Ricgstevens

Good folks the world over,

In September this year we will be embarking on what seems like a trip of a lifetime to Europe from all the way down here in australia. Its a loooong way, I tell ya.

Most of our* 5 weeks away will be spent in the UK with immediate family but I have set aside around 8 days to visit Italy - two reasons - one entirely selfish and the other marital. The former to attend the 2008 Italian Formula 1 GP in Monza (Milano) and the other to satisfy my Australia born Italian wife urge to go back to her roots - Italy.

We will be flying to Italy from London and returning to London.

Given Milan is "fixed" (have to be there on Sept 13 & 14), we have some flexiblity to visit either Venice or Rome in addition to Milan. I was thinking of spliting our time roughly 4 days for each city.

* Two adults and two kids approx 14 yrs and 11 yrs

Here are my questions:

a) Is 4 days (3 nights) in each city sufficient?
b) which city is "better"** for first time visitors to Italy and two adolescent kids?
** - I realise "better" is a very subjective word. Lets assume culture, food, cost of living, ease of transport, history etc etc etc
c) I hear apartments offer better value for families - is this true?
d) If so, can you guys point me in the right direction for internet sites where I can book accomodation.
e) Must go places in each city

Thanks in advance...

R

Rhea58

A) Being a trip of a lifetime, I would suggest visting both cities.
B) equally important
C) apartments usually rent for a week I am told. Others may advise
if this is not so.
D)www.venere.com is 1 source
E) Do your libraries have travel guides? If so take out Fodors, Frommers, Eye Witness, etc. as there
is a pletheora of 'must see' sights.

Would also suggest your children have some pre-trip reading so they can a) input and b) more enjoyment.

baldrick

Explain to your family that 4 days Venice, 4 days Rome and your GP is quintessential for your family. Does your wife want to see the village where she comes from? I think she does. If so, add some days.
If this is the trip of a lifetime, then organize accordingly. Make it 3 wks in the UK, 2 weeks in Italy.
Rome and Venice cannot be compared but are must-sees.

Apartments in Rome, see http://www.romanreference.com/

ira

>If this is the trip of a lifetime, then organize accordingly. Make it 3 wks in the UK, 2 weeks in Italy.

Ditto.

Travelnut

I think there is far more to do in Rome.. Venice is lovely but 2 good days there is fine.

highflyer

I agree with Travelnut, devote a litte more time to Rome than Venice and I'd also try to squeeze more time in Italy overall if possible.

For apartments in Italy try www.sleepinitaly.com
We've stayed in an apartment in Rome through them and it was great. They also rent for less than a week (we stayed 4 nights).

ellenem

I think the OP has a total of 8 days, an he's already giving 4 of them to Milan. His question is: should the other be Rome or Venice?

With such parameters, my choice would be Rome.

However, I'm with Ira. Steal some time from the UK and do Milan, Rome, AND Venice.

Ricgstevens

Hey, hey, hey,

You guys are fast - thanks for the replies so far. OK, I hear ya.

I've been to Venice, and yeah is sooo nice and exotic. But I am beginning to lean towards Rome because I've never been and I've read there's just so much to do there (more than Venice). I'd really love to do both cities but... really its one or the other.

WRT how much time to spend in Italy, I guess I could squeeze one or two more days (up to ten days, no more)and give each city 5 days. I know its never enough, but I wanted my wife to get a taste of home. Her ancestors come from Sicily however - a bit too far to travel on this trip. Maybe next time.

I'll check out your accommodation links and see what's there.

Do any of you have specific experiences or apartments or hotels in Rome? Recommendations please. Either that or precincts we should base ourselves in. I don't mind if we're not in the heart of the city provided we have easy access by public transport and the area has some cultural significance. We want to soak up the culture of this place.

Again, thanks guys.

Rich

cmc05ad

Rome over Venice but since you can easily see and (in my opinion) get tired of Venice in 2 days try to squeeze it in. It is only like 4 hours by train.
You could sqeeze Rome into 2 days (even one is sort of possible) see this article http://noambit.typepad.com/my_weblog...result-of.html

But you should give Rome 2-3 days take a quick ride over to Venice (by way of Florence perhaps) and see both.
http://noambit.typepad.com/my_weblog...n-approac.html

baldrick

Milan and Rome 5 days each? Hmmm.

Do your GP + 1 day in Milan and then go to Rome. Plan 4 to 5 days for an extensive visit of historic Rome and do at least a day trip by train to Orvieto, and maybe a day at the beach with the kids in Ostia. This is all easily done by public transport.

Rome is worth a lifetime.

hausfrau

I really shouldn't be responding to this since I haven't been to Venice yet...but Rome is my favorite European city. There's so much to do (and plenty to keep your teenagers occupied)! Four days would give you enough time to see the major sights and maybe even get off the beaten path a bit. I did this length of trip with my mom last June (her first visit to Rome and my third).

