Need Help with Italy Itinerary- Planning a Trip to Italy
Dec 19th, 2019, 12:14 AM
#21
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Ok - I tried to post and I lost it - have a only a few minutes because we are leaving for the airport to fly out to see our son in sunny Phoenix It is 9°F outside right now! Will try and post in a day or so. Many thanks to so many great suggestions!
Feb 1st, 2020, 10:16 AM
#23
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Hi Everyone,
I'm so sorry for the long delay in posting. We went to Phoenix and our older son who joined us arrived very sick (scary sick); however we nursed him back to health with the help of the Vitamin Shoppe. Shortly after we returned home we came down with what our older son had (possibly the flu) - first, my husband and then me.
Our itinerary keeps evolving!
We fly into Milan for (3N) train to Venice (3N) and train to Florence (4N).
However, we are looking to change the stay in Venice to 2N and 3N in Florence. Now we are thinking of staying 2N in Bologna and then onto Florence after Venice. I know you can't have too much time in Florence; however, we were thinking of taking a cooking class in Bologna. I know you could do this in Florence as well but it is also a much bigger city. We will see if we can switch the days around. And, if not, it will be what it is. Any thoughts?
We will rent our car in Florence before we head to the Cinque Terre. The hotel in the Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terre 3N) will be handling the parking for us (at a fee, of course - lol).
From the CT: 1N Lucca, 1N San Gimignano, 2N Siena and 4N San Quiricod'Oro (no issues with parking in San Quirico d'Oro). We still need to work out where to park in the other three cities (ZTL zones) since we are staying inside the walled area. I have not spent much time on the parking issue. Does anyone have experience with this?
All our Hotels or B&B's are reserved up through San Quirico d'Oro (4N) in the Tuscany region. In the Tuscany region, we would like to arrange for a wine tasting and an afternoon cooking class for more of a relaxing time which means we wouldn't see as much. Some of the Tuscan villages are Montealcino and/or Montepulciano, Pienza, (drive around the country side). Assisi is another place to see but is it doable???? Any thoughts or suggestions?
We will stay 1N in Orvieto within the walled city. We have a reservation pending and hope to have parking with the hotel which has a private parking area (for a fee). This would be much less than the overnight parking garage would be. In the morning of May 7th will spend a couple of hours at Civita di Bagnoregio then drive straight through to Paestum (4 hours +).
We originally planned on turning in the car in Orvieto but my husband decided he wanted to drive straight down (autostrada) to Paestum for an overnight (1N). We realized if we took the train that we would need to change trains (and time involved doing so) and that the train to Paestum hours are not regular. We will be arriving early evening and have a partial/full day in Paestum and maybe if time permits tour the Mozzarella factory if possible - that maybe a long shot!
Return to Naples early evening on May 8th for 3 days. We noticed at the Naples Centrale Train Station there is an Avis car return there w/o having to drive all over the city for a car return. We don't want to drive in Naples. It looks like there is access to and from the autostrada right next to the train station for both Avis and Hertz car rentals. Has anyone had any experience with returning a car to the Naples Centrale Train Station?
Progol, I'm going to try to book the Hotel Bellini as you suggested. Looks great! Maybe thinking of Atrani - Loved your picture - very beautiful.
Points of interest we would like to see/visit: Tour Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Tour Sorrento, Tour the Amalfi Coast (Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and/or Atrani). Take a boat tour to one of the villages and back. We have decided not to go to Capri. We would have loved to have seen Caserta but we think this is best left for another trip.
How much time do you think we need for Sorrento? Will 2-3 days be enough? If we spend 3 days in Sorrento, this will leave us only 4 days for the Amalfi Coast region. Or should we stay in one spot?
From Saturday, May 9 through May 18 we plan to be in southern Italy part- Naples, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast, etc.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
I'm so sorry for the long delay in posting. We went to Phoenix and our older son who joined us arrived very sick (scary sick); however we nursed him back to health with the help of the Vitamin Shoppe. Shortly after we returned home we came down with what our older son had (possibly the flu) - first, my husband and then me.
Our itinerary keeps evolving!
We fly into Milan for (3N) train to Venice (3N) and train to Florence (4N).
However, we are looking to change the stay in Venice to 2N and 3N in Florence. Now we are thinking of staying 2N in Bologna and then onto Florence after Venice. I know you can't have too much time in Florence; however, we were thinking of taking a cooking class in Bologna. I know you could do this in Florence as well but it is also a much bigger city. We will see if we can switch the days around. And, if not, it will be what it is. Any thoughts?
