Rome & Sicily- Here we come
Nov 28th, 2006, 12:15 PM
#1
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Rome & Sicily- Here we come
Hi all,
Well, after about 3 months of researching (lots from here by the way), changing, re-arranging, begging and compromising, we finally have the Christmas-New Years trip set (I think). It's all bought and paid for (mostly). Let me know what you think.
Arrive Rome morning of Dec 24. Inexpensive hotel in Rome, but not really next to major sites. Will let everyone know how this works out when we get back. Figure we'll try to see the Colosseo, Forum and Pantheon on the 24th. If not completely exhausted, will try to do the mass at the Pantheon. We don't really jetlag, as we change our sleeping habits the week prior to leaving.
25th - Mosey around Rome, see the public sites, walking, buses, whatever.
26th - Hopefully have the Vatican Museum tour for the morning. Ostia Antica afternoon.
27th - Have tickets to the Papal Audience, but might have to skip it if the museum tour doesn't happen until today--they are at the same time. More Rome wandering in the afternoon, maybe Appia Antica. Pick up the rental car.
28th - Drive down to Pompei, maybe Ercolano. Would love to do Paestum, but don't think we can pull it off. Take the night ferry from Naples to Palermo.
29th - Arrive Palermo real early (7 am), drive to C del Golfo for apartment. Drive over to Segesta, Cave di Costa and Selinunte. (we like driving)
30th - Probably drive to the Roman villa and Agrigento.
31st - Drive around the west coast. Try to stick in Monreal at some point.
1st - Drive around the middle of the island, see what is open or happening on a holiday.
2nd - Leave Palermo real early flight to Milan. Try to get a voluntary bump in Milan so we can extend the vacation another couple of days at the airline's expense. Ha ha.
Come home, deal with contractors and live-in inlaws. Uggghhh. Plan next trip.
Dave and Regina
We'll do a trip report on the return. Yes we like crappy weather.
Well, after about 3 months of researching (lots from here by the way), changing, re-arranging, begging and compromising, we finally have the Christmas-New Years trip set (I think). It's all bought and paid for (mostly). Let me know what you think.
Arrive Rome morning of Dec 24. Inexpensive hotel in Rome, but not really next to major sites. Will let everyone know how this works out when we get back. Figure we'll try to see the Colosseo, Forum and Pantheon on the 24th. If not completely exhausted, will try to do the mass at the Pantheon. We don't really jetlag, as we change our sleeping habits the week prior to leaving.
25th - Mosey around Rome, see the public sites, walking, buses, whatever.
26th - Hopefully have the Vatican Museum tour for the morning. Ostia Antica afternoon.
27th - Have tickets to the Papal Audience, but might have to skip it if the museum tour doesn't happen until today--they are at the same time. More Rome wandering in the afternoon, maybe Appia Antica. Pick up the rental car.
28th - Drive down to Pompei, maybe Ercolano. Would love to do Paestum, but don't think we can pull it off. Take the night ferry from Naples to Palermo.
29th - Arrive Palermo real early (7 am), drive to C del Golfo for apartment. Drive over to Segesta, Cave di Costa and Selinunte. (we like driving)
30th - Probably drive to the Roman villa and Agrigento.
31st - Drive around the west coast. Try to stick in Monreal at some point.
1st - Drive around the middle of the island, see what is open or happening on a holiday.
2nd - Leave Palermo real early flight to Milan. Try to get a voluntary bump in Milan so we can extend the vacation another couple of days at the airline's expense. Ha ha.
Come home, deal with contractors and live-in inlaws. Uggghhh. Plan next trip.
Dave and Regina
We'll do a trip report on the return. Yes we like crappy weather.
Nov 28th, 2006, 12:31 PM
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You're certainly approaching the trip with humor, and it will stand you in very good stead at the odd time some little thing goes wrong (as it almost inevitably will).
Two short remarks: I'd suggest that you make sure that you have reservations for dinner on December 24. It's the day most Italians celebrate at home, and relatively few restaurants are open. It's easier to find something open on December 25.
