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Mad Cow's Italy trip discussion thread (1 Viewer)

Where should we go for our trip?

  • Italy

    Votes: 99 76.7%

  • France/Paris

    Votes: 18 14.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 12 9.3%
  • Total voters
    129
 
If anyone wants to do a day tour of the Amalfi Coast, Rick Steves has arranged a group share, as it were.  We did it and is was fantastic.  Great driver.  Saw Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.  Leaves from downtown Sorrento.

https://www.sharedtours.com/

As for Pompeii, I will reiterate that we spent 5 hours, I believe, and could have spent more.  Wife and I loved just walking the less crowded alleys and around the walls and seeing it all, and we did not even see it all.

 
Mad Cow said:
If anyone wants to do a day tour of the Amalfi Coast, Rick Steves has arranged a group share, as it were.  We did it and is was fantastic.  Great driver.  Saw Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.  Leaves from downtown Sorrento.

https://www.sharedtours.com/

As for Pompeii, I will reiterate that we spent 5 hours, I believe, and could have spent more.  Wife and I loved just walking the less crowded alleys and around the walls and seeing it all, and we did not even see it all.
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Herculaneum is worth a visit too, though not as massive as Pompeii. 

 
Signorvino in Florence. Located on the river near the Ponte Vecchio bridge and across from the Uffizi museum. You can sit outside on a deck. Good food and large portions. Has a wine shop inside also if you want to buy your favorite Italian wine for the meal or take with you.

 
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Man, airbnb can be frustrating. Reserved three different places and got emails back asking for more money, sometimes $30-40 more per day. They all state that they had not raised their prices for 2017, but ####, maybe a little note on your "reserve now" site explaining that would be nice. I get all excited that I found an awesome place and then I wake up and have to start over again.

 
Italyguys. What's the lowdown on toilet paper? I heard they use weak, rough, 1-ply stuff. How did you deal with this issue?

 
EYLive said:
Italyguys. What's the lowdown on toilet paper? I heard they use weak, rough, 1-ply stuff. How did you deal with this issue?
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it's true.  public toilets can be pay and may not have seats, much less paper.  beach toilets are literally holes in the floor.  use the bidet if you have that unfresh feeling.

 
I never had an issue with the TP in Italy but we use regular Scott tissue at home, not the soft stuff. Need some grit!

 
I don't remember unfondly of the bathrooms, but do remember paying.

Of course, I have also gone to Peru on a medical mission and THAT, my friends, is an uncomfortable situation.

 
I just got back from Rome. Thanks for all the recommendations. I hit up all the major must-see spots; the Sistine Chapel was amazing.

And the Omnia pass was a life saver in that we got to skip all the lines and had unlimited access to the buses and subways.  :thumbup:

 
@Chemical X im headed to Italy for a month mar 21- apr 25 , ill be backpacking around the country so probably 6-9 cities

im assuming bus will ne the best way for me to get around so what would be the best train pass to buy?

thanks

 
waiver wire said:
@Chemical X im headed to Italy for a month mar 21- apr 25 , ill be backpacking around the country so probably 6-9 cities

im assuming bus will ne the best way for me to get around so what would be the best train pass to buy?

thanks
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bus or train?  post is confusing....

as an fyi, italy has no national bus system.  best and closest from what i recall is the baltour.it network.  italy pass is a fixed price thing that gets you unlimited Km, but no idea how it works, where it goes at all.  train is a better option in italy by far.

 
Chemical X said:
bus or train?  post is confusing....

as an fyi, italy has no national bus system.  best and closest from what i recall is the baltour.it network.  italy pass is a fixed price thing that gets you unlimited Km, but no idea how it works, where it goes at all.  train is a better option in italy by far.
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sorry typed bus instead of train

what would be the best train pass to buy for 30 days and 6-8 cities

 
waiver wire said:
@Chemical X im headed to Italy for a month mar 21- apr 25 , ill be backpacking around the country so probably 6-9 cities

im assuming bus will ne the best way for me to get around so what would be the best train pass to buy?

thanks
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ahh....I don't necessarily think a trenitalia pass will be a cost savings over buying a ticket on spot.  have you looked at some costs for your point to point travel?  i.e. pick 1-2 trips you thin you will take and price them out.  fyi - you may to price hypothetically in the next 7 days for a range, as unreserved seating doesn't book in advance.  also, I think there is a 60 day booking limit as well.  trenitalia.com or it is the site, it stinks, but try it out and report back.

