Italy trip questions

Old Apr 5th, 2009, 03:38 AM
  #21  
 
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If you really want to do the drive from Rome to Venice, I would suggest finding an agriturismo in a rural area not far from the highway for your mid-way point. That way you will avoid having to navigate in and out of a confusing town, only to have to park, eat and sleep.

Once you decide upon a route, those who know the region can suggest likely stopping points. You could arrange in advance with your hosts to have dinner cooked for you at the farmhouse..I think it would be a lovely experience.


Verona, to answer your question above, is lovely. But I would not suggest it for just a quick overnight since you will have little time to explore.
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Old Apr 5th, 2009, 05:52 AM
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I don t get it about the Roma pass.

The Roma pass is a museum pass, with 3 days travel on bus and metro included.

From what I can see, the only places you are planning to visit at present that accept the Roma pass are the Colosseum and Palatine (Colosseum, Palatine and Forum are 1 tkt nowadays)

It wd actually be cheaper to buy a 3 day bus pass (11 E) and a tkt (10 E, I think) for the Colosseum, Palatine (and Forum, which you WILL want to see, trust me!!)

PS: Totally agree with other poster about Porta Portese mkt -- it is no big deal. Unhappy-looking folks, mostly immigrants, selling ratty fur coats for 10 E + the usual contraband Rolexes. The open stalls, the hand-letterd signs and the backdrop of scrap-metal shacks made me think at once of West Africa -- we could have been in Senegal or Ghana!
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Old Apr 5th, 2009, 05:55 AM
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I just noticed the Borghese is on your list so yes, the Roma pass IS cheaper.
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Old Apr 5th, 2009, 06:54 AM
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>>>>Could we buy the Amica fare ....
Trenitalia has changed the fare system. Some trains have Amica, some trans have Smart Price.
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Old Apr 5th, 2009, 04:06 PM
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I am trying to find out discount fares on Trenitalia's system & not having much luck. I can see the standard fares but when I try Amica, it does not show me any Amica fares available for any of my sectors. I am also trying to find out the 60% off Super fare from Rome to Venice on June 2nd, the website says it is valid on:
- ES* Fast: from Rome to Venice Mestre/S.Lucia, Padova, Verona, Genoa , Rimini, Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Lamezia T., Reggio C., Villa S. Giovanni and return.
But I cannot figure out how to get the Super fare, I am not seeing that as a drop down option for any of the trains. One of the trains I was checking is the ES* 9470 departing 10.50 from Rome.
Can anyone help me with finding out how I could get a price for the Super Fare or why it would not be available? Thanks, I have spent over an hour on the website & am quite frustrated!
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Old Apr 5th, 2009, 04:42 PM
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we hired a car service from italytravelservices.com Highly recommend. They can do all the driving while your family enjoys the countryside. Affordable. From America so they speak good English. They will create a tour just for you.
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Old Apr 6th, 2009, 11:24 AM
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Trenitalia just changed their website about a week ago and might not have all the new fares properly loaded yet. Usually, if a fare is not showing in the drop down box, it's not available.
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Old Apr 6th, 2009, 02:55 PM
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Yeah, I was checking today for round trip options Milan-Nice and the website showed me outbound train options but would not allow me to choose a train....let alone choose a fare option, LOL!! I never did get past Step One in tkt purchase!!
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Old Apr 7th, 2009, 04:40 PM
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Ok, so back to planning! I need to decide where we are staying for the one might en route from Rome to Venice. Different options are Siena, Montepulciano, lamole, Pienza. All these and many other places have been recommended by Fodorites. We are looking for something not too far out of the main route since time is short. We like scenic areas, towns/hotels on a hill with a view, even for one night! It would be great if the town were a little lively, if people were out & about in the evening & there were some shops, restaurants etc. Several wineries in the Chianti have winery tours & tastings that can be done in 2 hours so that would be a plus. Moat have a late afternoon or morning option.
So please help me find a town & suitable hotel. We are not looking for a city but not a very rustic town either.
One option is L 'Osteria Il Mulino of Quercegrossa. I am not sure it would be worth going there to stay for only one night, just happened to come across a trip report here with a favorable review.
I am relying on Fodorites more experienced with this part of Italy to help out. (Even though I know I will get some flak for wanting to make that overnight stop)! Thanks again everyone for all the suggestions and advice so far.
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Old Apr 7th, 2009, 04:53 PM
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I think you are really making a mistake to try to rent a car out of rome with 8 people and have a fun time getting to Venice. You are getting very good advice to take the train. It is not good advice to go to Ravenna. It's a lovely town but it is not what you are looking for.

I suggest that you all take the train to Florence and book yourselves into a nice Tuscan agriturismo/winery or hotel in FIESOLE. You can all take taxis up there. If you want to stay in a villa that makes olive oil and wine, here is a good choice:

http://www.fattoriadimaiano.com/en/apartments/

If you want a nice town to walk around, you can check out hotels in Fiesole on Tripadvisor.

People who want more can take a short bus ride into Florence. The next day, all of you should catch a train after lunch to Venezia and arrive by sunset.

You are seriously underestimating how long it will take you to get out of Rome traffic and find your way around Chianti or someplace else, plus park, especially if you are driving a van. It's hard to have both a cute town and an easy place to park.

