Ok, I've written two trip reports now and everytime I "post my message", it gets lost. What am I doing wrong. help

It's too long. Post part of it, break it into pieces by replying.

Thanks, I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Just got back from 3 weeks in Italy and really wanted to share my wonderful experiences with everyone. Got such great help from this board, I wanted to be able to help, if I could in return. We visited Varenna, Venice, Rome, Sorrento, Orvieto, Siena, Florence, Manarola and Milan. I will try that report in short form, probably just listing the great hotels, restaurants, etc. Also some tips on packing!! and advice on train travel. Unfortunately, I'm leaving for the weekend, so it will have to be Monday. Thanks again, Barb

for packing try these plastic bags(they come in various sizes) called space bags you attach your vacuum cleaner hose to it and it sucks all the excess air out.... I have taken these bags with me whenever I travel... the hotels are pretty good about letting you use there vacuum when you leave ..so you have more room for the things you buy..

Ok, the third time should succeed. I had a wonderful 3 week trip to Italy. I flew into Milan and took the train to Varenna for 2 nights. Wonderful place to get over jet lag. Hotel Oliveda was great and the restaurant there was very good. Venice next for two days. Stayed at Hotel Guerrato, just over the Rialto Bridge. Room was great for a short stay (bathroom down the hall). Best restaurant, Trattoria Al Cugnai, by Accademia, sisters who run it are very entertaining. Trattoria Madonna - locals line up to get in and it is worth it. Had a drink at Florians and listened to dueling bands, highly recommend it. Train to Rome. Stayed at Pantheon View B&B. Wonderful location, stones throw from Pantheon, when I stay there again, I will request Room 1, little balcony with shrubs and statues, lovely. Really enjoyed our stay there. Best restaurants L'Arcano, near Trevi & Navona Notte, just off P. Navona. LOVE ROME!! Only there for 3 days, next time, a week. On the train again to Sorrento. What a change of pace. Stayed at La Minervetta, which I highly recommend, view was spectacular and the food there was the best. We ate there every night it was so good. Went to Pompei, Capri, Positano from Sorrento. Could spend a week here too. Back on the train to Orvieto. Stayed at Hotel Posta, very old and elegant I'm sure in its day. Big bathroom. Ate at La Taverna Dell 'Etrusco - great pizza. Went to Civita Di Bagnoregia, a hike to get to the town, but really worth it. Train to Siena. Stayed at Hotel D'Oro. lots of stairs. Good location and helpful staff. Taverna di Guissipe, so good, Hosteria Il Corroccio, locals eat here - very good, and the best of the whole trip, Osteria Le Logge, food to die for. I think I will break here - more to come.

I will arrive in Venice 12/28 for 3 days. Then 4 in Rome, 2 in Florence (maybe Sienna), then 1 back in Venice. Any tips on attractions/restaurants, train travel, and especially castles, or vinyards in Tuscany? Thanks!

From Siena we wanted to see some hill towns, but because of difficulty making bus connections, we just went to San Gim. So glad we did, such a charming town. I think I will stay here for a night next time. Off again, to Florence. Stayed at Hotel Nuova Italia, run by a Canadia woman. LOTS of stairs, but very nice room. Ate at Trattoria Antellesi - the best veal and porcini, yum. The hotel is one block from a great market. On to our last destination. Cinque Terre, Manarola. This was a such a good place to stay at the end of a trip. Nothing to do but hike, sun, eat and drink. Next time I think I would stay in Rio Maggiore or Vernazza. Manarola was small, but beautiful, pastel buildings tumbling down to the azure blue water. We ate at Marina Piccolo, the best fresh seafood!! and at Bar Aristide, upstairs in the restaurant. Again, seafood was wonderful, the fresh anchovies are delicious. I think I could stay here for a month!! We stayed in a small apt. at the Da Baranin. Be prepared for a walk up a very steep hill, steps up to the apt from the street, then more steps to get to the apt., but when you throw open the shutters and see the sparkling blue water, ah, it's worth it. Back to Milan, to fly out early in the a.m. Stayed at Hotel Speronari, lots of stairs, small room, small bathroom, shower curtain sticks to your body, and not very friendly early morning desk clerk, but the location was perfect, block from Duomo. So. . . . hints & tips: Next installment