 
Chemical X said:
ahh....I don't necessarily think a trenitalia pass will be a cost savings over buying a ticket on spot.  have you looked at some costs for your point to point travel?  i.e. pick 1-2 trips you thin you will take and price them out.  fyi - you may to price hypothetically in the next 7 days for a range, as unreserved seating doesn't book in advance.  also, I think there is a 60 day booking limit as well.  trenitalia.com or it is the site, it stinks, but try it out and report back.
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k thanks that's a start ill look at that site over the weekend to get a rough idea and get back to you

 
my trip is a few days away :thumbup:

you would think since this a bucket list trip , I would be super excited but have so much crap going on in my life but done very little to prepare

ive got a rough route picked out

mar 21 arrive in rome

22-26 rome

27-29 siena

30-2 Florence I could knock off a day here but on the 2nd there is a soccer game

apr 3-4 lucca --will stop at pisa on they way here

5-7 la spezia to explore cinque terre

8-10 turin Juventus plays on the 9 so its a must for me

11-13 milan

14-15 lake como as I have friends here

16-18 venice

19-23 naples (day trip to Pompeii)

24 rome fly out

a room booked in rome , a Sistine chapel tour booked and the Juventus ticket bought and that is it for my preparation

if anyone has some restaurants or other tips for those cities , I would be love to hear them

thanks

 
waiver wire said:
my trip is a few days away :thumbup:

you would think since this a bucket list trip , I would be super excited but have so much crap going on in my life but done very little to prepare

ive got a rough route picked out

mar 21 arrive in rome

22-26 rome

27-29 siena

30-2 Florence I could knock off a day here but on the 2nd there is a soccer game

apr 3-4 lucca --will stop at pisa on they way here

5-7 la spezia to explore cinque terre

8-10 turin Juventus plays on the 9 so its a must for me

11-13 milan

14-15 lake como as I have friends here

16-18 venice

19-23 naples (day trip to Pompeii)

24 rome fly out

a room booked in rome , a Sistine chapel tour booked and the Juventus ticket bought and that is it for my preparation

if anyone has some restaurants or other tips for those cities , I would be love to hear them

thanks
Click to expand...
update?

also, a bump here to say i'll be heading back 7/6 and will be in umbria, rome, Florence and paris.  just in case someone needs a suggestion or something.

 
I'm sitting in La spezzia right now , spent a 1/2 day in portovenere.

so far

rome which I thought I would love but found it ok. don't get me wrong, lots to see which I liked but just didn't knock my socks off

sienna was nice , really surprised me on how much I liked it

Florence , lots to do and see , very walkable as well

lucca was quaint , was a nice way to have a down day

next 2 days are cinque terre   

 
Chemical X said:
update?

also, a bump here to say i'll be heading back 7/6 and will be in umbria, rome, Florence and paris.  just in case someone needs a suggestion or something.
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Spit balling a trip in July too.  The wife's never been. Thinking Rome for a few days and then the amalfi coast. 

 
waiver wire said:
I'm sitting in La spezzia right now , spent a 1/2 day in portovenere.

so far

rome which I thought I would love but found it ok. don't get me wrong, lots to see which I liked but just didn't knock my socks off

sienna was nice , really surprised me on how much I liked it

Florence , lots to do and see , very walkable as well

lucca was quaint , was a nice way to have a down day

next 2 days are cinque terre   
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Tell me a bit more about Lucca. We will be there for two nights, early July. 

 
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Three #######n weeks away and ready to roll. Thanks for all of your help in the past year helping me plan my trip.

 
ex-ghost said:
Three #######n weeks away and ready to roll. Thanks for all of your help in the past year helping me plan my trip.
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I just picked up some Italo tickets for Termini > Firenze...........they are running some decent train specials fyi.

I am under 30 days from travelling and spending 4 nites in Paris.  This is the first time I actually have a bit of concern.  Me and my wife have a deal for when we sit outside........we look over each others' shoulder and promise to jump on the other if we see something coming our way.  I am bigger than she is and worried she wont cover me totally.

My itinerary;

-Thursday arrive 7/6 paris and xfer to Florence.  rent car (also renting wifi key from autoeuropa).  drive to house.  meet my HVAC guy at 4p for boiler clean/inspection. 

-Friday, go to local olive oil cooperative and likely drive to ancona for wife's job, they will pay all expenses, including meals for this day.  hang at beach a bit.

-Saturday, wife skydive.  I dial 9-1...........add a 1 if chute doesn't deploy. 

