Italy Itinerary for nervous friends...
Aug 27th, 2006, 09:04 AM
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Italy Itinerary for nervous friends...
DH and I have been to Italy 3 times. We (actually DH) has done a lot of driving, and we have covered a lot of area...down through Calabria and Puglia. Our friends are taking their 1st trip to Italy next June and want me to help with the planning. I am happy to give them some tips. They want to spend 2 1/2-3 weeks. They want to see Rome, some hilltowns (they enjoy wine) and the Cinque Terre and are wide open for suggestions. I have the places figured out, just need some advice on the order to help minimize their time needing to drive and maximizing the train. My idea....fly into Rome (4 nights), take the train to the Cinque Terre (3 nights), train to Siena and rent a car (4 days) and tour hilltowns and drinks lots of wine 
, drive to Assisi (3 nights at Malvarina, our favorite), take the train to Florence (3 nights) and fly out from there. Here's the problem...autoeurope does not have drop off in Assisi and we have dropped off a car in Florence, and it is just too hard. Any ideas on how to rearrange this so they can take the train into Florence? They are pretty nervous about doing this on their own, but I know they will be fine, once they have a plan.
, drive to Assisi (3 nights at Malvarina, our favorite), take the train to Florence (3 nights) and fly out from there. Here's the problem...autoeurope does not have drop off in Assisi and we have dropped off a car in Florence, and it is just too hard. Any ideas on how to rearrange this so they can take the train into Florence? They are pretty nervous about doing this on their own, but I know they will be fine, once they have a plan.
Aug 27th, 2006, 09:31 AM
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Of course. DH also just suggested that they take the car back to Siena and then take the train to Florence. Since we haven't taken the train very much, so does it sound like the best option to take the train from Rome to the CT and then to Siena? Then the car rental for about a week and then train to Florence? It's much easier planning for myself. Easier to live with my own mistakes !
Aug 27th, 2006, 11:38 AM
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loveitaly: We found it interesting and frightening that you could tour the wineries, visit enotecas and then hop in the car to be on curvey roads with aggressive drivers. A word of warning, indeed.
nessundorma:I had thought CT after Rome to give them a break from the city. We also found flying out of Pisa so much easier than Rome, plus it saves a trip back there. Anyone else?
nessundorma:I had thought CT after Rome to give them a break from the city. We also found flying out of Pisa so much easier than Rome, plus it saves a trip back there. Anyone else?
Aug 27th, 2006, 11:47 AM
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I agree travel52, to say nothing of getting lost on some of those roads also, lol!!
What about having your friends drop off their car at the Florence airport after their stay in Assisi. They could than enjoy Florence and than go back to the Florence airport to fly home. Is this possible? Does AutoEurope have an office at the Florence airport?
Your friends are fortunate to have you help them!! Best regards.
What about having your friends drop off their car at the Florence airport after their stay in Assisi. They could than enjoy Florence and than go back to the Florence airport to fly home. Is this possible? Does AutoEurope have an office at the Florence airport?
Your friends are fortunate to have you help them!! Best regards.
Aug 27th, 2006, 01:32 PM
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loveitaly,
I hadn't thought about the Florence Airport, but would like to have them avoid Florence altogether (in a car, that is). Also, international flights leave from Pisa not Florence. I just happened to notice on our BA itinerary that it said "Florence" but the name of the airport was in Pisa. When I called BA, they said "I don't know why it shows that way, it makes it confusing" ....ya think? I was then told that international flights go out of Pisa.
We'll see if we're still friends after I help plan this. DH suggested it because he said I did I great job on ours. Not the same, being responsible for someone else. I have told them it is all "just suggestions". They would like us to join them, but unless we win the lotto, it just won't happen
I hadn't thought about the Florence Airport, but would like to have them avoid Florence altogether (in a car, that is). Also, international flights leave from Pisa not Florence. I just happened to notice on our BA itinerary that it said "Florence" but the name of the airport was in Pisa. When I called BA, they said "I don't know why it shows that way, it makes it confusing" ....ya think? I was then told that international flights go out of Pisa.
We'll see if we're still friends after I help plan this. DH suggested it because he said I did I great job on ours. Not the same, being responsible for someone else. I have told them it is all "just suggestions". They would like us to join them, but unless we win the lotto, it just won't happen
Aug 27th, 2006, 02:58 PM
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The train from Rome to CT is long, and involves changing trains. Maybe it's better to go to Florence by train from Rome, like nessundorma says, and on from there.
Double-check the departure airport. I know you can fly out of Florence to Frankfurt and elsewhere for international travel. Why would BA say Florence on its ticket, but actually mean Pisa??
Double-check the departure airport. I know you can fly out of Florence to Frankfurt and elsewhere for international travel. Why would BA say Florence on its ticket, but actually mean Pisa??
