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New plan - day trip right off the plane?

OK, so I have been planning this trip (with your tremendous help!) since last year. We leave next Thursday and I've been feeling pulled to go to Orvieto, yet couldn't figure out how to get it in the schedule. Today, what pops up on this board but yet another Orvieto-is-wonderful post, complete with a link to amazing pictures of the beautiful town.

I've decided it's a sign :-) Back to the drawing board to figure out how to do it, and I think I can fit it in one of two ways....

Off the plan at 7:55am
Move the Tivoli daytrip (that included a driver) to this morning. Have driver pick us up at airport as scheduled and just visit Tivoli this morning, back to the hotel in the afternoon to crash (can't get into the hotel until afternoon anyhow) This would be fairly easy and just involve finding the driver and having him figure out where to go, which would probably be helpful as we will have just gotten there. Also, Tivoli is outside, which will be a good change from the airplane.

Or..

Get off the plane, go directly to Orvieto for the day. Think this sounds harder, but it is possible.

Opinions????

Thanks! Merritt

Posted by
123 posts

Merritt, my vote would be:

Meet driver as planned at airport and tour Tivioli on day of arrival, leaving Orvieto (wonderful place!) to another day.

I've always done better with jet lag if I get outdoors for a good portion of arrival day. Stop at the hotel and drop your bags off and go to Tivioli. That lets you ease into your trip before you try to locate the train station, figure out the train schedule and work your way to Orvieto. Its certainly "doable" to go to Orvieto the arrival day, but more mentally challenging on a day when you will be tired and possibly not up to the task.

Deb

Posted by
10344 posts

Same answer as Deborah. But note: of the two attractions at Tivoli, Ville d'Este is closed Mondays, Hadrian's Villa is open daily.

Posted by
17 posts

I think it would be really hard to go on a day trip right after you arrive. All the traveling is really tiring and I had trouble just getting myself ready to get going and check out some sites in rome. After we had been in rome for a few days, I then went to orvieto...but it was raining and miserable when we arrived! However, it was still better than going first thing. Orvieto is such a cute town and you wouldn't want to ruin it by being tired when you arrive. you'll enjoy it much more if you are well rested...and if the weather cooperates!!

Posted by
62 posts

Just got home from Italy, and I slept most of the way over -- so by the time I arrived in Rome I was ready to hit the floor running and I experienced no jet lag at all. Suggestion: Bring along those nifty airplane blindfolds (they did the trick for me). IMO a day in Orvieto even tired is better than no day in Orvieto at all (I love the place). There are frequent trains from/to Rome Termini -- Go for it!

Posted by
137 posts

Well, we made our decision, and we're going to..... (suspense)

We had made arrangements with a company to pick us up from the airport and take us to the hotel. We had also already made arrangements with the same company to drive us out to Tivoli for half a day later in our visit. So I changed the plan and they are picking us up at the airport, driving us to Tivoli for the morning and then returning us to our hotel.

We're planning to visit Orivieto on the way to Florence. 9am train, off at 10:15ish, spend the day and get back onto a train to Florence that night, getting in around 9pm and then we'll crash at the hotel. If we think it sounds like too much we'll just spend the day in Rome doing something else.

Five more days until we leave!!! big smile

Posted by
2207 posts

WOW - that's a very full day jumping off the plane... Good Luck! Tivoli and Orvieto are beautiful and are among our favorite day-trips. Here are some thoughts on Tivoli (Villa D'Este) and some pictures on how to get there for folks NOT hiring a car service: CLICK HERE