Italy Travel Guide

[marose17]

^ Viator, Ciao Florence

[charm0220]

Yes Viator. We booked them for our Siena, Chianti, San Gimignano and Pisa daytour. They also have cinque terre tours, rome, venice etc.

[caterpillar-girl]

Bzbee, my husband and I were pretty happy with 2 nights in Venice. Don't skip Murano and Burano. Parang mas maganda nga yung other islands for us than the center itself hehe. I did like Venice at nighttime. Especially when the crowds disappear. Yun yung romantic side of Venice that we didn't feel at all during the day. We also didn't ride a gondola (ang mahal! And we didn't feel like splitting the cost with other folks hehe).

Ok na yung sked nyo sa Rome. On your last day why don't you rent a Vespa scooter and go around Rome? It was the highlight of our Rome trip. Hehe. I would totally recommend it. Feeling Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in 'Roman Holiday' kami ng husband ko hehe.

[bzbee]

^ nice to know you were happy with 2 nights in Venice! im so worried that our time wouldn't be enough, pinilit ko lang kasi talaga to go there kahit medyo bitin sa time. napapaisip din ako sa gondola kasi super mahal! i guess we'll decide na lang when we get there if it will be worth it or not, or if we still have money left for it. lol vespa in rome sounds soooo cool! i'll convince my fiance to do this. thanks so much for all your recommendations!!

[shygirlme]

^^hi sis makikisingit need ba ng international license pag nagrent ng vespa scooters? Bet ng husband ko! Hehe. Inaayos ko pa IT namin sa europe eh

[mama squeak!]

@bzbee, if 2 nights is the only time you have better than nothing at all. I agree, my hubby and I liked San Marco when all the day trippers have left, quieter and more romantic. We were also planning to go on a gondola ride but we never got to since limited time din kami (we were there for 3 nights) but we made sure we went to Murano and Burano. I wrote about our experience in my blog, everything was DIY.

@shygirlme, no need to get an international license, your valid PH license will do. 

[bagaholic_chewy]

Nagdalawang-isip din kami sa gondola ride sa Venice kasi nga mahal, that time nasa €100-€120 yata yun for 45mins-1hr ride around the canals.

But on our 3rd day (we were there for 3 nights and almost 4 full days), while we were near Rialto bridge, hubby said "let's go for that gondola ride right now! What the heck, minsan lang tayo dito, lubusin na natin!". Haha!

Ansarap sumakay ng vaporetto sa gabi kasi halos walang tao, find your own spot (we love yung seats sa dulo, sa labas, kahit super lamig, haha), chillax lang. Pati maglakad-lakad around the main islands, masaya pag wala na yung crowd. We only got to visit Murano kasi umulan aroubd lunchtime so we decided to head back to Venice instead na mag-Burano pa kasi medyo malakas alon.

[caterpillar-girl]

Shygirlme: no need for an international license. The rental company didn't even ask for my husband's Philippine license. They just asked if my husband knew how to drive a scooter. So just a little caveat: I would advise renting a scooter only if the driver has some experience driving a motorcycle or scooter. You would be going around main roads and thoroughfares, alongside locals and motorists. Safety first!

There are lots of scooters for rent, but try to get a Vespa if you can. The Vespa is iconic kasi. We rented from this company, Rent Scooter Borgo http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Attraction_Review-g187791-d3411568-Reviews-Rent_Scooter_Roma-Rome_Lazio.html

[bzbee]

@ mama squeak ive been using your blog as reference nga for murano-burano trip! So helpful! Thanks so much for sharing. Really wish we'll have time to go especially given the weather during winter season 

[glacy_rein]

Hi again sisses, thanks for the reply of Viator.com

I asked mama_squeak about this but I want to ask everyone again.. Nanghihinayang kasi ako.. I am willing to sacrifice my days in Paris for a visit to Vatican..

Here is the situation.

We are going to Paris Gare du Nord via Eurostar from London on the 19th and arrive in the afternoon then we are planning to go to Vatican by 21st (which I don't know how "yet" because as far as my research goes CDG to FCO flights ranges almost 9k-13k and I can't find the night trains information until now..) So yes my mum is willing to see the options if its affordable to go to Vatican and stay for 3D2N for me and my sister to experience it because she has been there already. Then when we go home - my mum and sister would go back to Paris and stay for 4days more (which allows them to continue their tour) and I will go back to London, to my husband.

