RC94
Footballguy
Newark isn't all bad either, it's not Camden, but there is a long list of places I would rather spend time.
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Mad Cow's Italy trip discussion thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mad Cow
- Start date
The General
Footballguy
Dot for later. Next big trip is Italy then over to Croatia or Greece. Going into deep research mode soon.
jamny
Footballguy
I'm doing voiceovers for an audioguide app being put out by a company from Italy. Mostly Italian cities at this point, although I've done Madrid and Barcelona and have Paris and London coming up. So you can listen to me narrate certain locations when you visit Italy. 
Coming out in July.
Coming out in July.
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
Take ferry and spend a day at Capri/blue grotto/chair lift/capri sandals for the lady. Check out the Capri taxi's.DA RAIDERS said:
Hotel if you want to spend some time in heaven at Casa Angelina in Praiano (about 4 miles from Positano)!!! Drinks (limoncello spritzer
) on the patio looking at Positano and the sea. Staff is unbelievable. Excellent food. They arranged a guide (Joanna) for us for Capri $200 for the day and met us at hotel. Ended up spending another $200 for private boat tour around Capri included access to blue grotto. She knew everyone including taxi driver/ restaurants and store owners. Hotel has car/van going back and forth to Positano.excellent restaurant on main road by casangelina called Vivaro (10 tables). Owner asks you red or white (wine) and meat or seafood. He then cooks several courses starting with pasta, all fresh. Crazy good. About 80 euro for two. Owner very personable especially if he knows its your first vist to area.make reservations.
skip city of Amalfi.
can spend a couple days in Positano. Several ceramics stores between Praiano and Positano. We had several things shipped back with no problems.
beaches are rocky-no sand.
Ravello is nice. Half of day. Lunch or dinner. Great views!
We loved Amalfi coast. Will be going back next year. Probably spend a night or two on Capri and venture down to SE Italy in Puglia/Bari.
Enjoy!!!
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Rick James
Footballguy
Love seeing this thread bumped every so often. We did 6 days in Rome and could have spent 60. Amazing city.
Sand
Footballguy
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Wrigley
Footballguy
Wife turns 40 this year, looking into a trip to her homeland......she's half Croat and half Irish.
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
Yes, the church was nice. But this was the third week of our trip across Italy and we had seen a lot of churches up to that point. We just thought the town was so-so compared to Positano, Ravello and Capri. Nothing wrong if you want to go there but I would give it a lower priority if you need to make decisions.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
tickets booked 7/16-7/20 now to plan the itinerary! anyone have a good hotel recommendation for rome for 3 nights?
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
The General
Footballguy
Chemical X
Footballguy
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Chemical X
Footballguy
got an Alitalia coupon code for 15% off jfk-milan.....JFK15.
use by midnight 6/16 for flights anytime. you likely need to become millemiglia member, its their FF program.
use by midnight 6/16 for flights anytime. you likely need to become millemiglia member, its their FF program.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
rome 7/17-7/20 booked. we are staying at a spectacularly reviewed b&b in the prati. hoping for good things.
should we get the omnia pass? it looks like it will be worth it, just to skip the lines at the vatican.
question for those who have done pompeii. should we try to do on the way to positano, or do it as a day trip out of positano?
i'm waiting to hear back from the owner of a perfect little spot in positano for the rest of trip. the backup is in atrani.
should we get the omnia pass? it looks like it will be worth it, just to skip the lines at the vatican.
question for those who have done pompeii. should we try to do on the way to positano, or do it as a day trip out of positano?
i'm waiting to hear back from the owner of a perfect little spot in positano for the rest of trip. the backup is in atrani.
EYLive
Footballguy
Prati is a great spot to be with easy subway access to see all the ancient stuff plus all the Vatican/museum stuff.
Yes, get the omnia pass, it'll get you a convenient audio guided transportation and skips lines at all the important must-see spots.
I took a morning train from Rome to Naples, then a tour bus to Pompeii and didn't get to see Positano. My trip included a ton of Greek and Roman ruins so Pompeii didn't impress me as much (the molds of dead people was cool though).
