Trip in July to Italy and spain by rail

Old May 29th, 2009, 05:31 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Trip in July to Italy and spain by rail

Hi,

I am planning for a trip to Italy and spain

am planning for:
1day venice
2 days florence with one day tour to piza
2 days rome
2 days barcelona
2 days cordoba with one day tour to granada
3 days marbella with one day tour to seville

Please give me advice on best places to c in barcelona?

regarding trains may I ask u if I shall buy seperate tickets or a two country pass? as I cannot decide on this, I need six train tickets and the renfe website is not very clear to buy tickets (I can't even find explanation for the fares: estrella, Nino, etc..) so what's the experts advice on this

Thanks in advance
Dimabt is offline  
Old May 29th, 2009, 05:45 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 36,778
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
You need to drop a country because your schedule is much too hectic and you will be spending all your time on trains.

A pass is almost never cost effective for Italy.
kybourbon is offline  
Old May 29th, 2009, 06:43 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You just have enouh time for your 3 Italy destinations---or your 3 Spain destinations--certainly not both.

A train from Rome to Barcelona will take a long long time--do you have a map?
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old May 29th, 2009, 08:26 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks both,


actually I am removing the travel days from the scedule I gave u and am flying from rome to Barcelona..the trip is a total of 13 days. To tell u the truthI know that it is hectic but this is the first time me and my husband r travelling to europe and we r enthusiastic about going around many places by train.

I think time is short in barcelona and rome, that's why I need to know what must be seen there as am going to skip many things.

it's true the seperate tickets are more cost effective but I cannot buy spain tickets through the renfe website because I don't understand!!so shall I buy tickets for italy and a pass for spain..

If I must delete from the destinations which shall I remove.
Dimabt is offline  
Old May 29th, 2009, 08:44 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You must be talking about the Italy-Spain pass and you are flying between Italy and Spain and not going by land via France.

for lots on train travel in these countries and passes: www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id35.html

And with passes in Spain and Italy you still must pay for reservation fees for most long-distance trains and factor that into the pass prices.
Palenque is offline  
Old May 29th, 2009, 11:50 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Plan 3 trips in advance--you will return.
We have had more time than you, but we have done 5 trips to Spain and still have not seen it, and are going back for our 15th trip to Italy in Sep. You will learn to plan geographically--Spain and Italy do not mix.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old May 31st, 2009, 01:59 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello Guys,

So 3 votes for not going to italy and spain together in 15 days.. any votes for doing that? I already booked internal flights tickets
Dimabt is offline  
Old May 31st, 2009, 03:49 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In that case, just do a two-city trip, Rome and Barcelona, and forget about the train altogether, at least in Italy. Honestly, that would make a much more enjoyable trip. Rome is definitely worth half your total time; I haven't been to Barcelona so I can't advise on that half but if it were my trip I'd probably stay there or possibly somewhere else in Catalonia as a base.

Do Venice, Tuscany, and southern Spain some other time (and separately).
Nonconformist is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2009, 10:38 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks guys for the great help.. I think i'll spend most time in rome and barcelona 4 nights each, and i'll spend 2 nights in venice.

can u advice regarding places that have to be seen in barcelona?
Dimabt is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2009, 10:46 AM
  #10  
yk
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Please check Maribel's guides for Barcelona:
http://maribelsguides.com/#barcelona

There's certainly enough to see and do in Barcelona to take up 4 full days.
yk is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ashleyebrown
Europe
7
Oct 17th, 2013 08:48 AM
dizzy03
Europe
17
Nov 18th, 2012 01:11 PM
jenniferchantal
Europe
6
Sep 3rd, 2007 04:05 AM
rileysmom
Europe
6
Feb 2nd, 2006 08:34 PM
elisabet
Europe
4
Dec 22nd, 2003 11:14 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -