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Late trip planning

Posted by (CA) on

I just got invited to go to Italy and stay a week in San Gemin for a free stay in a villa that sleeps 20. I couldn’t pass up the invitation for 7/29 to 8/3. I quickly made hotel arrangements for time in Rome and Sorrento to extend our trip.
I never plan a trip so late so now I have a few questions.
- are there still tours one can buy once at the Colosseum that allow bypassing the lines? How about for Pompeii?
I’ve seen almost everything in Rome/ Pompeii/ Amalfi but my friend has not!
- should I reserve seats on ferries on the Amalfi Coast to go between Amalfi and Positano, or just go to the docks and hope for the best? I know I can bus it but water views are great.

I hate looking at train sites! I think I have that transportation sorted. But, am I nuts for doing site to site from Rome to the Sorrento area? Or should I try and reserve a seat? My problem is what time I will be able to get to Rome from San Gemini to head on down to the coast. I have that info too but not sure how early we will start the day.
Thanks!

Posted by
1090 posts

I don’t have anything to add about your plans, just wanted to say I stayed in that villa in San Gemini in 2016 and it is fabulous. You will have an incredible week. While you’re there, I strongly recommend Gusto Wine Tours for a day trip. And go to Carsulae for some amazing unvisited Roman ruins. Hope you figure out the rest of your trip, but the San Gemini part is a slam dunk winner.

Posted by
2429 posts

hey diane
how many days are you planning for rome and the amalfi and whats the dates. you can check mybesttours.com, eatingitalyfoodtours for a tour in trastevere or testaccio which was great fun. i do have other things to share if interested
aloha

Posted by
4105 posts

Take the 130 bus from San Gimignano to Poggibonsi, change to the 131 bus to Florence. Travel time is under 2 hours. Cost is 6-8 €.

From Florence take the direct train, Firenze SMN-Naples Centrale. 2hrs 52m. Buy as soon as this ticket is available to save some$$.

From Naples to Sorrento, you can take the Circumvesuvian 1hr20m.
To stay in other towns on the coast,
A private transfer might be your best bet.

Ferrys, if you want a specific time, purchase the day before. For the busses, buy your ticket, get on the first available and validate the ticket.

Posted by
2167 posts

Thanks for the train option through Florence but I am staying in San Gemini not San Gimignano.
I will be in Rome 7/25 to 7/29 then a week in San Gemini. Sorrento 8/3 - 8/6. Then 8/6-8/8 in Rome. I’m thinking of using a Rome day for Pompeii at the beginning of our trip and head to Pasteum on our short Sorrento visit.
I am aware of the Roman ruins near San Gemini and hope to see them. Thanks for the tour suggestions!

Posted by
11838 posts

It is not “San Gemini.” It is San Gimignano pronounced San gim-in-YAN-o.

Posted by
198 posts

We got our tickets at the Forum and walked right in. And we downloaded Rick Steves' audio guide for the Colosseum and used that. It was excellent and allows you to progress at your own pace. I think there are a few areas you have to buy a separate ticket to see, but I feel that we got an excellent tour on our own.

Posted by
1829 posts

For the Colosseum if you want to see the Underground area and/or the Belevdere area which is the top level those are by tour only and those tickets do need to be bought in advance. They sell out quickly for underground tours.
The website usually puts them up 30 days prior so you are still early but for June tickets they made the English tours available quarterly 90 or so days prior.
Don't think for July they are doing other than the 30 day normal date.

Definitely check the official website and make sure you understand it.

If you don't care about those extra areas no reason to buy the tickets to the Colosseum in advance other than to shorten your line and often a stop before at Palatine Hill or the Forum can also solve that since the one ticket is good for all 3 places and only the Colosseum gets long lines.

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