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Author
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Topic: Can we do Rome and VEnice in one week?
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Jwerking
TUG MemberPosts: 652
From: Northern VA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-11-2005 06:52
    
Currently air france is running a sale and offering fare from Wash DC area to Rome/Venice for about $480 (inclusive of all taxes,etc) for the Thanksgiving week. Can I assume that this is a good fare - sounds good to me - what do you think?Also, will only be there for a week. Should we just do one city and not try to do both? Would be train bet the 2 cities? Any idea on cost and time in transit? Thanks, Joyce ------------------
Marriott Barony and Summit Watch, Port O'Call in HH, Dikhololo IP: Logged |
3kids4me
TUG MemberPosts: 4359
From: Fairfield County, CT --Owner - Smugglers' Notch - 2 bedroom, week 33 plus float-- --- I remember PJ ---
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-11-2005 08:56
Something to make it harder for you...lol!! Have you considered Florence? I would pick Florence over Rome, unless you are really wanting to go to the Vatican....Sharon IP: Logged |
heislerj
Non MemberPosts: 101
From: Wexford,PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 05-11-2005 10:20
Can be done. The train from Rome to Venice takes, as a recall, somewhere around 6+ hours. I do not remember the cost but not bad. Exchange rate is not good. You may want to spend a couple of days in Florence, it is on the way. Also you should tour a bit of Tuscany if you have time.IP: Logged |
pwrshift
TUG MemberPosts: 2889
From: Toronto
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-11-2005 16:59
I just got back from Italy from a 2 week holiday. There is so much to see (and so many people) in Rome that it will take a minimum of 3 days and you'll be moving fast! Ancient city and Vatican alone will wipe exhaust you. We took a week, and it was probably 2 days too long. Then we went to Amalfi (Sorrento) for 2 nights, then Florence 2 nights and Venice 2 nights...rush rush rush. I hired a limo driver to pick us up in Rome and drive us to Sorrento, then around Amalfi, and then to Florence. Took the train to Venice...which has to be the biggest rip off city in the world. 80 euros just to take a water taxi from the train to the Danieli hotel on the Grand Canal, 90 euros to the airport and another 25 euros for the porter as the boat dock is not 'at' the airport. A rum & coke is 23 euros in most Venice hotels...figure on 60 euros each for bacon & eggs breakfast. Still...I'm glad to have seen it but won't hurry back. The Danieli is a beaut of a hotel and right at St. Marks Square where the whole world if found it seems.Florence was more sublime, and we saw the 'real' David statue museum and the Uffizi gallery in one day - big push and must sees. We stayed in the Westin Excelsior - very very nice and near the train station. Plan well...if I had it to do again, I would have saved Amalfi for another trip as it was south while the rest of the trip was north. Get a loan at the bank for the trip...especially if you are paying for hotels (we were on points). But it is a trip of a lifetime, so what does cost matter?  Brian ------------------
Those who dream most, do most. IP: Logged |
Carolinian
TUG MemberPosts: 5888
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-11-2005 19:35
With only 1 week, I would fly ''open jaws'' into Venice and out of Rome or vice versa. I would spend a minimum of two days in Venice and three in Rome. Take the fast train between the two, and do a quick stop in Florence, or perhaps an overnight.Your best fare for around a week, will be leaving on a Thursday and returning on a Monday, giving nine and a half to ten full days. That is usually the schedule I fly to Europe. With a connection in Paris, it would be 9 and a half. There is so much to do, you will not have much time for side trips. IP: Logged |
fionahr
TUG MemberPosts: 152
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 05-14-2005 00:22
I second Carolinian's plan!IP: Logged |
pwrshift
TUG MemberPosts: 2889
From: Toronto
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-14-2005 11:19
You might find Rick Steve's site of value - his map of Rome, Venice and Florence were very useful to me. Here's what he says about Rome and Venice in short trips:
http://www.ricksteves.com/ Rome (3 days). Devote your first day to Classical Rome: Tour the Colosseum, Forum, Capitol Hill (and its museum), and Pantheon. Linger away the evening at Piazza Navona. Tartufo ice cream is mandatory. For your second day, visit Vatican City and St. Peter’s (climb the dome), and tour the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Spend your third morning at Ostia Antica, ancient Rome’s seaport (like Pompeii, but just a subway ride away from Rome). In downtown Rome, visit Piazza Barberini for its Bernini fountain and Cappuccin crypt (thousands of bones in the first church up Via Veneto). Have dinner on atmospheric Campo dei Fiori. Explore the Trastevere neighborhood, where yesterday’s Rome lives out a nostalgic retirement. Then take a train to Venice (about 7 hours, night trains sometimes available).
Venice (2 days). Grab a front seat on boat #82 for an introductory tour down the Grand Canal. The Accademia Gallery showcases the best Venetian art. Tour the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s, and catch the view from the Campanile bell tower. Then wander, leave the tourists, and get as lost as possible. Remember, you're on an island and you can't fall off. Catch the night train to Vienna (about 8 hours). ------------------
Those who dream most, do most. IP: Logged |
SydneyTugger
TUG MemberPosts: 1281
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 05-14-2005 16:58
quote:
Originally posted by Carolinian:
With only 1 week, I would fly ''open jaws'' into Venice and out of Rome or vice versa. I would spend a minimum of two days in Venice and three in Rome. Take the fast train between the two, and do a quick stop in Florence, or perhaps an overnight.Your best fare for around a week, will be leaving on a Thursday and returning on a Monday, giving nine and a half to ten full days. That is usually the schedule I fly to Europe. With a connection in Paris, it would be 9 and a half. There is so much to do, you will not have much time for side trips.
