It takes about 3 hours to get from Cinque Terre to Florence and requires at least one change of train somewhere. To continue on to Perugia, one would have to change trains again in Florence to the aforementioned 2 hour train to Perugia.

Rome to Florence is 1.5 hours north by fastest train, no changes required.

For Florence to Perugia, the train route heads southeast on a different train line than the Rome route, with only slower trains from which to choose.

Aw jeepers. I had left this thread, because I didn't want to best a dead horse, but I'm back because I couldn't resist beating this one.

I wouldn't dream of leaving Rome to spend a day at a beach within an easy commute of the city, in May. I would probably want to smack my husband if he suggested it. You simply can't get a sense of Rome in the very limited amount of time you have there.

Do you live in the USA? Where there are hundreds, if not thousands, of great beaches?

Will you be going back to Italy soon? Will you get to see the dozens of incredible sights in Rome in the next couple of years?

I just wouldn't do it; it doesn't make sense. However, it is your time and money, and if your husband wants to go to a just OK beach on a just OK train, eating up a day of a short trip to Italy, rather than see as much of Rome as you can squeeze in, I'm guessing he is going to do it. But if he were mine, I would still want to smack him.

Since I'm begging you not to go to a beach, I won't say anything about going to Florence. Get up extra early, hit the train from Rome to Florence, stay until things are closing, and then on to Perugia.

There are tons of drivers who will take you from Perugia to FCO. Your brother can search here for Italy drivers, or just google it. We can tell you which companies/drivers we know and could recommend. It is quite expensive.

Hostels in Rome: no air conditioning.

at LJ-
" lets tackle that Hostel booking...what is your budget?

do you mean an actual hostel (like for students, sleeping in bunks and sharing a bathroom/shower)

or do you mean as in inexpensive, but private bath et al?"

my husband and I have stayed at a hostel where we have community bunking, etc- not ideal- but definitely affordable

In terms of hostel vs inexpensive - whatever works. I'd say between 30 and 50 euro a night- but less is always better if we can find it and it is a safe place to stay. I don't know all of the hostels in Italy, and I've just begun my research about them around Rome and Perugia.

I've seen some hostels have private rooms but share the bath etc... we are both pretty low maintenance and are more excited about just being there. I want to be there for my brother's wedding- that is the first priority- everything else at this point is a bonus.



I have gotten a lot of do this and don't do this- back and forth about the beach and Florence.

"I wouldn't dream of leaving Rome to spend a day at a beach within an easy commute of the city, in May. I would probably want to smack my husband if he suggested it."

I would like this to be an enjoyable trip, not a "pain- in- the ass -my -husband- and- I- are- going -to -fight -the- whole- time- about -the -itinerary" kind of trip

"You simply can't get a sense of Rome in the very limited amount of time you have there."

I think this is inevitable. If we had tons of money to spend and unlimited paid time off days this may be negotiable, BUT... alas- we are your average working class citizens who can afford a small trip to a place that we both have been wanting to visit

"Do you live in the USA? Where there are hundreds, if not thousands, of great beaches?"

Texas actually, and the closest beach to us is PADRE which I desperately hate with a passion.

"Will you be going back to Italy soon? Will you get to see the dozens of incredible sights in Rome in the next couple of years?"

I have no clue- I know that we are planning to get to Ireland in the next year or so as well

Upon more research this it what it looks like tentatively

Mon- fly to Rome
Tues- arrive early, rest up a bit- start some exploring
Wed- explore Rome more (no Florence) at a reasonable pace
Thurs- early train to Gaeta or Sperlonga - give my hubby some beach time, then train to Perugia and stay their through Sunday
Fri/ Sat- wedding in La Preghiera
Sunday- train back to Rome stay overnight
Mon- fly back to US

Sperlonga is 1 hour 11 minutes by train south of Rome--station to station--does not include getting to station, getting from station to beach, and so forth. From Fondi-Sperlonga train station you will have to take a bus to Sperlonga that takes 15-20 minutes

For Sperlonga to Perugia, you must return to Rome and change to a different train there. A number of the trains will require another change at Foligno, Terontola, or even Arezzo to reach Perugia. Average travel time for this train route: 4.5 hours . . . add in the bus from Sperlonga and so forth

There's no train to Gaeta. It's further down the coast south of Sperlonga

Schmalls,

Instead of Sperlonga, you should probably head to Santa Marinella for your beach, It is just up the coast a bit and is easily reached by a train ride of less than an hour. There is a 4pm (or so) Eurostar that leaves Santa Marinella that will get you to Perugia in 4 hours, and other cheaper trains leaving earlier or later that take a bit longer to make the journey.

w.comune.santamarinella.rm.it/

I have never stayed in a hostel, but for Rome, your hotel budget is very thin. You might also use Rome b&b sites to find something, but make sure it is not very far from the center.

