Itenirary Check for Italy in May - Please help
Jan 13th, 2007, 11:58 AM
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Itenirary Check for Italy in May - Please help
Hello all,
Finally, my husband and I have agreed to go to Italy on a very tight budget (and I mean tight!!) But we have to get the bug out of our system! We are in our early 30's and like to take in all we can from each city we are in. So here is the plan:
Fly out of Los Angeles on 5/9 arrive 5/10 in Rome.
* 5 nights at Hotel Sonya near the Opera house.
* 4 nights in Florence at Hotel Maxim near the Duomo. We will take a side trip to Pisa and another day tour into Tuscany.
* 3 nights in Venice at Hotel Albergo Doni 5 minutes from Plaza San Marco.
Return home on 5/22 from Venice to LAX.
We will get a train pass to go from city to city.
We know that the hotels are not much to write home about, but our goal is to be in the center of the city and be able to walk to the sights. I sometime venture out on my own and would like to be close to things and do not plan on being pampered in our hotel, we are going to see things. Any thoughts? I managed to pull this off for about $4400 (hotel, air, train). This leaves us room to enjoy the sights and food.
I know I sound convinced that this is a great plan, but I am open to suggestions!!
TIA! You all have helped so much!!
-k
Finally, my husband and I have agreed to go to Italy on a very tight budget (and I mean tight!!) But we have to get the bug out of our system! We are in our early 30's and like to take in all we can from each city we are in. So here is the plan:
Fly out of Los Angeles on 5/9 arrive 5/10 in Rome.
* 5 nights at Hotel Sonya near the Opera house.
* 4 nights in Florence at Hotel Maxim near the Duomo. We will take a side trip to Pisa and another day tour into Tuscany.
* 3 nights in Venice at Hotel Albergo Doni 5 minutes from Plaza San Marco.
Return home on 5/22 from Venice to LAX.
We will get a train pass to go from city to city.
We know that the hotels are not much to write home about, but our goal is to be in the center of the city and be able to walk to the sights. I sometime venture out on my own and would like to be close to things and do not plan on being pampered in our hotel, we are going to see things. Any thoughts? I managed to pull this off for about $4400 (hotel, air, train). This leaves us room to enjoy the sights and food.
I know I sound convinced that this is a great plan, but I am open to suggestions!!
TIA! You all have helped so much!!
-k
Jan 13th, 2007, 01:19 PM
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Your schedule sounds good and you met your budget goals as well as priorities. It would help to know what you are paying for these hotels as you may get better accomodation suggestions in your budget.
I would not buy a train pass but rather point to points in second class, unless you have priced out your segments and found that you will save money.
Re your hotel choices, did you read reviews at tripadvisor and venere for input? I am not familiar with any of these hotels but there are some great budget recommendations on both those boards. I think you can find something charming for the same budget.
Tourist House Ghilberti and Il Villino in Florence are central, very nice and also ecomonical while being very good buys as well.
I would not buy a train pass but rather point to points in second class, unless you have priced out your segments and found that you will save money.
Re your hotel choices, did you read reviews at tripadvisor and venere for input? I am not familiar with any of these hotels but there are some great budget recommendations on both those boards. I think you can find something charming for the same budget.
Tourist House Ghilberti and Il Villino in Florence are central, very nice and also ecomonical while being very good buys as well.
Jan 13th, 2007, 01:47 PM
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Thank you kfusto, I am inquiring about the availibility of your suggestions since they do seem better. Also, thank you for the train suggestion, as we would only need 2 routes, it is a waste to buy a rail pass.
For the Hotel Sonya http://www.hotelsonya.it/en/, tripadvisor gave it a total of 4-"stars" and is ranked #64 in Florence. I got this for 135 Euro per night.
Hotel Albergo Doni, http://www.venere.com/hotel/index.ph...;tripref=34990, Venere gave it an 8.1/ tripadvisor 4-"stars". I got this for 115 Euro per night.
Hotel Maxim, http://maxim.hotelinfirenze.com/main_en.html?source=, 3.5-"stars" from trip advisor. I got this one for 110 Euro per night.
Our goal has been to budget around $2,000 for hotels. My findings have gotten us a little below that, so there is room for change! The general review I have found is that they are all good for the price, do not expect too much but a clean room and bathroom. Sonya has gotten pretty good reviews and the website looks good. Doni was raved about because it is a family run hotel that is very helpful. Maxim is my only concern, so I have looked into the suggestions above.
For the Hotel Sonya http://www.hotelsonya.it/en/, tripadvisor gave it a total of 4-"stars" and is ranked #64 in Florence. I got this for 135 Euro per night.
Hotel Albergo Doni, http://www.venere.com/hotel/index.ph...;tripref=34990, Venere gave it an 8.1/ tripadvisor 4-"stars". I got this for 115 Euro per night.
Hotel Maxim, http://maxim.hotelinfirenze.com/main_en.html?source=, 3.5-"stars" from trip advisor. I got this one for 110 Euro per night.