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
Ditto on the omnia pass. Just for the Vatican is worth it. You can waste half a day waiting in line. Check the dress code for the Vatican - It is enforced.
Chemical X
Footballguy
I highly recommend the OMNIA for first time Rome visitors.......gives you 3 days of hop on bus, Vatican/Sistine, St Peters and then 2 of 5 other attractions, 1 of which is the colosseum, forum. This leaves usually the Borghese or Castel Sant'Angelo.........personally, I would choose the Castel. I will miss you by a week, I will be there 7/13. Please go to my new favorite restaurant, La Fraschetta di castel sant'angelo, which is close to prati and across the tiber from the castel. so as not to be rushed, I would day trip to Pompeii, but I would shoot the lock off my wallet and get a guide/transport. Pompeii is fascinating, but a guide will enhance the experience.......in the area is a top notch winery "mastroberardino" if you are so inclined to double up.DA RAIDERS said:
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
lacryma christi del vesuvio , i know it well. i prefer their white.
i've been to rome twice before, but it's my wife's first time, still highly recommend the pass?
i'll definitely hit up the restaurant.
thx!
Chemical X
Footballguy
I recommend if you want to do the 'first timers' itinerary, as it seems. It comes with a 3 day metro pass too. We always have fun taking the 8 tram to trastevere and hitting il giardino romano for artichokes or da enzo for cacio e pepe. I have recommended the scavi tour here before........highly recommend if you can;
http://www.scavi.va/content/scavi/en/ufficio-scavi.html
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Chemical X
Footballguy
well, you are close to Bonci pizzarium (been on bourdain). We have been there..........it is small and non descript, only tables are outside. The choices of pizza are crazy wonderful and they basically cut pizza with a scissor and charge by weight. residential neighborhood, nothing else there, but good non touristy stuff. Metro is right there. I would recommend a Wednesday Papal audience, but I already know he isn't there in July.
EYLive
Footballguy
I tried Bonci pizzarium during my trip last fall. I'm a foodie but the toppings were really weird for me, and it didn't feel like pizza. Everyone else in my group loved it, but it was just meh for me.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
i'm struggling to fill out their form. is there a trick to it that i'm missing? it keeps telling me to correct the errors and resubmit the form. in italian i can't figure out what error i'm making
Chemical X
Footballguy
try this;i'm struggling to fill out their form. is there a trick to it that i'm missing? it keeps telling me to correct the errors and resubmit the form. in italian i can't figure out what error i'm making
send an email to both of these; uff.scavi@fabricsp.va and scavi@fsp.va
subject line; scavi tour request
body of email;
1. Exact number of participants;
2. Names of participants;
3. Language requested;
4. Possible dates *when the Excavations Office can assign your visit (the time will be determined by the Office). *please always write in full the name of the month (e.g.: from 01 January 2013 to 08 January 2013)
5. Your E-mail address
Chemical X
Footballguy
yeah, it was ok. not the greatest or life changing, but it was fun and many options to choose from.
here is something totally random..........we wanted to bring a friend some Italian made cowboy boots and found this great store behind the prati neighborhood called Texano Store.
the guy there quickly became a friend and was cool as hell.....they have a lot of Mexican and US made boots, but also authentic Italian leather stuff. http://www.texanostore.com/
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Chemical X
Footballguy
good luck......the scavi tour is a hidden highlight. just walking past the swiss guard is cool. they are very soup Nazi about how to act. order tix, pickup promptly here, don't smile, move to left, form line, etc. but going under st peter's and seeing the age and excavations is amazing.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Sand
Footballguy
I would regard the Borghese as mandatory if you have any interest in ancient and renaissance art. They have a couple ancient Roman statues with all fingers, toes, etc. that look like they've just been put in a corner for a couple thousand years. The Bernini there is astonishing. The Caravaggio collection is the best I saw, with his St. Jerome pretty easily the best painting on canvas I saw while in Rome. I went back three times to stare at it.
Also, if you do the Colosseum try to get the third ring tour. Getting to the top was pretty cool and a great view. The underground was also pretty interesting.
