Need advice on our current plans
Jul 15th, 2009 | 11:55 AM
#63
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,523
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As mentioned above, it is easier to have a limited number of "base camps" that you can spend multiple dyas at, and do day tips as required.
Just because you have a hotel room in Rome for 5 days does not mean you will only be touring Rome. With an extensive rail system, you can see Rome,and if after 3 days (impossible, but as an example) you say enough, you keep the hotel room but hop on trains for the last two days.
So pick 2/3 bases and go from there. The other issue is coordination. If you are going to visit 7/8 places you need 7/8 hotels in these locations...on an EXACT date(assuming you are not going to 'wing it'). It is harder to co-ordinate the more locations you have, expecially if you are travelling on a limited budget...quite limited. You could be forced to take a more expensive hotel because it is the only one available.
I've been 2 times. I am a rookie.
I travel to "be" there, not "see" there. IMHO slowing down adds, not subtracts. So of my best memories of Paris, for example, are just sitting in a park doing nothing. I think this is what people are telling you and it is not bad advice.
Whether an itinerary is possible is not the same as whether an itinerary is desirable.
Just because you have a hotel room in Rome for 5 days does not mean you will only be touring Rome. With an extensive rail system, you can see Rome,and if after 3 days (impossible, but as an example) you say enough, you keep the hotel room but hop on trains for the last two days.
So pick 2/3 bases and go from there. The other issue is coordination. If you are going to visit 7/8 places you need 7/8 hotels in these locations...on an EXACT date(assuming you are not going to 'wing it'). It is harder to co-ordinate the more locations you have, expecially if you are travelling on a limited budget...quite limited. You could be forced to take a more expensive hotel because it is the only one available.
I've been 2 times. I am a rookie.
I travel to "be" there, not "see" there. IMHO slowing down adds, not subtracts. So of my best memories of Paris, for example, are just sitting in a park doing nothing. I think this is what people are telling you and it is not bad advice.
Whether an itinerary is possible is not the same as whether an itinerary is desirable.
Jul 15th, 2009 | 12:40 PM
#65
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
I didn't know we need to give credentials to respond. I've been to England, France, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Spain, Greece, Lichtenstein, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few countries. Some countries I've been to multiple times including Italy. My most recent trip to Italy was Sept 2008 for 16 days and my next trip will be to Italy this September (probably 16 days). I spent 5 days in Rome last trip even though I've been to Rome multiple times. I still have a long list of things I haven't had time to do in Rome.
It's impractical to think you can jump the train to Orvieto, arriving at 11:48 by your schedule (5hrs 21740 , 10:44 11:48 ROME>Orvieto>CIVITA). Once you arrive in Orvieto you need to buy tickets for the funicular and bus to get you from the train station up to Orvieto (it's a hill town). Then you must find your hotel and check in (if they are ready for you to check in). If not, you must arrange to store your luggage (either at the hotel or elsewhere if the hotel can't/won't store it). Next you need to get back to the train station area (bus then funicular again)to catch the bus to Civita di Bagnoregio (assuming this is the Civita you are talking about - there are many Civitas in Italy). The bus to Bagnoregio only runs about every two hours so it's possible you might have to wait two hours for the next one, just as it's likely you will need to wait for the funicular and other bus. They won't magically appear when you do. If it's a Sunday, forget it. The bus to Bagnoregio doesn't run. Did you know the Italian school children ride these buses? If you get on at certain times, the bus will be full of kids standing room only (middle school and high school kids) and make multiple stops to drop off kids. Once you reach Bagnoregio, you need to get to the old town which is quite a trek from where the bus drops you (couple of miles). There is another bus you can catch to the old town, but it's not scheduled all that often either. You need to find somewhere to buy a ticket for it. Do you plan to eat lunch at any point?
Those of us that have been (yes, I've been to Orvieto and Civita di Bagnregio) see how your schedule is too hectic.
