Italy Must NOT See/Eat's
 

Venice,CinqueTerre,Rome,& Amalfi..

What were a waste of time and/or money?
Things to avoid.

Avoid any place offering a "tourist menu." Sometimes they're good, but some of them think they can get away with bad food because tourists don't know any better.

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

beginningwithi.com

Hi JandaO :) when in Rome personally i didn't find much to not vist but i can say i was REALLY upset by the Spanish Steps :( it is as it's name suggests "STEPS" !!! this was the first place we "hit" when we went to Rome but i can "Honestly" say nothing else was a "no visit" suggestion :)
Have a great trip
XxEm

wow--i don't think i would reccommend ANY 'Don't Visits' in Rome. If you stay in the city center, you'll be fine. I wouldn't reccommend, say, traveling out to the suburbs or EUR, however even that might be a neat experience, if you like fascist archiecture.

i agree about tourist menus, though.

Watched an Everybody Loves Raymond repeat the other night. Part I of the family trip to Italy (one of my favorites). Raymond had the same impression of the Spanish Steps as em and disgustedly asked, "Where's the Spanish elevator?"

Seriously em what in the world did you expect? Did you walk to the top and enjoy the view? Did you go into the French church at the top? Steps--what else could they be but steps????

JandaO--We love Rome and know it best, but as wonderful as it is, some tackiness has sneaked in. Don't imagine you'll want to take pictures with the "gladiators" at the colliseum (and pay them for the privilege). I doubt you'll be interested in buying roses or toys foisted on you while you're sitting at an outside cafe, or the knock-off purses spread out on blankets at some of the tourist sites.

As far as what not to see, we've found everything we've seen in Venice, Rome and the Amalfi Coast rewarding, whether it be a specific church, museum, historic site, or just walking around enjoying the feel of each place. We've not yet visited CQ.

Sorry, in rereading my post I don't think you'll find it much help.

Hi JO,

It would be easier of you told us your plans and we could see if you were making any big mistakes.

I suggest not visiting the sewage treatment plant in Venice.

Hope this helps.

((I))

Thank you everyone for your response. I have been to Italy before and I just want to avoid any known rip offs I may not have heard of.

Here is the plan..

19 Sept tue 1pm flight to Amsterdam
20 Sept wed arrive Amsterdam 8am
21 Sept thur Amsterdam
22 Sept fri Amsterdam
23 Sept sat Amsterdam
24 Sept sun 3pm train to Venice
25 Sept mon Arrive Venice 12 noon
26 Sept tue…. Venice
27 Sept wed… Venice
28 Sept thur train to Cinque Terre
29 Sept fri … Cinque Terre
30 Sept sat Cinque Terre
1 Sept sun Cinque Terre
2 Oct mon train to Sorrento
3 Oct tue.. Sorrento (rental car)
4 Oct wed Sorrento (rental car)
5 Oct thur Sorrento (rental car)
6 Oct fri train to Rome
7 Oct sat Rome
8 Oct sun Rome
9. Oct mon Rome
10 Oct tue Depart Rome 6:20AM

So far I have:
Plane tickets
Houseboat/apartments rented.
Car rented
Tours scheduled

I will wait until I get to Amsterdam to get overnight train ticket to Venice. I did that before and it worked out well.
I want this to be a great trip for my sister as it is her first time to Europe.

hi again !! Giovanna your post made me laugh :) ..yes i walked to the top of the "Steps" and yes i "looked" at the view ;) no i didn't go in the church ..IT WAS SHUT !!! (would have though:) )as for what i expected hmm....hard one that but maybe something a bit more than people trying to grab my wrist to put on "knotted" string bracelets !!! and a better Fountain at the base (hope i don't offend anyone by this but it is pretty rubbish :) )
as for the Gladiators ... i walked miles to get away from them !! couldn't believe they hang around the Pantheon as well :( (it makes it all VERY Tacky)... Rome is not a place of "not see's" it's more a place of "must see's" (still reckon the steps are overated ;) )
XxEm

Other than tartufo at Tre Scalini, don't eat anything in Piazza Navona.

There is a restaurant in Venice, highly touted as a good budget choice, run by a very old woman with one tooth. People will say to go there. Don't. She was nasty and abusive, there is no menu (she'll rattle off a couple of choices in Italian, and be really POed if you are unclear on anything) and will refuse to bring you anything extra you might ask for, such as lemon. The price isn't as low as guidebooks would have you believe. I'll see if I can find the name. Email me at [email protected] if you want me to look.

In Rome, taxi drivers may try to cheat you. If you are getting into a taxi at Termini, ask for the approximate fare. If it isn't what your hotel has told you to expect, don't get in that taxi.

I personally think the bus service on the Amalfi coast is pretty awful. Waits can be outrageous, busses crowded, and the stopping and starting on the twisty roads made me ill. Try a taxi or driver, and if boats are running, I think they are the best option.

Are you flying into or out of Venice? There are vans at the boat landing that ask an outrageous amount of money to take you and your luggage the short but uphill walk to the airport. Drag the luggage; it aint that far.

Sorry to sound pedantic. These are lesson learned over time, and I hope sharing them helps you enjoy your trip.

