dawnskers

Last week we stopped in Zadar, Dubrovnik and Split on our cruise. For shopping and dining we used credit cards. For everything else we went to an ATM and got Kuna. Our local tour guide would only take cash (Kuna). For local street vendors, gelato stands, etc we had to use Kuna. Euro's were not generally accepted by the locals.

Hello there,

Are ATM's fairly easy to find in Split? Or do you think it is wise to try and exchange dollars for Kunas here in the States before we leave? If you wouldn't mind speculating, how many Kuna would be advisable to have for a day in Split? I have already booked a tour and paid online for that, but would like to tip and also get to a beach and maybe buy lunch and drinks, etc; Thanks for sharing your experience on this thread!

The Roma Pass has a certain convenience factor on the face of it, but it pays to really think about how much you'll get out of using it, factoring in what your plans include, especially with the current cost.

 

With the 48-hour pass you only get one free entrance; with the 72-hour pass you get two free entrances. Most of the bigger attractions have ticket costs ranging from 12 euro (Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill) to around 20.50 euro (Borghese Gallery).

 

You do get to bypass the ticket line if you use it for the Colosseum, which may hold some value in itself...especially in the summer season.

 

Each metro/bus ride costs 1.50 euro. The metro is only convenient for a few sites, including the Colosseum (Colosseo stop) and the Vatican (Ottaviano stop for St. Peters, Cipro stop for the Vatican Museum). Mostly the metro does not cover well the "Centro Storico" (Historic Center) because of all the archaeological remains underneath the city that would have to be excavated. If you want to get around this area, you'll need to figure out how to use the buses. Or walk. Or take taxis.

 

If you are fairly fit, I'd say the best plan is to book a hotel in a very central area and take a taxi or use public transport only for the really outlying areas (e.g., the Vatican). A taxi ride from the Pantheon -- which is very centrally located -- to the Vatican should cost around 10-12 euros.

 

On a visit to Rome a few years back, I did try the Roma pass but it was a better deal back then. The cost was less and there were additional discounts. I probably ended up breaking just about even, but I did end up using the metro more than I would normally because I had the pass and it was a rainy week....(in December).

Thank you so much! I think we will probably end up taking taxis and maybe brave the Metro for the Vatican. Appreciate your input.

Are you talking about a port day or a pre-cruise visit?

 

Also, why would you be carrying much money with you? NEVER carry more than you need for that one day.

I am talking about my credit card- I know not to take large amounts of cash with me. I will be in Rome for 3 days before a cruise- arriving 8/25 and departing via train for Florence 7/28.

I will be traveling with another woman- we are both 50+ years of age, and don't speak any Italian. I am considering the Roma pass, but wondering with there being two of us to share the cost of a taxi if we would be further ahead to do that. I am a bit concerned about the risk of pick pockets on public transportation- Rome is the beginning of our trip, and don't want to lose our finances before we arrive at the rest of our destinations!

This is what I would choose to do in split. We did a private tour and it was breathtaking and will certainly go again if we had the chance. We walked around Split on our return from the tour and didn't find it anything special. If you spend your time in Split be sure to get some local currency not may places took euros.

Google tours from Split to Krka, there a many tour companies and very reasonable.

Would you recommend the tour operator you used? Would you please share, if so? Thank you for your suggestion! We will be there in early September and very excited to see this country!

In Venice it’s great to just wander around. Yes you will want to see St Marks Square and the Rialto bridge and it will be crowded there, but if you get away from the main tourist areas on the side of the canals away from the Grand Canal you will find quiet areas. We used the Pop-Up map of Venice which costs under £4 from Amazon. The area we loved the most was the Jewish Ghetto area.

The other thing we really enjoyed was the Secret Itinerary tour of The Doges Palace. We booked it online beforehand. We saw a lot behind the scenes, including the cell where they held Casanova.

 

 

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Thank you!

Are you in these three cities as part of a land trip separate from your cruise? Or will you just be there for a day as a port stop? (Makes a difference what I might propose....:))

I am flying into Rome and will be there 3 nights, then taking a train to Florence where we will stay for 2 nights, then train trip to Venice where we will stay 2 nights prior to boarding our cruise to Greece 9/1/18. Thanks for your response!