Staying in Fiesole will allow your big group a lot of flexibility in people going there own way.
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Old Apr 7th, 2009, 06:39 PM
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Since everyone was so against renting a car, we were thinking of maybe taking the bus from Rome to Siena & then taking a taxi or bus to our destination or maybe staying in Siena. The other family may want to spend the night in Florence since they are more big-town kind of people.The next day we could take the train to Venice or drive out of Siena, stop somewhere for lunch & then head to Venice.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 06:57 AM
  #32  
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Any opinions on the above?

As for our Rome itinerary, here is the tweaked version.
Arrive 5/29. After some rest, walk around the area, go to the Trevi Fountain
in the evening
Sat,5/30 - Ancient Rome - Pantheon, Colosseum, Palatine Hill
Not sure about the Forum, will see how much energy a we have left!
Sun 5/31 - Morning- check out Trastavere area, (no flea
market) have lunch in Trastavere
Afternoon -Spanish Steps, Borgese Gallery at 3pm,
Walk around Gardens after.
Mon 6/1 - Vatican, St Peters. The Vatican website is not
showing a 10am tour on Monday so will have to do
the 2pm. I am a little nervous about leaving that for the last day.

Would it be better to switch our Saturday itinerary with Mondays?
Which would be the best place to buy the Roma pass on Friday besides the airport?We will not need it on Friday but would like to have it when we start on Sat in case we want to take the bus anywhere.

For my son, how does he get to the station at the airport & buy his ticket to Trastavere? From Trastavere, would it be easier for him to walk with a roll-on bag or take the tram? How far would it be from the Via Arenula stop to the Monte di Pieta apt & what would be the best way to get there? He is a little nervous about his first solo venture in a foreign country so just want to give him detailed directions! Thanks.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 07:28 AM
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In 2007 we rented a 9 passenger van (for 7 people) and drove out of Rome and all over Tuscany, and finally down to the Amalfi Coast before turning in the car. We had a GPS and driving out of Rome was not bad at all - we taxi'd to our pick up location which was close to the A1 I think. I totally understand the desire to drive for a portion of the trip to see Tuscany. We are going back this summer and again are going to drive out of Rome to Umbria where we'll keep the car for a week. Turn it in in Bologna, and then train from there to Venice / Lake Como.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 07:51 AM
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There are quite a few van tours/wine tastings out of Florence. Bet you could find one to accommodate all of you AND you can drink wine all day. Search this site for some reviews and the internet for possibilities.

You might be able to do the same out of Venice. Maybe simply go to Venice and do day trips from there. Rent the car/van or take trains/busses to Verona, Padua or Vincenzo.

The big Trastevere church is open daily isn't it? It might be closed for siesta time though.

Just remember, everything you want to do in your travels has been done so just be excited and not confused.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 08:09 AM
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PSGMARTINO Thank you, thank you, thank you for understanding! I have been feeling that I have no choice but to give up this plan to drive since if people who have more experience than me, are so dead against it, they must know something that I am not taking into account! Would the 9 passenger van you rented fit 8? I know it was a while ago but do you remember who you rented from?
TDudette, thanks for the reassurance, I had read somewhere that the church was only open of Sundays but I guess I was wrong, but we are planning to visit on Sunday anyway.
We are more interested in the winery tours than wine tasting, with 4 young adults, two of whom are under the legal drinking age in the US but not in italy I believe, I don't want to spend too much time doing that!
Since our apt/hotel reservations in Rome & Venice are all set, I do have to find a place to spend a night on the way. It might be a good idea to rent the car/van in Rome & return it to Florence/Bologna within 24 hours so we do not have to pay for 2 days, & then to take the train to Venice suggested.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 08:18 AM
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The only way you will fit 8 people into a 9-passenger van is if you're all carrying just a backpack and a handbag. I've rented 7-passenger vans on more than one occasion and could never get more than 4-5 people in them, because someone, or several people, always had WAY too much luggage. Just something to consider.

Personally, I wouldn't touch the notion of driving a 9-passenger van into Tuscany, anyway, and I've been driving all kinds of vehicles in Europe for 30 years. They are BIG vehicles, far bigger than most on the roads in Italy. Have you seen the recent Mercedes ads set in Italy? Can you imagine driving up those cobblestone alleyways in a 9-passenger van in some Tuscan hill town? Finding parking? Well, it would be an adventure, that's for sure.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 08:19 AM
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The forum is really part of the Palatine Hill, Colosseum complex, so it would be really a mistake and strange to miss it.

If your son wants to take the local train from the airport to Trastevere, he just needs to follow the signs in the airport to the train station. He can buy the tickets at a ticket machine in the train station. Instructions are in a variety of languages. He can use a credit card. Re how to walk to your rental apartment from the #8 tram stop, I would get a good map. He is definitely going to want to take the tram from the Trastevere train station rather than walk.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 09:13 AM
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There's a legal drinking age in Italy? I thought it was birth.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 09:33 AM
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I agree with artsbabe that you will want your son to have a good map to get from the tram stop to the apartment. If you zoom in to the most detailed map on the apartment web site you will see the Ponte Garibaldi and Via Arenula in relation to the apartment, but that map does not have all the street names.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 10:10 AM
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I agree with Zeppole. Take the train to Florence where everyone will enjoy. I understand your worries and trying to coordinate for 8 people but riding the train will be relaxing instead of a potential nightmare of driving. I have driven from Rome and it takes longer than you think to get out of town. And the warning about driving in the hill towns is also valid. It can be great fun but also hair raising. And you just don't have enough time. You mentioned that your DH is not that interested in driving and now you are thinking of saddling him with an 8 person van???
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