Sobrang waste of time and money ba? TIA

[foxymom]

^hhmm how long will you stay in rome? if its just 2 days, better just choose 1 -- either go to paris or rome -- and just plan another trip i'm sure you will go back soon!

my husband and i have always regretted not visiting europe sooner! so much more to see and experience than the US. next year we will be bringing our 10yr old and 7yr old girls to see paris and london

[coco_cola]

Venice 4D/3N (Nov9-12)
Florence 5D/4N (Nov12-16) with a day trip to Cinque Terre
Rome 6D/5N (Nov16-21 - flight back to Manila in the morning)

Here's our Italy itinerary. Initially we we're planning to spend 2 days in Cinque Terre and possibly staying there. However, since November weather is rainy and may be unpredictable, we've decided to to just allot a day trip. I've also read that most of the shops there are closed. But even then, do you think it's a good idea to visit Cinque Terre in November?

Thanks in advance!

[bonzaigirl]

^ hi sis, you have a very nice itinerary, I think you can visit Cinque Terre if you want. You can just shorten your stay in Rome. 3 days 2 nights is actually sufficient   you can visit the Vatican in less than a day. And tour the rest of Rome.☺ Of course this is just my 2pence worth, it's still upto you. ☺

[rowan]

hi girls, i just purchased uffizi and accademia tickets online via b-ticket. i received an order confirmation email. do i just need to print this email and present it to the ticket booth to get my tickets? thanks!

[marose17]

^ Yes, as far as I recall.  Do go there earlier than your time slot because there's also a queue for changing the e-tickets to entrance tickets, though not as long as the regular line. 

[aranses]

my thoughts on Italy:

Rome - 1/2 day in Vatican isn't enough. Sa vatican museum pa lang ubos na ang halfday doon. We booked our tickets online to skip the line. Nakakainis lang ang dami under construction sa mga arch sites ng Italy. Underconstruction ang Trevi fountain, spanish steps, colosseo plus na cancel booking namin sa colosseo kasi welga mga archaeologists! Kaya hindi namin na-enjoy ng sobra ang rome, mahal ang food, madumi train stations pati train nila. Sa trastevere mura kumain at sa may Ottaviano malapit sa Vatican mura mga souvenirs. Dami pinoy dito, may nag tour sa amin ayaw niya magpabayad basta sagot lang namin dinner niya. My rate 2/5

Florence - I love renaissance arts that's why I fell in love with Florence! In a day kaya ikutin ang florence. Altho kilala sa kanila ang leather shoes,bags and jackets grabe mga bangladesh at italians mag jack up ng price kapag alam nila tourist. We rented a car for a day to visit Volterra, San Gimignano and Chianti. Nahilo ako kakadrive papunta Volterra grabe zigzag pero ang ganda ng madadaanan. Sa volterra mura ang leather shoes and bags kaya doon kami namili. Sa San Gimignano naman sarap ng wild boar salami at pecorino cheese, nag uwi kami salami! Sa Chianti dinaanan lang namin hindi na kami nakababa kasi gagabihin kami ibabalik pa namin car sa airport. We didn't enjoy Cirque Terre maganda siya sa picture pero sa actual hindi ako nagandahan or siguro sa Montessoro kami nagpunta kaya di gaano impressive. I can spend the whole day in Pisa (sa park or garden) sarap titigan ng Pisa, lots of student lying on grass  reading books. Mas mura bilihin sa florence, may supermarket sila conad city sarap ng roast chicken at pasta at mababait mga tao sa florence. Don't forget to eat in Mercato di San Lorenzo, lahat ng matunanungan namin dyan kami nirecommend pumunta. My rate 5/5

Venice and Murano - the city built on water and surrounded by water. Different charm ang binigay ng Venice sa amin. Medyo busy lang talaga ang Venice, marami tourist at grabe ang tataray ng Venetian. Sa hotel Ai do Mori kami nag stay sinigawan ko nagbabantay na italyana. Grabe sobra sila sinungaling. Sa email sabi nila may mag-aakyat ng bagahe namin kasi nasa 5th floor room namin pero pagdating namin doon wala. Tapos ini-email ko din sila na iiwan ko isa luggage namin para hindi mahirapan mag akyat ng bagahe namin ayaw pumayag doon na talaga ako nagalit, nagulat siya kasi sa pagod ko din magbuhat bagahe dahil nasa 3rd floor ang reception area nasigawan ko talaga siya. sabi sa akin "come back when you are more relax." After ng encounter namin si hubby na lang kinausap niya. Sa murano nag enjoy ako mag shppong ng murano glass and jewelry. Pansin ko lang talaga medyo mataray sila. My rate 3/5