It's impractical to think you can jump the train to Orvieto, arriving at 11:48 by your schedule (5hrs 21740 , 10:44 11:48 ROME>Orvieto>CIVITA). Once you arrive in Orvieto you need to buy tickets for the funicular and bus to get you from the train station up to Orvieto (it's a hill town). Then you must find your hotel and check in (if they are ready for you to check in). If not, you must arrange to store your luggage (either at the hotel or elsewhere if the hotel can't/won't store it). Next you need to get back to the train station area (bus then funicular again)to catch the bus to Civita di Bagnoregio (assuming this is the Civita you are talking about - there are many Civitas in Italy). The bus to Bagnoregio only runs about every two hours so it's possible you might have to wait two hours for the next one, just as it's likely you will need to wait for the funicular and other bus. They won't magically appear when you do. If it's a Sunday, forget it. The bus to Bagnoregio doesn't run. Did you know the Italian school children ride these buses? If you get on at certain times, the bus will be full of kids standing room only (middle school and high school kids) and make multiple stops to drop off kids. Once you reach Bagnoregio, you need to get to the old town which is quite a trek from where the bus drops you (couple of miles). There is another bus you can catch to the old town, but it's not scheduled all that often either. You need to find somewhere to buy a ticket for it. Do you plan to eat lunch at any point?
Those of us that have been (yes, I've been to Orvieto and Civita di Bagnregio) see how your schedule is too hectic.
Jul 15th, 2009 | 01:49 PM
#68
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
I would be considered to be crazy by many on this forum, but I for one don't think this plan is that bad. I am assuming that you and your wife and fairly young and have lots of energy. My wife and I did a three week honeymoon in Europe when we got married in our mid 20s and we loved it! We got a taste of many different cities and regions and we able to explore some of them in depth later, through return visits to Europe.
Obviously your time allocated will not allow you to explore any of these places in great detail. That said, you should have time to see the highlights of each which is likely what you are after. While the posters here have great depth of experience and should be heeded for most things, they are generally older and wealthier than I am and than I believe the original poster to be. Thus travel styles can be different.
Three days in Rome is sufficient to see all of the major sites (that is what we did in our visit there). I assume that they mean Civita di Bagnoregio (a Steeves favourite). It is only a 60-90 min train from Rome to Orvieto and a short bus ride to Civita. We spent a few hours in Civita then returned for overnight to Orvieto.
We did not visit Assisi or Siena, but they are smaller towns and you should be able to get a taste of each. You may want to look into taking a bus between them instead of the train. I think it is faster and easier.
We also had two days in each of Florence, Venice and Cinque Terre. Did we see everything? No! Did we see a lot and enjoy our time there? Yes!
I say you and your wife will have a great trip. Best wishes.
Obviously your time allocated will not allow you to explore any of these places in great detail. That said, you should have time to see the highlights of each which is likely what you are after. While the posters here have great depth of experience and should be heeded for most things, they are generally older and wealthier than I am and than I believe the original poster to be. Thus travel styles can be different.
Three days in Rome is sufficient to see all of the major sites (that is what we did in our visit there). I assume that they mean Civita di Bagnoregio (a Steeves favourite). It is only a 60-90 min train from Rome to Orvieto and a short bus ride to Civita. We spent a few hours in Civita then returned for overnight to Orvieto.
We did not visit Assisi or Siena, but they are smaller towns and you should be able to get a taste of each. You may want to look into taking a bus between them instead of the train. I think it is faster and easier.
We also had two days in each of Florence, Venice and Cinque Terre. Did we see everything? No! Did we see a lot and enjoy our time there? Yes!
I say you and your wife will have a great trip. Best wishes.
Jul 15th, 2009 | 02:46 PM
#70
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 33
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Rome 3 days
Siena 3 days
Florence 3 days
Venice 3 days
Milan 3 days
I know you said 2-3 bases but this would cut our train time in half. I do understand that 3 days for some of these cities is not enough but Italy will always be there and I am sure I would want to return.
