Need HELP for Mom's DREAM TRIP...
 

Hi,
we are planning a mother/daughter (in their 30's) trip to Italy. It is not my first time, but it is for my Mom and sister. We are flying into Rome the Friday before Easter and will be there until 4/19.

I am thinking Rome, 3 nights and leave on Monday after Easter. We also would like to see Venice, Florence, and Naples, possibly Capri. Is this feasible in this time period? Is it too much? The last time I went, I was young and with a friend from college, so we had a lot of energy and saw EVERYTHING!!

My question is this, what do you consider a MUST SEE for a first-timer Mom in her early 60's? This will probably be her only shot here. She has been wanting to do this trip her whole life!! I am confused as to the trip route with our stops, how do we decide which is easier to do and in what order???

Can you offer any help as far as transportation to and from?
We also thought about a side trip to Greece, but I told them I think it is just too much!!

Would you recommend a tour group---Perillo? or Perillo's new Independent company? Trafalgar? Globus? to make it easier...
We are not really into the herd of cattle get on the bus and off in each place. We want guidance, but not a fully guided tour!!

Please help!! ;)

Hello - how many days will you be in Italy? I suspect you have too many stops planned so it would help us if you said which ones were more important than others. Of course Rome is essential!

We have NINE full days, the other two will be for travel back and forth!! I know it's not enough...

I know ROME is essential, Venice is essential for my Mom--just for ONE night. Florence is optional, as is Naples.

What else would you consider essential??? Tuscany? Santorini, Greece? I know...wishful thinking, right???

Travel_italy2009, to better help you with your decisions we will need to know how much energy your DM has, does she have health problems or problems walking long distances? Is she interested in shopping, historical sites, museums ect..

Also, where will you be flying out of for your return trip back home?

If this is her only time going to Rome I would not suggest only doing three days in Rome, there is SO much to see in this wonderful city. I spent 8 days there in December 2007 and will be going back to Rome for 2 weeks this coming December just because there were so many things I have yet to see!

I would say do 5 days in Rome at the very least then move from Rome to Florence for a few days maybe spending 2 days in Venice.

FYI---The stop to Naples is only because that's where my family is from...so kind of emotional to my Mom!! (I think!!)

You are flying into Rom on Aapril 10 and out from Rome on the 19th?

You had best limit your time to Rome, Florence, and Venice. Naples and Capri are in the opposite direction, and if you try to include even Naples you will spending too much of your time traveling and not enough time enjoying.

You don't need a tour group. People here are very kind and will help you with suggestions on where to stay (hotels) and what to do in each city. You can travel between by train.

I would start with a suggestion for 3 nights in Rome, 2 in Florence, and 3 in Venice. That will leave you time to return to Rome on the 18th (spending another night there) so you have plenty of time to catch your flight out on the 19th.

If you can change your lfight to an "open jaws" flight into rome and out of Venice that would make for a more leisurely visit.

If you stay 5 days in Rome you could always use one of those days to do a day trip by train down to Naples.

Sorry for the typos. I meant "Rome" and "april".

Does your mom have family in Naples that she would like to visit? Is it really that important to her?

I guess you could make it work, but then I suggest you drop Florence. Three cities is plenty to visit in that amount of time.

I agree w/ Enzian, that 3 cities is your max. And yes, you can do it yourself w/ no tour group. I think you'll enjoy it so much more and it's completely doable.

Unless your mom really loves art you might consider Rome (side trip to Naples) and Venice, bypassing Florence. Or if it were me, I'd visit Rome, a hill town in Tuscany or Umbria and Venice. That gives you more a mix of experiences.

Have you bought your plane tickets? If not consider flying into Rome and out of Venice. On a site like kayak.com you click on the multi-city flight at the top and plug those in.

I'd vote for Rome, day trip to Naples and Pompeii, and Venice if it's absolutely your mom's dream. Try and book in advance for some of the museums, and I wouldn't miss the Scavi tour of the Vatican - it is an underground tour of the tombs under the Vatican - I think you can book in advance on line but we never got a response so we went to the Vatican directly.

I found Rick Steve's website helpful to read about the train situations. We did Rome, Florence and Naples / Pompeii and researched the trains on line because I found Italian train stations a bit difficult to navigate.

And another thought, for a less stressful and compact trip, would be Rome, Naples/Pompeii, and the lovely Amalfi coast.

I have never been to Naples, but it doesn't get glowing reviews as a "destination". Most people view it as a place to go "through" (on their way to Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano, etc.), rather than a place to go "to".

