5.5 Weeks Europe - Critique my trip!

[Pushka]

It's just 2 hours by train from Rome. I visited it as a day trip from Rome without any problem.

Sure. But in an already extended trip that’s 4 hours just in travel. It’s best to do it from the Amalfi Coast.

 

[occxlr8ed]

Sure. But in an already extended trip that’s 4 hours just in travel. It’s best to do it from the Amalfi Coast.

Thanks all for the comments.

I've locked in my itinerary now - slight change as we are going to Tomorrowland instead of San Sebastian.

Now i would like to dig your brains on best ways to transfer from each area? And what is the best way to book trains?

Thank you all!

Transfers:
London - Mechelen (Train)
Mechelen - Barcelona (Fly from Brussels)
Barcelona - Paris (Fly from Barcelona)
Paris - Venice (Fly from Paris)
Venice - Vernazza (Train)
Vernazza to Florence (Train)
Florence to Sorrento (Train)
Sorrento to Rome (Train)

Itinerary:
Mel-Sing-Lon
Lon
Lon
Lon
Lon
Lon
Lon
Lon
Lon - Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen - Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona - Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris - Venice
Venice
Venice
Venice - Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernzza - Florence
Florence
Florence
Florence - Sorrento
Sorrento
Sorrento
Sorrento - Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome-Singapore
Singapore-Melbourne

 

[JessicaTam]

And what is the best way to book trains?

Have a look here: www.seat61.com

A great train resource.

 

[carambola]

EDIT: Haha, just saw the updated itinerary - that teaches me not to leave a draft message unposted while I go to the gym! It looks like you'll have a great time. Most of my comments are redundant but I'll leave them there for posterity.

--

I just came back from ~7 weeks in Europe - including many of the same Italian stops - and would wholeheartedly support the previous suggestions to consider more time in Venice and Florence, potentially in lieu of the Amalfi Coast. Although Positano was beautiful, we enjoyed Cinque Terre and Porto Venere even more (we based ourselves in an AirBnB in Le Spezia and took the train / bus). Amalfi traffic was heinous.

As far as the "main" cities go, my preferences are Venice, Florence, Milan and Rome, in that order - so if you're keen on keeping Amalfi, I'd suggest potentially swapping one of the Rome days for another city. You mentioned that you like art so I'd vote Florence. It's a close call, though. Venice has a way of stealing your heart.

For my husband and myself, our favourite part was a one week self-guided cycling gastronomical tour in Umbria (Perugia, Spello, Spoleto, San Luca, Montefalco, Torgiano, Assisi). Our luggage was transported from one accommodation stop to the next, so all we had to do was ride, eat, drink wine and take cooking classes. We indulged in truffle dishes daily and even went on a truffle hunt with a local guide on the last day. The locals were friendly and the towns picturesque. Since we went in low season, most of the cultural sites - from ceramic museums to Roman ruins - were empty, and we were almost always the only visitors there. I realise that a week probably won't fit in your itinerary, but Umbria is a wonderful area if you can spare a couple of days.

 

[dxwell]

I was going to comment on broadening your travels away from the main centres and enjoying the authentic European experience in the smaller cities/towns (San Sebastian is awesome).
However, you're in your twenties and hopefully you'll have 60 more years of traveling before you. Life is best experienced than read. You'll love some parts of your trips more than others. The sum experience is what shapes you.
I look forward to hearing of your travels and your plans for the next one.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Paris - Venice
Venice
Venice
Venice - Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernzza - Florence
Florence
Florence
Florence - Sorrento
Sorrento
Sorrento
Sorrento - Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome-Singapore

Yikes.

Yes I like that as per my suggestion that you decided upon one of the Amalfi Coast or the Cinque Terra, but with the former I see you are going for Sorrento.

Let me suggest Positano, Positano, Positano instead!

Why? Well my wife and I had a pleasant night and day at Sorrento, but that is all you need when there are better options to be had. And if you miss it entirely, no loss. Whereas Positano is the stuff that creates lifelong travel memories.

The pic my below is of my wife looking down at the "beach" in Sorrento.

and here is the close up..

Whereas this is us the small beach nearest us as we stayed a 15 minute walk south of Positano

Which was a little less crowded and more relaxed than the main beaches of Positano, but which was still way better than Sorrento.

Positano has a great ambience at night. Whereas Sorrento is more big city rather village feel.

The view from our private garden terrace outside of our B&B room...

And go on a small boat trip to Capri, or the main ferry to Amalfi and have no traffic hassle at all. The shot below is over the stern of the small boat we shared with 6 other people to Capri.