Siena 3 days
Florence 3 days
Venice 3 days
Milan 3 days
I know you said 2-3 bases but this would cut our train time in half. I do understand that 3 days for some of these cities is not enough but Italy will always be there and I am sure I would want to return.
Jul 15th, 2009 | 02:53 PM
#71
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,049
Likes: 50
MUCH better. I'd refine even more though. 3 days is not magic - one size doesn't fit all. Some of those places need (almost demand) more time and others could do w/ a couple of days/nights.
But if this is what you end up w/ -- it is sooooooo much better the your other plans!
But if this is what you end up w/ -- it is sooooooo much better the your other plans!
Jul 15th, 2009 | 02:53 PM
#72
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 33
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The_Pixies
We are in our mid-thirties and think we could manage this schedule:
Rome 3 days > Civita 1 day
Civita > Assisi 1 day
Assisi > Siena 2 days
Siena > Florence 2 days
Florence > Vernazza 2 days (Cinque Terre)
Vernazza > Venice ( 2 days)
Venice > Milan ( 1.5 day)
I heard about the bus between Assisi and Siena and will do that. Also, The train from Vernazza to Venice is 6.5hrs do you have any suggestions?
I do agree that yes we will not be able to visit in great detail but there is always a chance to go back and focus on the areas you enjoyed.
We are in our mid-thirties and think we could manage this schedule:
Rome 3 days > Civita 1 day
Civita > Assisi 1 day
Assisi > Siena 2 days
Siena > Florence 2 days
Florence > Vernazza 2 days (Cinque Terre)
Vernazza > Venice ( 2 days)
Venice > Milan ( 1.5 day)
I heard about the bus between Assisi and Siena and will do that. Also, The train from Vernazza to Venice is 6.5hrs do you have any suggestions?
I do agree that yes we will not be able to visit in great detail but there is always a chance to go back and focus on the areas you enjoyed.
Jul 15th, 2009 | 03:01 PM
#77
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,049
Likes: 50
"<i>I want to see a lot but do not want the rush factor.</i>"
That's the thing many first timers don't understand until they are there "on the ground". The more moving around the LESS you get to see. May sound weird, but its the truth. All the packing/unpacking/locating the next hotel/getting to the station/traveling/finding your bearings really REALLY eats into your sightseeing time.
That's the thing many first timers don't understand until they are there "on the ground". The more moving around the LESS you get to see. May sound weird, but its the truth. All the packing/unpacking/locating the next hotel/getting to the station/traveling/finding your bearings really REALLY eats into your sightseeing time.
Jul 15th, 2009 | 03:02 PM
#79
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,037
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Well I'm not old or wealthy- I'm probably younger and poorer than most posters here. And I know I would hate changing hotels 8 times in two weeks. In fact, even four times is too much for me- I'd be happiest staying in two cities for a week each, or even one city for two weeks.
I'm also not anywhere near as well travelled as most posters here. I've only been to Italy twice- the first trip I spent a week in Florence, the second trip I spent a week in Rome. Both times I only saw about half of what was on my list and I was very reluctant to leave at the end of the week, wishing I had more time.
The other thing is, the less often you move around the more money you can save. If you're on a tight budget, probably the best thing you could possibly do is slow down. Sometimes people will connect "low budget" with travelling around a lot. I have no idea why. In my admittedly limited experience, the opposite is true.
I'm also not anywhere near as well travelled as most posters here. I've only been to Italy twice- the first trip I spent a week in Florence, the second trip I spent a week in Rome. Both times I only saw about half of what was on my list and I was very reluctant to leave at the end of the week, wishing I had more time.
The other thing is, the less often you move around the more money you can save. If you're on a tight budget, probably the best thing you could possibly do is slow down. Sometimes people will connect "low budget" with travelling around a lot. I have no idea why. In my admittedly limited experience, the opposite is true.
