Italy itinerary help
Jun 23rd, 2006, 01:59 PM
#22
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do think, Burley, that you got more helpful comments here than negatives!
I agree with you, as I mentioned earlier, that the France end of the trip sounds like a good amount of time. I only went to Mt St Michel for an afternoon and I will never forget the site of it rising out of the flat seascape!
But I still think leaving off either the Cinque Terre or Rome would ease things up a bit. I loved my one visit to the CT, and since it is not filled with "must see" sights, you could spend a brief amount of time there; it is just, as others mentioned, that it takes some time to get there, figure out which portion of the hikes to do, and if you need to spend part of that time looking for lodging, not much relaxing time is left.
Another thought is if you do stick with this itinerary, maybe don't over schedule Rome, in case sitting at a cafe for a few hours just eating, drinking and talking sounds better to all of you by then. (My favorite thing to do in Rome!)You could do your own night tour of the lit up monuments (Rick Steves has a good one outlined in his Italy guidebook) and take it at your own pace.
I've done my share of fast paced trips, too, (I've said more than once on a trip that "we can sleep when we get home"
and you know yourselves and the other couple better than we do. Go with your gut on this one, and have fun.
I agree with you, as I mentioned earlier, that the France end of the trip sounds like a good amount of time. I only went to Mt St Michel for an afternoon and I will never forget the site of it rising out of the flat seascape!
But I still think leaving off either the Cinque Terre or Rome would ease things up a bit. I loved my one visit to the CT, and since it is not filled with "must see" sights, you could spend a brief amount of time there; it is just, as others mentioned, that it takes some time to get there, figure out which portion of the hikes to do, and if you need to spend part of that time looking for lodging, not much relaxing time is left.
Another thought is if you do stick with this itinerary, maybe don't over schedule Rome, in case sitting at a cafe for a few hours just eating, drinking and talking sounds better to all of you by then. (My favorite thing to do in Rome!)You could do your own night tour of the lit up monuments (Rick Steves has a good one outlined in his Italy guidebook) and take it at your own pace.
I've done my share of fast paced trips, too, (I've said more than once on a trip that "we can sleep when we get home"
and you know yourselves and the other couple better than we do. Go with your gut on this one, and have fun.
Jun 24th, 2006, 05:14 AM
#23
I am a "Type A" Traveler....e.g. did the Louvre in the morning and Versaille in the afternoon. Usually people spend a day or two or three at each site. However, I must say you are over the top.
Remember, you CAN GO BACK!! You do not need to see the whole continent in one trip. I have been to France 4 times and every time I have wanted to see Mont St. Michel, but it just did not fit it. I know it is not going to wash into the ocean -- I will do it at some point in the future.
I have just come back from a whirl wind trip to Copenhagen and Sweden, and we spend so much time dragging our luggage onto/off of trains, busses, airports, checking-in, checking out, etc., and our itinerary was much more "calm" than yours! You are underestimating how much time transfers, etc will take.
Remember, you CAN GO BACK!! You do not need to see the whole continent in one trip. I have been to France 4 times and every time I have wanted to see Mont St. Michel, but it just did not fit it. I know it is not going to wash into the ocean -- I will do it at some point in the future.
I have just come back from a whirl wind trip to Copenhagen and Sweden, and we spend so much time dragging our luggage onto/off of trains, busses, airports, checking-in, checking out, etc., and our itinerary was much more "calm" than yours! You are underestimating how much time transfers, etc will take.
Jun 24th, 2006, 09:57 AM
#24
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello Kimberly, please don't leave Fodor's..I for one would love to hear about your 20th Wedding Anniversary trip after you return home.
You have been to Europe before and so you do understand about travelling there more then someone who has not been to Europe before.
A couple of hours sleep in London would help you enjoy seeing Phantom I believe..but yes do set an alarm clock.
Kimberly, I note your last day in Paris is unplanned. Could you take that day and add it to the CinqueTerra portion of your trip? That would give you all some time to catch your breath so to speak. Or take that day and add it to your time in London. Just a couple of thoughts.
I truly believe the various post were made with concern that all or some of you would just absolutely "collapse" during the trip and consequently not be able to see the places you are looking forward to visiting. It does happen..jetlag and being dreadfully overtired can make one feel so ill. Best regards!
You have been to Europe before and so you do understand about travelling there more then someone who has not been to Europe before.
A couple of hours sleep in London would help you enjoy seeing Phantom I believe..but yes do set an alarm clock.
Kimberly, I note your last day in Paris is unplanned. Could you take that day and add it to the CinqueTerra portion of your trip? That would give you all some time to catch your breath so to speak. Or take that day and add it to your time in London. Just a couple of thoughts.
I truly believe the various post were made with concern that all or some of you would just absolutely "collapse" during the trip and consequently not be able to see the places you are looking forward to visiting. It does happen..jetlag and being dreadfully overtired can make one feel so ill. Best regards!
Jun 24th, 2006, 04:06 PM
#25
Burley, from your other posts with different questions over the past several months, I see you originally planned (among other things) to spend several days in Tuscany and a week in Paris. I'd be curious to know what changed your original plan from a slower one to what you have put forth on this thread.
You can travel at any speed you like, but I would reconsider the order. Fly into London, Paris/MSM, Florence/CT/Tuscany, Rome and fly home would just seem more logical to me.
If you stick to the current itinerary, I think my only suggestions would relate to transportation and how to save time. Have you looked into connecting flights to eliminate a couple of train rides? I.e., fly London to Pisa rather than London to Rome and train back to Florence, and fly Rome to Paris to Dinan (or Caen). When you use a combination of plane and train to get somewhere, consider the time spent travelling between airport and train station.
