Italy in January, 2017. Help, please

[Laurie]

Another trip we did Paris- Venice - Florence - Rome. Again all trains, flew out of different airports at beginning and end. We did rent a car in Florence for that trip to go into the countryside. It was not easy getting in/out of Florence, so if you are not comfortable, I wouldn't recommend it.

It's not so bad if you take public transportation to Florence airport, rent a car from there and return it there. If you have time, it's very worth it to have a car for the countryside in Tuscany IMO.

 

[isisdave]

In Rome, near Vatican: VRBO 1021339, also a webpage (in Italian, but plenty to get the feel) at vaticanohouse.it Say hi to Laura for us. Her English is pretty good, and lots better than our Italian. Right next to Cipro metro station.

We found trains pretty inexpensive. Buy online in advance (nonrefundable); you get an e-ticket which you just show from your phone on the train. Keep an eye on the website for suddenly announced strikes (sciopero).

Don't rent a car in any Italian city. For several people, driving inter-city might be cheaper, but the driver will have no fun and will see nothing except fairly terrifying traffic. In a city, it's just an expensive, frustrating nuisance.

The Rome metro is cheap and fast, but there are really only two (maybe three now) lines, and so some areas where buses are better. Watch out for pickpockets. They will actually announce (electronically) on the metro when pickpockets have been sighted, and twice, locals announced in English "there are pickpockets in this car now," whereupon they left at the next stop. Often 2 or 3 kids, 10-13 years old, who stand in the doorway or create some commotion.

If you haven't seen https://www.rometoolkit.com/ you should read it. Lots of great info.

IMHO the best site in Rome, after the Vatican, is Ostia Antica. In January, there will be practically no one there.

 

[jehb2]

We will be using trains for our first trip to Italy this fall and know we have to handle our own luggage. There is no way I can pack in a 21 inch upright for a 6 wk trip - so it will be a 24/25 inch upright.

You would be very surprised. We traveled for 5 weeks around Europe taking 8 trains between cities and 1 airplane. We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids). We had only one 21 inch carryon each. You will be much happier if you travel light. Start with the Rick Steves travel "packing" forum. Study other sites about packing light.

Prior to our Europe trip we traveled to Hawaii almost every year since 1999. I always took everything plus the kitchen sink.