Going to Italia

[EPID3MIK-7]

I'll be heading to Italy for the first time ever next week, on a cruise for about 2 and half weeks. Absolutely STOKED!!! I was wondering if any of ya'll have traveled over there and if you have any tips, shout em out.

For Example:
- Must see Places.
- Places to eat.
- Local spots to hit up.
- Places to shop.
- Taking the train/bus.


One of the major things I'm unclear about is taking the train there. I'll be landing at Fiumicino Airport and then taking the the train to Rome's Termini Station. Staying for the night and then we have to take the train to Civitavecchia to board the ship. Should I pre-purchase the train tickets online before I get there? Or can I just purchase the train tix when I get there.

Thanks in advance.

[Kraig]

Lucky bastard! Nice one!

[EPID3MIK-7]

Hahahaha
:D Thanks! :D

[mikey]

rome is full of shady ginnies. Watch your shit. Everything around the terminal is a tourist trap, shitty over priced food and hotels. On the plus side it's only a 10minute walk to the coloseum.

[Revolver]

euro travel now is in low-season so should be ok without having to pre-purchase.

but, in my travel experience why take the risk? esp if you run the risk of missing/delaying the boat connection which most of your trip is based on.

pre-purchase and set your mind at ease.

have FUN!!!

[EPID3MIK-7]

Thanks for the advice, What site would you pre-purchase off of? Also, is like a will-call where you pick up the tix there?

[decypher]

You can just by your tickets the night before when you arrive on the touchscreen terminals at termini. Check out Piazza Nevona, Fontana de trevi, Camp di Fiori and trastevere all at night for food, drinks, gelati and people. Watch your wallet in any club.

[EPID3MIK-7]

/\ Awsome thanks. I've heard the Trevi Fountain is beautiful.
Yeah i was thinking of using the touch-screens too. Are they in English?

[decypher]

yeh of course. The tourists spots are very English friendly. A lot of Italians know at least some English because the main center is so touristy. But they'll love you more if you at least try to ask the simple questions in Italian and to greet them in Italian before you ask them a question as common convention.

[EPID3MIK-7]

Awesome great tip! Thanks.

[veN]

the 2 things I took away from traveling in Italia:

1) check your money! as with all foreign currency be sure you're using the right bill... they aren't going to correct you (well not often) if you give them a larger denomination of bill by accident.

2) if you are a cute blonde, 14 y/o girl, be prepared for MANY impromtu wedding proposals. Ok, perhaps this will not apply, but omg it did to me!

3) where is the bathroom?: pronounced "doh-vey ill ban-yo?" (also, you may have to PAY to use the bathroom).

[brit]

If the cruise stops in Naples, you can take a 30 minute speed boat ride to Capri, amazing place. And hit up pompeii, i didnt go because i was annoyed with my travel partner that day, but he said it was insane.

[brit]

[baby-phat]

omg.. I am so bloody jealous of you right now.
Some of my moms family still lives over there, and I've been meaning to go for a visit (maybe next year?).

[EPID3MIK-7]

OMG that looks amazing from the looks of that pic!

Yes we will be stopping in Naples and Pompeii. There an excursion to hike Mt. Vesuvius, if weather permits I'll be hiking the live volcano. We're making port at Portofino, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Messina (Sicily), Venice, Capri and also Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia.

[Kraig]

So I'm repelling down
Mount Vesuvius...

when suddenly I slip
and I start to fall.

I mean, I'm about to die.

Hot bread, Zeke.

Just falling...
I'll never forget the terror.

When suddenly I remember,
"Holy shit. Hansel...

haven't you been smoking peyote
for six straight days?

And couldn't some of this,
maybe, be in your mind??'

Zoolander: And?

It was. I was totally fine.

I've never even been
to Mount Vesuvius.

Cool story, Hansel.

Thanks, Olaf.

[stephen_c]

Originally Posted by veN

the 2 things I took away from traveling in Italia:

1) check your money! as with all foreign currency be sure you're using the right bill... they aren't going to correct you (well not often) if you give them a larger denomination of bill by accident.

2) if you are a cute blonde, 14 y/o girl, be prepared for MANY impromtu wedding proposals. Ok, perhaps this will not apply, but omg it did to me!

3) where is the bathroom?: pronounced "doh-vey ill ban-yo?" (also, you may have to PAY to use the bathroom).

2a) and how many grease balls have you said "i do" to? tell us the truth o'self-proclaimed cute blonde.

