Help with travelling to Italy please?

Sashcroft_2

My sister and I are thinking of travelling to Italy in May. We want to do it the cheapest way possible, so were thinking of flying into Italy - but would like to tour round italy, and wondering the best way to do this? Perhaps by train? does anyone have any experience/recommendations about the italian train system?

Also, we will need somewhere to stay in Florence, Rome, Milan and Lake Garda (which is currently where we are thinking we would like to stay)

All advise gratefully recieved.

Thanks
Stephanie

crocodileteeth

There are some ryan air flights with no taxes showing at the moment. (£10.00 per person) to Genoa. We have flown here, although we only paid 1p in June. There is a train station in the centre of Genoa. My experience of trains in Italy has not been great. It would help if you could speak a little italian if you are planning on travelling around.

will-he-payitoff

Have a look at flying to rome then taking the train up to other places then flying back from milan.

summerday

Hello, we travelled round Italy by train 2 years ago and found it very easy, most stations have machines where you can buy tickets and there was an english option on there. You choose between 1st and 2nd class, we found 2nd class was always fine. DO buy your tickets a day or 2 before travel esp for busier routes as otherwise there prob won't be free seats.

When in Rome we stayed at Hotel Welcome Residences which was near the main station, very cheap but surprisingly nice room and bathroom, very friendly and clean. It is nearly 30 min walk into main tourist spots IIRC but tube is very close by.

martindow

You could also consider going to Italy by train.

http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm

More expensive than 1p flights but you save on a night's hotel.

This site also has lots of info on train travel in Italy.

hollydays

THe trainsystem is fantastic-In Rome they evenhad an adviser standing near the ticket machine to help you out. Just remember when you are looking for tickets to florence on the machine-It will be down as Firenze-which confused us the first time.

If flying into Rome use www.terravision.eu (buses) to get to the centre but allow lots of time to get to the airport as rome traffic is unpredictable.

also-train info for the rest of your trip
trenitalia

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3fdbe14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD

clairbear_3

How long are u going for?
Italy has a million things to see and do
Why not just pick one area and enjoy its delights instead of whizzing about
In MAY I would consider south of ROME for better weather
You could quite easily spend 2 or 3 weeks around AMALFI/SORRENTO/CAPRI area

cte1111

I would definitely recommend using the trains to travel around Italy. They are priced by the kilometre, and there are easy to use ticket machines at the stations, which will switch to English, so tickets are easy to buy on the whole. On some of the intercity routes, there are supplements for quicker / newer trains, but generally the system is very straightforward.

Hope you have a great time, wish I could be doing the same as I did when I was younger, but with 2 kids and a husband guess I have to accept that my interrailing days are over.

clairbear_3

Kids have a habit of growing up
(not sure about husbands)

Nigbob

Trains in Italy are of similar standard and reliability to the UK, but much cheaper. As previously posted, the price you pay depends on how many kilometres you are travelling. Simple, but it's a bit different to how we do things here!

However, it also depends on what type of train you are taking. If i remember rightly, the 3 three main types of train (from cheapest to most expensive) are:

Regionale
Intercity
Eurostar

Obviously, if you buy a Regionale ticket, you cannot travel on an Intercity or Eurostar train.

Some tips:

1) A return ticket is exactly double the price of two singles. So there is no point in buying a return ticket. The phrase you will need to buy a single ticket if you need to pay in person is 'solo andata' (only to go)

2) It is sometimes worth buying your ticket from the machines a day or two in advance as they sometimes have cheaper tickets (known as 'Amica' tickets) available. These have the same terms and conditions as normal tickets, only cheaper.

3) There is no point buying first class tickets. They are not significantly better than Second class.

4) If you are travelling between smaller towns, there is sometimes a private railway operating as well as the State railway. I know this is the case in Tuscany and Umbria. Your guide book will tell you more.

5) Pisa is quite a good place to fly into as the airport has it's own railway station, so you can be in Florence within 75 minutes of collecting your bags at Pisa airport.

6) The left luggage points at Railway stations are pretty good value. I think I left my case at Pisa Centrale for about 4 Euros for 24 hours.

7) Most importantly of all, you must validate your ticket before you get on the train. I think the fine for failure to do so is about 30Euros plus the cost of the ticket!

8) Best of all, the cafe bars at Italian stations are good value for money for that expresso/capucchino whilst you wait for your connection!

Nigbob

I can't give too much advice about Hotels.

Most of the cheaper hotels in Rome are around the train station and not great. However, I stayed at the Hotel Sallecchia last year which was OK. 50euro per night for a single and near the train station. It's a little hard to find (have a look on tripadvisor to find directions) though.

You will hear lots of bad things about the area around Termini, but I didn't find it too bad. Just stick together and use your common sense with regard to valuables, money etc.

Florence is so small that most Hotels will be within walking distance of the sights.