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Message
Getting around in Italy
Posted on 4/16/16 at 10:29 pm
Posted on 4/16/16 at 10:29 pm
Figured I'd take advantage of our newest board and post some questions about traveling in Italy.
My gf and I leave in 2.5 weeks for a 13 day trip to Italy. We fly into Milan and then travel to Venice, Florence, and finally Rome.
I have hotels and tours booked. I am not sure about other items though. Specifically train travel. To those that have been, did you book your train travel between cities in advance? Everything I'm reading online says if you are unsure of departure times required then it is best to book the day of travel or a day or two in advance. It'll cost a bit more, but the times are much more flexible. Is this true? I just can't decide if I should be booked Frecciarossa tickets now or later. We will also need to travel from Milan to Varenna, but I think we are okay to book that the day of travel as the train leaves every hour.
Also, is it necessary to have euro upon arrival? Or would withdrawing from an ATM when we land be a good route to go?
Lastly, does anyone have experience purchasing city cards? I saw there is a Milano Card...I have also seen the Firenze card. Are these worth the money? Mostly they grant you access to multiple museums as well as some free public transportation.
My gf and I leave in 2.5 weeks for a 13 day trip to Italy. We fly into Milan and then travel to Venice, Florence, and finally Rome.
I have hotels and tours booked. I am not sure about other items though. Specifically train travel. To those that have been, did you book your train travel between cities in advance? Everything I'm reading online says if you are unsure of departure times required then it is best to book the day of travel or a day or two in advance. It'll cost a bit more, but the times are much more flexible. Is this true? I just can't decide if I should be booked Frecciarossa tickets now or later. We will also need to travel from Milan to Varenna, but I think we are okay to book that the day of travel as the train leaves every hour.
Also, is it necessary to have euro upon arrival? Or would withdrawing from an ATM when we land be a good route to go?
Lastly, does anyone have experience purchasing city cards? I saw there is a Milano Card...I have also seen the Firenze card. Are these worth the money? Mostly they grant you access to multiple museums as well as some free public transportation.
11
Posted on 4/16/16 at 10:31 pm to jordan21210
First... Don't brink euro and just go to the ATM.
Train travel can be booked while there.
I would strongly recommend finding a way to rent a car and see some things off the beaten path. My best trips were seeing the countryside.
Train travel can be booked while there.
I would strongly recommend finding a way to rent a car and see some things off the beaten path. My best trips were seeing the countryside.
Posted on 4/16/16 at 10:38 pm to CaptainJ47
quote:
My best trips were seeing the countryside.
Italy is one of the best places for this, they drive crazy but not enough to deter you from it, the Italian handshake is when you bump mirrors when you pass.
Posted on 4/16/16 at 10:57 pm to jordan21210
As to using an ATM for cash needs there, check with your bank as to the potential transaction and/or conversion fees involved. It can be expensive to withdraw Euros with the wrong US bank card at the wrong European ATM.
Make sure to notify the issuer of any card you plan to use in Europe beforehand that you are traveling there.
I bring about €1,000 with me when I go to Europe in case there's a ATM or bank problem. You can live for more than a couple of days on that amount. Also I'll have at least 20 €5 notes for tips. My bank here gives me a decent deal on ordering foreign currency.
Have a good trip, sorry I don't have information on your other issues.
Make sure to notify the issuer of any card you plan to use in Europe beforehand that you are traveling there.
I bring about €1,000 with me when I go to Europe in case there's a ATM or bank problem. You can live for more than a couple of days on that amount. Also I'll have at least 20 €5 notes for tips. My bank here gives me a decent deal on ordering foreign currency.
Have a good trip, sorry I don't have information on your other issues.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 6:53 am to jordan21210
Driving in the country was fine. I would not attempt to drive in Rome.
We purchased our train tickets ahead of time. Whatever works for you. If you want to stand in lines then by all means by those city cards. It sounds like you have tours booked already so I don't see the point to them anyway. One museum a day in a city and I'm done with them for the days. Most of the tours are 3+ hours.
We took about 500 Euros with us and it was plenty. Pretty much everyone took credit cards. You get a better conversion from your credit card company than by e changing money.
Enjoy. Italy is awesome.
We purchased our train tickets ahead of time. Whatever works for you. If you want to stand in lines then by all means by those city cards. It sounds like you have tours booked already so I don't see the point to them anyway. One museum a day in a city and I'm done with them for the days. Most of the tours are 3+ hours.