We will rent our car in Florence before we head to the Cinque Terre. The hotel in the Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terre 3N) will be handling the parking for us (at a fee, of course - lol).
From the CT: 1N Lucca, 1N San Gimignano, 2N Siena and 4N San Quiricod'Oro (no issues with parking in San Quirico d'Oro). We still need to work out where to park in the other three cities (ZTL zones) since we are staying inside the walled area. I have not spent much time on the parking issue. Does anyone have experience with this?
All our Hotels or B&B's are reserved up through San Quirico d'Oro (4N) in the Tuscany region. In the Tuscany region, we would like to arrange for a wine tasting and an afternoon cooking class for more of a relaxing time which means we wouldn't see as much. Some of the Tuscan villages are Montealcino and/or Montepulciano, Pienza, (drive around the country side). Assisi is another place to see but is it doable???? Any thoughts or suggestions?
We will stay 1N in Orvieto within the walled city. We have a reservation pending and hope to have parking with the hotel which has a private parking area (for a fee). This would be much less than the overnight parking garage would be. In the morning of May 7th will spend a couple of hours at Civita di Bagnoregio then drive straight through to Paestum (4 hours +).
We originally planned on turning in the car in Orvieto but my husband decided he wanted to drive straight down (autostrada) to Paestum for an overnight (1N). We realized if we took the train that we would need to change trains (and time involved doing so) and that the train to Paestum hours are not regular. We will be arriving early evening and have a partial/full day in Paestum and maybe if time permits tour the Mozzarella factory if possible - that maybe a long shot!
Return to Naples early evening on May 8th for 3 days. We noticed at the Naples Centrale Train Station there is an Avis car return there w/o having to drive all over the city for a car return. We don't want to drive in Naples. It looks like there is access to and from the autostrada right next to the train station for both Avis and Hertz car rentals. Has anyone had any experience with returning a car to the Naples Centrale Train Station?
Progol, I'm going to try to book the Hotel Bellini as you suggested. Looks great! Maybe thinking of Atrani - Loved your picture - very beautiful.
Points of interest we would like to see/visit: Tour Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Tour Sorrento, Tour the Amalfi Coast (Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and/or Atrani). Take a boat tour to one of the villages and back. We have decided not to go to Capri. We would have loved to have seen Caserta but we think this is best left for another trip.
How much time do you think we need for Sorrento? Will 2-3 days be enough? If we spend 3 days in Sorrento, this will leave us only 4 days for the Amalfi Coast region. Or should we stay in one spot?
From Saturday, May 9 through May 18 we plan to be in southern Italy part- Naples, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast, etc.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
Feb 1st, 2020, 01:51 PM
#24
<<We fly into Milan for (3N) train to Venice (3N) and train to Florence (4N).
However, we are looking to change the stay in Venice to 2N and 3N in Florence. Now we are thinking of staying 2N in Bologna and then onto Florence after Venice. I know you can't have too much time in Florence; however, we were thinking of taking a cooking class in Bologna. I know you could do this in Florence as well but it is also a much bigger city. We will see if we can switch the days around. And, if not, it will be what it is. Any thoughts?>>
Can I ask why you have decided to add Bologna into the mix apart from a cookery course? 2 nights in Venice will give you at most 1 ˝ days there. Now I know that I've spent more time there than many here [probably about 2 months all told] so I'm obviously biased but even so, you won't be able to get more than a very superficial view of the city in that time which would be a shame. Don't get me wrong, I like Bologna - I've spent 3 weeks there during the last 2 years - but it's not Venice, and it's not Florence either for that matter. An easy rule of thumb is that you "lose" ˝ a day every time you move - in this case you'd have to get to the station in Venice, say 30 mins, another 15 to find and board your train, 1˝ hours for the train to get to Bologna, 30 mins to get to your hotel in a taxi - 15 mins to check in and that's 3 hours.
So my suggestion about this leg of your trip is don't do it - stick to 3 nights in Venice and 4 in Florence.
