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How to Count Travel Days?

Posted by (Seattle, WA) on

This question keeps coming up on the forum. We are presently travelling in Italy. There are travel days and there are travel days.

Arrival in Europe day. Wiped out. Check-in, wander a little. Maybe a bite to eat and crash. Doesn’t really count.

Fly (or long train ride) from city to city. Lose 4 to 6 or more hours. Similar to arrival day.

Guided tour travel day. 2 or 3 hours on the bus with talks. A couple of interesting or even fascinating sights along the way and orientation to the destination. A nice day with pluses and perhaps minuses. The pluses outweigh minuses, if any. By and large, we had no minuses other than some shared sniffles.

Bike tour travel day. Travel is one of the points of the day. Enjoy a castle, the coastline, a gelateria or a panino - or all of the above - along the way. Share a moment with a stranger. Definitely a “being here” day and not a travel day. (Unless you’re biking on a cold rainy day or you take a fall. Then it’s a little of ?!#?!€~! )

Then there was yesterday, which was a car travel day. We had a bit of a rough start, but then all was magical. After we left the hotel, we had a 15 minute walk through the old medieval quarter of Lecce, taking in just a couple of more churches - smaller ones but more sublime than those we had visited before. Once we were outside the city gates, we had another five minute walk to pick up the car. Got lost at least twice as we drove out of town but we finally found a road to Matera - a boring 2 hour drive. Then the magic started

We had a lovely lunch with a view of the old city on the opposite hill. We then spent an hour and a half to get a taste of the city, including stassi and a tour of one of the old Rupestrian churches and monasteries that had been carved into the cliff, perhaps 1,000 years ago.

We then drove through Basilicata, across the southern Apennine mountains to the southern part of Campania and our enchanting hotel on the Cilento coast. The drive was simply gorgeous the entire way.

We arrived at the Marulivo Hotel in Pisciotta in time for Massimo to show us our room just as sunset was starting. Of course, our room overlooks the hills as they tumble down to the Mediterranean below.

Massimo recommended a lovely restaurant nearby where we enjoyed pasta and lovely fresh seafood.

Bellissimo.

Posted by
966 posts

Fascinating, a cross between a reflection and a TR? When people ask, 'Am I doing too much on this trip?', the answer is almost always YES. Thanks Fred.

Posted by
4867 posts

Glad I clicked for the reminder of entering the Hotel Mariluvo and seeing that view! And standing at the sink letting bufala mozzarella brine drip down our faces into the sink (they get a delivery in Pisciotta every week).
Be sure to drive down the coast past Marina di Camerota, magical indeed!

Posted by
380 posts

Sandancisco, still travelling. TR will come in May.

Valdelphia, we made it to Palinuro today, but due to wind, a boat trip around the point was not possible. Due to tomorrow’s weather forecast, we then chose to go to Castellabate, which will be miserable tomorrow. Tomorrow we get the Tenuta Vannulo and likely Paestum on the way to Naples, where we will later see some of the sights you recommended a few months ago. Alas, Marina di Camerota was just one destination that we scrapped.

Posted by
1560 posts

Excellent post. Wonder if you would consider a different title “how to define travel days.”, and expanding on several of your comments? This is a topic which could add great value to a lot of travelers, especially first timers. Unsure where it should reside to receive most attention. Would think this is example akin to RS packing tips.
Thanks!

Posted by
8912 posts

Yes. It seems like a lot of people who are making long detailed itineraries don't take into account how much time the little things take - finding parking, restroom breaks, walking between sights, standing in line, just plain resting, etc. Realistic planning guidance is a great topic.

Posted by
1864 posts

Your post brings up an interesting question about how to travel.

Airplane--No flexibility enroute. You get on and get off at your destination.

Train--A little flexibility if you plan it right. You can make a stop along the way to see some other sights depending on train schedules.

Car--Most flexible, stop anywhere you want along the way and enjoy all kinds of options.

All depends on time availability. It always sounds like most of us prefer transportation as a means to an end. I prefer my travel day by train and get out as early as possible to enjoy the next destination adventure. It seems like I settle for views out the window between locations. I would prefer a car, but I always defer to speed instead because of time limitation and driving fatigue.

Posted by
380 posts

Reply to Threadware

…. And then 2 days later there was driving around Naples. Even simply getting to the airport to get rid of the rental car we picked up in Puglia, without driving into the city itself.

Mamma Mia. Bruto! Molto Bruto! Troppo Bruto!!!

Took away some of the joys of the amazing Greek and Roman antiquities at Paestum, Tenuta Vannulo buffalo cheese farm, and a small shoulder of the Amalfi coast near Salerno earlier today.

Posted by
1864 posts

I agree fred. Don't want a car in a city. However, given the journey between cities, car travel is very flexible.

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