Two girls planning a birthday bash in Tuscany, Amalfi and Rome
Feb 7th, 2007, 10:16 AM
#1
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Two girls planning a birthday bash in Tuscany, Amalfi and Rome
Looking for La Dolce Vita – will this itinerary help us to achieve it?
We are open to all your wonderful and helpful suggestions.
June 28 - Roundtrip to Rome from Los Angeles
Train to Florence
3 nights in Florence
day trips to Sienna, Lucca, Chianti if possible
(already been in Pisa, San Gimignano, La Spezia and Cinque Terre)
Train to Naples from Florence
Ferry to Ischia
2 nights in Ischia
Ferry to Positano
3 nights
day trips to Pompeii, Sorrento, Ravello
(already been in Amalfi, Capri)
Car to Naples train station
Train to Rome
2 nights in Rome
We are open to all your wonderful and helpful suggestions.
June 28 - Roundtrip to Rome from Los Angeles
Train to Florence
3 nights in Florence
day trips to Sienna, Lucca, Chianti if possible
(already been in Pisa, San Gimignano, La Spezia and Cinque Terre)
Train to Naples from Florence
Ferry to Ischia
2 nights in Ischia
Ferry to Positano
3 nights
day trips to Pompeii, Sorrento, Ravello
(already been in Amalfi, Capri)
Car to Naples train station
Train to Rome
2 nights in Rome
Feb 7th, 2007, 10:46 AM
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Lilit, I had a B-day bash in Italy/Spain with friends in 2005. I highly recommend it! Enjoyed Venice, Rome, Umbria/Tuscany before a final stop in Ischia.
We spent a few days on Ischia (4 nights, actually). None of us had been there and we really liked it. We were there at the very end of May and things were open, the water was swimmable, but the heavy tourist hordes had not yet arrived. It may be a bit busier when you are there.
Where are you staying? If you like natural hot springs, don't miss the ones bubbling out of the sea near Ponza. You walk down a long long flight of stone stairs to a narrow rocky beach. There is one little restaurant/bar there, with a few chairs for rent, or you can just spread a towel on the rocks (what we did) and then wallow around in the cool sea, finding the "hot spots" where the mineral water is coming up from the sea floor.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Very fun!
We also encountered friendly people, good scenery, good food & wine, a gorgeous botanical garden and were there for the Corpus Christi holy day, complete with flower-petal 'paintings' and little girls dressed as angels (w/tennis shoes on!). Lovely memories.
We had planned to go on to Sorrento, but fell under the spell of Ischia (and the great low prices at that time of year) and so did our long daytrip to Pompeii (first visit there, outmet my expectations) from Ischia, via Naples.
You have some great stops planned. Any reason why not Venice? Perhaps you've been before, but I find I can't get enough of it!
We spent a few days on Ischia (4 nights, actually). None of us had been there and we really liked it. We were there at the very end of May and things were open, the water was swimmable, but the heavy tourist hordes had not yet arrived. It may be a bit busier when you are there.
Where are you staying? If you like natural hot springs, don't miss the ones bubbling out of the sea near Ponza. You walk down a long long flight of stone stairs to a narrow rocky beach. There is one little restaurant/bar there, with a few chairs for rent, or you can just spread a towel on the rocks (what we did) and then wallow around in the cool sea, finding the "hot spots" where the mineral water is coming up from the sea floor.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Very fun!
We also encountered friendly people, good scenery, good food & wine, a gorgeous botanical garden and were there for the Corpus Christi holy day, complete with flower-petal 'paintings' and little girls dressed as angels (w/tennis shoes on!). Lovely memories.
We had planned to go on to Sorrento, but fell under the spell of Ischia (and the great low prices at that time of year) and so did our long daytrip to Pompeii (first visit there, outmet my expectations) from Ischia, via Naples.
You have some great stops planned. Any reason why not Venice? Perhaps you've been before, but I find I can't get enough of it!
Feb 7th, 2007, 11:24 AM
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And Venice.....
My god....
It's a dream .....
contact me for you offer in Venice
www.ivangianni.it
[email protected]
very chip......
see you
...
My god....
It's a dream .....
contact me for you offer in Venice
www.ivangianni.it
[email protected]
very chip......
see you
...
Feb 7th, 2007, 11:30 AM
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Dear Annabelle,
wow, thanks for your encouragement.
I will never get enough of Italy. This will be my third trip there. I have been in Venice and loved it.
A couple of months ago I met a very charming Italian couple from Naples while was touring in San Francisco. They own a small B&B in Ischia (Hotel Hotel La Madonnina) and invited us there. How could I reject this offer, right? I will certainly check out the natural hot springs you mentioned.
wow, thanks for your encouragement.
I will never get enough of Italy. This will be my third trip there. I have been in Venice and loved it.
