:06 PM
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Hi B,
For Carnevale in Venice, I would add a day.
>What can i expect weather wise in each stop?
Fairly cold with chance of rain.
>Hotel recomendations?
Budget?
>Must see sights?
Look up those cities under "Destinations".
>Is a Milan stop worth it?
What intrigues you about Milan?
>Should I book RailEurope passes in advance?
Do not get a railpass for Italy. Buy your tickets at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html or when you get to Venice.
>Any other helpful insight.
Are you sure you want to go to Pisa? How about Siena from Florence and Orvieto from Rome?
For Carnevale in Venice, I would add a day.
>What can i expect weather wise in each stop?
Fairly cold with chance of rain.
>Hotel recomendations?
Budget?
>Must see sights?
Look up those cities under "Destinations".
>Is a Milan stop worth it?
What intrigues you about Milan?
>Should I book RailEurope passes in advance?
Do not get a railpass for Italy. Buy your tickets at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html or when you get to Venice.
>Any other helpful insight.
Are you sure you want to go to Pisa? How about Siena from Florence and Orvieto from Rome?
Jul 21st, 2007, 12:16 PM
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Thanx for the quick response ira
* Looking for Budget yet clean and safe accomodations
* I picked Pisa thinking "how could I go to Italy and not see the tower" I havent read much on Siena or Orvieto. Why would you reccomend?
*Im fairly into fashion thats why I picked Milan but it could be skipped for a more entertaining city.
* Looking for Budget yet clean and safe accomodations
* I picked Pisa thinking "how could I go to Italy and not see the tower" I havent read much on Siena or Orvieto. Why would you reccomend?
*Im fairly into fashion thats why I picked Milan but it could be skipped for a more entertaining city.
Jul 21st, 2007, 12:30 PM
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Hi bewareofdog,
Here is a link to my trip report of our March 2007 time in Rome, Florence, and Venice (three nights each) *with* a sidetrip to Pisa (which we loved!)
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34974101
Here is a link to my trip report of our March 2007 time in Rome, Florence, and Venice (three nights each) *with* a sidetrip to Pisa (which we loved!)
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34974101
Jul 21st, 2007, 12:36 PM
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I would start with Venice hotels. If you're there during Carnivale, you may find it taking a big bite out of your lodging budget.
We were there last year at the end of January/first week February. It snowed in Venice...bella! Florence was so cold we could hardly go outside. Rome was perfect.
In advising on hotels, it's helpful if you tell us a specific budget, i.e. $150 per night-double?
We were there last year at the end of January/first week February. It snowed in Venice...bella! Florence was so cold we could hardly go outside. Rome was perfect.
In advising on hotels, it's helpful if you tell us a specific budget, i.e. $150 per night-double?
Jul 21st, 2007, 01:45 PM
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We stayed at La Calcina for Carnivale one year. I recommend it because it's close to the action but far enough away to not be wall-to-wall people.
Stay four full days in Rome if you can--so much to do and see in that incredible city. I'd book an apartment; have used realrome.com with great success. I've also stayed at Albergo del Senato but wouldn't classify it as budget nowadays. Many moons ago we rented an apartment from cross-pollinate.com: basic but clean and serviceable. Oh, and I've also rented an apartment from Mauro of undergroundviaggi that we liked very much. See slowtrav.com for references, as well as buckets of other apartment reviews for Rome.
I've been to Pisa and Milan, although only briefly, and wasn't as wowed as I was with other areas. Coming from Venice, I would probably stop in a hilltown, either Umbrian or Tuscan, for a couple of nights. Or perhaps Florence.
All of this is just my opinion, of course, and your mileage may vary, as they say.
You may want to search for SusanP's trip report on this board. She has just returned from a Venice/Bologna/Rome trip, another possible itinerary for you.
Have a great trip!
Stay four full days in Rome if you can--so much to do and see in that incredible city. I'd book an apartment; have used realrome.com with great success. I've also stayed at Albergo del Senato but wouldn't classify it as budget nowadays. Many moons ago we rented an apartment from cross-pollinate.com: basic but clean and serviceable. Oh, and I've also rented an apartment from Mauro of undergroundviaggi that we liked very much. See slowtrav.com for references, as well as buckets of other apartment reviews for Rome.
I've been to Pisa and Milan, although only briefly, and wasn't as wowed as I was with other areas. Coming from Venice, I would probably stop in a hilltown, either Umbrian or Tuscan, for a couple of nights. Or perhaps Florence.
All of this is just my opinion, of course, and your mileage may vary, as they say.