Lastly, I don't know when your flight home will leave FCO, but it sounds to me like you plan to take the train to the airport the morning of your flight. If at all possible, try not to leave before 10am so you aren't trying to get to the Rome train station in the dark. You will need to be at the airport at least 2 hours before departure.

Sorry, here is the whole link:

http://www.comune.santamarinella.rm.it/

And I wish I'd thought of Santa Marinella sooner!

Thanks, ellen. I was thinking the CT/Florence leg was only 2 hrs. Never mind.....

JeanneB,

It depends on where you are coming from in Cinque Terre and what may be the best way to connect. Yu might be able to do is fast than 3 hours, but I don't think as quickly as 2 hours.

You might be able to do it faster than 3 hours . . .

JeanneB,

Getting in and out of the small towns of Liguria by train is seldom a speedy proposition -- even less so now that an explosion down the line in Viareggio recently damaged tracks on the same line. Even without explosions, the trains along the Mediterranean are frequently unpunctual, and connecting to someplace like Perugia can mean several train changes in stations with stairs, sometimes with maddening short connections, sometimes with maddeningly long connections. And much of the ride is on pokey trains -- and in the spots where you can catch an ES or IC, the trains can be packed.

For hostels in Rome I can suggest either Fawlty Towers www.fawltytowers.org or Papa Germano www.hotelpapagermano.com

I have had friends stay at both these with positive reactions. They have the advantage of being in the centre of town which is something you have to be cautious of with hostels in Rome.

I will leave the rest of the debate to others...

It seems like the OP has never used public transportation. I sometimes think people can't understand it until they do. It also appears there is no interest in seeing Rome so they may as well be at the beach if they don't care about Rome.

While still a bit above your price range for hostels in Rome, I would suggest trying either The Beehive or Hostel des Artistes. Google should bring up sites for both. I believe a private room will run you in the 60-70 Euro range however.

I too can't imagine using a precious day in Rome for the mediocre beaches nearby, but to each their own I guess!

For Perugia, the challenge of a hostel is a little more complex...they are either outside the town and require a hike. Or they are not open as early as May.

However, students of mine once stayed at Il Giardino de Matilde and liked it...it is more of a B&B than a hostel, but within your budget.
www.ilgiardinodimatilde.it

Perugia is a fascinating city with a rich architectural and art history...one of the premiere centres of contemporary stained glass and, of course, Perugina, money (Italy's first exchequer), chocolate and students...Italy's oldest university (though that is an ongoing debate).

Cafe Perugia has great food and the cafe part (as opposed to the pricey bar/osteria/tratorria upstairs) is a good bargain...great people watching.

No beaches, though (LOL!)

I will freely confess I also care more about my marriage and having a good time with my husband than I do Rome.

I had gotten the impression the accommodations in Perugia were set in conjunction with the wedding, but I had a great budget stay at Hotel Rosalba, very convenient to the train station and the center of Perugia (by the escalators). Hotel Rosalba has a website. (They are more expensive than 50e)

(But I love Rome and am glad my husband shares that feeling! -- Of course, we live at the beach, so ...)

You can also try www.eurocheapo.com for cheap accomodations...

Zeppole: you may be right about Perugia and the wedding...its for 3 days, I think I read and perhaps that is paid for? but in any case, we have tried to assist and you, especially, have been most helpful! Maybe we lost the OP with all the fuss about the beach?

wow! people are quick to jab at you on here!
Yes- the stay in Perugia is paid for Thur-Sat night. Sunday we will find other accommodations in Rome Sunday night and will fly out Monday.
Thanks to everyone who had helpful recommendations -vs- slamming me for my choice of itinerary. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I will say that that the criticism from some of you does not encourage me to come back to use this site to ask simple questions.
I believe there are better ways to give recommendations rather than to say :
-it's a silly idea
- I should smack my husband for adding a little variety into the mix
-it seems like the OP has never used public transportation
-it also appears there is no interest in seeing Rome so they may as well be at the beach if they don't care about Rome


really????!!!!!

This is our first trip to Italy. I was hoping to get some insightful feedback about traveling in Italy. I admit that I don't know how to travel in Italy, that's why I came HERE to ask- so spare me the judgments.

I didn't realize how many egos were going to get bruised by my personal choices.. so sorry to all of you who think that I'm a complete idiot for even daring to step foot in Rome.

Seriously...who cares if we go to the beach? It is completely impossible to see ALL of Rome.. period..let alone all of Italy...
instead of saying- " what in the name of everything holy do you think you're doing????"

I might recommend saying- "never been... I don't know... sounds like an interesting trip...never tried that before.... "

great impression made to a newbie, guys!