Vacation to Italy

[GIVSP]

Ladies & Gents, I am taking my wife to Italy for a vacation. We want to see the following cities: Florence, Rome, Tuscany, and Capri. Any input from some of you that have been there would be great. We want to stay at local type hotels, not the normal marriott, hyatt. Also we want to use the train or bus system to get around, so we can see as much as possible. We are going in blind so we are trying to get the basics down before we go. Thanks for any help.

 

[FL000]

Ladies & Gents, I am taking my wife to Italy for a vacation. We want to see the following cities: Florence, Rome, Tuscany, and Capri. Any input from some of you that have been there would be great. We want to stay at local type hotels, not the normal marriott, hyatt. Also we want to use the train or bus system to get around, so we can see as much as possible. We are going in blind so we are trying to get the basics down before we go. Thanks for any help.

Are you interested in a day trip by bus to the east of Florence?

http://www.sita-on-line.it/SITA-Toscana/ORARI%20PER%20ZONA/Vsieve/320.pdf

Stia is a very quaint and charming (I hate that word, but it's true) town about 60 miles east. Don't miss the Castello di Porciano on the hill overlooking town. The bottom 2 floors are a museum and the top 3 are a rental villa...

http://www.travelingtuscany.com/tuscany/The_castle_1.shtml

Stia is know for its wool market. It's not a tourist destination, which I like, but it has some quality restaurants and markets, though it's small.

Poppi is a little larger, and you'll find more shops and sites to see there. The drive/ride itself is worth it.

Google it to see what you find. I haven't been there in 9 years and don't remember a lot of detail.

In Florence, don't miss the leather market and silk ties near the Pontevecchio.

http://www.knowital.com/Towns/Florence/Guide1/html/florence_-_the_pontevecchio.html

 

[GIVSP]

FL000--Thanks for the reply. Dumba##erino--Go play somewhere else DI#KHEAD

 

[Flyforyou]

Best advice, go to Barnes & Noble and get some good tour books. I use Fodor's and Rick Steve's books. Rick Steve's books are a must read for anyone going to Europe. Rome is cool, plan on at least three days to just skim the very basics. Spending a little money on some english speaking tour guides are well worth it, especially at the Vatican and St. Peters Cathedral. Capri is very nice. Spend the money and stay at a nice place near the top. I made the mistake of getting a cheap room close to the port and paid the price in sleepless night with all the traffic noise. Go to www.caprionline.com to get suggestions. Good luck.

Fly

 

[AcroChik]

Lonely Planet Guide

When I went to Italy last year, I used the Lonely Planet Guide as one of my resources for planning my trip, which included a mix of both luxury and close to the ground travel.

The Lonely Plant guides are great for the off~center, slightly exotic, less~trodden spots. I found the information reliable and timely.

Highly recommended.

http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/product_detail.cfm?productID=2477&seriesID=1&seriesname=Country%20Guides&

 

[Geigo]

Tuscany

Of the few places I went in Italy, Tuscany was by far what I enjoyedthe most. There was what they said was a tourist trap type placecalled(please forgive the spelling I'm sure it isn't right) SanGiminio. Feb was not tourist season so it was not crowded. The scenerywas great with the vineyards on the steep "mountain" sides and olivegroves in the valleys. If I could I would love to spend a week in thespring or fall. I stayed at a nice little hotel where they made BlackRooster Chianti.

If you want you shouldn't have a problem renting a car, but they drive like maniacs!


When are you going? I'll try and get a hold the guy I know in Milan to get the names of local hotels and restaurants.

Edited to find where the spaces went!

 

[typhoonpilot]

I'll second Acrochik's suggestion for Lonely Planet. I've used them for everywhere I have travelled in the last 10 years and they are far and away the best guide for the kind of travelling you want to do.

The wife and I spent three and a half weeks touring Italy in 1998. We travelled by bus and train. Italy is set up perfectly for that kind of travelling. The only thing you can't do is visit some of the out of the way spots in Tuscany, but for hitting the highlights it is the way to go.

I'll also second that 3 days in Rome is the bare minimum if you want to get more than a passing glance at everything. We did 4 with a day trip to Hadrian's Villa on one of the days. Be sure to read the Lonely Planet guide carefully as to when certain musuems/venues are open and plan accordingly. Sometimes you can get caught out if you haven't researched well and the place you want to see is closed on that particular day.

Our plan of attack for touring is to stay near train stations. In Italy, there are always numerous hotels/pensioni near the train station. The added bonus is that in Italy they are also very centrally located. In Venice, for instance, you have to be careful when exiting the train station or you'll walk right into the Grand Canal. This while the airport is over 20 miles from town.

I almost never make reservations. If I do it is because I know the place or suspect it may be busy when we arrive. Always plan to arrive at a new place by noon. That way you can find a room with ease before they get booked up later in the day. I'll usually have a list of places from the Lonely Planet guide to go check out. I'll leave the wife at the train station with the backpacks and head out for a recon of the hotels. This way I can make sure the room offered is going to be clean, quiet, and comfortable. We averaged about $45.00 per night during our trip, but that was before Italy was EUROfied. It would be at least double that now. Rome was the most expensive. I did get my parents a place in a 3 star hotel near Termini last year for 80 Euros. It was January so the rates were lower than normal. The room was very small and basic, but that is how it is in Europe.

Florence can be a good base, but you can easily see the whole city in two days. If you do run out of things to do while in Florence then take a half day trip to see Pisa. It is a short easy train ride to Pisa and the busses outside the station go right to the leaning Tower. Sienna is another town well worth seeing and the aforementioned San Gimignano. Sienna is easier to get to and has more accomodation.

For Capri you really have two choices. You can make it a day trip from Sorrento or you can spend the night or a couple of nights. The advantage of staying the night is that the tourist hordes usually make it a day trip, as the price to stay overnight is quite high. That leaves you and a just a few others to enjoy the island at night ( unless it is Friday or Saturday night, then all the revellers are out for the weekend ). We did the day trip option, but it really isn't enough time to properly see the whole island. I would go for two nights mid-week, as that would be optimum. I would also try to get a private room in a villa or house as oppossed to a pensioni.

The Amalfi Coast is quite spectacular as well and a day or two in Sorrento exploring the coast and perhaps up to Pompeii would be worth the time. No real reason to go to the top of Mt. Vesuvius unless you really like climbing dirty mountains. While we are on the subject of the south, I would give Naples a clean miss. Read Lonely Planet and you'll see why.

Just one other thing, for the type of travelling you want to do make sure you both have money belts. Petty crime and pick pocketing are something you need to be aware of. I like the Eagle Creek money belt that I keep strapped around my waist with passport/credit cards/cash in it. It is always underneath a shirt so there is no way it can be stolen, short of someone undressing me in public .

Hope that helps,


TP

 

[Hobit]

GIVSP,

I was in Rome DEC '03.

Hotel Nirva was nice. Great location and near the trajan market area and walking dist. from the coliseum.

I spent my whole week in Rome. I spent time away from the beaten path and absolutely loved it all!!!

Other places to see...
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
I suggest planning one afternoon just walking around with a map and exploring... Absolutely amazing place.

You'll love it!!!

PS watch out for the gypsy's! They will try to scam you... just shoo 'em away but never leave your wallet in an accessible place (back pocket)

 

[Geigo]

I'll 2nd the gypsys. Despite the shooing I had one reach into my pocket! I was told they will take a razor blade and slit your pants so your wallet will drop out. The only negitive thing about my trip.

Of course there were the a....tourist directors, but since you'll be with your wife no need for them!