You'll be doing a lot of driving in Sicily, but (most of) the roads are better than you might think or fear.
Two short remarks: I'd suggest that you make sure that you have reservations for dinner on December 24. It's the day most Italians celebrate at home, and relatively few restaurants are open. It's easier to find something open on December 25.
You'll be doing a lot of driving in Sicily, but (most of) the roads are better than you might think or fear.
Nov 28th, 2006, 12:39 PM
#3
hope the inlaws don't read this forum!
Like the itinerary a lot - the pantheon is very close to the piazza navonna and campo dei fiori, so you could probably squeeze them in too. I'd suggest a taxi from the forum and colosseum to maximise what you can see in the light.
I'd consider a guide for the forum at least - otherwise it's just a heap of stones! [at least, that's what it looked like to me!]
Have a great time.
Like the itinerary a lot - the pantheon is very close to the piazza navonna and campo dei fiori, so you could probably squeeze them in too. I'd suggest a taxi from the forum and colosseum to maximise what you can see in the light.
I'd consider a guide for the forum at least - otherwise it's just a heap of stones! [at least, that's what it looked like to me!]
Have a great time.
Nov 28th, 2006, 02:09 PM
#4
Mass at the Pantheon instead of the Vatican?
How much does cost to take the car on the ferry? I would think it would be cheaper/easier to rent a car in Sicily, but maybe by the time you add train tickets from Rome to Naples it works out about the same. I wouldn't recommend anyone driving in Naples. Have you driven there before?
Still, the car rental on the 27th doesn't make sense. You are going to rent a car while still staying in the city which means you have to pay to park a car you aren't driving.
How much does cost to take the car on the ferry? I would think it would be cheaper/easier to rent a car in Sicily, but maybe by the time you add train tickets from Rome to Naples it works out about the same. I wouldn't recommend anyone driving in Naples. Have you driven there before?
Still, the car rental on the 27th doesn't make sense. You are going to rent a car while still staying in the city which means you have to pay to park a car you aren't driving.
Nov 28th, 2006, 03:25 PM
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It worked out weird with the car. SNAV had a special on the ferry a while back, you paid for a cabin and the car cost 1 euro. As to the "rental parking", actually we don't pick up the car until the evening of the 27th, car rental place is about 5 blocks from the hotel. We want to leave Rome like about 6 am on the 28th.
There is a parking garage a couple of blocks from the hotel, so have to pay for 1 day, unless the rental company allows access real early.
The reason we are renting in Rome and returning in Palermo is because cost is the same, due to a weekly rate. Also we want to leave real early for Pompei, to possibly drop down to Paestum. The train gets in much later than if we drive.
Oh and as to the driving amount...during our last trip to the UK, we took our Japanese friends on a 10 day, 800 mile trip in a van. They were amazed at how far we drove. What they didn't understand was that we think nothing of driving straight from Florida to NY. Heck, the amount of driving we'll be doing on this trip will be like nothing.
Thanks to everyone for all the help in planning this trip. You have saved us a ton of money and given us some great ideas.
Dave
There is a parking garage a couple of blocks from the hotel, so have to pay for 1 day, unless the rental company allows access real early.
The reason we are renting in Rome and returning in Palermo is because cost is the same, due to a weekly rate. Also we want to leave real early for Pompei, to possibly drop down to Paestum. The train gets in much later than if we drive.
Oh and as to the driving amount...during our last trip to the UK, we took our Japanese friends on a 10 day, 800 mile trip in a van. They were amazed at how far we drove. What they didn't understand was that we think nothing of driving straight from Florida to NY. Heck, the amount of driving we'll be doing on this trip will be like nothing.
Thanks to everyone for all the help in planning this trip. You have saved us a ton of money and given us some great ideas.
Dave
Nov 28th, 2006, 04:10 PM
#6
Wow! What a bargain on SNAV. Be careful driving in Naples which is much more hectic than Rome. I find the overnight ferries a relaxing way to travel and usually cheaper than a hotel. I haven't been on SNAV, but the Superfast from Bari to Patras had nice cabins, casino, movie theater, disco, etc.
