I will be in Italy for 9 nights staying in Venice, Florence, and Rome. Is it better to book a package deal through www.europeandestinations.com which includes hotel and train between the cities (for $500 total)or to book everything on my own? I also want to do a day trip to Siena and Pisa, so would it be better just to be an unlimited rail pass to get around. I'm worried cause it's my first time there and I feel like my trip isn't very organized! Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
Is it really only $500 total for 9 nights of hotels + multiple trains? That means that you are spending about $50/night for your hotel which seems a bit unlikely to me, and then getting train tickets on top of it.
As for whether a package is generally better--it depends on whether you prefer to do the research/legwork yourself or not. If you want it all done for you, go with the package. If you want more control over where you stay/go, then book it yourself.
Rail passes generally are not necessary for Italy. You can buy point to point tickets at the train station day of, or a day or two in advance to take advantage of the discounted Amica fares. The slower trains that you would probably use for Siena & Pisa are pretty cheap. The Eurostar Italia takes 1.5 hours between Florence and Rome and costs about 50 euro I believe, and has to be reserved in advance (but you can do this from the train station when you arrive in Italy).
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
I just glanced at their website, and they certainly do offer packages that include hotel and rail for the price you cited per person (in March). I don't know the company or the hotels it offers, but that's not hard to check. Tripadvisor is a good source to check the reputations of the hotels offered on European Destinations. If you see mostly positive reviews, taking into account location and facilities, you have a pretty good idea of what you'll be getting into.
Don't worry about buying a railpass. It's not worth it for your intinerary. Even if you go with the package, buying your tickets to Siena and Pisa at the Florence train station is easy and cheap.