Our goal has been to budget around $2,000 for hotels. My findings have gotten us a little below that, so there is room for change! The general review I have found is that they are all good for the price, do not expect too much but a clean room and bathroom. Sonya has gotten pretty good reviews and the website looks good. Doni was raved about because it is a family run hotel that is very helpful. Maxim is my only concern, so I have looked into the suggestions above.
Jan 13th, 2007, 02:02 PM
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Very good, K.
The Maxim looks quite nice.
If you are on a really tight budget, I can highly recommend the B&B Peterson in Florence at about 1/2 the price.
www.bedinflorence.it
See my trip report for details:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044
The Maxim looks quite nice.
If you are on a really tight budget, I can highly recommend the B&B Peterson in Florence at about 1/2 the price.
www.bedinflorence.it
See my trip report for details:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044
Jan 13th, 2007, 02:05 PM
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Thanks ira! Will try!
By the way I have to tell you that my husband and I took you advice on Chateau Le Roque (sp?) in St Emillion and LOVED it! We can't stop talking about it! I've been wanting to thank you since we got back last May! Thank you.
By the way I have to tell you that my husband and I took you advice on Chateau Le Roque (sp?) in St Emillion and LOVED it! We can't stop talking about it! I've been wanting to thank you since we got back last May! Thank you.
Jan 13th, 2007, 02:23 PM
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My parents and I stayed at the Sonya in Rome, Christmas 2005, and I have posted a review on Tripadvisor with the same screen name. I gave it 4/5 back then, but I think overall, it's more like 3 or 3.5.
It's clean and safe and has a computer terminal to use downstairs, but not much else to praise about. The rooms don't look as nice as they are in the photos, the breakfast room tiny and the food below average of 2-3* hotels I've stayed in Italy.
It is close to subway and the train station, but I wish I am closer to the historical center. Yes, there are buses, but if you decide to walk it's not that close.
I wouldn't recommend against it, and I'm happy with the price we paid (about 100€ for a triple), but at 125€ for a double room, I would give other hotels some hard look too.
It's clean and safe and has a computer terminal to use downstairs, but not much else to praise about. The rooms don't look as nice as they are in the photos, the breakfast room tiny and the food below average of 2-3* hotels I've stayed in Italy.
It is close to subway and the train station, but I wish I am closer to the historical center. Yes, there are buses, but if you decide to walk it's not that close.
I wouldn't recommend against it, and I'm happy with the price we paid (about 100€ for a triple), but at 125€ for a double room, I would give other hotels some hard look too.
Jan 13th, 2007, 03:21 PM
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Consider one of the Daphne properties in Rome, or the Relais Banchi, the Lancelot, the Nicholas Inn. Personally, I do not like the area around the train station.
You will love Italy! Another site with good info is slowtrav.com.
You will love Italy! Another site with good info is slowtrav.com.
Jan 14th, 2007, 06:15 AM
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Hi Karin,
Another Rome suggestion for you, The Hotel Giardino Rome. Great location, a 2*, nothing fancy but cosy and Katy and staff very friendly and helpful. I had a single in Sept 05 for 90E nt with breakfast. Breakfast nothing special, just typical Italian roll with jams, coffee and orange juice.
Less than 5 min to the Trevi fountain, 10 min to Forum. On Via XXIV di Maggio.
Another Rome suggestion for you, The Hotel Giardino Rome. Great location, a 2*, nothing fancy but cosy and Katy and staff very friendly and helpful. I had a single in Sept 05 for 90E nt with breakfast. Breakfast nothing special, just typical Italian roll with jams, coffee and orange juice.
Less than 5 min to the Trevi fountain, 10 min to Forum. On Via XXIV di Maggio.
Jan 14th, 2007, 07:13 AM
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First of all you've rented rooms at a high price...[ I checked] there are many alternatives [nice rooms, pvt. bath] off the beaten track for a whole lot less...also staying in Lido instead of Venice is much cheaper ..the water buses run regularly...pack light ! train pass is good idea..
My yearly trip [for 2] in March includes, airfares nonstop to rome and air to venice for 2, room w/pvt bath in rome--6 days, room in lido w/pvt bath 6 days..train passes, water bus transp. passes, tour to pompeii, tour to florence..under $2,000. car will cost about $300. [with tolls and lunches & gas]if I decide to drive over to see my cousins along the adriatica for 2 days..always keep shopping.. the bargains are really out there..it's really worth the time and effort considering the savings..
My yearly trip [for 2] in March includes, airfares nonstop to rome and air to venice for 2, room w/pvt bath in rome--6 days, room in lido w/pvt bath 6 days..train passes, water bus transp. passes, tour to pompeii, tour to florence..under $2,000. car will cost about $300. [with tolls and lunches & gas]if I decide to drive over to see my cousins along the adriatica for 2 days..always keep shopping.. the bargains are really out there..it's really worth the time and effort considering the savings..
Jan 17th, 2007, 07:20 AM
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Hi K,
>We will get a train pass to go from city to city.<
Don't bother.
You can buy tickets online at www.trenitalia.com or when you get to Rome.
>We will get a train pass to go from city to city.<
Don't bother.
You can buy tickets online at www.trenitalia.com or when you get to Rome.
