Italy travel help!

[leftyguns21]

Ciao mi amici;

I was wondering who here has traveled to Italy and what advice they can offer. I’ll be traveling the first part of September to Venice (3days), Cinque Terre (2days), Florence (2days) and Rome (3days) for a total of 10 days. Is 2days too many to be in Cinque Terre? Should I only stop in for a day then head over to Pisa for one day before Florence? I want to see it at night so my plan is travel from Venice to Cinque Terre in the evening so I can see it lit up, stay the night and hike it all the next day, is that long enough?

Besides the obvious, what are ‘must’ see’s?

Should I only bring what I can fit in a carry on backpack? I’ll be traveling alone and light but I will be carrying my some camera equipment; a DSLR, couple of lenses, flash, filters and a tripod. I'm hoping to get some great night shots and even some star trails if it permits.

Hotels or Hostels? I really only need a place to sleep/shower, nothing fancy. I've heard mixed reviews on hostels, some are far away from city and some are in shady areas. Do the hostels have ‘private’ showers? I've also heard some hostels have age limits, I ha trenta cinque anni(35). In Rome it doesn’t seem like there are many hostels near the city, I may have to go hotel route here. Train rides seem to be at most 4 hours between destinations so getting a good rest on there will be difficult.

Are treni able to get me everywhere I need to go, including to/from airports. do they take credit cards or do I need cash for these. do all shops for trinkets only take cash?

Food, it seems that most restaurants close certain times and after a certain time in the day require ‘fancy’ clothes. I’ll have limited outfits; will I not be able to get in with jeans and a t-shirt? Is dining alone frowned upon?

any other advice will be greatly appreciated, especially if you're local!

grazie

 

[svana]

Ciao mi amici;

I was wondering who here has traveled to Italy and what advice they can offer. I’ll be traveling the first part of September to Venice (3days), Cinque Terre (2days), Florence (2days) and Rome (3days) for a total of 10 days. Is 2days too many to be in Cinque Terre? Should I only stop in for a day then head over to Pisa for one day before Florence? I want to see it at night so my plan is travel from Venice to Cinque Terre in the evening so I can see it lit up, stay the night and hike it all the next day, is that long enough?

Besides the obvious, what are ‘must’ see’s?

Should I only bring what I can fit in a carry on backpack? I’ll be traveling alone and light but I will be carrying my some camera equipment; a DSLR, couple of lenses, flash, filters and a tripod. I'm hoping to get some great night shots and even some star trails if it permits.

Hotels or Hostels? I really only need a place to sleep/shower, nothing fancy. I've heard mixed reviews on hostels, some are far away from city and some are in shady areas. Do the hostels have ‘private’ showers? I've also heard some hostels have age limits, I ha trenta cinque anni(35). In Rome it doesn’t seem like there are many hostels near the city, I may have to go hotel route here. Train rides seem to be at most 4 hours between destinations so getting a good rest on there will be difficult.

Are treni able to get me everywhere I need to go, including to/from airports. do they take credit cards or do I need cash for these. do all shops for trinkets only take cash?

Food, it seems that most restaurants close certain times and after a certain time in the day require ‘fancy’ clothes. I’ll have limited outfits; will I not be able to get in with jeans and a t-shirt? Is dining alone frowned upon?

any other advice will be greatly appreciated, especially if you're local!

grazie

Hey man,
I spent a semester in Italy (Rome primarily), so I can chime in on a few of these elements. I've never been to Cinque Terre, so can't help you there.

Based on your timeframe that you will be spending in each city, you're really not gonna get to see more than the "must see's", and I'd stick to those for now. You can always venture off the beaten path if you so desire.

If you're going to only be there for 2 weeks, I'd take a backpack and a duffel. Anywhere you'll stay will have some kind of storage that you can lock it up in (hostels typically have lockers). Keep all your valuables in your backpack and use your duffel just for clothes.

Hotel vs. Hostel - As I'm sure you've seen, hotels in the bigger cities can be very expensive. Most hostels allow any age, shouldn't be a problem. Big thing is to look at the reviews from other travelers to make sure it's kosher. Most will show what kind of shower facilities are available, but typically have individual stalls. Airbnb.com may be another option to find housing for a day, I don't know if they've made it out to rome yet though.

Most of your getting around within the city will best be done by foot or taxi. You can go by bus, but they may get convoluted/go on strike on occasion (for real). Trains will of course be good for inter-city travel, but a nice part of Itally is traveling/seeing it by foot.

Food throughout the day is best done just by getting a sandwich or pizza in a small shop/cart. Shouldn't be more than 10 euro for food and drink, and then you can of course sit down for a nicer dinner in the evening. Doesn't really make a difference if you're alone, as the culture there is built around enjoying the for experience over anything else. No joke, be prepared to spend a few hours at dinner. As far as appearance, most places won't really have a dress code. Of course if you take a peek inside and see white glove service, red carpet, etc., then you should be able to get the gist that you may be underdressed. It's not unlike what it is here in terms of being able to get a gist for dress code.

That's the gist of what I'd suggest based on my experiences there, if you've got any more questions feel free to give me a shout.

 

[leftyguns21]

[MENTION=103627]svana[/MENTION] great advice, grazie. it looks like there are bicycle rentals available in Rome for about 15euros a day, that seems like a good route assuming the city has places to lock up your bike in many location and is fairly flat.

I really hate carrying cash, but it seems like most all places are cash only is this true? I would prefer using my card for as much as possible so I can get the points and they do the best conversion.

dumb American questions, but outlets are different right? can I just get a converter to charge my camera and iPad?

it looks like hostels in cinque terre have good reviews and only e30/night which is good for me since I wont be in it long enough. is it true some require you to bring your own sheets? I haven't checked Florence or Venice yet. Rick Steve's book has great hotels listed for Rome that are middle of road cost (e50-150) which isn't terrible. I think ill end up getting a 50L pack and just carry it all with me, I'm sure ill start tossing stuff as the trip goes on to lighten my load.

 

[fourwd1]

Moving to OT section.

 

[leftyguns21]

[MENTION=1857]fourwd1[/MENTION] sorry, I don't know why I chose general discussion section.
thank you

 

[svana]

[MENTION=103627]svana[/MENTION] great advice, grazie. it looks like there are bicycle rentals available in Rome for about 15euros a day, that seems like a good route assuming the city has places to lock up your bike in many location and is fairly flat.

I really hate carrying cash, but it seems like most all places are cash only is this true? I would prefer using my card for as much as possible so I can get the points and they do the best conversion.

dumb American questions, but outlets are different right? can I just get a converter to charge my camera and iPad?

it looks like hostels in cinque terre have good reviews and only e30/night which is good for me since I wont be in it long enough. is it true some require you to bring your own sheets? I haven't checked Florence or Venice yet. Rick Steve's book has great hotels listed for Rome that are middle of road cost (e50-150) which isn't terrible. I think ill end up getting a 50L pack and just carry it all with me, I'm sure ill start tossing stuff as the trip goes on to lighten my load.

Well, Rome is also known as the city of seven hills, so take what you will from that about the topography lol. Most is cash, yes. If you have a debit card, see what banks have reciprocity with their european counterparts. I believe Cap One allowed me to withdraw money as needed with no fees or something like that.

Outlets are different, a simple converter will work. You don't even need a full on inverter for most items, just a little one that changes the plug style.

I don't know much about having to bring sheets to hostels, I never had to. No guarantees though, I'd probably call them before you book to verify. We stayed at the Hotel Texas in Rome, which was pretty affordable. If you get one pack for everything you should be ok, all depends how you like to carry.

 

[leftyguns21]

ive been on many vacs but never one like this where I was changing locations several times. that's the hard part, planning a place to sleep and figuring out the schedule. ive been taking Italian classes but I barely know the basics right now..hopefully they don't get offended and happy im at least trying.
I don't mind walking a lot, but if I can ride a bike that will be much better for rome. venice I hear is too crowded for that and smaller? so I can walk most of it.
thank goodness for the internet and advice from everyone thank you, its coming together. I think ill be ready by time I take off.

 

[svana]

Good luck, and have fun. It does make me want to go back...

 

[Tom P.]

Ciao mi amici;

I was wondering who here has traveled to Italy and what advice they can offer. I’ll be traveling the first part of September to Venice (3days), Cinque Terre (2days), Florence (2days) and Rome (3days) for a total of 10 days. Is 2days too many to be in Cinque Terre? Should I only stop in for a day then head over to Pisa for one day before Florence? I want to see it at night so my plan is travel from Venice to Cinque Terre in the evening so I can see it lit up, stay the night and hike it all the next day, is that long enough?

Besides the obvious, what are ‘must’ see’s?

Should I only bring what I can fit in a carry on backpack? I’ll be traveling alone and light but I will be carrying my some camera equipment; a DSLR, couple of lenses, flash, filters and a tripod. I'm hoping to get some great night shots and even some star trails if it permits.

Hotels or Hostels? I really only need a place to sleep/shower, nothing fancy. I've heard mixed reviews on hostels, some are far away from city and some are in shady areas. Do the hostels have ‘private’ showers? I've also heard some hostels have age limits, I ha trenta cinque anni(35). In Rome it doesn’t seem like there are many hostels near the city, I may have to go hotel route here. Train rides seem to be at most 4 hours between destinations so getting a good rest on there will be difficult.

Are treni able to get me everywhere I need to go, including to/from airports. do they take credit cards or do I need cash for these. do all shops for trinkets only take cash?