That's a great plan. Florence is right on the way so you can fit in all three cities nicely.
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SteveH
TUG MemberPosts: 499
From: Ottawa, Canada
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 05-14-2005 20:48
You might also want to check out www.europebyair.com for one way $99 US flights between Rome and Venice. We used them a few years ago for Venice to Athens and it went very smoothly. You have to pay the local airport taxes at the airport before you receive your boarding passes.
SteveIP: Logged |
Fern Modena
TUG MemberPosts: 7754
From: Southern Nevada
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-18-2005 10:35
Its been awhile, but you don't have to spend the big $$$ for a water taxi from the train station to St. Mark's Square. We took a vaporetto, which is a water bus. With suitcases. Most people do, and its reasonably priced.In Rome, get tickets for one of the "hop on, hop off" buses. It will drop you at many of the sites, as well as give you an inexpensive overview. Fern ------------------
Fern Modena
©My words are my own, please don't use them without my permission. IP: Logged |
Jwerking
TUG MemberPosts: 652
From: Northern VA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-19-2005 03:36
Thank everyone for all the insight and great tips. We were planning to fly into Rome and out of Venice - but thought the train ride bet. was only 4 hrs and not 7 - kind of a wasted day when one only has a week. Maybe we will do just one city and after what you said about Venice, Brian, it may NOT be the choice. I do want a vacation, not to be constantly rushing around. Joyce
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Marriott Barony and Summit Watch, Port O'Call in HH, Dikhololo IP: Logged |
Carolinian
TUG MemberPosts: 5888
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-19-2005 04:36
As to the train, if you take the direct fast train, called a Pendolino if I recall correctly, you will not spend 7 hours on the train between Rome and Venice.Cook's European Timetable shows they run about every two hours.
For example, one leaves Rome at 6:55 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia (do not stop at Venice Mestre, several miles away from the old city on the mainland) at 11:28. Others leave at 8:55, 10:55, 12:55, 14:55, 16:55, 17:55, and 18:55. Italy does have some trains that seem to stop at every pig path, and you definitely want to avoid those. IP: Logged |
hibbeln
TUG MemberPosts: 573
From: Rochester, MI
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 05-19-2005 06:41
Well I was going to give you my advice, but pwrshift got it exactly right so I won't bother! Like pwrshift said, if you have 3 days to devote to sightseeing in Rome, you can see "all" the sites. If you choose to spend the whole week in Rome, you will have time to do daytrips out (you don't really "need" a whole week in Rome). I would recommend Pompeii (get a Rick Steve's guidebook to tell you how to do it exactly with public transportation) and maybe Pisa? I was to Venice once in March/April (20 years ago with a backpack on my back) and we basically spent a day there and that was fine because the weather was cold and rainy/snowy. We saw the canals and the city and said "Oh isn't that neat!" and moved on to Switzerland. I would guess November may have similar weather. IP: Logged |
X-ring
TUG MemberPosts: 1220
From: Ottawa, Canada - Cancun (wks 7-8), Hapimag World-Visa, SA (2 white)
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 05-23-2005 11:55
quote:
Originally posted by Fern Modena:
Its been awhile, but you don't have to spend the big $$$ for a water taxi from the train station to St. Mark's Square. We took a vaporetto, which is a water bus. With suitcases. Most people do, and its reasonably priced.
Quite right, Fern. I bought a vaporetto ticket at 5 euros which is good for 90 minutes. I took a #82 (faster, due to limited stops) from San Marco to the train station and back again on a #1 (slower, hits every stop) back again, letting me take in all the sights along the Grand Canal at greater leisure.
[This message has been edited by X-ring (edited 05-23-2005).] IP: Logged |
X-ring
TUG MemberPosts: 1220
From: Ottawa, Canada - Cancun (wks 7-8), Hapimag World-Visa, SA (2 white)
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 05-23-2005 12:10
quote:
Originally posted by pwrshift:
... 80 euros just to take a water taxi from the train to the Danieli hotel on the Grand Canal, 90 euros to the airport and another 25 euros for the porter as the boat dock is not 'at' the airport.
There are other choices for the more cost-sensitive traveler. Among them are the Alilaguna boat that connects the airport with San Marco directly for 10 euros. http://www.alilaguna.it/ [This message has been edited by X-ring (edited 05-23-2005).] IP: Logged |
pwrshift
TUG MemberPosts: 2889
From: Toronto
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-23-2005 22:21
I would never want to be looked upon as 'cost sensitive' -- that would be a terrible reputation for a Marriott owner to have. We had vastly overpacked with each suitcase more than 60 lbs - the last thing I wanted to do was hassle with them on and off public boats loaded with people. In addition, the boat docks at the airport are no longer adjacent to the airport so you again have to lug your suitcases around to the shuttle bus, etc. Brian quote:
Originally posted by X-ring:
There are other choices for the more cost-sensitive traveler. Among them are the Alilaguna boat that connects the airport with San Marco directly for 10 euros. http://www.alilaguna.it/ [This message has been edited by X-ring (edited 05-23-2005).]
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Those who dream most, do most. IP: Logged |
X-ring
TUG MemberPosts: 1220
From: Ottawa, Canada - Cancun (wks 7-8), Hapimag World-Visa, SA (2 white)
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 05-24-2005 05:38
quote:
Originally posted by pwrshift:
I would never want to be looked upon as 'cost sensitive' -- that would be a terrible reputation for a Marriott owner to have.
Indeed, it goes with that dreaded Marriott owner curse - your wallet is too small for your 50's and the diamonds in your shoes pinch your feet!! IP: Logged |
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