Bec

Since this message board was so helpful to me, I'd like to share my experiences with all of you. I just got back from a 12 day vacation in Italy. I'd first like to say that we flew Alitalia and it was a very nice flight despite what some posts said about them. The flight crew was very nice, very helpful, and the men weren't bad looking either! Our first destination was to a small town about an hour or so outside of Rome called Palena. It's in the Abruzzo region in the mountains. This place was absolutely breathtaking. It was very small, only about 1500 people. It reminded me of a resort or something. This is how I pictured Italy since this was my first time there. We stayed there for 5 days (we had family there) and then we drove to Sulmona where we took a train to Florence. The train was an experience in itself. It's a little confusing if you don't speak very good Italian to try and figure out where you are, and where you need to go. We arrived in Florence where it was raining and quite cold for a day and a half. We stayed at the Hotel Club which was located about 2 blocks from the train station. It wasn't a bad place, for the money. I really don't think it matters where you stay in Florence. It's so small that you can walk anywhere, no problem. We stayed in Florence for 2 days and then took a train to Rome. Another mention about taking the train, don't bring large suitcases. I thought I was smart by only bringing 1 suitcase. Trying to carry even one large suitcase on the train was terrible. So we finally arrived in Rome, where it was raining again. We stayed at the Ambra Palace Hotel which was suppose to be near the Coliseum. Well, it really wasn't and although the Hotel itself was a beautiful 4 star hotel, the neighborhood scared the heck out of me. We had to walk at least a mile or longer to get anywhere nice enough to feel safe.<BR><BR>A few suggestions......Don't bring travelers checks, no one wants to accept them. Use the ATM, I found it the easiest. Pack lightly, hat's why hotels supply you with shampoo, soap, etc. Don't stay near the train station in Rome, pay a little more and stay where you don't have to walk 10 miles to get anywhere., Buy a guide book by Rick Stevens, this guy knows all the tricks. All in all, it was a very good experience, but a tiring experience. I want to lay on a beach now and relax. Thanks to everyone...........

may

Dear Bec:<BR><BR>Besides Rick Steve's, did you use any other guide books??

Bec

Just some books we got as gifts before we left, I don't really remember the names. Definitly get the the Rick Steve's one. He mentions suggestions on where to buy tickets to attractions like the Coliseum so you don't have to wait in line.

jane

How big was the bag you took on the train that was too big? What size would you recommend? Thanks

bec

jane....let's just say that the suitcase I brought barely fit in the overhead. I had to have 3 men help me push it in. Just pack what you really need. I barely even wore half the clothes I brought. It was just tough trying to get this suitcase through 3 train cars when we realized we were on the wrong car.

Carol

I totally agree with the luggage comments. We brought two suitcases, a 26" and a 30" because we needed the room for gifts we were bringing to family. My advice to anyone traveling in Europe is to not bring anything larger than a 26" suitcase.<BR><BR>My husband's cousins picked us up at the train station in a brand new, very large Volvo with an empty trunk. No matter how we tried, the two suitcases would not fit in the trunk. <BR><BR>And dragging them up the steps of the train was another pain. The lighter you travel, the better. <BR><BR>Have fun.

Marilyn

Thanks for the good tips, Bec. It's been said on this forum a million times, but I'll say it again: If you are going to travel on trains you are only asking for misery with a large suitcase. I made this mistake on my first trip to Europe as a student 35 years ago and I've never done it since!<BR><BR>I wouldn't take anything larger than 22-23", which is small enough to roll down the aisle of the train. Actually, in my experience, it's the width of the case when you roll it that is important. It needs to be narrow enough to fit in the aisle. If you MUST have more stuff, take a second bag like a duffle that you can stack on top of the rolling case and that will fit into the corner of a car trunk. <BR><BR>I can promise you, with a 100% guarantee, that you will regret taking a 28" suitcase if you have much train travel to do.

susan

We are staying at the Ambra Palace near train on Sept 26. It is only for one night before taking train to Florence/Tuscany for week.Is it good for one night? We get in at 4 pm and planned to eat somewhere fabulas and getting a driver to take us by several sights just to see and then sleep and catch train in morning. Any rest. suggestion? thanks susan

bec

Susan....I just stayed at the Ambra Palace in Rome as I stated. The hotel is beautiful, but the neighborhood is very seedy. Alot of Indian and Bangladesh. If you're going to stay there for one night and want to go someplace good to eat, let me suggest you take a taxi or get a car because it will take too long to walk from the hotel to the better part of town. I can also suggest a very nice restaurant in the area (kind of near the hotel, because I remember we walked in the rain) called Target. Like I said, it was raining so I'm not sure exactly where it was. It was really, really good. Have fun....if there is a guy named Samual at the desk in the hotel, tell him "hello". He was very good looking!!!!!

Sandra

Question!!!So you take a smallish suitcase. How do you bring back stuff ,gifts and etc.?

msa

Sandra...I pack an empty suitcase inside the 22" one...that way I have a way to get home all the things we buy. We also have items shipped home. My husband and family joke that our trips are my shopping trips...and we've never had a problem getting things home

Betsy

Sandra, I find that packing a nylon laundry bag in my suitcase is the thing to do. On the trip home, I put soft clothes (usually dirty) and shoes in there and use the space in my suitcase to pack the goodies I find in Europe. If there's something special, I hand carry it in my carry on. I check the suitcase and the laundry bag.

bec

I actually packed a nice size duffle bag that folded down very nicely and fit into my large suitcase. I put all my gifts in it and then checked it at the airport. If if wasn't for bringing that, I don't know how I would have brought anything home.