-Sunday, local beach on Lake Trasimeno.

-Monday, lunch at local winery avignonesi.  evening at umbria jazz seeing dee dee bridgewater.

-Tuesday, visit vignabaldo winery, evening and dinner in siena.

-Wednesday, visit local farmers market, then visit icario winery, then hit mailboxes etc to ship back wine/oil.

-Thursday, leave house and drop car at FCO.  cab to rome hotel.  hang and hit favorite restaurant la fraschetta del castel sant angelo.

-Friday, high speed italo train from Rome > Florence.  hang.  baldovino dinner, gelato around santa croce.

-Saturday, 10.30a tours with locals private guide of farmers markets, tastings of everything.  leave us at eataly for lunch.  dinner ristorante academia (bistecca all fiorentina).

-Sunday, fly to CDG.  meet TwL guide at 6p for 1.5h walk and leave us at Bonvivant for dinner.

-Monday, 11a TwL 3 hr tour of main monuments.  leave us at Eiffel for 3p tour and 2nd floor access.  maybe summit and champagne if lines are reasonable.

-Tuesday, 11a TwL 2 hr tour of Notre Dame, ile de la cite.  pretend I am Quasimodo, scream "the bells".  leave us at quai for seine cruise.

-Wednesday, 11 TwL 2.5hr tour of Louvre.  dinner at Paul Bert for steak frites.

-Thursday, fin.......

 
Chemical X said:
I just picked up some Italo tickets for Termini > Firenze...........they are running some decent train specials fyi.

I am under 30 days from travelling and spending 4 nites in Paris.  This is the first time I actually have a bit of concern.  Me and my wife have a deal for when we sit outside........we look over each others' shoulder and promise to jump on the other if we see something coming our way.  I am bigger than she is and worried she wont cover me totally.

My itinerary;

-Thursday arrive 7/6 paris and xfer to Florence.  rent car (also renting wifi key from autoeuropa).  drive to house.  meet my HVAC guy at 4p for boiler clean/inspection. 

-Friday, go to local olive oil cooperative and likely drive to ancona for wife's job, they will pay all expenses, including meals for this day.  hang at beach a bit.

-Saturday, wife skydive.  I dial 9-1...........add a 1 if chute doesn't deploy. 

-Sunday, local beach on Lake Trasimeno.

-Monday, lunch at local winery avignonesi.  evening at umbria jazz seeing dee dee bridgewater.

-Tuesday, visit vignabaldo winery, evening and dinner in siena.

-Wednesday, visit local farmers market, then visit icario winery, then hit mailboxes etc to ship back wine/oil.

-Thursday, leave house and drop car at FCO.  cab to rome hotel.  hang and hit favorite restaurant la fraschetta del castel sant angelo.

-Friday, high speed italo train from Rome > Florence.  hang.  baldovino dinner, gelato around santa croce.

-Saturday, 10.30a tours with locals private guide of farmers markets, tastings of everything.  leave us at eataly for lunch.  dinner ristorante academia (bistecca all fiorentina).

-Sunday, fly to CDG.  meet TwL guide at 6p for 1.5h walk and leave us at Bonvivant for dinner.

-Monday, 11a TwL 3 hr tour of main monuments.  leave us at Eiffel for 3p tour and 2nd floor access.  maybe summit and champagne if lines are reasonable.

-Tuesday, 11a TwL 2 hr tour of Notre Dame, ile de la cite.  pretend I am Quasimodo, scream "the bells".  leave us at quai for seine cruise.

-Wednesday, 11 TwL 2.5hr tour of Louvre.  dinner at Paul Bert for steak frites.

-Thursday, fin.......
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Please make sure wife videos for sharing.

Have fun, GB. :thumbup:  

Definitely coming back to this thread and you when I eventually make the bucket list Italy trip.

 
I love Italy and in fact loved visiting so much I am looking for opportunities to move there permanently.  One thing, though, is that people drive pretty crazy there.  If you plan on driving around, remember that in Italy a red light doesn’t actually mean to stop.  It’s just them saying “we are trying a red light now and soon we will try a green one, but it’s not relevant to the traffic flow.”

 
Bucky86 said:
:mellow:  We're renting a car for the Tuscany portion. 
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I drove around Tuscany and had little problems except for downtown Florence.  The scooters weaving around the car within inches were the bigger concern than the stop lights. 

 
Bucky86 said:
:mellow:  We're renting a car for the Tuscany portion. 
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My first trip to Italy, we went from Venice to Florence to Rome, driving a stick, with no GPS. I spent about 20 minutes back home learning to drive a manual car with a friend before the trip.