But if it is part of your mom's "dream" trip, then perhaps you should see it, however briefly.

Last year my parents met us (me, husband and kids) in Italy and we visited Venice, Pisa, Florence, and the northern Tuscany area. My parents both say their favorite city was Venice.

My husband, kids and I have also been to Italy 2 other times and we all loved Rome.

We didn't really enjoy Naples much but if that is family history and you are definitely going, then make sure you visit the archeological museum while you are there. Most of the original mosaics and other finds from Pompeii are in the museum in Naples. so that is nice to see even if you can't make it down to Pompeii.

I would agree with those saying to skip Florence if you don't have enough time.

I forgot to add...I absolutely agree that you should try to fly into Venice and out of Rome (or vice versa). It usually is not that much more expensive and saves loads of time.

So what exactly is your mom's "dream" or idea of Italy, other than th e"roots" trip to Naples? It would help people make suggestions appropriate to her interests.

Would she love the art of Florence? The history, art and archeology of Rome? The magical feeling of Venice? Would she enjoy sitting at sidewalk cafes and relaxing, or is she one who would like to pack in as many museums, churches, and other sights as possible? Does she enjoy good food and wine? Maybe a cooking class somewhere? Or a hotel with a beachfront balcony on the Amalfi coast?

It is hard to make anything other than general suggestions without knowing more about her interests.

Personally, I could happily spend all 9 days in Venice, one of my favorite places in the world. And I don't care all that much for Florence. But that's just me. for her first trip, the 3-city "sampler" approach is probably best----the question is, which 2 in addition to Rome?

My Mom is looking for a relaxing trip, while still seeing the major sites. She doesn't want to run around the whole trip! Basically, she wants to see the Vatican, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, etc. She isn't really into the museums, looking for really good food and breathtaking experiences. (which won't be too difficult to find for a first timer!!)

We have thought about spending some down time, either in Capri or the Amalfi coast--just to even out the sightseeing.

My plan, thus far: (thanks for the tips, already---you guys are very helpful!!)

Rome 3 nights
Florence 1 night
Venice 1-2 nights
Amalfi Coast or Isle of Capri 2-3 nights
Rome 1 final night before departure

I guess we will skip Naples, it doesn't seem like there is that much to see there. Any suggestions--Capri or Amalfi Coast?? If Amalfi coast---where to???

THANKS!! ;)

If you decide to spend one or two nights in Venice and then go to Amalfi Coast/Capri, I think it's likely that you'll spend a full day getting from Venice to your southern destination. When you have a limited number of days to work with, my approach would be "less is more." In other words, Amalfi Coast/Capri OR Venice (and I'm not even too sure about Florence), but not both.

Sam

To tell you the truth, if you are going to try to move at that much of a gallop, I'm going to make the heretical (for Fodor's) suggestion of looking for a tour that doesn't include meals.

I've never used a tour group, but I've heard terrible things about Perillo. Some people like things like "UnTours".

You don't have a lot of time before your departure date. Right now, with the itinerary you posted, you are looking at spending a huge amount of time in transit - from hotel rooms, to train stations, on trains, waiting for ferries or buses, on buses -- and precious little time actually seeing anything.

If this has been your mom's "lifelong dream" surely she has some idea of her priorities. There is a huge difference between going to Naples and seeing the street where your relatives emigrated from and spending a night on Capri.

By the way, most people who post on this board are not far from your mother's age. She's not old. Italy is first world country. You can all sit down and have a drink if you're pooped. And she might go again when she's 75, Just find out why she's dreamed all her life of going to Italy and go to those places. Forget the "must sees" of other people.

By the way, there is an absolutely astonishing amount to see in Naples. Most of the people commening in this thread have either never been there, or didn't want to go in the first place, or follow Rick Steves around (he'd rather park himself in touristy Sorrento)

If your mother wants a 'relaxing trip" she probably doesn't want to go to Napoli. However, if her family is from there, she might find it amazing to see it - and see why they left and what they lost when they did.

If you really do think this is a once in a lifetime event, then personally I would make it Rome/Florence/Venice. Each of those cities is unique and each is so different from the other that I would be hard-pressed to miss one.

My daughter (then 17) and I took my Mum to Italy for her first and only time for her 83rd birthday. We had 12 days in total and didn't want to move too fast due to mum's age. We went to Rome and Florence with a few days spent at my daughter's school in Lanciano, a small town on the Adriatic coast of the Abruzzo.

