WHAT WE WISH WE HAD NOT DONE OR DONE DIFFERENT: • 9 nights in Rome. Rome is charming and amazing but it is intense. You cannot get away from the crowds, cars and cigarette smoke. This wore on us after a while. • Tried to see Paestum, Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello in one day. This is a tour offered by a private driver & you only get 45 minutes in each of the coastal towns! We felt really rushed and wished we'd told him we'd eat in Positano & completely skipped Ravello. Our opinion? Ravello is cute but not worth the journey. • Paestum - this is a great site and we are glad we saw it but, it does not compare to Pompeii and is a much bigger pain to get to. Given all Italy has to offer, we would not have bothered with this site had we known what we know now. At minimum, would allow another day for exploring the coastal towns.
• Ate at a touristy pizza place on Tasso Piazza. The waiter told us to tip him when he brought the bill! That's what we get for going to a touristy restaurant. We ate at one on Piazza Navona & they just added the tip onto the bill. If you choose to eat at a place on a popular Piazza, just expect them to treat you like a tourist. • Rented an international cell phone. We wished had not bothered & that someone had told us our phone's data would work in Italy. For those who want the international phone option still, I did call home once just to test it and it worked great! • Debit cards for only 1 account. Our bank had a fluke system issue that only ended up lasting half a day but it gave us a good scare. We did have emergency back up plan to withdraw cash using our credit cards but there are steep fees with that. Next trip, we'll likely return to Sorrento for 4 or 5 nights, then to Rome for 3 or 4 nights, maybe a few nights in the Tuscany region....not sure where, then north stopping by Pisa, then finishing with 4 nights in Venice!
Posted by
Oakhurst, CA, USA
101 posts
You did a wonderful job on your trip report. Thank you for it. One thing I respectfully differ on is the length of stay in Rome. If anyone loves the hussle and bussle of big cities (like me), 3 nights in Rome is not nearly enough time. For my first trip to Rome I took the advice of others that 3 nights in Rome was enough, but after visiting I regretted it. I could stay a solid 7 days in Rome, if not more. TJ, I'm not trying to rain on your trip report by any means, I just want to add the other view point for first time travelers. Jessica
Posted by
Edmonds, WA, USA
1014 posts
-- Webmaster Edit: Below is Part 1 of this trip report as moved from another section of the Helpline -- I found amazing help on this website before my trip, so wanted to share after my first trip to Italy. These are my personal opinions so take them or leave them, I hope a some travelers will get a few useful pieces of info out of this. WHAT WE DID RIGHT: Booked open jaw flights - Don't waste precious vacation time back tracking! • Private transfers to hotels. We were glad after that long flight to just be escorted out of the airport & taken to our hotel. • 2 pairs of shoes - tennis shoes & sandals both black. The Nikes were great for ruins but, on warmer days, I was very happy I brought sandals. • Wear pants 2 or 3 times each. By most standards here, we probably still over packed but, only moved hotels once so we didn't try to fit into a carry-on bag. • Windbreaker/rain jackets with lots of pockets. Versatile & light weight. Has a built in hood and hidden pockets galore. • Bought a small, inexpensive, cross-body purse with zipper pockets. Used a safety pin to clip the zippers closed. I wore the strap under my windbreaker. Bought money belts too but never used them.
• Brought our iPhones even though plan doesn't work in Rome. Hotels had free wi-fi so we could surf the web & email. The map app was great for directions from our hotel to sites. Once mapped, it was on the phone even when we left free wi-fi. GPS works without internet so this was VERY useful in Rome, it gave us a birds eye view. Just follow the blinking blue dot!
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2296 posts
Thank you so much for the feedback on the private tour. We looked at that as an option when we were in Italy and decided to go a different way. Glad to see we made the right choice.
Posted by
norwalk, ct, usa
1 posts
Great report....we are going for the first time September 1, on a partially-escorted tour. I've read all RS's tips on safety, etc., and am following all his advice. Still nervous, however, about the pickpocket thing....wonder about how violent it can actually get in a train station, big city or wherever (we're going to Amalfi, Rome, Florence, Venice). I do not want my fears to override the joy and anticipation I should be feeling...and know that "what will be will be". Got copies of passports, credit cards, license, etc., registered with State Dept. Safe Traveler Enrollment Program, got money belts, everything. I plan on being alert, but I also want to relax and enjoy myself AND the wine, thank you. Any pearls of wisdom on allaying nagging fears over international travel? The world ain't what it used to be......thanks!
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
What was the Map App you used?
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3050 posts
Great tips! I haven't been to Italy yet but they sound on target - tips like this are really invaluable, the stuff you "wish you'd known" before you went!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
TJ, great tips on what you did right, and loved your insights about what you'd do differently. But I have to say that I love Rome and can't ever spend enough time there, and I love Paestum (you couldn't possibly see it in 45 minutes and you are right, it's not as easy to get to as some other places). But, it is a coastal town, it has a nice beach, a good museum, and the best preserved Greek temples on the mainland of Italy. And if you stay overnight, the hotel will pick you up/drop you off at the train station. Really a place that needs time to soak up, sorry your "tour" didn't give you the experience you should have had.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Patricia pickpocketing is almost always a NON violent crime, in fact most people don't know its happened to them until after its happened. Its not mugging you, its slipping their hand into your purse or pocket without you noticing, and they are good at it. Don't be fearful, be careful. TJ great report, loved your honesty.