Day 5 We left on april 8th to milan, hired bellagio taxi again cost 250.00 to Milan Centrale train station.( mention, I paid 40 euros in water at hotel since I never had a chance to buy any.) I had pre bought the bullet train tickets on ITALIO website, I paid for the coach upgraded tickets, Cost was 119.00 x 2 to Rome. I loved the train, super easy, luggage storage, served drinks and some food. Took about 1.5 hours, arrived in Rome. Easy to find a taxi at taxi stand, you just wait your turn. Cost was 20 euros to Hotel Smeraldo in middle of Rome. Cost was 930.00 I loved this hotels location, food and shopping right outside your door. But the noise was horrible, the bed was 2 twins put together with no pad, felt the seam, brutal for back but survived on pills. We had a nice little terrace, not much to see but still loved it. The free breakfast was great, coffee table service. everything you can think of. WE found a nice place to get flatbread pizza across at Roscioli Salumeria, also had drinks and pastries tool There was a gelato place a lil down. Shopping galore everywhere. April 9th we had booked a golfcart tour with Turtle Tours Cost was 266.00. Picked us up and we went to pantheon, colosseum, trevi fountain, and a bunch more, we did have to get off and walk a bit. I tell you the driving in rome, you need big girl panties on. crazy stuff LOL. Our guide was very informative and talked great english Vito!!!. There was alot of construction going on at some of these sites which surprised me if this was for the Jubilee. Anyways. We bought tickets for the Pantheon next day online, NOT TO BE MISSED. Awesome place. Walked around ate at a nice restaurant twice called piccolo vicolo around the corner. great great food and no seating fee. Open all day too, something you need to know alot are closed between 2 and 7pm not good for some of us. Anyways. left on the 11th to sorrento, took taxi (another swearing crazy driver) to Rome Termini train to Naples. Rode on ITALO again bought executive( 72.00 each) on this, got drinks and snacks and room for luggage. Arrived in naples, had driver from Aldo Limos cost 150.00 one way but paid for return trip so 300.00. Marco spoke great english and stopped and took us to a lemon granita place before sorrento, nice drive, very little traffic going here. Arrived at Grand Riviera Hotel in sorrento. continued
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17222 posts
I'll enjoying your reports! One little correction for others planning their own trips?
(Train from Milan to Rome) Took about 1.5 hours, arrived in Rome.
Italo and Trenitalia "fast" trains from Milano Centrale to Roma Termini take over 3 hours. It's between Florence and Rome that is abt. 90 minutes.
And a comment about this:
There was alot of construction going on at some of these sites which
surprised me if this was for the Jubilee
Long-term construction happens regardless of big events. I'm guessing the biggest mess you saw was at Piazza Venezia, in front of Vittorio Emanuele monument? That one is due to the massive Metro Line C construction project that's being done in sections. It was begun in 2007 and isn't expected to be completed for another decade. Building anything underground in Rome is a nightmare 'cause of all the archeological stuff involved. What you saw likely looked like this?
https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/lazio/roma/piazza-venezia.html
Posted by
Wengen
3058 posts
Note regarding your trip form Rome to Sorrento.
Italo actually allows you to book Rome - Sorrento. You will be take to Napoli Afgragola (in the suburbs) by high speed train, and a coach from there. Probably similar comfort to your car service, but cheaper.