Italy Itinerary - Round Two
Jan 3rd, 2016, 02:24 PM
#81
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Oh, that certainly makes it easier!
Since you are traveling to the AC on April 2, there is no guaranty the ferries will be running. Therefore, your best options are: (1) wait until the morning of April 1, confirm the ferries are running, then take the train to Salerno then ferry to Positano (or Amalfi, I can't remember); or (2) take the train to Naples and arrange for a driver to pick you up and drive you to the AC.
If the ferries are running by April 5, you can take one of the afternoon ferries to Salerno and then train back to Rome.
Since you are traveling to the AC on April 2, there is no guaranty the ferries will be running. Therefore, your best options are: (1) wait until the morning of April 1, confirm the ferries are running, then take the train to Salerno then ferry to Positano (or Amalfi, I can't remember); or (2) take the train to Naples and arrange for a driver to pick you up and drive you to the AC.
If the ferries are running by April 5, you can take one of the afternoon ferries to Salerno and then train back to Rome.
Jan 3rd, 2016, 04:14 PM
#83
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YAY! I can do that!
Thinking that taking a train to Naples and hiring a driver is the most efficient, even if not the most cost-effective.
Can I still fit in Pompeii in between all of this?
I said Sorrento earlier - I actually meant Positano. Because they sound so much alike (not, hahaha)....
Thinking that taking a train to Naples and hiring a driver is the most efficient, even if not the most cost-effective.
Can I still fit in Pompeii in between all of this?
I said Sorrento earlier - I actually meant Positano. Because they sound so much alike (not, hahaha)....
Jan 4th, 2016, 03:14 AM
#84
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From the loco2.com ticketing site:
Leave Roma Termini (the main station) 8:48 a.m. on the high-speed Frecciarossa (=TGV) train #9501
Arrive non-stop Napoli Centrale 9:55 a.m.
Get your bearings in the station, grab an espresso, find your limo, drive to Positano, arrive before noon.
Here's the best web resource on everything you need to know about trains in Italy, and anywhere else in the EU:
http://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#.VopbSGQrLu0
Pompeii: extraordinary. It looks like you have plenty of time in your itinerary to ease into the beautiful AC scene and also go to Pompeii. Taxi or bus from Positano back to Sorrento and then taxi or bus or Circumvesuviana train back around part of the Bay of Naples, stops at Pompeii (check a guide book for exact name of the station, I think it may also stop at the little town of Pompeii?). If you're going to do this, don't rush Pompeii, it is a large site and, not to overuse the word, truly extraordinary.
If you go to Pompeii, be sure to go to the House of the Mysteries, the Villa dei Misteri, just a short walk outside the main area of the town but still inside the archeological park. One large room of the villa is covered in vivid frescoes, well restored, depicting scenes of some kind of initiation into a religious cult, perhaps that of Dionysius. Here you really feel you have time travelled back to the days of the Empire.
At the entrance to the archeological zone of Pompeii there is a bookstore. Get one of the guidebooks which have the transparent overleaf pages which show photographs of buildings today and then what they originally looked like.
In the center of the Pompeii zone is a surprisingly good cafeteria.
Most of the statues, furnishings, and some of the best mosaics (including the big Alexander mosaic) are now in the archeological museum of Naples, a superb museum. If you want a long day, go early to Pompeii and then in the early afternoon hop back on the Circumvesuviana or have another wise splurge and take a taxi directly into Naples to the archeological museum. Then at the end of the afternoon, hop a ferry boat from Naples harbor (double check the April schedule) over to Sorrento, and then taxi or bus back home to Positano.
There are ruins of another Roman town wiped out by Vesuvius, Herculaneum, also on the Bay of Naples coast and served by the Circumvesuviana. It is smaller, less visited, and some of the buildings are more intact. I have not visited it, but friends say the individual buildings are even more impressive than those of Pompeii.
In contrast, Pompeii will give you the feel of a real town, with bars, grocery stores, gyms, gardens, and casts made from the vaporized bodies of actual people (and dogs
) who were killed in the eruption. (The lava around the bodies hardened and plaster casts were made. Eery and moving.)