For Pompeii we did Rick Steve's audio tour (added on the Villa of the Mysteries) and it was great. Either get a really good guide (not one you buy at the gate) or do something like we did. Both times I've been I've listened to the emplaced guides a bit and haven't been impressed. Having gone to Herculaneum I'd say it can be skipped if you do Pompeii. I hated the walk in and back and didn't see much there that Pompeii didn't offer. And if you go by public transport make sure you guard your belongings very carefully. Luckily my wallet was empty. And the guys at the ticket counter for the Circumvesuviana are blatant thieves. I didn't raise a stink about the euro they skimmed off the top from me, but noted that they took it and it looks like moved it to a central location (so it was a pooled pot that they split). This is a known scam.
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DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
narrowing things down a bit. mad props to chem x, those email addys he gave me worked like a charm for st peter's tomb. probably going to skip the omnia pass and buy direct from the vatican. the line skipping feature seems to be the same, which was my number one reason to buy the omnia pass. same for the colosseum.
train to salerno from rome is booked. just about 2 hours, so simple. can't decide whether to get a private car to the villa or go for the sita bus. we're going to use the sita bus while we're in amalfi, so i'm leaning on jumping in with both feet and just figuring it out from salerno.
this ridiculous view. is more or less from our place in amalfi.
can't wait!
train to salerno from rome is booked. just about 2 hours, so simple. can't decide whether to get a private car to the villa or go for the sita bus. we're going to use the sita bus while we're in amalfi, so i'm leaning on jumping in with both feet and just figuring it out from salerno.
this ridiculous view. is more or less from our place in amalfi.
can't wait!
Chemical X
Footballguy
so, as part of my trip I have 4 nights in Paris..................do I have any chance of surviving? I am actually a bit worried since I am hitting many tourist spots. If something happens, promise to donate my user name to charity.
Chemical X
Footballguy
so, do you have a catacombs reservation? what are your transit plans for rome, taxis?
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
I do have one.
We will walk a lot and subway some. We are staying within an easy walk to the Vatican. We'll subway to the coliseum and back that's the the majority of travel for two days. Day 3 will probably involve subways as well. We want to walk in to the city center from Prati on one day just to do it. Thoughts?
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
You'll be fine.
I am purposefully not going to linger at the entry points to any major sites. Probably not have dinner/lunch right next to one either. It's an odd thought to add to traveling. I was in Paris a few years ago and it was fine. If you want a really good, semi fancy, affordable dinner, go here. Really good food
skillz
Footballguy
Damn I miss Amalfi! I remember that view fondly when the wife and I went last year. My favorite place in Italy.
Chemical X
Footballguy
well, my suggestion is that the Omnia pass is great, but you can go a la carte. I do recommend buying online in advance. so many people and it can get confusing if you try to buy day of visit or in person. I recommend a 72 hour metro pass for €18 pp, 72 hrs starts from first validation (remember, you must validate your metro ticket in the yellow machine). the reason for this is simple, if you try to buy a single after 7.30p you cant find a retailer open that sells a metro ticket. all the tobacchi stores close. if you metro or tram to say trastevere for dinner after hours, you can't find a single ride ticket anywhere. online tix for the Vatican add €4 to the purchase, so its 16+4, but you have to add the audio guide IMO which is 7. so €27 pp for Vatican with audio guide. its been close to 95 this week, walking too far may be pretty aggressive, always nice to have the metro pass option in case. Colosseum is about €12 I think, but you can make an entry 'reservation' for an additional €2 to skip the queue, I know they have an audio guide, not sure how much it is. The colo ticket includes the forum.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Definitely buying in advance. Still considering the omnia pass
Chemical X
Footballguy
not sure if you've seen this;
https://www.priceoftravel.com/7137/is-the-rome-vatican-card-a-good-deal-we-review-value-and-prices-here/
Chemical X
Footballguy
as an fyi, keep this in your back pocket should someone ask if their is a pool around to use..........
I have heard, but can't verify, the Radisson Blu's rooftop pool is available for non guests for a fee (likely 40-50). It is near Termini, so central in Rome and likely in great shape.
https://www.radissonblu.com/en/eshotel-rome/location
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
The maps are a little deceiving. Blocks are relatively small so you can walk to most places between the Coliseum and the Vatican. Maybe quick taxi to some places.
