Study abroad student-First timer to Italy and Europe in general..need advice please!!
Feb 20th, 2005, 08:28 AM
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Study abroad student-First timer to Italy and Europe in general..need advice please!!
I will be doing study abroad from the middle of May to the middle of June and will be staying in Tuscany (Siena I believe). I would love to see as much as I can of Italy and then spend a week or two longer to explore other countries also because who knows if I'll ever make it back to Europe.
Because I will only have the weekends to travel during my studies, I was wondering if anyone could help me out to let me know if I'm being realistic with my plans. I would love to see Rome, Venice, Florence, Sardinia and Naples. Are weekend trips something that can be done? Is there any other city that is a "must-see"? Keep in mind I won't be renting a car while there.
Also, what are the options for traveling to Sardinia? What is the best travel option? And should you stay in the north or south? I'm looking for the best beaches and I heard about Neptunes grotto that is cool.
Please help! Any other advice or tips would be awesome!!! Thanks everyone!
Because I will only have the weekends to travel during my studies, I was wondering if anyone could help me out to let me know if I'm being realistic with my plans. I would love to see Rome, Venice, Florence, Sardinia and Naples. Are weekend trips something that can be done? Is there any other city that is a "must-see"? Keep in mind I won't be renting a car while there.
Also, what are the options for traveling to Sardinia? What is the best travel option? And should you stay in the north or south? I'm looking for the best beaches and I heard about Neptunes grotto that is cool.
Please help! Any other advice or tips would be awesome!!! Thanks everyone!
Feb 20th, 2005, 10:23 AM
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You DO have (way to?) big ambitions for your (only three) weekends - - oh, and what about doing any actual SCHOOLWORK outside of class, huh? (sorry, just had to razz you)!
Depending on the "week or two longer", you can do some sampling of most, if not all of these areas - - especially if you budget to be able to afford all this traveling.
I think while you are in Tuscany, you should confine your traveling to Tuscany, and add Rome, if possible.
On www.whichbudget.com you can see that Meridiana flies from either FLR (Florence, a litle airport, but easier for you to get to?) or PSA (Pisa, somewhat larger) to Cagliari on the island of Sardinia. So, after your stay in Tuscany, you could do a triangle - - to Cagliari, and then to Naples, and then to Venice.
Prsonally, I think you should stay in Italy - - get to know the country whose language will be coming more and more comfortable to you during your study month.
As an altrnative, you could choose one city outside Italy - - fly from Italy there and then fly home from there - - Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam or Madrid all come to mind.
If you have the time and money to do all of this!
Best wishes,
Rex
Depending on the "week or two longer", you can do some sampling of most, if not all of these areas - - especially if you budget to be able to afford all this traveling.
I think while you are in Tuscany, you should confine your traveling to Tuscany, and add Rome, if possible.
On www.whichbudget.com you can see that Meridiana flies from either FLR (Florence, a litle airport, but easier for you to get to?) or PSA (Pisa, somewhat larger) to Cagliari on the island of Sardinia. So, after your stay in Tuscany, you could do a triangle - - to Cagliari, and then to Naples, and then to Venice.
Prsonally, I think you should stay in Italy - - get to know the country whose language will be coming more and more comfortable to you during your study month.
As an altrnative, you could choose one city outside Italy - - fly from Italy there and then fly home from there - - Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam or Madrid all come to mind.
If you have the time and money to do all of this!
Best wishes,
Rex
Feb 20th, 2005, 02:15 PM
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Hi
I think that Rex's advice is good: see Tuscany on your weekends. Florence will be easy, and there are so many other great places to see by train or bus.
I do believe that you could include Rome on one of your weekends, if you do some decent planning. You could catch a train to Rome immediately after you last class of the week, and then stay until Sunday night or Monday morning, if your classes run late enough.
While in Siena, you can become familiar with your travel options. Your school may also have good information for you. The tourist offices in Siena can also help.
If you have two weekends, I suggest one in Florence and one in Rome. If you have three, pick a small town in Tuscany for a totally different experience. Perhaps Pienza, which I love. I guess a lot depends on what your interests are.
You could then travel to Naples when your studies are over. I am not sure how cheaply one can travel from Naples to Venice, but I would go there next. If I had to choose between Venice or Naples, I would so choose Venice. It is just something that must be seen, IMO.
I am sorry that I don't know much about Sardinia. If it is high on your list, I am sure you will find a way.
Finally, I definetly like Rex's idea of flying out of Venice into another city in another country on your way home. I think that Ryan Air has cheap flights from Venice to London. l
At this point, I suggest trimming down your list. You WILL go back if you want to!
And allow room for serendipity... who knows what you'll want to do when you really get there?
Finally, I am envious. I wish I had had the foresight to seek some greater adventures in my student days. Good for you!
I think that Rex's advice is good: see Tuscany on your weekends. Florence will be easy, and there are so many other great places to see by train or bus.
I do believe that you could include Rome on one of your weekends, if you do some decent planning. You could catch a train to Rome immediately after you last class of the week, and then stay until Sunday night or Monday morning, if your classes run late enough.
While in Siena, you can become familiar with your travel options. Your school may also have good information for you. The tourist offices in Siena can also help.
If you have two weekends, I suggest one in Florence and one in Rome. If you have three, pick a small town in Tuscany for a totally different experience. Perhaps Pienza, which I love. I guess a lot depends on what your interests are.
You could then travel to Naples when your studies are over. I am not sure how cheaply one can travel from Naples to Venice, but I would go there next. If I had to choose between Venice or Naples, I would so choose Venice. It is just something that must be seen, IMO.
I am sorry that I don't know much about Sardinia. If it is high on your list, I am sure you will find a way.
Finally, I definetly like Rex's idea of flying out of Venice into another city in another country on your way home. I think that Ryan Air has cheap flights from Venice to London. l
At this point, I suggest trimming down your list. You WILL go back if you want to!
And allow room for serendipity... who knows what you'll want to do when you really get there?
Finally, I am envious. I wish I had had the foresight to seek some greater adventures in my student days. Good for you!