My Mum adored Rome, especially shopping with 'her girls' and we had a ball in Florence seeing all the art we knew only from books.

Later when DH and I went on our own to Venice, I was REALLY sorry that we didn't get there with my Mum: it is like nothing else on earth.

Is she is looking for some relaxation, with your limited time frame,I would fly to Venice, spend a few days there,
then take the train to Rome,spend time there,and finish up with the Amalfi coast. It is just too overwhelming to do Rome, Venice and Florence in such a short time.

I think she will get such a thrill out of the beauty of the Amalfi coast and that will remain with her far longer than traipsing through the Ufizzi. Or even seeing the David.

The easiest way to do the trip I outlined is to fly into Venice and home from Naples. If you cannot manage that, then do Rome last and go home from there.

It's time for you to learn to use the train timetables so you know how much time to figure for travel between places.

I like the Swiss one for all over Europe---I think it is the easiest to use. Try it---www.rail.ch

Here are some examples for the itinerary you described:

Rome to Florence: 1 hr 40 min.

Florence to Venice: 2 hr. 40 min.

Venice to Naples: 6 hours, OR you could do a night train, leaving just before midnight and arriving in Naples at 10 am.

You will have to go through Naples to get to the Amalfi coast (which sounds like it would be a great place for you to visit). So your Mom would get to see Naples, and you could decide if you want to look around a bit before going onward to the amalfi coast, or Sorrento.

I believe you have to change to a bus to get to the beautiful coast; the train doesn't run to Positano, Sorrento, or Amalfi. Or maybe it's a taxi. I'll bet someone here can explain the best way to go.

But if you can change your flights, eskcrunchy's suggestin of starting in Venice and working your way to naples, and flying home from there, makes th emost sense, time-wise. No backtracking.

The night train from Venice to Naples would also be a way to save time.

People who have recently traveled on night trains in Italy have reported very disturbing crime problems.

zeppole---I have heard "stories" too, but didn't know how true they are.

Could one expect problems in first class, in a locking compartment?

We had a very pleasant night trip from Firenze up into Germany, but maybe things have changed. That was 8 years ago.

Maybe it would be better to skip the night train. The 6-hour trip during the day isn't too bad.

There was no reason to doubt the story that was recently posted here on Fodor's of two people who found their train compartments subject to marauding by theives, with doors being tried and rattled, and compartments entered if possible. I would not rely on getting an unbroken lock that worked on an Italian train.

Up until reading that recent post, I often pointed out to people they could take night trains in Italy. I just don't anymore. It should noted, too, the night trains are among the most unpunctual in Italy, and subject to problems (when no crew is available to fix them), so that's another reason to avoid them.

Thanks, zeppole. I did not see the report here.

What a shame---the night train used to be a good idea. No more, I guess.

I am probably just a little older than your Mom, so I say, see Venice for sure.

Please do try to take other posters' advice and don't do so much backtracking. Start in Venice. End in Naples or Rome. Flight times are usually best that way.

You say it is your Mom's dream trip. Is there any way at all that you can add two or three more days? It would make your trip so much nicer.

I love the Art in Florence, but see how much your Mom is looking forward to that. If that is not so important, then do Venice, Rome & Amalfi Coast and fly out of Naples; or do Venice, Amalfi Coast, and end in Rome if you can't fly out of Naples.

I would do Rome, Venice, a taste of Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast...this is a good combination of experiences. I didn't like Florence as much. If your mom isn't into museums/art then she won't miss it. But DEFINITELY get to Venice.

At the risk of being misinterpreted, can I ask why anyone would assume another 60-plus-year-old would like Venice as opposed to someplace else based on age alone?

I'm not sixty yet, but I doubt my preference for other Italian locations is going to change once I get Social Security.

I expect (hope!) to still trotting up and down stairs into my sixties, but people do need to bear in mind that Venice has lots and lots and lots of stairs.

When some dream of going to Italy all their lives, the dream of sun-drenched bouganvilla covered villas hanging over azure seas, or huge plates of steaming pasta with tomato sauce, or the magnificence of Michaelangelo's marbles, beautiful fountains, or Sophia Loren or Marcello Mastroianni -- none of which have anything to do with Venice.

Enzian and Zeppole - my daughter and I were the ones who told our story about being on the night train that was robbed a year ago. Fortunately one of our compartment mates woke up and the man left the compartment apologizing for his confusion.

