AboutLisa Expertise Can recommend day trips from Lucca, can give car directions from most places in Italy, and can help you plan an itinerary. But cannot recommend hotels and restaurants! For a train time table and info on Eurail passes, check out:
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm
For general information, hotels and restaurants, visit frommers.com and tripadvisor.com
Experience I've been to Italy many times, and have traveled to Egypt, India, Nepal, Israel, Turkey, Fiji, Malaysia, and other places in Europe and the Caribbean.
I am travelling with my family (5 adults one baby) in October ... ahh only 2 weeks away now!
We only have 7 days in Italy and were planning on doing either 1 night in Cinque Terre (or maybe two) 2 night in Venice (or maybe one) and then 4 nights in Rome....is this crazy... should I cut out Venice?? I get so many mixed reviews and it is out of the way.... but dont think we will be back anytime soon. We are travelling by train (still have to look at these bookings right away). Is it better to book all the trains from Canada rather than when we are there??
Also, since we dont have alot of time - I have heard a suggestion about getting on a toupr for the Vatican City and those sites around there. I have heard otherwise we will likely be in some LONG lineups. Any suggestions? NOt too sure what tours would be good/ bad... I can buy these in Italy or again should I pre-book?? Any cautions on this??
Lots of questions..sorry... any of your help is appreciated!! Im the only planner in my group and with caring for my baby and work... I am really starting to feel the crunch!
Thank you!
Jaclyn
Answer Hi Jaclyn. To really do Cinque Terra justice, you need to hike from town to town. I think it's a 3-day trip at least. So perhaps you should skip it this time and focus on Venice. You won't regret it. Venice is captivating.
You probably won't have any trouble booking trains in October, but it can't hurt to book them ahead of time to make sure. Here is a good sight: http://www.raileurope.com/index.html
Buy a copy of Frommers Italy to take along. Every morning or afternoon, check the book for a restaurant to eat at that night and make a a reservation. Walk around the cities during the day and drink in the atmosphere, take photos, eat gelato, sit in a sidewalk cafe, buy a souvenir, visit a museum, etc. Don't book too much ahead of time. You may decide you'd rather so something else, like go for a gondola ride or have a drink at Harry's Bar.
Don't overpack. From the airport, you can get a bus into Venice and take the water bus up the grand canale to your hotel. Or you can take a small boat from the airport right to your hotel. It costs more but is a very special way to see the city for the first time.