You may want to search for SusanP's trip report on this board. She has just returned from a Venice/Bologna/Rome trip, another possible itinerary for you.
Have a great trip!
Jul 23rd, 2007, 12:53 PM
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Thanks allfor the responses so far.
* Tim and Liz what an outstanding report. (Im definietly interested in the cooking class)
*Ira if I utilize trneitalia how far in advance can i book tickets? 2008 is not an option just yet.
*Venice is fairly expensive during carnivale (ouch) I did find La Calcina (thanx leely) for $100 euro but they want a deposit by check airmail. Is that normal? Does anyone have any other budget lodging accomodation suggestions for less than 100 euro a night?
So far im looking at
Venice Feb 2-5, Pisa(half day) Feb 5, FLorence Feb 5-8, Rome Feb 8-12. Looking into a side trip from ROme during that time.
please continue with all the excellent suggestions!
* Tim and Liz what an outstanding report. (Im definietly interested in the cooking class)
*Ira if I utilize trneitalia how far in advance can i book tickets? 2008 is not an option just yet.
*Venice is fairly expensive during carnivale (ouch) I did find La Calcina (thanx leely) for $100 euro but they want a deposit by check airmail. Is that normal? Does anyone have any other budget lodging accomodation suggestions for less than 100 euro a night?
So far im looking at
Venice Feb 2-5, Pisa(half day) Feb 5, FLorence Feb 5-8, Rome Feb 8-12. Looking into a side trip from ROme during that time.
please continue with all the excellent suggestions!
Jul 23rd, 2007, 01:06 PM
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beware-
thanks for the compliment!
I would visit Pisa from Florence, early, rather than on your way between Venice and Florence with luggage. There is no time advantage for going in between Venice and Florence, you will go right through Florence to get to Pisa.
thanks for the compliment!
I would visit Pisa from Florence, early, rather than on your way between Venice and Florence with luggage. There is no time advantage for going in between Venice and Florence, you will go right through Florence to get to Pisa.
Jul 23rd, 2007, 01:09 PM
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You can book tickets 60 days ahead at Trenitalia.com. That should be plenty of time for your popular routes. You can buy all your tickets at once at the first train station you reach. There are easy ticket machines to use and some travel agents in Italy even sell train tickets for the same price. I've been to Italy 20 times and have never booked my tickets before arriving in Italy. If I'm traveling on a popular day, I just buy my tickets a day or to ahead.
Also, the biggest point is that buying tivkets from Trenitalia is cheapest. Your few trips will not benefit costwise from having a railpass, either from RailEurope or from Trenitalia.
Special demands are made by hotels during Carnevale, such as your requested deposit. It is and incredibly popular time, a crowded time to be in Venice. It is probably also the most expensive time. Even the cheapest places will be charging their hgihest prices.
If you really feel the need to leave Rome on a daytrip, I'd suggest Orvieto (Umbrian hilltown easily reached by train) or Ostia Antica (a mini-Pompeii 30 minutes from Rome by train).
Also, the biggest point is that buying tivkets from Trenitalia is cheapest. Your few trips will not benefit costwise from having a railpass, either from RailEurope or from Trenitalia.
Special demands are made by hotels during Carnevale, such as your requested deposit. It is and incredibly popular time, a crowded time to be in Venice. It is probably also the most expensive time. Even the cheapest places will be charging their hgihest prices.
If you really feel the need to leave Rome on a daytrip, I'd suggest Orvieto (Umbrian hilltown easily reached by train) or Ostia Antica (a mini-Pompeii 30 minutes from Rome by train).
Jul 23rd, 2007, 01:45 PM
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Milan may not conform to the stereotypical idea of what "Italy" should be, but it is a vibrant, exciting city with wonderful food and much to see, not to mention shopping. And terrific food!
Jul 25th, 2007, 04:42 PM
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so after a week of research ive narrowed my hotel/ b&b accomodations to the following. Please feel free to advise:
Venice
La Calcina 100 Euro/ Night
Residenza del Doge 70 Euro/ Night
Florence
Hotel Casci 54 Euro/Night
Bed & Bed Peterson 35 euro/ Night
Hotel Aldini 45 Euro/ Night
Rome
Notti a Roma 60 Euro/ Night
Antiqua Roma 50 Euro/Night
Venice
La Calcina 100 Euro/ Night
Residenza del Doge 70 Euro/ Night
Florence
Hotel Casci 54 Euro/Night
Bed & Bed Peterson 35 euro/ Night
Hotel Aldini 45 Euro/ Night
Rome
Notti a Roma 60 Euro/ Night
Antiqua Roma 50 Euro/Night
