I just returned from 3 weeks in Italy (May 3rd to May 25th), and I would be happy to try and answer questions. I spent 6 days in Rome, 3 in Florence, 1 in Sienna, Venice, Asissi, Naples, 4 days in Sicily and 2 days in Sorrento. I was both on my own and on a Trafalgar tour. I research where I am going in advance.<BR><BR>Italy is already crowded with tourists and it will only get worse during the summer season. Expect open times to not be as given in the guidebooks, and they may change at anytime. Call in advance, and if you are lucky someone will pick up and you might get someone who speaks English. There is always the possibility of mini-strikes at tourist sites, and train stoppage (although train stoppages are usually annouced many days in advance).

Thanks for your offer to answer questions. I will be headed to sicily this summer--how did you spend your four days?

Dennis,<BR>How did you orient yourself to each of the cities that you visited? What is the best way to "hit the ground running" when you arrive at a new city with regard to seeing the important sights, etc.?

What did you like and not like about being on the Trafalgar tour? After being on this forum researching & reading about Italy, what surprises or unexpected things did you see or encounter once you actually got there? <BR><BR>Also, hotels? Recommendations? Or accommadations to avoid?<BR>

In Sicily, I was on a Trafalgar tour, so I went where the bus took me - Palermo, Agregento, Naxos (Tauormina), Mt. Etna. I enjoyed Tauormina and Mt. Etna, in particular. However, I did not think that I saw enough on Sicily to warrant the time. I also found Sicily quite dirty, trash everywhere.

Is the crime bad in Naples? Where is good to stay cheaply and near the sea front?

To Maureen: I orient myself with a map that I have studied in advance and marked with what I want to see, and then start walking. Lots of people take a bus tour, or just ride a local bus(es) to get oriented.<BR><BR>I try and stay up all day, and go to bed at 9 or 10pm local time, to help me readjust my body's time clock. I also try and see "as much as possible" as soon as I can of the outdoor attrations, so when the weather turns bad, I head for the museums and indoor attractions. From experience, I always carry rain gear that doubles for unexpected cooler weather. The weather has a nasty way of changing on you.<BR>

Is the crime bad in Naples? Where is good to stay cheaply and near the sea front?

Answer Sarah: Things I do not like about tours: forced to go at the groups pace, eat with the group. I like to do things "on my own" because I can see 2 to 3 times what most people see.<BR><BR>I have been to Italy before, so I did not experience too much unexpected. However, since I was there 12 years ago, I thought that Rome was cleaner and there were vertually no gypsy children like the previous time.<BR><BR>On hotel recommendations, I am sorry, but I was on a tour most of the time and the hotels were not ones that you would likely encounter. I stayed in convent accommodations when I was on my own which were satisfactory, but I would not recommend them in the summer because thery do not have AC.

Reply to Tim: I was only in Naples during the day, so I cannot answer about crime. Naples used to be very bad crime wise. <BR><BR>I did not stay in Naples and therefore cannot recommend accommodations, sorry.

Dennis<BR><BR>We will be in Italy in late Oct. a/c <BR>shouldn't be a problem --- can you tell us what Convents you used and how to contact them --- also what your likes and dislikes where.<BR> Thank you

ttt

Reply to crp:<BR>This website below lists a number of convents and how to contact tme. There are also 2 books which also list convents and monasteries in Italy. Try a goggle search to find the book titles. http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome<BR>/convents.shtml<BR><BR>In Rome, I stayed at Fraterna Domus [email protected]). It has an outstanding location, less than 5 minutes north of the Piazza Navona. Go out the front door and look right and you see the Trinita de Monte at the top of the Spanish steps (20 minute walk), go up to the Tiber River and look left and you see the Vatican (25 minutes walk). There is a minimal breakfast included and the private bathroom (modern) is the shower as well. The drawback is no AC and street noise. I used a white noise generator (available at Breakstone stores for $50) to overcome the street noise problem when I wanted to sleep. There is a curfew (10 or 11pm) which did not affect me.<BR><BR>In Florence, I stayed at Istituto Saleiano dell'Immacolato ([email protected]). This was about a mile east of the Duomo, so a little bit of walk to get to things. Again, a minimal breakfast provided and no AC. I ask for a quiet room and got one on an inner courtyard - no noise problem. They provided a key to let yourself in if you came back late. <BR><BR>Prices were about $70 per night for two people in May (private modern bath), but may be different at other times of the year. They both required a deposite (travelers checks). <BR><BR>Hope that helps<BR>

ttt

We stayed in Naples at the Hotel Rex for about $105. We liked it and found several great places nearby for dinner. We really enjoyed Naples and would recommend it.

Val: I will be staying at the Rex in Oct. Did you enjoy the hotel? Can you give me any details about it. Also, are there good restaurants within walking distance, any you can recommend.

Dennis, which Fraterna Domus did you stay in, I see listed two of them. Also how much did you pay a night and was it a double room? Thanks. PS: How was the dinner at the F. Domus?

Nance,<BR>We also stayed at Fraterna Domus in June and experienced the meal one evening.It was cheap and average in quality.We were rushed through 3 courses in less than half an hour.We would recommend the convent to stay but probably not the dinner.<BR><BR>Penny

Thanks Penny, how much was your double room a night? My friends want to stay in a convent and I usually stay at the Due Torre which I think is just next door. Also is there a curfew?