Siena, Pompeii, Rome
Jan 1st, 2012, 01:47 PM
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Siena, Pompeii, Rome
My daughter will be studying in Siena and I will be visiting her in May so would appreciate advice.
1. I will be flying from London to Florence. Is bus the best way to get from Florence to Siena? How far is the bus station from the airport? Would taxi be the best way to get to the bus station? Any idea of cost? Is tipping expected?
2. I will not have a car during my stay in Italy. How many days should I plan in Siena? Any suggestions of hotels very centrally located (3 star) and not at the top of a steep hill?
Must see/do while in Siena?
3. We want to visit Pompeii, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast for a long weekend together. Again, we will not have a car. Is Sorrento a good place to stay to do day trips from? Any hotel suggestions (3 or 4 star)?
4. Will 3 days be enough time? If we wanted to hire a driver for a half day (or day) how would we go about doing that? What are the must see places in that area in addition to Pompeii?
5. After Pompeii/Sorrento, my daughter will return to Siena and I will go to Rome. What's the best way for her to get from Naples to Siena? I read about different options and I'm sensing from my reading that it might be best to take the train to Rome, then a metro to a bus station (?), and then a bus to Siena? Does anyone know about this? (same advice needed from Siena to Naples. I know about the train from Naples to Sorrento).
6. Fodor's has hotel recommendations based on areas within Rome. What would be a good area to stay in that's centrally located? (Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Vatican?).
I plan to stay in Rome 4 nights. Hotel suggestions with breakfast (3 stars) and a friendly staff that speaks English?
7. Is tipping expected in Italy for taxis, people who help with luggage, tour guides? Please advise as I know not every country is like the US in this regard.
8. When traveling on buses, where is the luggage stored? Do they put it under the bus and is it safe? What about the trains. We will have a 24 inch suitcase.
Thank you so much for your help.
Nancy
1. I will be flying from London to Florence. Is bus the best way to get from Florence to Siena? How far is the bus station from the airport? Would taxi be the best way to get to the bus station? Any idea of cost? Is tipping expected?
2. I will not have a car during my stay in Italy. How many days should I plan in Siena? Any suggestions of hotels very centrally located (3 star) and not at the top of a steep hill?
Must see/do while in Siena?
3. We want to visit Pompeii, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast for a long weekend together. Again, we will not have a car. Is Sorrento a good place to stay to do day trips from? Any hotel suggestions (3 or 4 star)?
4. Will 3 days be enough time? If we wanted to hire a driver for a half day (or day) how would we go about doing that? What are the must see places in that area in addition to Pompeii?
5. After Pompeii/Sorrento, my daughter will return to Siena and I will go to Rome. What's the best way for her to get from Naples to Siena? I read about different options and I'm sensing from my reading that it might be best to take the train to Rome, then a metro to a bus station (?), and then a bus to Siena? Does anyone know about this? (same advice needed from Siena to Naples. I know about the train from Naples to Sorrento).
6. Fodor's has hotel recommendations based on areas within Rome. What would be a good area to stay in that's centrally located? (Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Vatican?).
I plan to stay in Rome 4 nights. Hotel suggestions with breakfast (3 stars) and a friendly staff that speaks English?
7. Is tipping expected in Italy for taxis, people who help with luggage, tour guides? Please advise as I know not every country is like the US in this regard.
8. When traveling on buses, where is the luggage stored? Do they put it under the bus and is it safe? What about the trains. We will have a 24 inch suitcase.
Thank you so much for your help.
Nancy
Jan 1st, 2012, 02:30 PM
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1. You can take a bus from the airport in Florence to the central train station in Florence, where you can take either a train or bus to Siena. The train station in Siena is slightly outside the town center, so you might prefer take the bus, which goes right to the town center. It depends on where you are meeting your daughter and how much luggage you have. If you take the train to Siena, you can easily find a taxi to take you where you want to go.
2. You should look at a good guidebook and do internet research to learn what there is in Siena that matches your interests. Personally, I don't like the town all that much, while other people think it hangs the moon, so what does it mean for a few other people you don't know on the interet to tell you what to see or how long to stay? As for where to stay, I recommend you research places on Tripadvisor, and then ask your daughter if she thinks they are convenient. Whereever you stay in Sieana, you need to be able to comfortably climb hills if you intend to do any sightseeing.