The private limo we booked from Sorrento to Posiatano was not expensive and the drive and time were not that horrendous. Ditto for the limo from Positano to Naples Train Station to catch a train to Rome where the trip was longer due the distance but timewise not that long compared to other options..

I know that some paint a horrific picture of the Amalfi Road Traffic, BUT you can avoid it mostly by simply minimising how much you are in it.

The limo from Sorrento to Positano each way was only an hour at most.
Take the ferry from Positano to Amalfi = no traffic
Hire a boat or a small boat cruise for other trips = no traffic.

Also at night the traffic drops to very little and so if desired you can arrived or depart late (personally I would not bother).

To do the Path Of The Gods we actually caught the local bus from Amalfi to Bomerano (Taxi prices were horrific) and it was not that bad a trip and we were there in August.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

TRANSPORT

With our most recent trip to Italy, it made sense for us to use limos for three longer transfers when considering time and where we wanted to go and when and where we were departing and arriving.

I booked the limos through airport Taxi Transfers. Airports Taxis Transfers

All three cars were spotless and the drivers all good.

Naples Airport to Pompei
Vehicle Type :
Mercedes E class or similar


Transfer(s) Cost :
EUR 47 - One Way
Extras Cost :
EUR 0
Total Cost :
EUR 48 (incl. EUR 1 processing charge)
Payment Type : In Advance


Sorrento to Positano
Vehicle Type :
Mercedes E class or similar


Transfer(s) Cost :
EUR 52 - One Way
Extras Cost :
EUR 0
Total Cost :
EUR 54 (incl. EUR 2 processing charge)
Payment Type : In Advance

Positano to Naples Train Station

Vehicle Type :
Mercedes E class or similar


Transfer(s) Cost :
EUR 90 - One Way
Extras Cost :
EUR 0
Total Cost :
EUR 93 (incl. EUR 3 processing charge)
Payment Type : In Advance

FERRY Positano to Amalfi
I cannot remember the cost, but it was not much and it was a pleasant trip down the coast. Just book at the ticket office on the foreshore in Positano.

TRAINS
As mentioned above see www.seat61.com

Trains are efficient and cheap in Italy and are IMO a great way to get about for many, but not all desiitnations. Long distance fares if bought in advance are very cheap.

Pompei to Sorrento
We caught the local train which was cheap. Bought the tickets at the local station which was only a few hundred metres from one of main entry points to Pompei and also our hotel.

Naples to Rome
Booked online in advance via Trenitalia - Homepage English - Trenitalia
TIP To make bookings know in advance the Italian spelling for each town that you are visiting. ie Florence is Firenze.

The above is our last trip to Italy.

Our trip prior to this last one we went (ignoring daytrips) mainly on the train including all the main legs Milan-Venice-Florence-Rome-Pisa-Monterosso (Cinque Terra)-Milan and despite travelling by VFT on most legs never spent more than 30 Euro per ticket and some were as low as 7 euro. All were booked the day that the super-low fares opened for each leg.

 

[dxwell]

positano

Agree 100% re Positano. Swap Sorrento for Positano

 

[occxlr8ed]

Agree 100% re Positano. Swap Sorrento for Positano

Will investigate.....Sorrento our hotel is refundable so that is lucky.

Questions regarding trains.

Do i have to pre-book these train trips?

Brussels-Midi to Mechelen trip?
Venice - Vernazza
Vernazza - Florence
Florence - Sorrento
Sorrento - Rome

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Will investigate.....Sorrento our hotel is refundable so that is lucky.

Questions regarding trains.

Do i have to pre-book these train trips?

Brussels-Midi to Mechelen trip?
Venice - Vernazza
Vernazza - Florence
Florence - Sorrento
Sorrento - Rome

No you most likely do not have to pre-book anything. But I think there are a number of benefits if you can live with the loss of flexibility. And if you have pre-booked all your accommodation you probably do not need the flexibility.

However on some legs if you can be fixed then pre-booking will most likely save a large % off. To gain an idea try doing some dummy booking now for when the window opens (which is probably 90 days from today).

Pre-booking also means that you can just arrive and go. Rather than arrive buy tickets, maybe miss-out and then have to go on a later train as the one you wanted was full.

With short trips using local trains (ie Pompei to Sorrento) I normally just turn up and buy tickets and travel, but have checked out the time schedule in advance as you do not want to just miss a train that say only runs hourly.

Long distance and in particular Very Fast Trains I will normally pre-book to gain the cheapest rate and to also have a reserved seat.

 

[Pushka]

I tend to book tickets ahead. I use a travel planner so I can put in all the details and know what time I need to be somewhere. I like paying some stuff in advance. I’ve had credit card refusals overseas and which is a pain.

