First, let me say what an awesome site this is! There is so much great information from posts, reviews, trip reports and some of the most beautiful travel pictures I have ever seen. Kudos to the organizers of Slow Travel, this site provides a wealth of information.
A little bit about us...............Den & I are both 46, married 24 years this year and live in a small Eastern Ontario town between Ottawa and Montreal. We travelled a bit before our kids were born 21 years ago and started going down south 4 years ago for our 20th anniversary. Our dream has been to go to Europe for our 25th anniversary and we have started to make this come true. Our plane tickets are booked and we have reserved our accommodations.
We are spending 1 week in Paris (apartment on Ile St Louis), one week in Tuscany (apartment at Tenuta Lupinari), 3 nights in Rome (Hotel Alimandi) and 3 nights in Positano (Albergo California). We really wanted to do all the bookings ourselves and the internet and sites such as this have allowed us to do our research and feel fairly confident that we have made good choices. Now all we have to do is figure out how to get from one place to another, and this is where we need some help from other seasoned travellers.
We are thinking of using EasyJet to fly from Paris to Pisa, renting a car for our week in Tuscany, and dropping it off when we get to Rome. We will probably take the train to Naples and hire someone to drive us to Positano and back to Naples, where we would fly back to Paris (our flight home is in Paris). We are looking for comments a/o suggestions to the above. Anything we shouldn't even think of or are we on the right track?
I am also looking for suggestions of what to visit/where to eat. We really want to try to see life as Europeans do and not only do the tourist thing (but I welcome suggestions on how to do the big tourist things the easist way possible). We are going the last 2 weeks of May, first week of June. Will the weather be fairly warm then, would we be OK bringing mostly lighter clothing?
I apolgize for the lenght of this post, but we are so excited about this trip and are looking forward to any suggestions you experienced travellers can provide.
I think our weight restrictions for our flight over are 20 kilos per bag (we booked a cheapie charter flight) so I believe this is about the same limit for EasyJet. Thanks for the caution!
You are mentioning that you traveled before. Have you been to Rome before? I just find that your stay in Rome is a bit short. Rome is a nice and an interesting place to enjoy. 3 nights: this is in reality gives you only 2 days and a half at the maximum. Rome has everything from ancient civilization to Renaissance, it has Vatican as well. Just walking around the city without seeing any museums and just appreciating the atmosphere could easily take more than 2.5 days. Also what is your plan for Positano? Which places do you want to visit from there? Are you just planning to stay there for the 3 days, which is ok as well? I am just trying to see what is the interest there?
I hate to admit it, but Rome was almost an afterthought for us. We really wanted to do Paris and the Tuscany area for a week each and wanted to visit the Amalfi coast as well, and just added Rome for 3 nights to make up our 3 weeks. We want to see the Vatican and St Peters and are leaving 1 full day just for this. We plan to just walk around and enjoy the areas around the Spanish Steps/Trevi Fountain/Colesseum the remainder of the 1 1/2 days we will be there, looking for non-tourist places to eat at and see. We both love walking and just want to wander around and see what strikes our fancy.
In Positano, which will be the end of our 3 week trip, we really want to just take it easy, maybe visit some of the closer towns like Ravello and Amalfi, but really just enjoy 3 days and nights of walking, great views and good eating. Hubby wants to see Pompei, but we'll see if we're up to it since I think we would have to devote a whole day to do this.
Thanks for any help......................Jo (PS, I'm originally from Montreal as well, which part are you from? I grew up in the Villeray area, near Jean Talon Market and Jarry Park ~ still miss the fantastic variety of fresh food available in that area, but we go back almost every weekend, as my family is still there and we're only 1 hour away.)
Hi, You shouldn't miss Piazza Navona and Pantheon. This area is my favorite in Rome. My coleague who went to Rome for 2 night just regrets not seing this part of Rome, and you shouldn't miss it. Spanish steps are touristy as well and I wouldn't spend much time there. Just walk and see. Trevi is very touristy and I wouldn't stay there for too long. The Piazza is really small. To eat, I would avoid eating anywhere close to a sight, as it would be more expensive and touristy anyway. But while you walk you will see plenty of more authentic places. May be in Trastevere would be more affordable trattorias. Also in the small streets just around the corner you can eat for much less, but still have it all romantic. All of the sights in Rome are touristy, but some are really crowded. For Positano, at the end of the trip, it might be a bit of a rush to visit Pompeii. As it deserves more time than just 2 hours however. May be you can go to Capri by ferry for 1 day, where you visit some Roman villas (touristy but you can use a ferry and then funicular. I would skip visiting Ravello. Amalfi would be nice but only if you have time for it. There are not that many differences (except for number of tourist in other locations and prices). Just go to Montepertuso by local bus from Positano and the views are very nice (one morning or afternoon). I am from Montreal and living in Beaconsfield (Montreal West). It is nice to chat and assist people from Canada. I hope I can help.