Spanish Steps: as steps go, I love 'em. Seriously, I wouldn't visit Rome and not visit the SS. The views, the people, the atmosphere are all well worth the visit, IMO.

There is a new shuttle between the airport and the dock in Venice. I think the cost is 1 Euro.

Well for me personally I had no interest in a gondola ride in Venice. The vaporetto on the Grand Canal suited us just as well.

I think Eloise means the shuttle between the airport terminal and the dock at the airport is 1 euro, not to the dock in Venice itself.

Hmmm. Guess that last post comes out wrong. Eloise I realize you meant that. It was just that it could have been interpreted the other way!

Eloise, that is good to know. When we arrived at the airport before 6 am, there was no shuttle. Maybe it was too early, or perhaps they weren't up and running in March? Anyway, it is good that there is such a shuttle. The van drivers all hovering at the dock wanted 20 Euros to take us up to the airport. We had kind of scrimped in order to afford the taxi boat at such an early hour, and I was averse to 20 E for such a short distance, after about 100 USD for the ride to the airport.

Hi

It depends on how much time you have. I don't think that Spansih steps in Rome is a must see if you are short on time but if you have enough days there you can of course stop by it :d Also remember that if you are eating on e.g. Piazza navona itself you are paying a bit just for the view. Better to go a bit away from the piazza to find a place to eat. Here is my trip report from Rome with links and pictures and also reviews of places we ate at: http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Yes, I meant the shuttle at the airport, from the airport to the boat dock that serves the airport.

Tuscanlifeedit, I don't know what the shuttle's hours are, but it has only very recently been put into service. It was definitely not in service in March.

Back to the Venice airport issue. This June was the first time I've ever used the Venice airport. But the alliguna to the airport arrives at what appear to be brand new docks. Someone I chatted with confirmed that these docks are in a different location than the old ones. We got off the boat and pulled our luggage about 5 or maybe 10 minutes along a paved and mostly covered walkway. I can't imagine why anyone would be looking for a shuttle to do this unless they had a huge load of luggage.

The source of the shuttle information, a Venetian, also mentioned that the docks were receiving new wooden decks and that the shuttle takes only two minutes.

I believe - this I am not entirely certain of - that the distance is approximately 500 meters.

Some people who have mobility problems would certainly welcome the shuttle service.

Hi J,

Do you have a particular reason for having a car in Sorrento?

((I))

ira,
We are going to drive the Amalfi and go to Paestum. I have been a passenger in a car on the Amalfi but havent driven it. I think I can do it !!

Hi J,

I have no doubt that you could drive the AC road.

However, you will be there 1st week in Oct, which is the shoulder season.

SITA buses won't be particularly crowded, but the tour buses will still be clogging the road.

It takes as long to drive from Sorrento to Paestum as it does to take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi and the Trenitalia to Paestum.

Have you looked into parking in Sorrento?

((I))

In Rome, you can skip the Time Elevator unless (1) you are traveling with kids, or (2) you know literally nothing about Roman history.

ira,
we are staying at http://www.sorrento.cc/public/resort...-APARTMENT.php
outside of Sorrento. It has parking.

:)

There are numerous parking lots right in Sorrento too, you can find some of them on mappy.com.

Hi Janda,
With regard to the "eats" portion of the question I cannot suggest any places that you should stay away from specifically but I have learned a few things about avoiding bad "eats". I never go into a restaurant with a hawker outside trying to lure you in. Always take a look at the menu, see how "imaginative" the dishes are. The more creative then probably the better. Always look to see if they have specials listed (and I try to order from them), this indicates that the restaurant has some interest in local products that are in season. While you read the menu - sniff. If the restaurant smells good - that too is a good indicator. Stay away from empty places. Ask at your hotel where they would go for lunch (not too fussy on the concierge on this one - I wonder if they don't have an arrangement, but I do ask the doorman and on one occasion I had a great suggestion from my room cleaner). Listen to see if the restaurant guests are speaking the local language. Get the Michelin Guide. Move away from touristy areas. I often leave the tourist area, walk ten minutes up a side street and then start sniffing - follow your nose. But to be fair I have had very few "bad" meals. I have had some run of the mill ones - but at least you are eating it in a foreign country. Cheers.

Stay away from a restaurant in Rome called 'Wanted' near the Cavour Metro.

I had better food in my high school cafeteria

How can you hate Scalinata di Spagna? They lead right to the Via Condotti!!!

I had a blast, once, sitting on the steps talking to a group of Italian teenagers.

IOC: were you smoking with them, too?

I have to agree with the spanish steps not being that impressive. There are tons of scam artists at the top and bottom of the steps. I also think you should be careful of the cabbies in Rome. Had one try to charge me triple!!!! I argued with him and only paid him what I thought the fare should cost. He was mad but he knew that I knew he was trying to cheat me. Tourist menus...ditto...

Donna

I add my voice to watching out for Rome cab drivers. We're New Yorkers and STILL managed to get taken by one on last trip to Rome. Result of carelessness.... we picked up the cab at the station... but NOT at the regular cab stand. Altho, we thought it was becasue there were several cabs lined up. Be sure to get proper directions.

TorontoSteven,
you offer sound advice.
thanks

You are most welcome.