Needless to say it was an adventure and one we still laugh about to this day.

We went to Sicily last year and drove around quite a bit and I have to say it was one of the most amazing experiences. I've never experienced driving like that. Everyone seemed to work together, even without stop signs and traffic lights. Yes, you have to stay on your toes and not be shy but I likened it to blood flowing through veins. Just a relaxing rhythm. It was such a natural experience once you got used to it, especially in the cities.

 
We're starting to consider going back next year for our 7th trip to Italy. One of our previous trips was on Capri, so we really only got to see Amalfi on a couple of day trips. Considering staying there and maybe heading southeast into the Puglia region. We're really into cities so I'm just not sure if that would be enough for us, although we might spend a day or two in Rome again to start off. Anyone familiar with the southeastern part of Italy?

 
jamny said:
We're starting to consider going back next year for our 7th trip to Italy. One of our previous trips was on Capri, so we really only got to see Amalfi on a couple of day trips. Considering staying there and maybe heading southeast into the Puglia region. We're really into cities so I'm just not sure if that would be enough for us, although we might spend a day or two in Rome again to start off. Anyone familiar with the southeastern part of Italy?
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not my wheelhouse, but my Albanian buddy in italy swears by Sardinia.  if you are adventurous.

 
Bucky86 said:
Any must visit wineries? Really want to buy a case of something and have it shipped home.

What about truffle hunting? Some of the hotel tours are super expensive. Is it worth it? Are the cheaper ones I've found online just as good?
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those other areas besides florence i am not familiar with.....are they west?

 
Bucky86 said:
:mellow:  We're renting a car for the Tuscany portion. 
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i have hit 1 traffic light in all my driving in italy....chiusi.  no reason to drive in the big cities, plus they fine you in the ZDA....ZMA?  AutoEuropa not autoeurope, has automatics available.  we grab a little Fiat 500.  worth the peace of mind, plus they now rent WiFi keys and ezpass (telepass).

 
I absolutely loved my time in Italy and would like to go back
my problem is there are so many other countries I want to visit and not enough time to go back to a country ive been too

 
Kicking around the idea of doing Rome and the amalfi coast, probably ravello, with the lady. End of July, maybe August. Tourist time, but it's when we can go.   Anyone Have amalfi coast recommendations? 

 
DA RAIDERS said:
Kicking around the idea of doing Rome and the amalfi coast, probably ravello, with the lady. End of July, maybe August. Tourist time, but it's when we can go.   Anyone Have amalfi coast recommendations? 
Click to expand...
Amalfi is outside my knowledge base, but end of july - august is stifling hot and virtually all Italians take their own holiday.  Beaches will be crowded, but some city/town things will be closed.  Just an fyi.....

 
Chemical X said:
Amalfi is outside my knowledge base, but end of july - august is stifling hot and virtually all Italians take their own holiday.  Beaches will be crowded, but some city/town things will be closed.  Just an fyi.....
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You are correct. But it's when we can go. I've been to amalfi before and it's pretty temperate due to being on the water. Beaches aren't our main thing, so the crowds there will be more of an adventure than a necessary evil.  We like to explore, enjoy little cafes, hike and wander. We want to hike this trail. 

 
Sitting in the Naples train station.   Pompeii is great.   Herculaneum was also memorable,  but the walk to it was like walking through Newark.   Wallet got boosted on the Circumvesuviana.   Nothing in it,  but still (everything important/ valuable was in  a protected bag).   Without these two world class sites here there is no reason to hang out in this area.   Complete ####hole.   

They need a flyover of Naples that goes straight to Pompeii and Sorrento.

 
DA RAIDERS said:
Kicking around the idea of doing Rome and the amalfi coast, probably ravello, with the lady. End of July, maybe August. Tourist time, but it's when we can go.   Anyone Have amalfi coast recommendations? 
Click to expand...
Positano is awesome.   Easy ferry to Capri,  bus to Amalfi and Ravello,  etc.   The lady will love the view.   We loved it (and we have our youngest son to prove it). 

 
RC94 said:
I have always referred to Naples as the Newark, NJ of Italy.
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We went to Naples for a day trip while staying in Capri. It was a Sunday so I figured it would be less hectic. We walked around for about an hour, went to the south side by the castle and had some lunch and went back to Capri. I would go back for the archaeology museum, which we didn't get to, but for no other reason.

 
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