However, we are looking to change the stay in Venice to 2N and 3N in Florence. Now we are thinking of staying 2N in Bologna and then onto Florence after Venice. I know you can't have too much time in Florence; however, we were thinking of taking a cooking class in Bologna. I know you could do this in Florence as well but it is also a much bigger city. We will see if we can switch the days around. And, if not, it will be what it is. Any thoughts?>>
Can I ask why you have decided to add Bologna into the mix apart from a cookery course? 2 nights in Venice will give you at most 1 ˝ days there. Now I know that I've spent more time there than many here [probably about 2 months all told] so I'm obviously biased but even so, you won't be able to get more than a very superficial view of the city in that time which would be a shame. Don't get me wrong, I like Bologna - I've spent 3 weeks there during the last 2 years - but it's not Venice, and it's not Florence either for that matter. An easy rule of thumb is that you "lose" ˝ a day every time you move - in this case you'd have to get to the station in Venice, say 30 mins, another 15 to find and board your train, 1˝ hours for the train to get to Bologna, 30 mins to get to your hotel in a taxi - 15 mins to check in and that's 3 hours.
So my suggestion about this leg of your trip is don't do it - stick to 3 nights in Venice and 4 in Florence.
Feb 1st, 2020, 03:01 PM
#25
Way too many short stays for me, but it's your trip.
I like Milan more than most, but I wouldn't spend more time there than in Venice. Unless you have a long list of specific things you want to see/do in Milan, I wouldn't spend more than 2 nights there. Depending on the time of my arrival on Day 1, I might only spend one night and then travel onward to Venice in the afternoon of Day 2.
FWIW, you could reduce the number of hotel changes by staying longer in Florence and making easy day trips to Bologna, San Gim, Siena and Lucca. Or at least combine the San Gim and Siena nights at one hotel in Siena. (Palazzo Ravizza in Siena has parking and easy ingress/egress.)
But don't underestimate how much time you'd need to see all that interests you in Florence. If your days there include Sunday/Monday, use those days for trips or classes, etc., as many of the major sights are not open every Sunday or Monday. Make entry reservations where possible.
I can't figure out your plans or questions after Paestum. You might want to plot this out day by day and indicate how long you'd spend on each thing. For example, trying to visit Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in one day (from Sorrento??) wouldn't give you much time anywhere, especially if you're trying to work around ferry and bus timetables. One thing I do know, I wouldn't skip Capri, even if it was just a day trip and even if that meant I wouldn't see all of Sorrento.
I like Milan more than most, but I wouldn't spend more time there than in Venice. Unless you have a long list of specific things you want to see/do in Milan, I wouldn't spend more than 2 nights there. Depending on the time of my arrival on Day 1, I might only spend one night and then travel onward to Venice in the afternoon of Day 2.
FWIW, you could reduce the number of hotel changes by staying longer in Florence and making easy day trips to Bologna, San Gim, Siena and Lucca. Or at least combine the San Gim and Siena nights at one hotel in Siena. (Palazzo Ravizza in Siena has parking and easy ingress/egress.)
But don't underestimate how much time you'd need to see all that interests you in Florence. If your days there include Sunday/Monday, use those days for trips or classes, etc., as many of the major sights are not open every Sunday or Monday. Make entry reservations where possible.
I can't figure out your plans or questions after Paestum. You might want to plot this out day by day and indicate how long you'd spend on each thing. For example, trying to visit Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in one day (from Sorrento??) wouldn't give you much time anywhere, especially if you're trying to work around ferry and bus timetables. One thing I do know, I wouldn't skip Capri, even if it was just a day trip and even if that meant I wouldn't see all of Sorrento.
Feb 1st, 2020, 10:50 PM
#26
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Sorrento makes a good base for some sightseeing and, If you stay in Sorrento, you will automatically see it, so you do not really need time there for sightseeing. Pompeii is easy to see on the way to or from Naples and Sorrento. Stash luggage in storage at the entrance. Herculaneum, which I highly recommend, is easy to visit from Naples.
Mar 1st, 2020, 09:22 AM
#27
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The trip is booked for all the hotels. Most hotels have free cancellations and 2-4 do not. The biggest concern now is the coronavirus and whether to go or not. We have held off planning the excursions until we have decided on what we are doing. We could fly into another city and change around some of the hotels probably without a problem, but what if the coronavirus spreads farther out? Last time I checked it was up almost a thousand people SE of Milan!!! It seemed to be climbing at almost 300 cases a day.