This suggested day would add another dimension to your visit to this beautiful area.
Leave Roma Termini (the main station) 8:48 a.m. on the high-speed Frecciarossa (=TGV) train #9501
Arrive non-stop Napoli Centrale 9:55 a.m.
Get your bearings in the station, grab an espresso, find your limo, drive to Positano, arrive before noon.
Here's the best web resource on everything you need to know about trains in Italy, and anywhere else in the EU:
http://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#.VopbSGQrLu0
Pompeii: extraordinary. It looks like you have plenty of time in your itinerary to ease into the beautiful AC scene and also go to Pompeii. Taxi or bus from Positano back to Sorrento and then taxi or bus or Circumvesuviana train back around part of the Bay of Naples, stops at Pompeii (check a guide book for exact name of the station, I think it may also stop at the little town of Pompeii?). If you're going to do this, don't rush Pompeii, it is a large site and, not to overuse the word, truly extraordinary.
If you go to Pompeii, be sure to go to the House of the Mysteries, the Villa dei Misteri, just a short walk outside the main area of the town but still inside the archeological park. One large room of the villa is covered in vivid frescoes, well restored, depicting scenes of some kind of initiation into a religious cult, perhaps that of Dionysius. Here you really feel you have time travelled back to the days of the Empire.
At the entrance to the archeological zone of Pompeii there is a bookstore. Get one of the guidebooks which have the transparent overleaf pages which show photographs of buildings today and then what they originally looked like.
In the center of the Pompeii zone is a surprisingly good cafeteria.
Most of the statues, furnishings, and some of the best mosaics (including the big Alexander mosaic) are now in the archeological museum of Naples, a superb museum. If you want a long day, go early to Pompeii and then in the early afternoon hop back on the Circumvesuviana or have another wise splurge and take a taxi directly into Naples to the archeological museum. Then at the end of the afternoon, hop a ferry boat from Naples harbor (double check the April schedule) over to Sorrento, and then taxi or bus back home to Positano.
There are ruins of another Roman town wiped out by Vesuvius, Herculaneum, also on the Bay of Naples coast and served by the Circumvesuviana. It is smaller, less visited, and some of the buildings are more intact. I have not visited it, but friends say the individual buildings are even more impressive than those of Pompeii.
In contrast, Pompeii will give you the feel of a real town, with bars, grocery stores, gyms, gardens, and casts made from the vaporized bodies of actual people (and dogs
) who were killed in the eruption. (The lava around the bodies hardened and plaster casts were made. Eery and moving.)This suggested day would add another dimension to your visit to this beautiful area.
Jan 4th, 2016, 03:27 AM
#85
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Thank you so much for sharing this information!
I think a day in Pompeii is definitely a must, especially since we have the time to go.
Just confirmed my DS and GF flight and was able to snag a Saturday flight home for them, so DH and I will head out to the AC Saturday in the morning, for sure.
I really appreciate the work you put into researching this for me, now that I've got the dates worked out for our trip I can start filling in the blanks!
I'm so excited my kids will be able to spend one more day with me in Rome, that will make 4 and 1/2 days in Rome for us!
I think a day in Pompeii is definitely a must, especially since we have the time to go.
Just confirmed my DS and GF flight and was able to snag a Saturday flight home for them, so DH and I will head out to the AC Saturday in the morning, for sure.
I really appreciate the work you put into researching this for me, now that I've got the dates worked out for our trip I can start filling in the blanks!
I'm so excited my kids will be able to spend one more day with me in Rome, that will make 4 and 1/2 days in Rome for us!
Jan 8th, 2016, 03:25 AM
#87
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Hello everyone!
Our flights are booked and now I'm trying to figure out where we will stay.
For Rome, I've narrowed down the neighborhood and apartments I will choose from.
For Venice, though....I'm struggling a little bit. There are hundreds of hotels to choose from!
We will only spend one night in Venice (Easter Sunday) before we train it to Rome the next day.