From all I've read, it sounds like we will be visiting during the height of the tourist season. I want a more authentic experience than just going to all the typical things that all the rest of the tourists here want to see... I would rather go to some "off the beaten path" museums, attractions, etc; The thought of standing in lines and being crammed together with everyone else doesn't appeal much to me, especially when it is so hot. BUT, we already have our reservations (this is coinciding with a cruise to Greece in early September), so would appreciate any recommendations as to places that are maybe not the MUST SEE attractions, but still special in their own right. Thanks in advance for tips- I always learn so much from the people who post on these boards. It is so kind of you to share your expertise with those of us who haven't had the opportunity to travel. Your generosity is very much appreciated!

Yes and no :). Your hotel is a bit further from the P. Roma (and People Mover) then most would like...but its certainly walkable assuming the weather cooperates. If you can easily handle all your luggage then you plan is absolutely fine. You could walk via the Campo Santa Margherita which is a nice place to stop for some cappucinno :). You will not find many tourists in that little square, but there will be students from the nearby University. Its a favorite little spot of ours since it gets us away from most of the tour groups. The walk will take you longer than 10 min...so just relax, enjoy, and you will look like others in Venice walking through the streets rolling luggage :). Once you get to the P. Roma you will have to walk across to the other side where you will find the People Mover station (no problem taking luggage on the unmanned train). There is an escalator and elevator (when it works) up to the People Mover tracks (you purchase your ticket downstairs from a vending machine.

 

Once at the port station you will walk out to the road. At that point you might be able to get a free internal port shuttle bus (if it is running) or you could just walk to the terminal where you would check-in for your cruise. All this would be fun for DW and myself, but we have no problem walking a mile or even 5. I am always hesitant when talking to other cruisers about walking since we see many who struggle to go from one end of a ship to the other....or who use elevators to go down 1 floor. And before I get flamed...I am not talking about those with real handicaps.

 

Hank

My travel partner and I took a trekking tour in the Canary Islands last year that was 6 hours of walking, and the last 3 were uphill, so we should be fine with this amount of walking. If we survived the Canary trek (had to use some ropes in several places to climb up rocks), Venice will be fine, as long as we don’t get lost!

It seems like the best way to get to the cruise port is via the People Mover at the Piazelle Roma, which is around a 10 minute walk from Hotel Pausania... does this make sense? We will be traveling light, so this should be doable according to Rome2Rio anyway... Am I mistaken?

Rome is very walkable with a good map and last time we were there and asked for directions everyone was very helpful and nice. Lots of people speak English. As for the HOHO bus- my friend did it and it was not the best.... from what I hear- Rome is not the place to do the HOHO bus.... just the layout of the city and where things are located. Cabs are easy to get from a cab stand. We had a great day last time - we walked from the Trevi Fountain to Spanish Steps to the Pantheon to the Colosseum and got to see so much and down narrow streets that are typical of Rome that twist and turn.

Thank you Amy!

Well, the good news is that your hotel is very near the main train station, Termini. That makes it easy to get from the airport to your hotel via either the express train direct from the airport OR by express airport bus, which also drops off near Termini. The bus is cheaper, the train is faster, both are reasonable choices. Your hotel is only two blocks from the main station entrance at Termini -- if you pack reasonably and are mobile, you can simply walk. Same thing when you depart via train for Florence.

 

Regarding getting around Rome, it's very walkable when taken area by area. You might consider figuring out an area or two each day. You can take a taxi or even the metro (stations for both lines are also located at Termini) to your chosen location, and then just explore on foot.

Thank you so much for answering my questions! :)

dawnskers: The water taxis are the most expensive option, although something arranged by a travel agent might include a commission; not sure. The Venice airport website may have info on water taxis. In any case, though, I just looked up your hotel, and it's not very close to a public water vaporetto stop. Therefore, unless you're up for some walking, and the hotel can arrange a porter to meet you at the closest vaporetto or Alilaguna water stop to the hotel, you may need one to get to/from the hotel and port or airport with a lot of luggage. You can take a vaporetto from the train station to a point near the hotel, but not right there. I don't think I'd want to try to walk very far in Venice with more than a small, wheeled carryon bag because of the many tourists on the streets, the often uneven pavement, and the lack of decent street signs and directional aids. I know there are porter services, but I don't think porters are just waiting around, so service probably needs to be pre-arranged. I would call/email the hotel.