We took about 500 Euros with us and it was plenty. Pretty much everyone took credit cards. You get a better conversion from your credit card company than by e changing money.
Enjoy. Italy is awesome.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 7:37 am to VABuckeye
Thanks for the advice. Y'all have confirmed what I was thinking alreay re: money. I will try to use my credit card as much as possible.
As much as I'd like to get a car in Italy and drive around, I think it'd just be a bit too much hassle for us. Our tours are tours out to the contryside, so we should be good there. Itinerary is:
- Milan for 3 nights. Tour 1 is a small group wine tasting trip to Varenna and the Valtellina Valley.
- Venice for 2 nights.
- Florence for 4 nights. Tour 2 is a small group wine tasting trip through Tuscany. Going to also take a day to hike Cinque Terre.
- Rome for 4 nights with an entire day set aside for Vatican City.
I went to Italy two years ago with a similar route, but this is my gf's first time there. Don't want to spend a ton of time in Museums, but don't want to miss the must sees...and I know some you need to book ahead of time.
That's why I inquired about the city cards, would be nice to have immediate access to some things...but I still don't know if they are worth purchasing. Rick Steves seems to shy away from them
As much as I'd like to get a car in Italy and drive around, I think it'd just be a bit too much hassle for us. Our tours are tours out to the contryside, so we should be good there. Itinerary is:
- Milan for 3 nights. Tour 1 is a small group wine tasting trip to Varenna and the Valtellina Valley.
- Venice for 2 nights.
- Florence for 4 nights. Tour 2 is a small group wine tasting trip through Tuscany. Going to also take a day to hike Cinque Terre.
- Rome for 4 nights with an entire day set aside for Vatican City.
I went to Italy two years ago with a similar route, but this is my gf's first time there. Don't want to spend a ton of time in Museums, but don't want to miss the must sees...and I know some you need to book ahead of time.
That's why I inquired about the city cards, would be nice to have immediate access to some things...but I still don't know if they are worth purchasing. Rick Steves seems to shy away from them
This post was edited on 4/17/16 at 7:39 am
Posted on 4/17/16 at 8:40 am to jordan21210
Do you have a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees?
Posted on 4/17/16 at 8:43 am to jordan21210
Personally I'd go to Turin instead of Milan and I'd be going where they make Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Three nights in Milan is two nights too many for me.
ETA:Why I'd do Turin instead. Beautiful city. Better food scene. History. Access to the Piedmonte wine region which is second to none.
ETA:Why I'd do Turin instead. Beautiful city. Better food scene. History. Access to the Piedmonte wine region which is second to none.
This post was edited on 4/17/16 at 8:46 am
Posted on 4/17/16 at 9:07 am to VABuckeye
Milan sucks. I would go west towards Genoa to see the Cinque Terre wayyyyyyyyy before spending time in Milan. I flew into there and a half day was plenty.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 9:09 am to lynxcat
Also, get money at the ATM once there. Use credit card as much as possible as long as no foreign transaction fees.
You will want to book the Trenitalia as it is high speed rail whenever possible. I booked this from Florence to Rome and it is great. Booking ahead will save money. It can be much more expensive to book the day of but it does provide flexibility to your schedule.
You will want to book the Trenitalia as it is high speed rail whenever possible. I booked this from Florence to Rome and it is great. Booking ahead will save money. It can be much more expensive to book the day of but it does provide flexibility to your schedule.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 9:35 am to lynxcat
quote:
Do you have a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees?
Yes. I have a Capital One Venture, so no worries there.
quote:
Milan sucks. I would go west towards Genoa to see the Cinque Terre wayyyyyyyyy before spending time in Milan. I flew into there and a half day was plenty.
I know it isn't the most popular destination, but I've never been and would like to see the cathedral and the galleria. It is also the cheapest airport to fly into and is an easy access point for the Lakes region. We only have 3 full days there - first day will be a leisure day since we arrive 9 am IT time. We'll be some tired puppies
. Second day we do sightseeing, third day is Varenna, then we roll out next morning. quote:
You will want to book the Trenitalia as it is high speed rail whenever possible. I booked this from Florence to Rome and it is great. Booking ahead will save money. It can be much more expensive to book the day of but it does provide flexibility to your schedule.