I HIGHLY encourage you to stay in the city center. As others on this board can attest, there are plenty of affordable hotels and being in the historic center is a huge part of the Rome experience. You'll be able to step out your door and immediately be in the heart of things. You can walk to all the major sights - no need to use public transportation unless you really don't like to walk - in which case you probably shouldn't go to Rome! ;-)

A mid-range hotel suggestion is Residenza Canali, a stone's throw from Piazza Navona. It's a quintessential small Roman hotel in an old villa, perfectly located, with excellent service and a lovely breakfast (included). You can read my full review on Trip Advisor under the name StuttgartHausfrau.

Oh yes, and have an awesome time at Monza!!

ellenem

I'm with baldrick. I question 5 days in Milan. When the OP said maybe 10 days, I immediately thought "Fit in someplace smaller!" Rome and Milan are two BIG cities. Milan is a modern city and Rome is modern but full of antiquity.

Orvieto popped into my head immediately as well. I think you might do an overnight there on the way between Milan and Rome--Orvieto is on the direct train route between the two. It is a charming hill town srrounded by green hills, so would definitely give another feel of Italy.

Ricgstevens

OK, thanks. So far I have gleaned the following from your replies:

1 Stay in the heart of Rome - for culture etc. I was chatting to my 84 yr old father yesterday who has been to Rome 3 times - his first time was in 1962. He also recommended Rome over Venice. He loves architecture and significant religious history - to him Rome has it all and would gladly go again. He suggested (given the time available) that we take a guided tour at least once to absorb the most the city has to offer through the eyes of someone who knows it intimately. I am bit of a lover of historic architecture so I figure this is sage advice.

2 Fit in a visit to one of the smaller towns eg Orvieto (note to self - look up Google maps to see where this place is!)

3 Take a train journey from Milan to Rome. How long does the journey take? Any idea of cost?

Trip planning is soooo exciting!! Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Best,

Rich

pjsmart

My son and I stayed at Hotel Giardino last month in Rome. We saw a good rate on Venere.com, wrote to the hotel and got an even better rate. It's walking distance to Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. Rome has a terrific bus system and there's a major stop just around the corner. We used the buses and, to a lesser extent, the subway, to see quite a lot of the city.

Vttraveler

I would choose Rome if only one of the two, and spend more time there if you are splitting time between Rome and Venice.
Apartment rentals definitely seemed a better value to us than hotels when we were there last year (family group of 3, 2 adults and 16 year old son). We had a very good experience with realrome.com. Usually apartments are listed for 5 nights or more but the website says to ask about price/options for 3 or 4 nights.

There are some good books to read on architectural history of Rome--will post again tomorrow with the names

JBX

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Here's the link to Italian rail system. Travel time is 4 1/2 hours from Milano Centrale (main train station in Milan) to Rome (Termini station). The Eurostar ("ES&quot makes two brief stops of a few minutes each during the journey to load/unload passengers; the stops are Bologna & Florence.

Price for 2nd class is 56.10 euros and 1st class, 80.80 euros. I'm not sure whether that price on website does includes the seat reservation (if not, then that's only a few extra euros).

ellenem

You can find fares and schedules here

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

This is the official Italian train system site. Fares and schedules are complete and up-to-date for the next sixty days, but won't change that much by September. Try a test date--let's say a date next week, being sure to choose the same day of the week you plan to travel--and you can begin to predict the possibilities.

Looks like the trip between Milan and Rome would be about 5.5 hours and cost about 60-83 euros, depending on class. However, the route between the two places would take you through Florence and Orvieto among others along the way, so you might choose to break your journey at one of them.

Vttraveler

books I would read for Rome: Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King and The genius in the Design: Bernini, Borromini and the Rivalry that Transformed Rome by Jake Morrissey

Ricgstevens

Hi again,

I have finally worked out my travel dates, following the confirmation of some other UK related travel details.

Looks like we're going to be flying into Rome from London on Monday 7th September. We'll have 5 days there (including arrival and departure days). We leave Rome on the morning of Friday 12th for Milan. We will be catching the train which will give us a chance to enjoy the sights of some beautiful Italian country side.

We'll stay in Milan for a total of 5 days also - 2 days of which will be consumed by our attendance at the Grand Prix (at Monza) and 2 or so days sightseeing. We fly back to London on Tuesday 16th Sept (evening).

Someone here said to try for a stopover enroute to Milan from Rome.

I was thinking perhaps 6 or 8 hour stopover in Florence might be worth attempting. I've been to Florence before (2 days I think but it was long time ago) and was hoping to sneak in some of the major sights around the city. Eg, the statue of David etc. What do you guys think?

Am I making this trip more complicated than it needs to be...?

Thanks again, this is fun!!

Rich

mari5

I haven't read every previous post thoroughly,,,,,but I do know there is a non stop flight from London to Catania, Sicily.
British Air, I think.........Would be nice since your wife is from there. YOu can rent a car for a few days....
AND still take in Rome for 3 days or so,and even take train to Venice for a couple of days. (could skip Venice, in my thoughts...but you might regret is later on.)