Food, it seems that most restaurants close certain times and after a certain time in the day require ‘fancy’ clothes. I’ll have limited outfits; will I not be able to get in with jeans and a t-shirt? Is dining alone frowned upon?

any other advice will be greatly appreciated, especially if you're local!

grazie

I went to Italy in 2000 and it was great, especially since the dollar was strong against the Lira. My two cents: make a general itinerary and allow plenty of time to just explore and eat gelato. There's too much for you to take in so just wing it. You'll be more relaxed and have more fun. Maybe go to some of the more out of the way places. In Rome, there's a church many people don't know about, San Pietro in Vincola, or something like that. There's a Michelangelo sculpture of Moses there that'll blow you away, and you can reach out and touch his knee. Speaking of Mike, you should go to the Vatican and see the Pieta. It's heartbreakingly beautiful. In Florence, the Uffizi is fantastic but buy your tickets in advance to skip the line. When we visited Italy, I talked everyone into going to Cinqua Terra because I saw it on Rick Steve's site. After all the whipsaw driving to get there, everyone was in a crabby mood such that when we stepped out of the van and someone smelled old fish they branded the place "Stinkqa Terra" and wanted to immediately leave. So, I can't tell you a thing about the place other than what Rick says. The Borghese Gardens in Rome were a special pleasure, too. The subway is simple and reliable. The only other things I'd suggest are to bring as little to carry as possible so you can move quick. That includes excess camera gear. One lense, no filters, no tripod would be my call. Please don't wear a fanny pack and disparage ALL Americans. And finally, don't worry about dressing up for dinner. Just be clean and respectable and they'll love you. I didn't get a bad meal there the whole time. Have fun!

 

[leftyguns21]

[MENTION=81418]Tom P.[/MENTION] i plan on consuming a lot of gelato, pizza, birra and vino. I pretty much have just a general idea, land in Venice leave from Rome and that's it. rest is just winging it. which is why hostels would be nice since I can just show up. id hate to wing it and not have a place to stay or the only ones available are e500/night.
thank you for those suggestions I have noted them in my log and will def take them in to consideration.
I wont be carrying a fanny pack, one of those passport holder lanyards but that's it. make sure to keep it and my cash on me at all times.
I had considered only one lens but id hate to get there and wish I had the other (one is wide angle and one is telephoto). Ive traveled to other countries using only one but this trip I think I may want both. my tripod is light and compact and im sure I will use quite a bit for night shots. to bring camera gear ill sacrifice clothes. im even thinking of going as far as throwing clothes(socks/undies) away as trip goes on to lighten my load.

grazie for this. very helpful. im getting more excited...still haven't got my plane ticket im hoping they'll go down in price. once I notice them heading up ill get it then.

 

[Tom P.]

One other traveling tip, if you feel the need to stay at a nice hotel, show up late in the evening and they may give you the best room in the house for cheap. I've lucked out a couple of times, inadvertently. They want to rent all their rooms and the expensive ones go last. You're going to have fun. Ciao!

 

[Jpm1609]

Sounds like you're going to have a great trip! I've been to both Rome and Venice. Before I went to Rome, I took an Italian class at the Boston center for adult education. That was a lot of fun and made going there easier. If there is a similar place near you, you may want to consider taking the class. I didn't bring any real dressy clothes and never had an issue at any restaurants. I walked all around Rome and found everything easy to find. One thing to be aware of is there are a lot of pickpockets there. On a bus I had the uneasy feeling that two guys were sizing me up, so I got off the bus right away. Keep your wallet and money in your front pocket.

I have some pictures of those trips on facebook if you're interested in checking them out. The email hooked up to fb is [email protected].

Have fun on your trip!

 

[leftyguns21]

[MENTION=91215]Jpm1609[/MENTION] thank goodness we do have classes. im in my 11th week now. its very beginner just learning the basics right now but it is a loooot of help. I also have Rosetta Stone and DuoLingo on my iPad plus lots of books. I will still have a hard time communicating in person since they speak so fast, but ill be able to at least read a little bit breaking things down.

ive heard of the pickpocketing from a few people, ill def keep my stuff on me. I was going to get one of those nerdy belts or lanyards to carry my money and passport with me. other than that is it safe? Im going to be out even at night taking pics, is it safe enough to have my camera out? in Chicago everyone told me the same things about it being a little unsafe but I walked around at night alone with my camera and didn't feel too unsafe.
[MENTION=81418]Tom P.[/MENTION] great idea on the hotel. ive done that on other trips so its good to hear it could work there too. I did it in CA one time, we showed up around 1am and got the room for $20 cash.

I purchased my plane ticket over the weekend, ill be leaving Sept 1.:happy:

 

[leftyguns21]

my trip is about 10 days out and im nearly set. booked my last room in Rome

travel plans:
Sept 2 bassano del grappa to visit family
Sept 3-5 Venice/Burano/Murano
Sept 5-7 Cinque Terre
Sept 7-9 Florence
Sept 9-12 Rome

I will be staying in a hostel in Venice, right in St Marks Square. A B&B in Riomaggiore first of the Cinque Terres. Hostel in Florence dead center. And a B&B near Vatican City for Rome. 8 nights of rooms total is $580.US. Flight was $1400. Leaving me plenty of money for gelato.

the only thing left to figure out is where to sleep on my final night, I leave very early on the 12th so a hotel the night of the 11th is almost a waste, considering sleeping in the airport but getting mixed reviews if that's a good idea or not.

everything else ill figure out while I am there.

 

[T4R2014]

Only advice I can give which can apply to most of Europe is to watch out for those pick-pocketing gypsies.