agadora

It's Air France to CDG and I think Delta the rest of the way. Bought through Delta.

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I'm not going to buy my tickets online ahead of time, but I was glad to find out about the credit card option.

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I know I've seen a lot of discussion about concerns over layover time at CDG airport. I am currently eyeing a return flight that goes Rome to Paris to Toronto to Minneapolis. It gives me a 1.5 hour layover in CDG. Is that enough time if I don't have to go through customs?

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That would be great. But I have been looking into different ways of getting a chip and pin card. There are a few credit card companies in the US that do offer them. But it's difficult to find them.

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I ran across this blog while doing some trip research: http://bloggingpompeii.blogspot.com/2013/10/ticket-sales-possible-with-credit-cards.html

It says that as of October 2013, you can now buy tickets for Pompeii online through this website: http://www.ticketone.it

I did a trial run and it looks like it's a go.

Also, they now accept credit cards on site.

Thought others who are planning future trips might be interested, since this appears to be a departure from past practice.

I just went onto the http://www.tim.it site and did a search for you (it's in Italian, but I can understand it). I found one TIM store and one authorized independent seller nearby:

1)Negozio TIM (the TIM store)

CORSO CENTOCELLE 50 A/ CIVITAVECCHIA

Tel.:0766503165 Fax:

Negozio TIM - Centro Assistenza Telecom Italia

 

2)EG TRADING S.R.L. (the authorized seller)

LARGO PLEBISCITO 15 CIVITAVECCHIA

Tel.: 0766370127 Fax:

Negozio Autorizzato TIM

Thank you soooo much! The second option looks like it's right by the port and VERY close to the Hertz car rental location. yay! :D

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

I really would like to use the taxi there, metro back approach…and I'm hoping against hope to find a taxi driver that will oblige, but as Karen says and as I've read some other posts in this forum, that may be a challenge.

My other option is to schedule a taxi transfer, but I don't know if any drivers would be interested in that either….@Kady, did you have any difficulty with that when you did it? Do you remember how much it cost?

I'm not interested in taking the metro in because I really want to be to the Acropolis as early as possible before the heat and crowds. I try to avoid crowds of people whenever possible.

Regarding the New Acropolis Museum, I put it in the afternoon simply because it might be nice to be there in the heat of the day. It's hard for me to get a feel for the distance between these places, though…would it make sense to go from the Acropolis, to museum, to Agora, to Plaka, and then Syntagma Square for changing of guard and the metro?

Thanks for the feedback. I am feeling a bit more comfortable about driving since the Hertz car rental is so close to the port. I looked up directions to Orvieto on Google Maps and it does look pretty straightforward. I'm really looking forward to this day because we will be touring a LOT of major cities and people-filled tourist sites; I think it will be nice to hit the countryside.

@slidergirl: I am planning on getting a SIM card for my iPhone in Italy, since we will be spending a lot of our time there during this trip. Ideally I would find one on our first excursion, but we will be headed to Cinque Terre and I'm not sure how much luck I'll have at the Livorno port. Do you know of a TIM store close to the port in Civitavecchia?

Since my group of four and I will be in Rome post-cruise, we are thinking of renting a car and doing a DIY trip to Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio. Here is my working itinerary for the day, and I'd love input from anyone on if it's doable, realistic, etc.

Also, I've never driven in Italy and am curious about the ease of it all. The only other country I've driven in, besides the U.S., is Canada. :)

We are in port from 8am-7pm.

-- 8:30 Pick up Hertz car rental

-- 10:00 Orvieto: Farmer's Market, Duomo, and wandering

-- 12:15 Orvieto Underground tour

-- 2:00 Civita di Bagnoregio

-- 4:00 Return to Civitavecchia

-- 5:30 Drop off car

After much research on both this site and others, I have developed two possible DIY plans for our 4-person cruise day in Athens. We will be there via the NCL Spirit on Friday, June 20, 2014, from 8am-6pm.

I've never been to Athens so would love any advice about whether this is realistic and doable. We are ages 40-50, all in good shape for walking.

Option #1:

-- 9am: get to Acropolis right away, via taxi. Have the taxi drop off at Dionysus Restaurant...at the end of Robertou Galli street...which is right across from the entrance to the Acropolis.

-- 11am: Agora and Roman Forum

-- 12:30 pm: Plaka (Scholarhio for lunch)

-- 2:30pm: Temple of Olympian Zeus & Arch of Hadrian

-- 3pm: Museum

-- 4:30pm: Metro Back

Option #2:

-- 9am: go to Acropolis right away, via taxi. Have the taxi drop off at Dionysus Restaurant...at the end of Robertou Galli street...which is right across from the entrance to the Acropolis.

-- 11am: New Acropolis Museum (eat if hungry)

-- 12:30pm: Temple of Olympian Zeus and Arch of Hadrian

-- 1pm: Plaka (wander, eat if haven't already, Scholario)

-- 3pm: Changing of Guard (@Syntagma Square)

-- 4pm: Taxi Back from Syntagma Square

FWIW, I have also looked into private taxi tours through places suggested on this site. Four people, full day, ranges from E220-240. Would this be better or is DIY the way to go?

I am planning a 22-day cruise/land vacation to the Mediterranean next summer, flying from Minneapolis to Barcelona outbound and Rome to Minneapolis inbound, June 8-June 30. (We want to try to fly Delta.)

Looking at similar windows for February-May, I'm finding fares 1200-1300. In June the lowest fare is $1500-$1600. Are those differences because June is the high time for summer travel or because I'm still a bit far out to purchase airfare?

I've been watching fares since they were opened in July, where they started at around $1800; they have very gradually gone down, especially in the past couple of weeks.

Advice from you pro travelers out there?

Mskaufman,

Did you do a private tour or DIY to Aix?

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I would love to know if you did end up renting a car and, if so, how it worked out for you. I am traveling with a group of four next June and am considering renting a car to visit Aix instead of taking the ship's tour.