Ok, the most important hint, especially if you are traveling by public transporation, PACK LIGHT!! Not kidding. It was exhausting dragging our bags (I thought I had packed light) on and off trains, buses, funiculars, up and down a million stairs (no elevators in Italy), and running to catch a taxi. Seriously, no one cares if you wear the same thing 4x a week. Take one good guidebook - Rick Steve's was my bible, sorry Fodors. If you stay in hotels in the cities, take ear plugs. Every one we stayed at was very noisy at night and early morning. Bring your own washcloth if you must have one - they don't in Italy. Try not to take the rudness of train/bus/travel info people personally. I love the Italian people and these people do not represent the majority. If staying in Tuscany, rent a car. We were hesitant about driving - for good reason in the cities, but out in the countryside, I think we would have been fine and it enables you to visit all the wonderful little hill towns, wineries, farms, etc. Next time, I will just make sure to take someone along who likes to drive. And lastly find out of the way eateries, go down side streets, look for places locals go, or just ask. Try to speak Italian, even if it's just a little. <BR>Do your research before you leave home, it really pays off. <BR>Hope this wasn't too long. I didn't even talk about all the awesome sights we saw. Anyone need specifics about hotels, restaurants, I would be glad to help.

Jon: The biggies in Venice: Piazza San Marco, St. Marks, Doges Palace - go up the clocktower - great photo op. Accademia and the Guggenheim. Harry's Bar is fun for just a drink. Try Trattoria Madonna for really good food, go across the Rialto Bridge, walk one block away from the market and you will see it. Rome, so much to see, but don't miss Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, St. Peter's and the Vatican. Fun to sit on the Spanish Steps and eat roasted chestnuts. Loved the Navona Notte to eat, just one short block off Piazza Navona, on a side street, can't remember the address, I will look it up for you. I would stay in Siena and day trip to Florence. I loved Siena. In Florence you have to see David at the Accademia and the Uffizi. An unexpected wonderful surprise was the Pitti Palace. Hope this helps.

Dear Barb, <BR> <BR>I am so glad you liked Osteria le Logge. My daughter was doing a study abroad and didn't want to come home this past summer so she got a job working there and loved it. I have to tell her that "her restaurant" was recommended! <BR>Welcome back. Glad you had a great time. <BR> <BR>Denise <BR> <BR>

Denise: <BR> <BR>We just stumbled on the Osteria Le Logge, actually we smelled the wonderful aromas before we even saw it. It really was the best meal of the trip. I had a salad with fresh porcini, shaved parmisan and pine nuts, a kind of spinach souffle and the best lamb chops with roasted garlic and potatoes. The portions were good too. Very warm and friendly atmosphere. We had to have reseravations and the earliest we could in was 9:30, but worth the wait.

Dear Barb, sounds like you did have a great trip with a nice mix of cities & countryside. I'm jealous. I've been dreaming of being back in Italy for the last several nights. Thanks for a great trip report!

Dayle: I too have been sitting thinking about going back. I put so much energy into planning the trip that I am now feeling a bit at odds with myself. I really want to focus on spending more time in fewer places, but how do you choose which ones. I'm thinking maybe Tuscany for a week, Rome for a week and then either Sorrento or Cinque Terre for a week. I'm probably going to go late Sept. early Oct. of 2003, but I'm not sure I can wait that long.

hey everyone - looking to go to milan and the lakes region for a week in mid-november, is that too late in the year? i hear the rainy season begins soon and i know the tourist season is over and i'd hate to go if nothing was open. thanks for your help...

Barb, would you please, tell me some more about Da Baranin in Monarola? How were the rooms? Did they have private bathrooms? Did they have any caracter? How was the stuff of the hotel and why will you choose to stay in Riom. or Monterosso next time? Oh, and what was the price for your room? <BR>Thanks a lot, <BR>Sana.

Pat - you might want to post your question on a thread of its own, so that it draws the attention of those who have been to that region of Italy. Just a suggestion.

Thanks to Barb for taking me through Italy. I very much want to go and have begun saving so I can do so. I am hoping for Spring 2003...hope I can wait that long!!

Sana: <BR> <BR>The little apt in Manarola was very nice. A good size bathroom with a shower stall, not just a curtain and fairly good light. The kitchen was all tiled and quite beautiful. The best thing was the view. The worst thing was the climb to get there and that's probably why I would stay elsewhere. Also, the town is very small and not too many choices of places to eat or shop. I think we paid 160.000L a night, which was so reasonable. The people there spoke good english and were very helpful and friendly. They even checked train schedules for us and printed it out. I really loved Rio Maggiore for the tiny little harbor and a wonderful little restaurant right at the end for fabulous bruschetta and Vernazza's harbor was, out of a movie beautiful. There is a little room with a balcony just overlooking the tiny harbor in Rio M. (I drew directions of where it is) and I am going to find out more about it and also a tiny little cottage on the cliffside just down the path from where the elevator lets you off up the hill by the church. Loved the Cinque Terre so much.