A couple of months ago I met a very charming Italian couple from Naples while was touring in San Francisco. They own a small B&B in Ischia (Hotel Hotel La Madonnina) and invited us there. How could I reject this offer, right? I will certainly check out the natural hot springs you mentioned.
Feb 7th, 2007, 01:36 PM
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Hi L,
You arrive in Florence on day 1, you take a daytrip to Sienna and another to Lucca.
You arrive in Positano. Next day you take a daytrip to Sorrento and Pompeii and the next a visit to Ravello.
How come you aren't taking any daytrips from Rome?
I suggest a little less La Dolce Vita and a little more Il Dolce Far Niente.
You arrive in Florence on day 1, you take a daytrip to Sienna and another to Lucca.
You arrive in Positano. Next day you take a daytrip to Sorrento and Pompeii and the next a visit to Ravello.
How come you aren't taking any daytrips from Rome?
I suggest a little less La Dolce Vita and a little more Il Dolce Far Niente.
Feb 7th, 2007, 04:37 PM
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Ira,
what do you mean?
You are always full of wise advises. Please help!
We are planning to do some shopping in Rome before we return and no more day trips.
Does our agenda sound OK? What would you change?
what do you mean?
You are always full of wise advises. Please help!
We are planning to do some shopping in Rome before we return and no more day trips.
Does our agenda sound OK? What would you change?
Feb 7th, 2007, 05:26 PM
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Lilit
I won't speak for anyone else, but a little slowing down might be a bit more fun.
You are going from LA to Florence and that is a very long trip. Shopping is fabulous in Florence and I think you have too many day trips. Siena is good if you've never been there, but Lucca doesn't have that much to offer to day trippers, and Chianti takes some riding and walking. Have you been to Fiesole? In Florence, I think slowing down would be better. Day one is pretty shot as it is.
For Positano, you can probably skip Sorrento...many people think of it as a base, and you aren't basing there, so...
Or if you are getting a car to Naples train station, do as many here have done and have them stop in Pompeii.
Swim, sun, shop, eat, stroll... slow down, is my suggestion.
I won't speak for anyone else, but a little slowing down might be a bit more fun.
You are going from LA to Florence and that is a very long trip. Shopping is fabulous in Florence and I think you have too many day trips. Siena is good if you've never been there, but Lucca doesn't have that much to offer to day trippers, and Chianti takes some riding and walking. Have you been to Fiesole? In Florence, I think slowing down would be better. Day one is pretty shot as it is.
For Positano, you can probably skip Sorrento...many people think of it as a base, and you aren't basing there, so...
Or if you are getting a car to Naples train station, do as many here have done and have them stop in Pompeii.
Swim, sun, shop, eat, stroll... slow down, is my suggestion.
Feb 8th, 2007, 05:58 AM
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Overall I like it. I am not sure why so many day trips from Florence. I would hire a private driver one day and do Chianti and Siena both that day.
I think from Ischia you must ferry to Capri first and then to Positano, but you must know the drill. You will have fun--hard not to at these places.
I think from Ischia you must ferry to Capri first and then to Positano, but you must know the drill. You will have fun--hard not to at these places.
Feb 8th, 2007, 06:48 AM
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Hi
I would vote for more days in Rome
OK, to be honest I don't have any experience with the other destinations on your list but Rome is great. Here is a trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . My wife and I went there in July 2005 and we stayed for 5-6 days and it was a great experience. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip
regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
I would vote for more days in Rome
OK, to be honest I don't have any experience with the other destinations on your list but Rome is great. Here is a trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . My wife and I went there in July 2005 and we stayed for 5-6 days and it was a great experience. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
Feb 8th, 2007, 12:28 PM
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RE: transportation to Ischia -- you can take either a ferry or a hydrofoil from Naples to Ischia.
We arrived (5 hours late, but that is another story) in Naples by train and then took a short (wild!) taxi ride to the ferry terminal. There are several different boat companies with different routes & different types of boats (see above) but it was not hard to stand back & check the different prices and schedules and then buy a ticket.
We arrived (5 hours late, but that is another story) in Naples by train and then took a short (wild!) taxi ride to the ferry terminal. There are several different boat companies with different routes & different types of boats (see above) but it was not hard to stand back & check the different prices and schedules and then buy a ticket.
Feb 8th, 2007, 12:52 PM
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Great ideas.
Thanks to all of you for your input.
We now have an idea how to plan our trip that we are so looking forward to (certainly eliminating the rush-rush part).
And for the records, this is the year we are saying goodbye to our twenties.
Ciao! If we encounter anything new, we'll let you know.
Thanks to all of you for your input.
We now have an idea how to plan our trip that we are so looking forward to (certainly eliminating the rush-rush part).
And for the records, this is the year we are saying goodbye to our twenties.
Ciao! If we encounter anything new, we'll let you know.
