Italy trip for 4 - advice needed.
 

My wife and I and another couple we know are heading to Italy the first week of October. We will be there for around 10 days and I need advice on several things. I have been to Italy once myself and skimmed the surface of a lot of places (Florence, Siena, Pisa, Cinque Terre, and Turin) but the other 3 have never been to Europe.

1) Airfare - It might be more beneficial for us to fly into the north and out of Rome (or vice versa), but when I checked one way tickets, they were more expensive than round-trip fare to Rome.

2) Itinerary - We don't want to stretch ourselves too thin, but we need to maximize our potential. Rome is a must for us and we would like to visit Tuscany and possibly Cinque Terre.

3) Lodging - Budget is our primary concern here. We are fine with sharing a room as long as all 4 of us have a bed (2 double beds or 1 double and 2 singles)

4) Budget - How much should we expect to spend per person or per couple on this trip, including airfare? We don't have our minds set on a luxurious trip, so if we sacrifice a little comfort or convenience to save money, we will try to balance that out.

Hello zskid)), no need to buy one ways tickets. When you go on the various airline websites check out their MultiCity or Open Jaw tickets. That allows you to fly into one airport and depart from another airport. For example, into Malpensa or Venice and depature from Rome. I will leave it up to more recent budget travellers to Italy to advise you about lodging and your daily expense. Best regards.

Go to www.kayak.com and select the multi-city option. I would select Pisa as your entry--Delta has 3 flights weekly direct from JFK--and home from Rome. The price will be about the same as RT. Set timing and itinerary first, then worry about hotels.

You really need to state a $ or € amount before we can suggest lodging.

Flights really depend on your departure hub. Pisa can be costly from most areas. I've found good prices to Bologna lately, but you should also try Florence, or just round trip to Rome if you are only planning Tuscany and Rome.

Hi zs,

As noted, you look for the multi-city fares.

With the time you have, I suggest
fly into Venice - 3 nights
train to Florence - 2 nights
train to Rome - 4 nights
fly home.

Train schedules are at
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

For air fare try www.kayak.com, www.1800flyeurope.com,
http://www.flycheapabroad.com/default.aspx

With two couples, I think that 2 dbls will be a lot easier on you than a quad room.

As for cost - where do you stay, eat, etc when you travel in the US?

((I))

Hello zskid,

Like you I am a bit of a budget traveller and prefer to spend less on accommodation in order to spend a little more on personal tours etc. I have used www.homelidays.com on a number of different occasions and have always managed to find a bargain apartment. I love to stay in apartments as you can have your own breakfast and make a packed lunch before you go and then you are free to have lunch wherever it pleases you. I always have a nice dinner out.

There are many apartment sites on the web but the one mentioned above seems to have more budget apartments than most.

I too suggest an apartment over hotel rooms.
You really feel more like a local and can go to their grocery stores and buy food. Its alot of fun to go up and down the aisle trying to figure out what stuff is.

Other considerations:

October is getting late in the season for the Cinque Terre. If you do it, do it first. Maybe training from Pisa airport?

You don't mention renting a car. To see Tuscany, a car is best. Have you allowed for car rental in your budget? It's relatively expensive in Italy, especially if you require an automatic.

I like apartments and villas also, but maybe not for first-timers. However, it will be very difficult to find hotel rooms for 4 adults. Better 2 doubles. There are budget options, like convent stays.

I recommend 5 days Rome and 5 days in southern Tuscany. Rent apartments in each location, allowing more space and a kitchen (saves eating out every meal and money).

Here is a wonderful place to stay in southern Tuscany, located just 2-3km from Pienza in the heart of the Val d'Orcia-

http://fontebertusi.it/eng/

Take the train from Rome to either Orvieto or Chiusi and rent your car there. Rent your car through-

http://www.autoeurope.com/index.cfm

Also, consider this-

Depending on flight arrival time, if in the morning, fly into Rome, pick up car at Rome airport and drive to southern Tuscany. Stay 5 days, then return the car in Chiusi or Orvietto and take the train to Rome for your final 5 days.

Thank you all for the advice so far. I checked Kayak and thank you to whoever mentioned flying into Pisa. Tickets from Columbus, Ohio to Pisa on 10/3 then out of Rome on 10/14 are running $890. That's with 2 stops.

We will not be renting a car unless absolutely necessary. I think it would be too expensive for our budget and I don't know that any of us would be comfortable driving around Italy.

As far as budget, I am hoping to get by on $100 per day, per person including lodging, meals, and train/bus fare. How reasonable would it be to get lodging for less than $200 per night for the 4 of us? Two double beds would be fine with hotel rooms, but all the ones I have checked charge you extra for the 3rd and 4th person.

Should we simplify our itinerary and skip Cinque Terre that time of year (early October)?

From recommendations on these boards we stayed at http://www.hotelcasci.com/ in Florence - you need to make sure you get a decent room. It is very clean, good location, cheap, good breakfast - Owner managers are very nice and super helpful. THe place is NOT fancy at all not so if that is what you want this is not the place for you.
I would go back in a minute

Two double beds in one room is an unusual arrangement in Italy. Most rooms are set up for two people. Adding one bed usually makes the room quite crowded. You should search for "Family" rooms if you want to fit four people. You may also find it challenging for four adults to share one small bathroom.

So what do you want to see and where do you want to go in Tuscany without a car? Most of the little hill towns don't have train service. Siena does, Lucca and Pisa do. Otherwise, it's the bus, which won't necessarily be at convenient times.

Family rooms might have a sofa bed. Or room for a couple rollaway beds. And a small bathroom. Apartments at that price would probably be the same but with a little more room.

That's a very low budget - only 74€ per person per day. I have a list of budget accommodations, if you decide which cities. One is in Siena (75€ for a double or 110€ for a quad) a five minute walk from the Duomo.

I gotta go with zoecat on the two apartments 5 days each. You'll spend so much time packing up and moving from destination to destination otherwise. Even if you choose different locales than suggested, but especially if you are trying to save money. It's so nice to come back to the same room day after day and the groceries are going to be less expensive than eating out. And grocery shopping is a cultural experience in itself.
On the other hand, I like Ira's itinerary.
In case it comes up for consideration it's been noted that flight times out of Venice tend to be early, like 0600. Doable from most cities, awkward from Venice.