 

[JessicaTam]

Pre booking 90 days in advance usually means the first class seats are not much more than economy.

 

[occxlr8ed]

(Booked) Brussels-Midi to Mechelen trip

Venice - Vernazza - have booked Venice to Florence. Unable to book the Florence to Vernezza leg.

Vernazza - Florence - same as above, can't book Florence to Vernazza

Florence - Sorrento - will be booking train from Florence to Naples, then possibly a private car from Naples to Sorrento. Or taking the Hydrofoil.
Thoughts?


Sorrento - Rome - possibly looking at taking the bus due to ease of transfers. Thoughts?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Florence - Sorrento - will be booking train from Florence to Naples, then possibly a private car from Naples to Sorrento. Or taking the Hydrofoil.
Thoughts?

Yes read my post earlier in this thread with links and costs for private car transfers. (Po)ositan to Naples Train station, Naples airport to Pompei and Sorrento to Positan

You can book Naples to Sorrento (or even better to Positano). Quick, efficient, nice clean and comfortable cars. Will then take you straight to your accommodation.

 

[occxlr8ed]

In August, in the summer heat, where would people recommend staying in Rome.

At the moment i am staying by the river, in Trastevere, however due to the vicinity of the major sites i am second guessing whether i should rebook in the Colosseum area.

Thoughts?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

In August, in the summer heat, where would people recommend staying in Rome.

At the moment i am staying by the river, in Trastevere, however due to the vicinity of the major sites i am second guessing whether i should rebook in the Colosseum area.

Thoughts?

Trastevere is a very nice are to stay in. Lots of restaurants, cafes etc

As you are young I assume you are fit and can walk ok? If so then you may wish to stay with being in a nice area, where you just have to walk a bit more. It is away from the Metro.

A typical street In Trastevere- It is nice to amble around

My last trip to Rome I was 55, and it was August, and stayed near the Metro and we walked everywhere in central Rome from there including Trastevere. I did not find the heat to be that bad at all. No worse than an Ozzie Summer.

My last two trips we were arriving by train and so we stayed near a Metro Station as that meant it easy to get to with our bags without needing a taxi. This is our modus operandi in Europe.

First time was just NE of the Colosseum in an apartment near Cavour Metro. So a good central location. Easy to walk to most places and we could jump on the Metro to go further afield. Beware any restaurants/cafes near the Colosseum as they are over priced and poor quality in the main. Go back a few streets (which is where our apartment was) and eat where the locals do. Better food and cheaper.

Last trip we we stayed at a small hotel between Lepanto and Ottaviano Metro Stations. Just to the south. Again my modus operandi when I return to a city is to stay in a slightly different area as each has it own charm and pluses and minuses.

Easy walk to the Vatican but also not far to pop across the river the central old Rome. As mentioned above we walked to Trastevere from there. A nice walk along the river.
From a tourist point of view our first location was probably more convenient. But we enjoyed both.



PS: I know that you said that you do not drink (though grab a coffee or soft drink instead) but we went out to pre-dinner drinks at a nearby (to our second hotel) cafe/bar who were having a happy hour. They also brought out at an amazing amount of completely free (as long as you were also buying drinks) and very tastey food of many different types. Not just a snack each, but they covered the table several times! The pic below is but part of it as they just kept bringing more. So much so that we ended up not going to a restaurant afterwards as we were completely sated!

 

[Pushka]

From memory on my last trip there is a major public holiday some time in Rome and it was devoid of people for a few days other than tourists. It was really weird rolling around in empty streets. Some businesses closed down.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From memory on my last trip there is a major public holiday some time in Rome and it was devoid of people for a few days other than tourists. It was really weird rolling around in empty streets. Some businesses closed down.

That would be August 15, or Ferragosto, and yes pretty much everything shuts down. How much I cannot advise as I have not been there for it.

Ferragosto is a public holiday celebrated on 15 August in Italy and San Marino. It coincides with the major Catholic feast of the Assumption of Mary.
​

In addition August is a month where many Romans will go on holidays for a week to a month. So you will find random restaurants, cafes, businesses closed. Some tours will not be operating, especially small tours like Food Tours.


Having been there in August I did not find it a huge problem. There was a particular food tour that we wanted to do that had ceased for two weeks. There was also a particular restaurant that we wanted to sample that was closed. But there are still plenty of places open

 

[Pushka]

Yes - that was about right. We left a cruise on 12th August. Many had already left for the long week celebration.

 

[occxlr8ed]

Have decided to stay put in Rome in Trastevere!

For Paris, do people suggest the museum pass? Do you save much time skipping the line at all with the pass?