Milan and Expo Milano - when we applied for visa we used milano expo as our reason why we would like to see Italy. We went to different world expo but this one has the longest lines we ever encountered! Sa Shanghai Expo mas maayos lines dito kakaloka tao wala disiplina mga puti. Ginawa namin ni hubby sa exit kami pumapasok wala naman bantay eh. Hindi nga lang namin napasok malalaki pavillion pero nag enjoy kami sa architecture ng Milano Expo, ang gaganda ng Pavillion lalo na sa area ng europe at middle east pavillion. Sadly, hindi sumali Pinas buti pa Malaysia, Japan, Thailand at China may pavs sila. Other asian country booth meron sila pero Pinas kakainis wala man lang ginawa. Duomo di Milano, the greatest gothic architecture we ever seen, sobra grabe detalye bawat kanto may nakaukit. We tried Navigli night life, nakakatuwa at ang mura ng food. Sa Essalunga Market mura mga chocolates, pasta at biscuits na pede ipasalubong. My rate 4/5

Overall, nag-enjoy kami sa Italy. Next time puntahan namin Naples at Sicily. 

[marose17]

^ I love Florence as well for the art, architecture and everything about it.  I also really like Milan although for some reason, travelers deem it boring or skip the city entirely.

[aranses]

@marose17 siguro kung wala milano expo baka boring din para sa akin milan. we stayed in milan for 4 days, last day namin wala kami magawa kaya nag sidetrip kami sa lugano.

[luckypal]

Hi, so I've finalized the Italy part of my honeymoon and here's the itinerary that I came up with:

Rome: Sept. 18-23 (5 nights)
Day 1: arrive, lunch and explore the surrounding areas
Day 2: Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Victor Emmanuel Monument and Piazza Venezia
Day 3: Scavi, St. Peter's Basilica, Cupola, Vatican Museum and Gardens, Sistine Chapel, Castel Sant' Angelo
Day 4:  Galleria Borghese, Villa Borghese, Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna, Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, Piazza Navona
Day 5: Day trip to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius (with a tour)

Florence: Sept. 23-27 (4 nights)
Day 6: Depart Rome AM, arrive in Florence for lunch, Galleria dell'Accademia, Battistero, Florence Cathedral, Campanile di Giotto, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio
Day 7: Gallerie degli Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti,  Piazzale Michelangiolo
Day 8: Pisa and Lucca (still thinking whether to book a tour or DIY)
Day 9: San Gimignano, Siena & Monteriggioni (still thinking whether to book a tour or DIY)

Venice: Sept 27-29 (2 nights)
Day 10: Depart Florence AM, arrive in Venice for a late lunch, explore surrounding area
Day 11: St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Grand Canal via Vaporetto
Day 12: Depart Venice

Is the above itinerary doable naman or is it too hectic? Any feedback is appreciated thanks in advance!

[aranses]

@luckypal last year september din kami nagpunta sa Italy. 3days in rome lang kami medyo bitin kasi 1 day is not enough to roam around vatican. Scavi tour we didn't finish it very humid and suffocating, ganun daw talaga kapag summer sabi ng tour guide namin. 5 kami nagback-out sa underground tour. Watch out for archeologist rally kasi sinasarado archeological sites kapag welga sila. For affordable food and accommodation check trastevere area.

4days din kami sa florence, if you know how to drive in binondo then kayang kaya mo i-drive ang florence. Sunday tinapat namin trip sa volterra, san gimignano at chianti para wala ztl or zona a traffico limitato nagrent kami car wala naman kami naging problem. The best part of my Italy trip is in Florence, florentine steak in mercato di San Lorenzo is a must do.

sa venice naman 2 days lang kami pero napuntahan namin ang murano, mas maganda murano compare sa venice. hindi crowded, mas mababait mga tao sa murano at mas mura lahat compare sa venice.