Another OT: Transport in Italy

[sparoz]

We will be traveling to Italy in Nov/Dec and visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, Cortina and Milan. Just want to see what's the best way to get around.

I would love to drive, but the parking fees are turning me off. How did you get around Richard?

[Taymaishu]

Trains are very good in Italy, and considering you won't be close to the Dolomites, probably your best bet

[Dackelone]

What parking fees?

Driving is really the best way to get around. I would just rent a car. But Italy does have decent bus and train travel. Just takes a bit! And you can not exactly set you watch to them! lol

IF by parking fees you mean the city zone smog... Germany does that too. Thats why in Germany you need one of those green (color) coded decals in the windshield. No decal and you will get a ticket and one point on your lic. Germany call this system "Umwelt Zone". Its thier idea to limit poluting cars from the inner city. Basically cars onlder than 1993 M.Y. are banned from most bog German cities.

[sparoz]

Most hotels charge 40/50 euros a night for parking.

[BBK]

Depends how adventurous you are! We flew from Paris to Rome, from there we took a train to Naples, where we had organised a private car to take us from Naples to Praino on the Amalfi Coast (which by the way was amazing!). Took the private car (taxi) back to Naples when we flew to Venice as it was the quickest and very cheap. From Venice we took a train to Milan.

The trains are probably the best way to get around if you don't want to drive. We didn't really want the stress of driving because I also wanted to enjoy the holiday and not do all the driving. If you ARE going to take trains though, we suggest in the bigger cities to watch out for theft, pick pocketing and Gypsies. We witnessed 3 young gypsies come onto the train in Rome before it left, go through a Japanes tourists bag (found nothing of worth) and then just walk off the train. Anyone can get on the train without a ticket, you just need it once it has left. Watch EVERYONE!

Naples was a nightmare and we were glad we had a private driver meet us at the station to take us. Rome we didn't like... we felt as though everyone (from Taxi drivers, to people on the street to waiters) was out to take advantage of us or rip us off. In Paris, we felt like if we stuck to good parts of town everything would be ok, but in Rome, we felt like anywhere was a threat, even the expensive upper class parts.

Venice and Milan were wonderful though and we felt a lot more at ease.

Does that help? Hope I haven't scared you off Rome! You definitely have to go I guess to see some of the most famous sights in history.

[Jude Starr]

We used trains all around Europe last time we were there...France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Holland...the easiest and most comfortable way to travel between cities and you get to see more than if you are driving (hopefully because you are concentrating on the road). Get a train pass (http://www.raileurope.com.au/rail-pr...FQEMewodrTc5EA) in First Class and you can sit in air conditioned comfort and enjoy the trip (and you get snacks and drinks too! ).

[TimMc]

Gondola.

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by TimMc

Gondola.

lol I guess I would be when I am in Venice

[BBK]

Gondola's are expensive, but always bargain them down! If you don't mind being with others, see if you can share with other tourists to keep the cost down.

Off my bad memory, think it cost us about 90E for 3/4hr ride, we were on our own and on the best type of Gondola (ie- best looking) but we had bargained that down from about 140Euro.

[Gazmoses]

Originally Posted by Taymaishu

Trains are very good in Italy, and considering you won't be close to the Dolomites, probably your best bet

Just be careful of theives. Despite being paranoid and very careful everywhere I went, a couple of guys managed to get one of my bags while settling down on a train... at 5.45am.

[amk2912]

Ahh.....Venezia....memories of a honeymoon back in 1994. Best way to get around is to WALK! That way you'll discover all the amazing little streets and alleyways. Mind you if you're going in Nov/Dec it might be too cold!

Gotta do the gondola at least once, otherwise use water-taxis or "vaporettos."

[BigBoss168]

I've been to Italy three times and have driven two of those times. I really think it's the best way to get around as you have the flexibility to see all those little villages and towns that lie between the major cities. The driving can be a little crazy at times but as long as you pay attention you'll be fine. If you're going to Cortina I would definitely drive as from memory the trains are a pain in the backside.

Don't pay 40-50 euros per night in parking - what I typically did was drive to the hotel, dump our bags off then drive to a parking lot on the edge of town which is typically much cheaper (from memory it wasn't more than 10 euros per day) and not too much of a walk (10-15 mins) back the hotel.

[Orlin]

AAAPPPEEEE!!!!

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by Orlin

AAAPPPEEEE!!!!

Wot's this? A Super Robin ute??

[BBK]

It's a Lamborghini! Or do I need my eyes checked?

[amk2912]

Actually I think it's a Piaggio or Vespa.

[Dackelone]

When you guys say 40 to 50 euros for parking I am shaking my head!

I go to Italy almost every year - for the past ten years. Now granted, I only go as South as the middle of the country - Sienna or Rimini SanRemo. But I have NEVER had to pay for parking at a hotel. Maybe you guys are going to really high end places. I stay at three or four star hotels. I have never had to pay. being that it IS Italy, they do have those pole gates to close the access to the parking lot at night. I have heard that Rome is dangerous to park in. I had a coworker get her old car stollen there! She had to take the train all the way back to Germany.

There are MANY Bed & Breakfast places in Italy. Just do a search for: Agritourismo
These are working farms that offer rooms for rent in their B&B's. Most are vineyards or farms. Some are VERY nice.

[sparoz]

Lol! Thanks for the advices - I think I might be seriously considering a car to cortina, as public transport seems to be an absolute pain. May be it's a good way to travel to Milan as well where I can visit all those places in between. I guess I would just need to be careful with thieves then as almost everything I speak to says that.

[Orlin]

The Ape

(AH-peh)

Apes are 3-wheeled vehicles that are a cross between a motorcycle and a small truck. You see them all over the countryside and in the small towns. They go very slowly on the roads and the drivers usually keep close to the edge of the road so you can pass them easily

[TimMc]

If I was in Italy I'd have to hire a Ducati at some stage. Park it outside a cafe and sip my espresso before going for a blast through the mountains I'd then like to repeat the process with an F40. Not sure I could afford the latter though...

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by Orlin

They go very slowly on the roads and the drivers usually keep close to the edge of the road so you can pass them easily

I wonder how fast you would need to be travelling to cause enough of a suction slipstream to roll one on it's side?

[Orlin]

Originally Posted by amk2912

I wonder how fast you would need to be travelling to cause enough of a suction slipstream to roll one on it's side?

bahahaha....200ish? boy would that be funny.