Coliseum, Vatican/Sistine Chapel, forum, Palace of the Fatherland, Pantheon, Basilica de Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (beautiful blue ceiling), Trastevere neighborhood across river for dinner, Piazza Navona, Castel Sant Angelo/Sant Angelo bridge, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps (closed being refurbished when we were there a year ago), evening passeggiata stroll on Via del Corso. We did it all in two full days.
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DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
thx! i was doing the math on my own and that tidbit of info on nighttime subway tickets is big. leaning towards the pass now.
the audio guides take it over the top as well. do you know how they work? i've never had one. how does the audio guide know where you are in the vatican? i like to stare at some things longer than others. my wife and i got separated at the 911 memorial last summer, to the point i had to get security to let me back in to find her.
and have you ever been on a bus tour? i always look at those with disdain and think they must suck. maybe they're great? just seems sooooooooo touristy.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
the distances don't worry us that much. we routinely walk 3-6 miles a day, sometimes longer. the only thing that gave me pause was not being to get a subway ticket at night. i don't want to knock out a brisk 30 minute walk if the wife's in the mood after dinner...
Rick James
Footballguy
You should definitely walk across the river to Trastevere. We actually stayed there during our 6 nights. We'd play in Rome during the day then hit up Trastevere at night for drinks/dinner/getting lost in the winding streets. Damn I want to go back.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
i decided against the omnia pass. 
we have line skipping passes to the vatican for the morning of the 18th, we may get an audio tour, i found out that the one included in the omnia pass was only for st peter's, not the museums. we also have colosseum line skipping passes for the 19th, i upgraded to include the guided tour of the underground and 3rd tier of the colosseum. both of those for 90 euro. the omnia pass would have been 216 euros. for us, with just those two visits we will probably have had our fill of "mandatory" sites. add the underground st peter tomb tour and we will of course wander the city center and take all that in as well, but on our own time and pace we will more than satisfy our tourist needs.
we have line skipping passes to the vatican for the morning of the 18th, we may get an audio tour, i found out that the one included in the omnia pass was only for st peter's, not the museums. we also have colosseum line skipping passes for the 19th, i upgraded to include the guided tour of the underground and 3rd tier of the colosseum. both of those for 90 euro. the omnia pass would have been 216 euros. for us, with just those two visits we will probably have had our fill of "mandatory" sites. add the underground st peter tomb tour and we will of course wander the city center and take all that in as well, but on our own time and pace we will more than satisfy our tourist needs.
cosjobs
Footballguy
Rick James
Footballguy
If I may make a recommendation for the Vatican and St. Peters......Get a Guided Touri decided against the omnia pass.
we have line skipping passes to the vatican for the morning of the 18th, we may get an audio tour, i found out that the one included in the omnia pass was only for st peter's, not the museums. we also have colosseum line skipping passes for the 19th, i upgraded to include the guided tour of the underground and 3rd tier of the colosseum. both of those for 90 euro. the omnia pass would have been 216 euros. for us, with just those two visits we will probably have had our fill of "mandatory" sites. add the underground st peter tomb tour and we will of course wander the city center and take all that in as well, but on our own time and pace we will more than satisfy our tourist needs.
The museum is enormous. If you don't know anything about art or artifacts, you could waste a lot of time viewing things that aren't very important. A guide will take you to all of the major items and provide great historical information. This was huge for us. I used Angel Tours, linked above, for several different tours throughout Rome but the Vatican tour was IMO crucial.
If you're like me, you don't want to spend more than 3.5 hours in a museum anyway. Better to get a guided tour and see all that the museum has to offer, as opposed to rushing through the entire thing trying to see EVERYTHING
Chemical X
Footballguy
I highly recommend guided tours, but peoples' budgets vary. we used to do group tours, but we have since moved to tours by locals for a private experience. I am not walking in a group of 25 with my guide carrying a red umbrella....a little more personal is worth the $$ IMO.