It was the Paris to Venice train and we all believed the robber entered at one stop, got off at another. Our compartment was locked but these are not hard to lift from the outside if you plan ahead and create a fairly simple tool. I don't think any compartment has a deadbolt so none are totally secure. Our compartment mate said robberies are common on that run and I believed him. Several compartments in our car were entered and robbed. (details in our very recent trip report - 3 women shopping, mother and daughter italy...) We did hear the train official saying in a defeated tone that this happens and there's nothing he can do to stop it.

This was our second night train ride - I love trains - and I probably won't take another on that line. We loved riding on the train from city to city in Italy.

thanks rose for reposting with details of the problems you encountered. I, too, enjoy train travel in Italy and have never had a single problem with thievery on the train -- but I would avoid the overnights, based on what you've reported.

I personally think night trains are hell anyway. My experience was that it was loud and lights flashed every time we entered a city, I did not sleep all night long, and sleeping had been my thought when booking the night trip, that and I thought that the word couchet (sp?) sounded cool.
Again just my humble opinion, but if we all have our own separate hells, mine will have a night train in it! LOL
RosieCaro

Hi TI,

Assuming that you are locked into flying in/out of Rome, I suggest

Take the train immediately to Florence - 3 nights.
train to Naples - 2 nights
train to Rome - 3 nights

>I guess we will skip Naples, it doesn't seem like there is that much to see there.<

You are going to skip Mama's home town?

Nonsense, there is plenty to do there for 2 nights.
The waterfront
The views of Mt Vesuvius
The Capella Sansevero
The Castel dell'Ovo
The Castel San Elmo
The Archaeological Museum
The Capodimonte Museum
Spaccanapoli
Piazza Dante
Via Toledo

Naples is a great town. Also, visiting Naples instead of Venice will reduce your travel time.

If you are not locked into RT Rome, I suggest
Fly into Venice - 2 nights
train to Florence - 3 nights, daytrip to Siena
train to Rome - 3 nights
fly home.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

I personally would take a day off of Ira's recommendation and add it to Rome.One also has to keep in mind that she is flying over during the Easter week and it is going to be a zoo along with things closed on Easter Monday?

Make that a day off of Florence!

zeppole, loved your evocative response:

<<<When some dream of going to Italy all their lives, the[y] dream of sun-drenched bouganvilla covered villas hanging over azure seas, or huge plates of steaming pasta with tomato sauce, or the magnificence of Michaelangelo's marbles, beautiful fountains, or Sophia Loren or Marcello Mastroianni -- none of which have anything to do with Venice.>>>

So I wonder what are travel_italy's mom's dreams? What does she picture when she thinks of Italy, and what does whe hope to find there?

And note dutyfree's comment that their current plan has them flying into Rome on Good Friday, and spending the Easter weekend there. Depending on what they would like to see and do in Rome (see the Pope's address on Easter Sunday?), that may or may not be a good idea.

I like rosetravels suggestion.

Venice deserves more than one night. My suggestion:

Rome(4 days)
Venice(2-3 days)
Naples or Florence(1-2 days)

If not art lover, Florence is not a must, I guess. Though I love the city. And the side trip to Pisa is nice.

Hi travel_italy,

I don't really have any sound advice for you. I just want to relate my Italy experience with you.

My mom and I did a trafalfar tour to Italy this past August/September. We absolutely loved it. I think it was the best way for two first timers to see Italy. Mom is 61 and I'm 30.

We went to Rome, the Amalfi coast, Florence and Venice - it was a 10 day tour. So, with planning, I think your plan is totally doable.

What I liked about the tour was, I enjoyed having everything looked after for me and my mom - transportation, hotel - but at the same time, we had a tremendous amount of free time to do what we wanted to do.

I never felt like I was in a herd, and our tour director was amazing.

The pace was a bit much for mom - it may have been better to just do Venice, Florence and Rome and spend more time in each city... but like you said, this is probably mom's only chance to see the country.

This was a once in a lifetime trip for us, totally stress free, and an incredible way for us to spend time together.

Mom and I absolutely loved each of the cities we stopped in. For your trip, I'd recommend really narrowing it down to what you and your family truly want to see/do/experience. For instance, mom and I loved Venice, but all the bridges were too much for her. One night was definitely enough for her to see the main sites she really wanted to see there and move on. For others, though, it's no where near enough time.

With careful planning, I think your dream trip is within reach.