When I was there in 2014, we took the Frecciarossa between Florence and Rome and also Rome and Naples - will definitely be booking that again. Prices online now are about 40 euro for Milan to Venice...couldn't figure out if that was for two people or one cause it seems cheap. I think I may just book train travel while there...maybe once we get times more finalized just go to the station and book all at once.
ETA: I'm also thinking about getting tickets to a soccer game. SS Lazio vs. Fiorentina in Rome on 5/15. Anyone have experience with that? I think it'd be something cool to see. I have a Fiorentina jersey, though not sure I'd want to wear it
This post was edited on 4/17/16 at 9:38 am
Posted on 4/17/16 at 9:44 am to jordan21210
I saw Fiorentina play Palermo in Florence... Amazing experience. I have not seen a game in Rome though.
I now see that the Frecciarossa is the name of the high-speed rail on Trenitalia so we are talking about the same thing
I now see that the Frecciarossa is the name of the high-speed rail on Trenitalia so we are talking about the same thing
This post was edited on 4/17/16 at 9:47 am
Posted on 4/17/16 at 10:48 am to jordan21210
Took the same trip with my family of 4 (2 children under 13) in 2014. Use ATMs for money. Bring a small amount with you. You can get Euros at your bank here in advance. They try to screw you at every turn when exchanging cash.
As for travel, we used trains exclusivley. Public transportation in Italy is very easy to use. I would book in advance if you can because the prices are cheaper 30/60/90 days out.
The only reason we stayed in Milan overnight was to see AC play Juve. If we had not stayed for the game we would have hit the train station from the airport. Milan wasnt bad but not worth more than 24 hours.
As for travel, we used trains exclusivley. Public transportation in Italy is very easy to use. I would book in advance if you can because the prices are cheaper 30/60/90 days out.
The only reason we stayed in Milan overnight was to see AC play Juve. If we had not stayed for the game we would have hit the train station from the airport. Milan wasnt bad but not worth more than 24 hours.
This post was edited on 4/17/16 at 10:53 am
Posted on 4/17/16 at 12:44 pm to jordan21210
If you visit museums without a tour make a reservation before you go, you will not have to stand in long lines
Posted on 4/17/16 at 2:42 pm to jordan21210
quote:
I think I may just book train travel while there
I'd book some of it in advance if you can. I just booked from ROM to FLR and then FLR to VEN ahead and got first class for 2 tickets @ $58 euro each trip. By the time you book when you're there it will be double that at least and more importantly first class could be booked up on the routes you want to take.
Check these links:
LINK
LINK
LINK
I used The TrainLine (1st link) for both my bookings in this case.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 2:44 pm to namvet6566
quote:
If you visit museums without a tour make a reservation before you go, you will not have to stand in long lines
I did that for the Vatican sites and the Colosseum. There's no need for the Pantheon, correct?
Posted on 4/17/16 at 4:53 pm to Sho Nuff
IIRC you just walk into the Pantheon
Posted on 4/17/16 at 6:38 pm to jordan21210
Driving in Naples is WAY worse than driving in Rome! It was so bad.
I've along been once for our honeymoon. We did Florence, Positano, and Rome. Positano on the Amalfi coast is my favorite place in the entire world. Great food. Amazing views. Secluded beaches. We took trains everywhere except to and from Positano. We got a driver. I would not recommend driving even a mid-sized car around there.
I've along been once for our honeymoon. We did Florence, Positano, and Rome. Positano on the Amalfi coast is my favorite place in the entire world. Great food. Amazing views. Secluded beaches. We took trains everywhere except to and from Positano. We got a driver. I would not recommend driving even a mid-sized car around there.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 7:09 pm to Sho Nuff
trenitalia.com is the Italian rail website. When we went last year I booked well in advance and got one way tickets from Milan Centrale to Monterosso (Cinque Terre) for 9 euro. It was non refundable/non changeable but we made it no problem. Had our flight been delayed we would have had to buy tickets there at a much higher cost.
if you are planning on buying tickets in Italy, I recommend playing around on trenitalia.com so you can familiarize yourself with how they operate. I bought most tickets on their kiosks in the stations for the shorter journeys.
if you are planning on buying tickets in Italy, I recommend playing around on trenitalia.com so you can familiarize yourself with how they operate. I bought most tickets on their kiosks in the stations for the shorter journeys.
Posted on 4/17/16 at 7:28 pm to jordan21210
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/17/17 at 12:37 am
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