[veN]

Originally Posted by stephen_c

2a) and how many grease balls have you said "i do" to? tell us the truth o'self-proclaimed cute blonde.

Hahahaha NONE!

and also I like how I said 2 things, but listed 3. perhap bc only 2 were relevent to him..? Heh.

[EPID3MIK-7]

Originally Posted by Kraig

So I'm repelling down
Mount Vesuvius...

when suddenly I slip
and I start to fall.

Hahahahaha Classic, Kraig.
Gotta find me a Sherpa!

Originally Posted by veN

3) where is the bathroom?: pronounced "doh-vey ill ban-yo?" (also, you may have to PAY to use the bathroom).

Definitely gotta remember that line.

[decypher]

Yeh the guys can get quite annoying and aggressive. If you are with a girl they'll come up and ask if you are together and then latch onto the girl with cheezy pick up lines and bad accents.


oh and for your first tip Nev, so true. My buddy accidentally gave this lady a 20 euro for a bottle of water and she gave him change for a 5. Once we had realized she pretended to not understand us even when i spoke Italian. So lame...

- I found the trains in Italy very efficient and you can totally buy your tickets day of/day before. Trinity station in Rome is very easy to work with and connects to the metro.
- If you dont like touristy spots Rome 2-3 days max, Venice / Florence 1-1.5 day max.
- My boy and I stopped in Pisa for 1 hour in between trains to see the leaning tower of Pisa. Theres a bus stop right out side the station and a 10 min bus ride there.
- Rome plan 1 day for the coliseum, 1 day for Vatican City + fountain stuff. Also if its still warm there is a really neat place you go swimming across the Colosseum/ruin city... so bring your trunks.
- Italians love to short change you or upgrade you with out you asking (bigger size than you asked, or put bread on your table with out asking and than charge you extra if you eat it) So always have that in mind. Like others have said, make sure you get the correct change back.
-I highly suggest hanging out in a small italian town. I finally learned to love Italians as they were so nice! I stayed in a small town in the Cilique Terra'e (sp?) North West coast of Italy near Pisa... BEAUTIFUL!
- Its a good time to go as the high tourist season is ending, crowds will be much smaller, and prices will much cheaper.
-wine is soo cheap and soo good, its a haven for gelato lovers, pizza is charged by weight, and the pasta comes in small portions but is sooo good! Oh and the sea food... yum! I believe I ate out 2 weeks in a row solid while in Italy.

Solute!

[mojo]

Originally Posted by R Wellbelove

-wine is soo cheap and soo good, its a haven for gelato lovers, pizza is charged by weight, and the pasta comes in small portions but is sooo good! Oh and the sea food... yum!

well i'm sold

[EPID3MIK-7]

Originally Posted by R Wellbelove

- I found the trains in Italy very efficient and you can totally buy your tickets day of/day before. Trinity station in Rome is very easy to work with and connects to the metro.
- If you dont like touristy spots Rome 2-3 days max, Venice / Florence 1-1.5 day max.
- My boy and I stopped in Pisa for 1 hour in between trains to see the leaning tower of Pisa. Theres a bus stop right out side the station and a 10 min bus ride there.
- Rome plan 1 day for the coliseum, 1 day for Vatican City + fountain stuff. Also if its still warm there is a really neat place you go swimming across the Colosseum/ruin city... so bring your trunks.
- Italians love to short change you or upgrade you with out you asking (bigger size than you asked, or put bread on your table with out asking and than charge you extra if you eat it) So always have that in mind. Like others have said, make sure you get the correct change back.
-I highly suggest hanging out in a small italian town. I finally learned to love Italians as they were so nice! I stayed in a small town in the Cilique Terra'e (sp?) North West coast of Italy near Pisa... BEAUTIFUL!
- Its a good time to go as the high tourist season is ending, crowds will be much smaller, and prices will much cheaper.
-wine is soo cheap and soo good, its a haven for gelato lovers, pizza is charged by weight, and the pasta comes in small portions but is sooo good! Oh and the sea food... yum! I believe I ate out 2 weeks in a row solid while in Italy.

Solute!

AWESOME! Thanks for the tips :)
OMG! I can't wait to eat there Pizza, Pasta, SEAFOOD!!! My mouth is watering already. :P

[mithridate]

WOOOO!!! HAVE FUN MARC! n drae :)
you guys are going to have such a blast, i cant wait for pix.

[mithridate]

is pizza really sold by the weight?? thats a great idea..