3. Sorrento is a convenient base for seeing Pompeii and the Amalfi coast, but it is very touristy.
4. Read a guidebook or two.
5. Your daughter should figure out for herself whether she would rather take buses or trains to get from Sorrento to Siena.
6. The best area to stay in in Rome is one that is central to your intersts. Some areas a good for shopping, some are good for seeing the ancient sites of Rome, others for seeing the Vatican, others for the atmosphere of Rome as the Eternal City. Most of Rome is walkable no matter where you stay, Look on Tripadvisor or Booking.com for a place with breakfast (3 stars) and a friendly staff that speaks English.
7. Italians do not tip for taxis and people who help with luggage. A charge for service is included in your restaurant bill. I don't know about tour guides.
8. When traveling on buses, luggage is safely stored under the bus. On the train, you put it the rack over your seat. Someone will help you if you have trouble lifting a heavy bag.
2. You should look at a good guidebook and do internet research to learn what there is in Siena that matches your interests. Personally, I don't like the town all that much, while other people think it hangs the moon, so what does it mean for a few other people you don't know on the interet to tell you what to see or how long to stay? As for where to stay, I recommend you research places on Tripadvisor, and then ask your daughter if she thinks they are convenient. Whereever you stay in Sieana, you need to be able to comfortably climb hills if you intend to do any sightseeing.
3. Sorrento is a convenient base for seeing Pompeii and the Amalfi coast, but it is very touristy.
4. Read a guidebook or two.
5. Your daughter should figure out for herself whether she would rather take buses or trains to get from Sorrento to Siena.
6. The best area to stay in in Rome is one that is central to your intersts. Some areas a good for shopping, some are good for seeing the ancient sites of Rome, others for seeing the Vatican, others for the atmosphere of Rome as the Eternal City. Most of Rome is walkable no matter where you stay, Look on Tripadvisor or Booking.com for a place with breakfast (3 stars) and a friendly staff that speaks English.
7. Italians do not tip for taxis and people who help with luggage. A charge for service is included in your restaurant bill. I don't know about tour guides.
8. When traveling on buses, luggage is safely stored under the bus. On the train, you put it the rack over your seat. Someone will help you if you have trouble lifting a heavy bag.
Jan 1st, 2012, 02:35 PM
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PS: Have a fun trip! If you have problems climbing hills or walking, you need to factor that in to your plans to see the Amalfi coast and Pompei. Both require being comfortable spending hours on your feet and stamina.
Jan 1st, 2012, 04:26 PM
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Pack light. There are no porters to carry luggage at Italian train stations. At most stations (not terminuses/termini) you will have to carry your bags up and down stairs.
3/4. From Sorrento you can make excursions to Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi coast. Each of these would take about a day, Pompeii half a day plus. Then there's Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Naples (the archeological museum there has some of the best stuff from Pompeii), etc. You have to research and decide which are the must-sees for you, given how long you have to stay.
We left our luggage in storage (deposito bagagli) at the train station in Naples, did a quick trip (by subway) to the archeological museum, then returned and continued our train trip north.
It's hard to recommend a hotel without knowing your budget. 3 and 4 star hotels can vary in price a lot. The area around Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori is central and walkable to the main sights.
You really will be doing a lot of walking so bring supportive shoes that can handle cobblestones.
3/4. From Sorrento you can make excursions to Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi coast. Each of these would take about a day, Pompeii half a day plus. Then there's Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Naples (the archeological museum there has some of the best stuff from Pompeii), etc. You have to research and decide which are the must-sees for you, given how long you have to stay.
We left our luggage in storage (deposito bagagli) at the train station in Naples, did a quick trip (by subway) to the archeological museum, then returned and continued our train trip north.
It's hard to recommend a hotel without knowing your budget. 3 and 4 star hotels can vary in price a lot. The area around Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori is central and walkable to the main sights.
You really will be doing a lot of walking so bring supportive shoes that can handle cobblestones.
Jan 1st, 2012, 04:28 PM
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Since you mention hotel stars so frequently, I think you should know (and maybe you do already) that the star system for hotels in Europe isn't the same as in the USA.
http://goeurope.about.com/cs/hotels/a/hotel_stars.htm
http://goeurope.about.com/cs/hotels/a/hotel_stars.htm
Jan 1st, 2012, 04:37 PM
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As far as what to see and do in Siena, your daughter should have a good idea of the best things by the time you get there. You can get recommendations for hotels by searching on this forum. Use the search function and enter "Rome hotels", etc.
Jan 1st, 2012, 06:14 PM
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"What's the best way for her to get from Naples to Siena?"