Aug 27th, 2006, 03:06 PM
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Hi T,
Your friends can drop the car in Siean and take the bus to Florence.
Bus is much more convenient as it leaves from the center of town, and has a luggage compartment.
The bus station in Florence is about 3 blks from the SMN station.
Your friends can drop the car in Siean and take the bus to Florence.
Bus is much more convenient as it leaves from the center of town, and has a luggage compartment.
The bus station in Florence is about 3 blks from the SMN station.
Aug 27th, 2006, 03:32 PM
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Ira, did you mean Siena or is this a town I haven't heard of? Also, what is SMN station? Is that the train station? If they took the bus, they could just get a cab to the hotel from there.
Maureen, thanks for the tip about the train. About how long is the train ride? I think they could handle it. I can't make things too easy ! I don't know why Florence was on the ticket, but Pisa was the airport. I would think a lot of folks would not catch it! BA didn't seem too concerned. Because we are flying to and from Seattle, we fly BA from Italy to London and then on to Seattle. Apparently, the flights going in that direction are out of Pisa.
Has anyone else taken the train from Rome to CT? Would I end a friendship by this suggestion ?
Maureen, thanks for the tip about the train. About how long is the train ride? I think they could handle it. I can't make things too easy ! I don't know why Florence was on the ticket, but Pisa was the airport. I would think a lot of folks would not catch it! BA didn't seem too concerned. Because we are flying to and from Seattle, we fly BA from Italy to London and then on to Seattle. Apparently, the flights going in that direction are out of Pisa.
Has anyone else taken the train from Rome to CT? Would I end a friendship by this suggestion ?
Aug 27th, 2006, 03:38 PM
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I agree with Ira. There are times when a bus is far preferable to a train and the Siena - Florence run is one of them. Same in the other direction. Other than the advatages that Ira mentioned, the bus is also faster and cheaper.
Aug 27th, 2006, 04:39 PM
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As I recall from when we were considering a similar plan, the train from Rome to CT would have been about 5 hours, and involved at least one train change. While the train from Rome to Florence is a simple, straight shot of about 2.5 hours.
Maybe the BA mix-up stems from the fact that the Florence airport was closed for several months last winter, and all flights had to land in Pisa. There was confusion when Florence would re-open, so I know tickets were sold without travelers knowing if they'd be able to use Florence or Pisa.
Maybe the BA mix-up stems from the fact that the Florence airport was closed for several months last winter, and all flights had to land in Pisa. There was confusion when Florence would re-open, so I know tickets were sold without travelers knowing if they'd be able to use Florence or Pisa.
Aug 27th, 2006, 06:40 PM
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Sorry - I didn't notice that they were departing from Firenze or Pisa.
So after Assisi, instead of driving to Orvieto, they should drive to Pisa.
If they need a break from the city after Roma, how about Orvieto for two nights since they are wine lovers, then rent the car there?
So after Assisi, instead of driving to Orvieto, they should drive to Pisa.
If they need a break from the city after Roma, how about Orvieto for two nights since they are wine lovers, then rent the car there?
Aug 27th, 2006, 08:01 PM
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travel52
This could turn into a thankless job for you. I think if it were me, I would print out this thread and give it to your friends. Ask them if they would research the suggestions here, and then maybe come back to you with their own preferences. I really think there are a dozen good options, but only they will know what's right for them.
This could turn into a thankless job for you. I think if it were me, I would print out this thread and give it to your friends. Ask them if they would research the suggestions here, and then maybe come back to you with their own preferences. I really think there are a dozen good options, but only they will know what's right for them.
Aug 28th, 2006, 07:02 AM
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Thanks all ! I gave my friends my rough draft and they love it....but they would have no way of knowing if it is a good plan or not I will sit down with them and go over the concerns that you have all brought up.
I will sit down with them and go over the concerns that you have all brought up.
Aug 28th, 2006, 07:14 AM
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We had problems dropping our car off in Assisi when renting through Auto Europe as well, and decided to drop off in Foligno instead. Avis is located in the same building as the train station and is very easy to find.
Tracy
Tracy
Aug 28th, 2006, 10:50 AM
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travel, according to TrenItalia's website, there are plenty of trains from Foligno to Firenze, and several do not require a train change.
I forgot to mention that Foligno isn't too far from Assisi so it would be a convenient option. We stayed in Umbria in March and were actually happy to drop the car off in Foligno as its less crowded than Assisi and the Avis location is right at the train station.
Tracy
I forgot to mention that Foligno isn't too far from Assisi so it would be a convenient option. We stayed in Umbria in March and were actually happy to drop the car off in Foligno as its less crowded than Assisi and the Avis location is right at the train station.
Tracy
