Italy advice About This Page:

[Huntermom]

I a hoping to do a ten day trip to Italy in the spring. The only ust do for e right now is Naples becuase it's where my family is from.

I am thinking of train travel within the country. I will be traveling with my young adult daughter.

Any recommendations /advice would be appreciated.

[chezp]

I can't help with train travel, but if you're going to Naples, be sure to add Pompeii and Herculaneum into your plans. They both deserve at least half a day. If you can, do the Amalfi coast as well and Sorrento as well - both absolutely stunning. You may be able to get guided tours for some of those, but if you are able to, and you have someone in your party who's prepared to drive and can handle a manual (stick shift), then the Amalfi coast drive is quite something to do yourselves...

[Huntermom]

Thanks Cheryl. My Dd and I can both drive a standard shift. How is the driving in Italy. I have driven in Mexico and Canada (which I don't really consider a foreign country). I hope that by the time we go I will have brushed up my Italian enough to be fairly fluent and I am always better at reading than speaking but I manage to get lost in Disney. My sign following skills are not great.

[Ashli]

Originally Posted by chezp

I can't help with train travel, but if you're going to Naples, be sure to add Pompeii and Herculaneum into your plans.

Pompeii was one of my favorite places in Italy. We only spent one day there, but I could have stayed for a week. It was amazing.

I also loved Venice. It is quite possibly the most unique city I've ever been to. Just breathtaking. I'm not sure when in the spring you are thinking about going, but I would plan on later spring if possible. I was in Italy in March one year and it was still VERY cold (well, to me, but by that I mean highs of around 50 in Venice) and often quite drizzly.

[lauriep]

I've toured Italy quite a bit, but I don't like to give too much advice because it's been so many years. The nice thing about the trains in Italy is that the stations are usually right in the center of things, so you don't usually have far to travel to get to your hotel. I, personally, much prefer Florence to Venice. I'd like to spend a year in Florence. Cheryl is right about the Amalfi Coast. Just amazing, but something to do by car, not train.

[Huntermom]

Ashli,

We are looking into the last week ofApril in to May. I could also do late June. We are from the northern US and are fine in the cold. it is the heat that gets to me. as far as driving goes, I will have to see how much Italian I have recovered. I am also concerned i do not like driving on mountain edges (could not drive in Utah although I am fine in the NH/VT mountains).

I am thinking ten days may be too little but it only means another trip is needed.

[Ashli]

Originally Posted by lauriep

I, personally, much prefer Florence to Venice. I'd like to spend a year in Florence.

I really enjoyed Florence too, I just love that Venice is set up like basically no other city in the world and I LOVE the no cars idea.

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Ashli,

We are looking into the last week ofApril in to May. I could also do late June. We are from the northern US and are fine in the cold. it is the heat that gets to me.

I think you should be ok then. I've heard it doesn't get really warm in most parts of Italy until late July/August.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Thanks Cheryl. My Dd and I can both drive a standard shift. How is the driving in Italy. I have driven in Mexico and Canada (which I don't really consider a foreign country). I hope that by the time we go I will have brushed up my Italian enough to be fairly fluent and I am always better at reading than speaking but I manage to get lost in Disney. My sign following skills are not great.

I don't think it's that bad, although Mark is the one who does the driving, so it's a bit unfair of me to comment really!

I don't think you need much Italian for driving - it only helped us for messages about accidents/fog etc. on our recent trip.

[Huntermom]

I just spoke with someone who has family in Italy and she suggested I not drive. I worry about crazy drivers as well as not knowing where I am going. I might consider renting a car for a day or so but rely primarily on trains and buses.

I think my biggest problem may be arrowing it down-too many places to see, too little time. And too much food to eat. I was also told if you use public transportation you can rationalize the daily gelato by balancing it with walkig.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

I just spoke with someone who has family in Italy and she suggested I not drive. I worry about crazy drivers as well as not knowing where I am going. I might consider renting a car for a day or so but rely primarily on trains and buses.

I think my biggest problem may be arrowing it down-too many places to see, too little time. And too much food to eat. I was also told if you use public transportation you can rationalize the daily gelato by balancing it with walkig.

You're only going to have one gelato a day...

[lauriep]

I agree, if you're nervous at all about driving in a new place, just don't do it. That alone will help to narrow down the number of places you go to. The Amalfi Coast is probably not do-able without a car, although you can hire a driver easily for the day if you aren't seeing enough of the countryside by train.. Shouldn't be too costly, and you can set your own route. This is what I did in South Africa, and it was fantastic. I thought it would be ridiculously expensive but it wasn't that much more than taking a tour on a bus, and with two of you will be even more cost-effective.

[Huntermom]

Thanks again. Cheryl. I am diabetic and have other health issues, so I will need to limit my self to one gelato a day. I am also planning on lots of other good food and looking forward to indulging in tons of seafood.

Laurie, I am thinking of asking my son and daughter in law to join us if Amy can get the time off from work. Or else they will come on a later trip. I wish I could work out more time but even ten days out of the office will be tough.

The more I talk to people about this trip, the more I can't wait to go.

Is there any place in Italy one should not go? I was warned that Rome is indeed a big city but I have been to major cities in the US with the usual urban problems so I know how to be safe.

[Disneybine]

Ups, just saw this thread, sorry.

Driving in Italy isn't as bad as all that. I just wouldn't drive into the bigger cities like Rome or Florence.

I've been to Italy a few times and here are my top picks:
1. Rome - Ok so I haven't been there yet but done quite a bit of research because it's a port of call on our Disney cruise next year I've wanted to see Rome forever and I can't wait!
2. Venice - Such a stunning city! It is just magical with all the canals, not to be missed
3. Florence - The Duomo and the art there - 'nuff said!
4. Pisa - Gotta get your cheesy pic holding up the tower
5. Tuscany in general - Take a few days off the sightseeing and just enjoy the beautiful landscape here.

Hope this helps!

[Huntermom]

Thanks Sabine. I don't have much interest in Pisa and only 10 days so I think I will skip that.

A regular visitor suggested flying into Germany and taking the train down to save money. Just looking at fares, it seems to be a difference of around $500.

I have driven in lots of US cities-LA, NYC and Houston to name a few. I have enver had a problem but also don't want an accident overseas. I actually had the worse time driving in Utah. The switcbacks scared the daylights out of me.

[Disneybine]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

A regular visitor suggested flying into Germany and taking the train down to save money. Just looking at fares, it seems to be a difference of around $500.

Honestly? Even if it is that much cheaper, I still wouldn't do it. It is just too much of a hassle if you only have 10 days in Italy and want to make the best of it.