I have heard that the State Dept. has Italy at a Level 3 and that UA is waiving change fee. The change fee for rescheduling flights (what I have heard) is only waived from the date of original purchase. Our original purchase date of the tickets was in December. We will be calling United Monday morning to see what our options are at this point. The Travel Agent told us her clients going in September can't even get the hotels they wanted since most hotels are now full. If we rebook for September or October we will not be able to secure the hotels of our choice or similar to what we have. I have learned that the Travel Insurance you buy doesn't effect if there is a crisis or/and epidemic outbreak in the country you are planning to go to. The trip insurance for cancellations only directly relates to if you if are severely sick and can't travel with a doctor's note.
As of right now we have flights going into Milan and most of the tourist attractions are closed due to the coronavirus! Ten to twevle small towns southeast of Milan are on lockdown (not that we going to those villages - there are police road blocks not allowing access anyways). Why would one head to Milan if all the tourist attractions are closed off to tourists. Our next stop was to Venice which was on lockdown for Mardi Gras. Don't know if it is still on lockdown.
Here is our Itinerary:
Milan (3N) → Venice (3N) → Florence (4N) → Cinque Terre (3N) → Lucca (1N) → San Gimignano (1N) → Siena (2N) → San Quirco d'Orcia (4N) → Orvieto (1N) → Paestum (1N) → Sorrento (4N) → Atrani (3N) → Sorrento (3N) → Rome (2N airport) return home.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone for those who have commented.
I have heard that the State Dept. has Italy at a Level 3 and that UA is waiving change fee. The change fee for rescheduling flights (what I have heard) is only waived from the date of original purchase. Our original purchase date of the tickets was in December. We will be calling United Monday morning to see what our options are at this point. The Travel Agent told us her clients going in September can't even get the hotels they wanted since most hotels are now full. If we rebook for September or October we will not be able to secure the hotels of our choice or similar to what we have. I have learned that the Travel Insurance you buy doesn't effect if there is a crisis or/and epidemic outbreak in the country you are planning to go to. The trip insurance for cancellations only directly relates to if you if are severely sick and can't travel with a doctor's note.
As of right now we have flights going into Milan and most of the tourist attractions are closed due to the coronavirus! Ten to twevle small towns southeast of Milan are on lockdown (not that we going to those villages - there are police road blocks not allowing access anyways). Why would one head to Milan if all the tourist attractions are closed off to tourists. Our next stop was to Venice which was on lockdown for Mardi Gras. Don't know if it is still on lockdown.
Here is our Itinerary:
Milan (3N) → Venice (3N) → Florence (4N) → Cinque Terre (3N) → Lucca (1N) → San Gimignano (1N) → Siena (2N) → San Quirco d'Orcia (4N) → Orvieto (1N) → Paestum (1N) → Sorrento (4N) → Atrani (3N) → Sorrento (3N) → Rome (2N airport) return home.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone for those who have commented.
Mar 2nd, 2020, 07:26 AM
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Mar 2nd, 2020, 11:53 AM
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<<Our next stop was to Venice which was on lockdown for Mardi Gras. Don't know if it is still on lockdown.>>
Cher-B Unlike the villages which have been put on quarantine, I don't think that Venice or Milan were ever on "lockdown" as such though they cancelled the last 2 days of Carnevale and all the museums and most of the churches along with the public schools were advertised as being closed until today. However when I just checked, they are now closed until 8th March. Here's the link for the website of the civic museums which when you click on it should show you when they are due to reopen:
https://muve.vivaticket.it/index.php
As for Milan, it looks as if some of them may be reopening on Wednesday:
https://pinacotecabrera.org/en/
https://www.milanocastello.it/en/con...-and-admission
I hope these links help.
Cher-B Unlike the villages which have been put on quarantine, I don't think that Venice or Milan were ever on "lockdown" as such though they cancelled the last 2 days of Carnevale and all the museums and most of the churches along with the public schools were advertised as being closed until today. However when I just checked, they are now closed until 8th March. Here's the link for the website of the civic museums which when you click on it should show you when they are due to reopen:
https://muve.vivaticket.it/index.php
As for Milan, it looks as if some of them may be reopening on Wednesday:
https://pinacotecabrera.org/en/
https://www.milanocastello.it/en/con...-and-admission
I hope these links help.
Mar 3rd, 2020, 06:06 AM
#31
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I may have missed your reason for backtracking on the Amalfi Coast. Your public transport options on the very curvy road will be often full buses and cancellable ferries. From Paestum, I’d recommend that you travel in one direction, Atrani—Sorrento—Rome, and add time in Atrani.
