Ptravel

"Ken Blake" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > In news:,
    > Bernie Mac <> typed:
    > > i'm planning to vacation in rome, florence and venice. can
    > anyone
    > > recommend the following:
    > >
    > > 1) vacation package (or is it better to just buy a round trip
    > airfare
    > > and then book your own hotels, train rides, etc.)
    > There's no answer to this question that's right for everyone. I
    > personally prefer to make all the plans myself, for three
    > principal reasons:
    > 1. I want to set my own itinerary, not to have to go along with
    > that set up by the tour company.
    > 2. I prefer centrally-located hotels; tour companies often give
    > you good, but less convenient hotels.
    > 3. I enjoy the process of planning. For me, it makes the trip
    > start before I even get on the plane.

I agree with all your points, but I particularly like No. 3. You're
right -- part of the fun of the trip is the planning. We have two Europe
trips coming up within the next few months, one to Italy and one to Spain,
and our dinner-table conversation is all about which hotels, how to get from
city to city, what we want to see, shop for, etc.


    > > 2) which hotels/b&b's are recommended in each city? i'm
    > looking for
    > > quiet areas, away from the crowd congestion.
    > There are many good choices. Besides everything else, it depends
    > on your budget, needs for private bathroods, etc.
    > That said, here are *my* choices:
    > Rome: Arenula
    > Florence: Casci
    > Venice: La Calcina
    > > 3) i'm planning to spend six days in rome, two days in florence
    > and
    > > three days in venice. are these lengths of time sufficient for
    > each
    > > city.
    > It doesn't matter what number of days you put after each city,
    > the answer is no. No length of time is sufficient for each of
    > these cities, since there is a wealth of things to see and do,
    > and a lifetime isn't sufficient.
    > I've been in each of these three cities many times. The last time
    > I was in Venice, I spent a week there. Next week when I go to
    > Rome, I'll spend four weeks there. For me, six, two, and three
    > days are nowhere near enough, but your mileage may vary. If it
    > were me on a first trip and I could swing the time and expense,
    > I'd want at least a week in each city.
    > How long to stay in each depends on you, and what your interests
    > are. I recommend getting a decent guidebook and identifying the
    > things *you* want to see and do. The guidebook should give you
    > some idea of the length of time required for each site. Then add
    > them up. Don't forget to put in extra time for relaxing and for
    > getting around.
    > --
    > Ken Blake
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