Does it make sense to pay a premium to stay the one night in San Marco? Or are there nicer hotels at competitive prices outside of the main square?
I know this sounds elementary for those of you who are well traveled to Venice, but this is our first stop in Italy and we will be jet lagged....I'd rather find a place that is reasonably priced with really comfortable beds, not necessarily in San Marco (but close enough!).
I've searched for 2 days on hotels.com....and most of the hotels in San Marco that are priced under 300 per night have reviews that complain about the beds being uncomfortable.
As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Our flights are booked and now I'm trying to figure out where we will stay.
For Rome, I've narrowed down the neighborhood and apartments I will choose from.
For Venice, though....I'm struggling a little bit. There are hundreds of hotels to choose from!
We will only spend one night in Venice (Easter Sunday) before we train it to Rome the next day.
Does it make sense to pay a premium to stay the one night in San Marco? Or are there nicer hotels at competitive prices outside of the main square?
I know this sounds elementary for those of you who are well traveled to Venice, but this is our first stop in Italy and we will be jet lagged....I'd rather find a place that is reasonably priced with really comfortable beds, not necessarily in San Marco (but close enough!).
I've searched for 2 days on hotels.com....and most of the hotels in San Marco that are priced under 300 per night have reviews that complain about the beds being uncomfortable.
As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Jan 10th, 2016, 11:50 AM
#88
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For one night I would not stay in close to Piazza San Marco. Too crowded.
you may want to consider staying near the train station. You are only staying one night and you will need to travel from the airport and then the next day travel to the train station. Venice has lots of little bridges. It can be a struggle getting bags up and down steps while contending with tourists. Unless a hotel has a private dock, taking a water taxi from the airport, while expensive, will not always eliminate the need to use the bridges.
The hotel prices will be higher due to Easter. while the train station is about a half hour walk to san marco you can always buy vaporetto tickets or a 12 hour pass.. don't miss out on a ride along the grand canal.
If you want to stay closer to Piazza San Marco but not in the most crowded area, look at hotels near the opera house. I stayed at the Duodo Palace Hotel and found it to be comfortable, it has its own dock on the canal side, and is on a small side street, but is close enough to walk to Piazza San Marco and other sites.
you may want to consider staying near the train station. You are only staying one night and you will need to travel from the airport and then the next day travel to the train station. Venice has lots of little bridges. It can be a struggle getting bags up and down steps while contending with tourists. Unless a hotel has a private dock, taking a water taxi from the airport, while expensive, will not always eliminate the need to use the bridges.
The hotel prices will be higher due to Easter. while the train station is about a half hour walk to san marco you can always buy vaporetto tickets or a 12 hour pass.. don't miss out on a ride along the grand canal.
If you want to stay closer to Piazza San Marco but not in the most crowded area, look at hotels near the opera house. I stayed at the Duodo Palace Hotel and found it to be comfortable, it has its own dock on the canal side, and is on a small side street, but is close enough to walk to Piazza San Marco and other sites.
Jan 10th, 2016, 12:23 PM
#89
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Are you referring to the Santa Lucia train station? I believe the other train station (mestre?) is a distance from San Marco?
You're right, we will only spend one full day (Easter Sunday) and the following morning in Venice, then we are taking a train to Rome. Doesn't make sense to schlep our luggage all over Venice for just one night.
I'll take a look at the hotel you suggested, Duodo Palace.
You're right, we will only spend one full day (Easter Sunday) and the following morning in Venice, then we are taking a train to Rome. Doesn't make sense to schlep our luggage all over Venice for just one night.
I'll take a look at the hotel you suggested, Duodo Palace.
Jan 11th, 2016, 11:59 AM
#90
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Unfortunately Duodo Palace is fully booked.
We will only stay one night in Venice and are trying to find a hotel near the Santa Lucia train station as it'll be easier to catch our scheduled train easily the next day.
Any suggestions? I've looked at hotels.com and the hotels directly near the train station don't look very appealing.
We thought that by staying near the train station we could stash our stuff there after check out and roam around a bit more before heading to Rome.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Looked at booking.com also....same as hotels.com.