Anastasia, thanks again for your advice. This is exactly the type of help we are looking for, from people who have been there and done the things we think we want to do. We almost booked a hotel in Travestere (Santa Maria) but opted for the Alimandi due to its closeness to the Vatican.
Please feel free to share any more great advice for either Paris or Tuscany if you have some.
Enjoy this very windy Sunday..................Jo
(My sister lives in Pierrefonds, and our first house was in Pointe Claire, so I know the West Island very well........was just there yesterday, spending all of our money at Costco!)
In Paris you will have plenty to do and just seating with a chocolate anywhere to spend some time. I have been many times to Paris and just loved it. If you want to see a bit more and if you have time, Mont-St-Michel is a nice place to see from there and Versailles. Paris is also a place if you want to buy something special (so many nice things and good quality too). In Tuscany we visited Sienna, Florence, Pisa and San Gimignano. I loved Sienna, where we ate the best pasta with truffes, safran and mushrooms of all Italy. San Gimignano was cute and interesting to visit. In Pisa we just spent a half a day visiting the square of Miracles and eating at one of the touristy restaurants (not bad, but nothing memorable). Positano is quite touristy as well. But if you eat at the restaurant and you are looking for nice views, it is ok. It is expensive as well. Just be more selective as expensive doesn't mean better. Just an example: a gelato costs about 14E at one of the places on the beach(end of the world). I never payed that much even in Paris or Rome. It was good, but doesn't compare to Paris or Rome.
You will love Paris! It is the most walkable city....around every corner brought another wonderful tree lined street with a cafe or two.
We were there in Aug this year and had so so weather, hot one day, cool and cloudy the next. Not sure about May/June, but I believe it could be a bit rainier then.
We bought a museum pass, which is good for just about all of them, to avoid standing in long line ups. But the only line up we stood in was at the Louvre and that was only to go through the security check.
Paris in not terribly cheap, but not as expensive as we thought it was going to be. You will find wonderful little cafes/restaurants around every corner that have some pretty good prices as long as they are not on the main tourist drags.
We found a great little crepe place for breakfast. They were E3-5 and could have fruit or ham and eggs in them. Another place for dinner with nightly specials around E10. The most we ended up paying for dinner with a couple of glasses of wine was E44 it was excellent and it was in a super spot outside with a great view of the lit up Eiffel Tower.
We only had 3 days there, which was just not enough. With 1 week you will be able to see so much.
All the usuals are not to be missed, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower etc. but we truly enjoyed our little rest breaks at some little cafes/pastry shops and just people watching.
We stayed in the 7th and walked everywhere, didn't use the metro once. Just too much to miss if you aren't walking. Even a night we wandered around and felt very safe.
You will also love Tuscany! It is undescribable, the pictures you see do not do it justice. Our fav day trips were to Volterra and Montepulcian/Pienza. It you hit market days, a bit crowded, but it's great just wandering around them too. You will get lost driving around, we certainly did as their signage leaves a bit to be desired, but we also found some wonderful little hilltowns that we'd never heard of before and the most friendly people anywhere.
Positano was beautiful too. Although we liked it there, the views spectacular etc. It was very crowded and of course the prices reflected that. Not to be missed is the Positano Caffe. The view is great, not terribly cheap, but it was one of the best meals we had there. Superb seafood.
Pompei is a must and do allow a day with a trip up to Vesuvius.
Rome was lovely. Not as walkable as Paris because of the hills and the cobbled streets, and not the lovely tree lined streets as in Paris and not as many cafes but again around each corner was an new adventure. There are some wonderful little places too off the beaten path that had great prices and great food. Lunch in Piazza Navona is a must. It is well worth the price you will pay to be entertained by all the activity that happens there.
Buy bottled water and keep it in your hotel fridge if you have one. We forgot ours one day and paid E4 near the Coliseum.