See www.trenitalia.it. The train takes 4 hours to get to Florence from Naples. Bus timetable Florence to Siena - http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/F...-Siena2010.pdf. Takes about 1hr 15min.
See www.trenitalia.it. The train takes 4 hours to get to Florence from Naples. Bus timetable Florence to Siena - http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/F...-Siena2010.pdf. Takes about 1hr 15min.
Jan 1st, 2012, 07:28 PM
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The bus between Rome and Siena is the Sena bus.
http://www.sena.it/
http://www.sena.it/
Jan 1st, 2012, 08:09 PM
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Actually KY's suggestion of taking the train to Rome and bus to Siena would be quicker by 1 hour providing you take the express from Naples. According to Trenitalia that only takes 1 hour. Phew, that's flying!
Jan 2nd, 2012, 02:15 AM
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Train best SMN station Florence to Siena station
www.booking.com hotelscombined.com for hotels
Go a lot www.seat61.com/italy fast trains are best everywhere regional trains cheaper better thanbus. intercontinental Rome
Ville Spanish Steps for me $180 bidding priceline.com
in May for Rome.In May we took the fast train Rome to Naples 1 hour then Curcumvesuviana 4 euro to Sorrento Majestic Palace hotel wasgreat to visit Pompeii from. Onebaf.com
best for us if you have lors of bags tip 1 euro per bag.Housekeepers I givre 1 euro per person per nite for lots
better service.
Happy Planning.
www.booking.com hotelscombined.com for hotels
Go a lot www.seat61.com/italy fast trains are best everywhere regional trains cheaper better thanbus. intercontinental Rome
Ville Spanish Steps for me $180 bidding priceline.com
in May for Rome.In May we took the fast train Rome to Naples 1 hour then Curcumvesuviana 4 euro to Sorrento Majestic Palace hotel wasgreat to visit Pompeii from. Onebaf.com
best for us if you have lors of bags tip 1 euro per bag.Housekeepers I givre 1 euro per person per nite for lots
better service.
Happy Planning.
Jan 2nd, 2012, 02:21 AM
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Il Chiostro Del Carmine in Siena my fav 80 euro or so
restored 14th-century monastery, with great views of the countryside. It is less than a 10 minute walk from Piazza del Campo. booking.com onebag.com great packing tips light is
always better.
restored 14th-century monastery, with great views of the countryside. It is less than a 10 minute walk from Piazza del Campo. booking.com onebag.com great packing tips light is
always better.
Jan 2nd, 2012, 02:35 AM
#12
hi njs -
a couple of Qs - have you already booked flights or are you still working out the length of your trip? I ask because you are asking how long to spend in the Naples area which suggests that you have some flexibility.
and are you planning to go straight from landing in Florence airport to siena, of to spend some time in Florence?
a couple of Qs - have you already booked flights or are you still working out the length of your trip? I ask because you are asking how long to spend in the Naples area which suggests that you have some flexibility.
and are you planning to go straight from landing in Florence airport to siena, of to spend some time in Florence?
Jan 2nd, 2012, 08:52 AM
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I'd like to ditto others' advice to pack light--say one carry one and a day bag. You will be going up and down MANY stairs and off and on buses and trains. It will make your trip MUCH easier if you aren't trying to lug around large, heavy and numerous bags.
Two days was enough of Sienna for me.
If you take the bus to Sienna, be sure to get off up the hill in town. Our bus stopped outside of town first. The bus was clean, comfortable and not at all crowded.
If your daughter takes the bus to Sienna from Rome, search out the exact location of the bus terminal before that day. It is very difficult to find. It is across the road from a train station but not easy to see. Once you find the bus lot, you don't buy tickets or check in at the first little ticket building--that is for something else. You go further back and the ticket office is right in front of where the buses are parked. We nearly missed our bus because of this. She needs to give herself plenty of time.
Two days was enough of Sienna for me.
If you take the bus to Sienna, be sure to get off up the hill in town. Our bus stopped outside of town first. The bus was clean, comfortable and not at all crowded.
If your daughter takes the bus to Sienna from Rome, search out the exact location of the bus terminal before that day. It is very difficult to find. It is across the road from a train station but not easy to see. Once you find the bus lot, you don't buy tickets or check in at the first little ticket building--that is for something else. You go further back and the ticket office is right in front of where the buses are parked. We nearly missed our bus because of this. She needs to give herself plenty of time.
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