We will only stay one night in Venice and are trying to find a hotel near the Santa Lucia train station as it'll be easier to catch our scheduled train easily the next day.
Any suggestions? I've looked at hotels.com and the hotels directly near the train station don't look very appealing.
We thought that by staying near the train station we could stash our stuff there after check out and roam around a bit more before heading to Rome.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Looked at booking.com also....same as hotels.com.
Jan 11th, 2016, 12:50 PM
#91
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I've stayed at the Hotel Principe which is about 5 minutes flat walk from VSL and no bridges to cross.
http://www.hotelprincipevenice.it/ve...ice-italy.html
http://www.hotelprincipevenice.it/ve...ice-italy.html
Jan 11th, 2016, 03:50 PM
#93
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The Hotel Principe looks amazing....however, it'll cost between 500 - 800 euros for the 4 of us. WOW! Way way out of my budget.
I didn't check the Duodo directly, will take a look now.
Thanks again!
I didn't check the Duodo directly, will take a look now.
Thanks again!
Jan 11th, 2016, 08:06 PM
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Oh my goodness Judy that's expensive - they have cheaper back rooms but I guess you checked them too. Wow I can't believe that price. I also stay at a Hotel near San Marco which is around the corner from a vaporetto stop and may be cheaper. I know the station is your preference but it is actually easy to get luggage on and off the vaporettos - they have a big bag storage area just right by where you board. This is the hotel
http://www.hoteldopozzi.it/
http://www.hoteldopozzi.it/
Jan 12th, 2016, 02:37 AM
#98
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I was also looking at Santa Croce since it looks like it's near the train station.
It appears to be really difficult to find something nice near the train station - I think because it is Easter Sunday. There was one really nice hotel that was reasonably priced (Amadeus I think?) that was available Easter Sunday night....but they don't accept one-night stays and we leave for Rome the next day.
It appears to be really difficult to find something nice near the train station - I think because it is Easter Sunday. There was one really nice hotel that was reasonably priced (Amadeus I think?) that was available Easter Sunday night....but they don't accept one-night stays and we leave for Rome the next day.
Jan 12th, 2016, 02:42 AM
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Blueyedcod - I read (somewhere) that it's a real hassle getting luggage on and off water taxis/vaporettos....that's what is steering me toward a location near the SL train station. But....if that's just urban myth, I'd gladly look elsewhere. Slim pickings near the train station.
We will arrive, jet-lagged from Philadelphia, at 9am Easter Sunday, I think 2 hours later we'll arrive in Venice, so the last thing I want to do is drag my luggage around on/off boats. Especially since we only have that day and the next morning to explore.
Will take a look at the hotel you mentioned, thanks!
We will arrive, jet-lagged from Philadelphia, at 9am Easter Sunday, I think 2 hours later we'll arrive in Venice, so the last thing I want to do is drag my luggage around on/off boats. Especially since we only have that day and the next morning to explore.
Will take a look at the hotel you mentioned, thanks!
Jan 12th, 2016, 02:51 AM
#100
there arn't many rooms near the station as far as I remember.
Bags on and off boats. It depends, there is very little chop, normally people help you (and you can ask anyone and smile if you are frail) and if you are thinking of taking luggage you cannot lift, don't. Not only is there little chop, there is also no tidal action so the boats stay very flat, dock side on and bags just need lifting from the floor of the boat to the surface of Venice (2" at most"). Urban myth as far as I'm concerned.
There used to be porters near the station area who move everything about Venice (I forget the name of this service) but if you really have too much then paying for it to be delivered is a possibility.
Bags on and off boats. It depends, there is very little chop, normally people help you (and you can ask anyone and smile if you are frail) and if you are thinking of taking luggage you cannot lift, don't. Not only is there little chop, there is also no tidal action so the boats stay very flat, dock side on and bags just need lifting from the floor of the boat to the surface of Venice (2" at most"). Urban myth as far as I'm concerned.
There used to be porters near the station area who move everything about Venice (I forget the name of this service) but if you really have too much then paying for it to be delivered is a possibility.