We didn't book any tours ahead of time there and ended up getting a super tour at the Coliseum in the morning which also included a tour of Palatine Hill in the afternoon for E21 (including admission) each. Both lasted a couple of hours and the guides were great. Just be careful as there are some unscrupulous tour operators around there. Same thing at the Vatican. Free tour of the basilica in the AM. He admitted right up front that he was doing this to drum up business for his Vatican Museum tour that afternoon, which we went on (E42 included admissison). He was very knowledgeable and passionate about his job (he was a theology student from Ireland studying in Rome!) It was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour tour but ran closer to 4 and included a trip to see the Popes tombs below.
You will enjoy your holiday so much. Sounds like you are going to be very flexible with your plans, which is good because you will inevitably find something to distract you, along the way to where ever, that you had never heard of or thought would interest you.
We used Ryanair for our flight from Paris to Venice (also great, right up there with Paris!) E19 each, the flight was great. There boarding process is a bit odd, but works just fine nonetheless and got us there on time. They have a shuttle service in Paris. Your hotel will arrange a taxi to Porte Maillot and then bus to Beauvais (about an hour north of Paris).
Sorry, this ended up being a tad bit longer, but I can't help myself when I get going. Have fun! Planning it just about as much fun as going!
Thanks so much for all the great advice. You're right, we don't want to have too much set in stone, we know what we want to see, but are pretty flexible about when and in what order we see it in. We are probably most excited about the food, we both love to cook and the idea of fresh Italian cuisine just makes our mouths water. Oh and the wine too, well mostly for me, Den is not much of a wine drinker but I hope to convert him during this trip! Thanks again.................JO
Hi Jo, I did a trip in Spring 2005 to Rome, Tuscany, Liguria and Paris. It was in the reverse order, though, we ended our trip in Paris. But needless to say, I think the combination of Italy and Paris is a fabulous one.
I've stayed at Albergo California in Positano and it is wonderful. I would stay there again in a heartbeat. The family who run it are so welcoming and helpful. Do request a room with a view balcony, it is worth it.
Three nights in Positano really only gives you two non-travel days, so I would play it by ear in terms of day trips. If the weather is good (which is likely) then you might take the ferry over to Capri - if the seas are at all rough, skip it. Even if the boats are running and you're not prone to seasickness, you could get in a situation where the seas are too rough to land back in Positano (which happened to us).
There is a wonderful restaurant in Positano, the name of which escapes me right now, that the women at Albergo California recommened to us. It is way up on the hillside and they send a minibus to pick you up and take you back. The hotel arranged this for us and it was a real treat.
Have a great trip! -Krista
Posts: 1688 | Location: Santa Barbara, California | Registered: 21 May 2004
I have rented on the Ile St Louis and found it a wonderful place to be. Very central. I enjoyed in particular the end of the island that faces the back of Notre Dame. The cafe there (Le Flore en Ile) has particularly good hot chocolate during the breakfast hours. There are good bakeries on the island and places to get fresh juice, milk, etc.
I can't recommend restaurants because I ended up eating elsewhere for every meal because I was out walking around.
One thing you surely will want to do is take the Batobus up and down the Seine. There is a dock for it just across the bridge on the side of the 6th Arrondisement.
For me, the greatest treasure in Paris is the Basilica of St Denis. I also think the Louvre is a constant amazement, but the most recent renovations have made it a nightmare to navigate. I recommend going more than once, in relatively short doses, and inventing in an excellent guide to the Louvre before you go. Don't rely on the freebie maps given to you. It is nice to go on the night when it is open because the crowds disappear.
If you like Monet, the Marmottan is transcendant. From near St Louis Ile, you can take the RER and walk to the museum, but the Metro gets you there as well.
Your plan to go South mainly to enjoy the Amalfi sounds good to me, and your limited ambitions for Rome are wise. However, I was also going to suggest to you that if you want to see Pompeii, it would make sense to switch to Napoli as your southern city instead of Roma. It is fascinating.
Thank you Krista and Cervo.............I can see that I will not be looking much elsewhere for advice for our trip when I can get such excellent tips from all you guys.
Does anyone have any comments on renting a car, has anyone used the site we can link on through SlowTravel and are they reliable and cost-efficient?
Please keep all your suggestions and comments coming, they are really appreciated!
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