I started traveling with my mother a little later than you (I was around 35, but she was 70+), so we had to find a travel style that fitted us. Adding a sister once was a complication more difficult than my mother!

First, I would make sure of what she wanted/expected if the primary goal of this trip is to fulfill her dream and an enjoyable vacation for you and your sister is only a secondary consideration. I've visited many sites and gone on local tours and rides that I would never have done on my own, but enjoyed them because they were what she expected and could do in her physical condition. I also would build in my "off" time to roam and do the sort of activities she would not enjoy or that were taxing physically for her.

I also am not a tour person, but I have used city tours and specialty tours a lot when with my mother--the scheduled transportation and the narration took some of the burden off of me and I was assured she got to see the sights.

Arriving Fri 10th. You can find old posts about being in Rome over Easter--I've only been there in June, so can't comment on crowds, but Vatican and Sistene Chapel might be a problem. So check out the Rome activities and attractions that might be special over Easter or might be difficult over Easter to decide if stay several days in Rome first or last. I would prefer staying in Rome first after getting mother off the plane from the long flight. I tend to go out walking for miles my first day, but if with my mother, I would have planned to go to hotel for a rest, then an evening of taxi to stroll Trevi, etc. or a bus tour of Rome at night with the lights.

11th I would plan for the classic sights of ancient Rome.

12th Easter depending on activities and openings either spend in Rome or as suggested day trip to Naples. The trip to Naples will probably only have the effect she hopes for if you first trace where in Naples the family lived and find the neighborhood, or if there is a church/cemetery where relatives are buried to vist, or something like that which will give her a destination. Just taking the train to Naples and sightseeing will probably not evoke the emotion she expects and may be disappointing. (I have only spent a few hours in Naples at the museum, then on to Sorrento and Pompeii.)

13th train to Venice

14th visit neighboring islands

15th travel part way back to Rome - a hilltown or similar for a relaxing experience and contrast to the cities--others can do better than I in recommendations. I am totally blanking out about where we stayed overnight between Rome and Florence one time.

16th hilltown

17th on to Rome

18th whatever you missed in Rome

19th return

I have trouble fitting in south and Capri with Venice--just so far from one to the other. Some people on this board fly rather than train this far, so you could check for cheap airline connections from Naples to Venice to make it practical.

I hope you aren't taking on the responsibility for your mother and sister's trips entirely so you feel too much responsibility for making sure it is perfect. Does your sister have an interest in helping you plan so she has as much invested in the plan as you do?

That's how I went wrong when my mother and I met up with sister one time. We had developed our routine for traveling together with time together and apart, me eating when/where she wanted, her waiting patiently in the hotel or in a cafe or park while I climbed up bell towers or whatever. When my sister joined us she was unwilling to modify her travel behavior at all to accommodate our mother. I was glad my sister had helped in the planning so she could go off on her own some rather than being unhappy with me.

travel_italy,

your must-sees may be a little complicated by Easter. If you are religious, you could attend Mass. Sometimes Good Friday services can be fascinating to attend as well. I believe the pope traditionally leads a candlelit procession to the Colosseum on Good Friday.

If you are not religious, outdoor ruins that are not otherwise closed would be a good choice to visit. If you have decided on Venice, perhaps you should start your trip there, where you can just stroll through the city and ride the gondolas on Easter. Also in Italy, be prepared for the day after a major holy day to also be a holiday. Taxis may be less frequent on both Easter and Easter Monday. It just seems to be the way Italy works.

I think you should limit the number of places you visit on your trip. I have not been to every place you are thinking of and I have spent about a month in Italy.

Rome alone has so much to see. But that brings up one point: Rome is a big city. If that is not something you are used to, it can be tiring. Lots of traffic, figuring out the metro etc. I love it, but my parents really liked Florence because it was small and walkable with a traffic free zone.

Finally my last suggestion to you would be to find private tour guides for a least a couple of the days you are in Italy. We really liked Daniella at Mirabila Urbis http://www.rome-tours.com/ but there are also many others recommended on this board if you do a search.

When in Rome, there is a Hop on/Hop off bus that takes you to all the important sights. The 1st. time around we stay on it the entire time and decide where we would like to get off the next time around. It's a great way to see the city without too much walking. Your ticket is good for all day.

My sister, my 2 daughters and myself took my Mom to Ireland for her 80th. birthday. My Mom passed away this past year at 90 and she was still talking about that trip. This will be one of the most memorable times in your lives.

Ciao!