You can travel at any speed you like, but I would reconsider the order. Fly into London, Paris/MSM, Florence/CT/Tuscany, Rome and fly home would just seem more logical to me.
If you stick to the current itinerary, I think my only suggestions would relate to transportation and how to save time. Have you looked into connecting flights to eliminate a couple of train rides? I.e., fly London to Pisa rather than London to Rome and train back to Florence, and fly Rome to Paris to Dinan (or Caen). When you use a combination of plane and train to get somewhere, consider the time spent travelling between airport and train station.
Jun 24th, 2006, 04:57 PM
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Burley,
I know it's hard to take in negative feedback...but it might be helpful to you. Here's mine, skip CT, we just came back from the place, it was not worth it. In my opinion, it was over-hyped. Now Bellagio and Positano is a must see...but probably on another trip for you.
You mentioned that last time you drove over 2 thousand miles in 7 days and stayed in 7 different hotels...believe me, driving is totally different than your current trip, which involves lots of planes and trains. Don't forget that every time you fly or go by train, you'd need to catch a taxi to the airport or train station, wait for check-in, arrive at the destination and catch another taxi to your hotel. When you drive, it is easier in that you just transfer your luggage in the car then drive off and unload at the next hotel, no waiting at airports, not catching taxis etc...
Why don't you fly directly to Florence from London, then train to Rome then fly back to Paris via EasyJet or some other cheap airline or take the night train? That way you'll cut down on traveling time and have more time at each place.
I would say skip CT and MSM.
Hope that helps. Honestly, we are here because we love traveling and love to help other people also.
I know it's hard to take in negative feedback...but it might be helpful to you. Here's mine, skip CT, we just came back from the place, it was not worth it. In my opinion, it was over-hyped. Now Bellagio and Positano is a must see...but probably on another trip for you.
You mentioned that last time you drove over 2 thousand miles in 7 days and stayed in 7 different hotels...believe me, driving is totally different than your current trip, which involves lots of planes and trains. Don't forget that every time you fly or go by train, you'd need to catch a taxi to the airport or train station, wait for check-in, arrive at the destination and catch another taxi to your hotel. When you drive, it is easier in that you just transfer your luggage in the car then drive off and unload at the next hotel, no waiting at airports, not catching taxis etc...
Why don't you fly directly to Florence from London, then train to Rome then fly back to Paris via EasyJet or some other cheap airline or take the night train? That way you'll cut down on traveling time and have more time at each place.
I would say skip CT and MSM.
Hope that helps. Honestly, we are here because we love traveling and love to help other people also.
Jun 24th, 2006, 07:19 PM
#27
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am not sure if you have everything booked...but perhaps fly into Rome from London and work your way up the coast? We flew into Rome, and our last stay was CT (we stayed in Santa Margarita--and took the train back into CT for a day of hiking). We took the train up to Genoa bus station, then to the airport. From our hotel to the airport it was about an hour and a half tops.
Jun 27th, 2006, 10:38 AM
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks again for the replies, and I really don't want to leave the forum, as I do enjoy reading all the information that's available from everyone. Yes, it did hurt to receive the negative comments; but, after a few days I recognized them for what they were and sifted through the ones that were truly helpful. My husband and I have made some adjustments, based on your comments, and think we have a much better itinerary now.
We could not change our flight into London, nor the London-Rome flight, so we're stuck with those. But, we are going to set aside some nap time, seeing perhaps one or two things in London, but the main focus being able to withstand Phantom.
We then took out the CT day, and tacked that onto either Florence or Rome (our Florence hotel was not available for another night, but our Rome hotel was), so we can either spend the day in Florence or head on early to Rome.
The MSM is getting worked out pretty well, as my hero Bob at BETS has helped me with the train schedules and finally found one that will put us back in Paris on Sunday around 4:15p, which gives us the evening to enjoy Paris. (We'll be going Paris to Pontorson on Saturday, and then Dol to Rennes to Paris on Sunday, leaving the Mont around noon for a 1:04p train from Dol.)
From there, Paris is a snap, as we'll have Michael Osman for our first full day, a shopping day, and then a day where each couple will do whatever we choose at our leisure (my hubby and I are thinking about Vaux Le Vicomte). Anyway, that's the revised plan; we'll just save CT for another trip. Now, we're in two hotels for one night each, and three hotels for at least three nights each.
I may still need help, and I hope that there will still be help to be found.
Thanks again for all your help so far--it is appreciated. (And, I will post a trip report, truthfully telling how it went, upon our return.)
We could not change our flight into London, nor the London-Rome flight, so we're stuck with those. But, we are going to set aside some nap time, seeing perhaps one or two things in London, but the main focus being able to withstand Phantom.
We then took out the CT day, and tacked that onto either Florence or Rome (our Florence hotel was not available for another night, but our Rome hotel was), so we can either spend the day in Florence or head on early to Rome.
The MSM is getting worked out pretty well, as my hero Bob at BETS has helped me with the train schedules and finally found one that will put us back in Paris on Sunday around 4:15p, which gives us the evening to enjoy Paris. (We'll be going Paris to Pontorson on Saturday, and then Dol to Rennes to Paris on Sunday, leaving the Mont around noon for a 1:04p train from Dol.)
From there, Paris is a snap, as we'll have Michael Osman for our first full day, a shopping day, and then a day where each couple will do whatever we choose at our leisure (my hubby and I are thinking about Vaux Le Vicomte). Anyway, that's the revised plan; we'll just save CT for another trip. Now, we're in two hotels for one night each, and three hotels for at least three nights each.
I may still need help, and I hope that there will still be help to be found.
Thanks again for all your help so far--it is appreciated. (And, I will post a trip report, truthfully telling how it went, upon our return.)
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MelissaBF
Europe
7
Apr 7th, 2004 12:48 PM