 

One option might be packing one wheeled small suitcase for use in Venice and using a luggage storage place in the city for the rest. As a minimum, there's one at Piazza (or Piazzelle?) de la Roma, not far from the port, and one at the train station, which is farther away from port but maybe useful when you arrive by train from Florence. At one point in my planning I ran across a list of them; perhaps some googling would help.

 

 

Getting from the port to the airport is easier, with more choices. We went from the airport to hotel. In the end, I decided to go with the bus, vaporetto and two block walk, mostly after considering time and cost involved in various options.

 

 

Good luck. Venice is a bit of a challenge, but we loved it!

Thank you so much! We are planning on traveling light- we have heard that one wheeled bag is the way to go when traveling in Venice, so have planned to pack light and do plenty of rinsing things out during our travels! Is there any advantage to buying vaporetto tickets online ahead of time, or do you advise just buying once we arrive? We are thinking about buying the unlimited use for our stay- do they sell a 48 hour ticket, or just the 72 hour? We are staying overnight 2 nights, then will need transport from Pausania to the cruise port...

Keep in mind that Monday is usually the busiest day in the Vatican museums because so many other museums are closed on Mondays in Rome. Unless you are going to do with an early access type of tour, I might re-think and schedule the Vatican for the day you arrive (e.g., Saturday).

 

Whatever you decide, one good way to divide it up would be:

 

Ancient Rome (1 day): Colosseum and Forum (skip Palatine Hill unless you are really interested in it) and the nearby Baths of Caracalla -- really impressive & best preserved imperial baths. If ambitious you could also see either the Capitoline Museum -- use Rick Steves's guide as a quick way to see highlights -- or the Basilica of San Clemente, built on three different layers of Roman history.

 

Vatican (1 day): Museums and Sistine chapel, plus St. Peter's. Your kids may also want to climb the dome. Also nearby and worth doing if you have time is Castel Sant'Angelo -- started out as the tomb of a Roman Emperor, later a Pope's fortress and recently famous for its role in Angels and Demons (worth watching before you go).

 

Remaining Day: Plan a walk across Rome that includes Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, Largo Argentina, the Ghetto, and perhaps ends up in Trastevere, which is a charming area with lots of restaurant possibilities for dinner.

 

I've thrown in a lot -- not that you have to do it all but some may appeal more than others. :)

I am traveling with a friend, arriving from the airport and will be staying 3 days at the Palladium Palace. We will need to transfer from airport to the hotel and also from the hotel to the train station (will be heading to Florence). Any suggestions for how to get around while in Rome are greatly appreciated. Are there hop-on-hop-off buses? We don't speak any Italian so the thought of using public transportation is a little daunting...

Really like your idea of splitting up the city into sections- thanks for the plan!

Thank you to all who have suggested the best ways to handle transportation issues in Venice. This will be my first time in Italy, so I am also looking for advice- we will be arriving by train from Florence and will be staying at the Pausania Hotel. We will be there for 2 days, then will be sailing on the Rhapsody of the Seas so need transportation to the cruise port from our hotel and then from the cruise port to the airport after our cruise is complete. Asked our travel agent for cost for transfers and OMG! They must get a great commission from those private water taxis... Thank you so much for posting the beautiful pictures, Hank. Not to mention the maps- we will be going in late August and leaving for Greece on September 1- this will be my first time traveling in Italy and I am very excited!

Can anyone recommend a tour company that can accommodate a tour that will work within the timeframe we will be in port? I am traveling on Rhapsody of the Seas and we are scheduled to be on La Palma from 7 am to 5 pm on Friday 11/10/2017. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

Can anyone recommend a tour operator that goes to Timanfaya? I will be in Lanzarote November 8, 2017 from 10 am to 6 pm aboard Rhapsody of the Seas. I am a little scared to rent a car- always nervous about a car breaking down and not getting back before the ship sails. Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Does Rhapsody of the Seas have the thermal spa? Thanks for sharing your info...

Hi all,

We are sailing on the Legend in September (if the hurricane season cooperates :rolleyes: ) and wondered if anyone had any recommendations as far as the best table(s) to recommend as far as window view, more private, away from kitchen area, etc;

We plan to do anytime dining, and figured as long as we were calling for a reservation, we'd request a nice table, too!

Tried to do a search of this thread, but the search is down:(