Trip to italy?

335e92tx · 02-08-2010, 08:34 AM

Starting to think about the next trip. Anybody gone to italy lately?
Did you use expedia or one of the web travel resources or a travel agent?

Anybody tried affordabletrips.com?

Probably shooting for something in late Sept/early Oct.

Ender514 · 02-08-2010, 08:57 AM

i just went to italy in sept. we used a AAA agent. they were helpful in recommending hotels and booking stupid little things like transportation to and from the airport (we did not rent a car). but you can probably do everything on your own.

Derek Zoolander · 02-08-2010, 09:05 AM

I went on a free trip for 10 days through a corporate reward program so it was all taken care of. It was epic.
Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Venice. You'll need transportation to/from airport like he said (hour ride from Rome). No rental car needed. Take trains between cities. I went in October, and the weather was great.

Ender514 · 02-08-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Zoolander

I went on a free trip for 10 days through a corporate reward program so it was all taken care of. It was epic.
Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Venice. You'll need transportation to/from airport like he said (hour ride from Rome). No rental car needed. Take trains between cities. I went in October, and the weather was great.

right. you dont really need a car. we stayed in rome and took their metro system to get around the city and we took trains to go out of the city. its pretty easy.

oh and it was around 60 american dollars one way from the airport to rome.

Maestro · 02-08-2010, 09:41 AM

I would ask what kind of traveler are you, do you like everything planed for you and you have more money than time. Or are you adventurous, finding your own way and do not have much money.

IF your the first then find a tour group, you give them the money and they plan it all, you just need to show up. There are various groups that tailor themselves to the different types of people. If you're young and like to party they will show you the sights by day and take you to the night spots by night. If you like to see the history, then you can get hours and hours of a history lesson.

If you like an adventure, then stay away form expedia and such, use them to get ideas for hotels and an such, but book your own deals. I got lower price flights by watching the deals and booking direct with the airlines. Same happen with hotels, some of the hotels have better deals if you went direct to them.

The another idea is to rent a villa, you can get some good deal on them and some times you can hire a local to come in and cook for you far less then it will cost you to dine out. Remember the $ is really week so everything cost lots at the tourist spots.

Maestro · 02-08-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ender514

right. you dont really need a car. we stayed in rome and took their metro system to get around the city and we took trains to go out of the city. its pretty easy.

oh and it was around 60 american dollars one way from the airport to rome.

No hotels at least a reasonable priced one has free shuttle service to the hotel, they all charge the going rate.

335e92tx · 02-08-2010, 09:45 AM

Did the organized tour when I went to EU myself around 2002. The wife and I will probably trek on our own this time. Probably about 8 days - landing in rome and maybe a trip to florence.
Probably 3/4 days in rome, day trip to florence and maybe tuscany.

immiketoo · 02-08-2010, 10:11 AM

I was there about a year ago on an ED for my Audi, and I winged it. Seriously, you can do so much just by going to the place that looks the best to you at the time. However, if there's a specific place you want to stay, it helps to make a reservation, but unless there's a major event (Like Oktoberfest) you don't really need to. A TA might be able to give you pointers on some things, but I like exploring and finding them myself

JayKay335i · 02-08-2010, 12:38 PM

My parents were there for a few weeks. They bought a Frommers (sp?) book and said they saved a ton over a travel agent. Also, they got the metro pass. I believe theres a discounted one for tourists.

Ender514 · 02-08-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335e92tx

Did the organized tour when I went to EU myself around 2002. The wife and I will probably trek on our own this time. Probably about 8 days - landing in rome and maybe a trip to florence.
Probably 3/4 days in rome, day trip to florence and maybe tuscany.

florence is nice but i have to say there isnt much to do there. theres a huge market that you can walk through that goes on for many blocks. you can also go see michelangelo's david. and also take a look at the Ponte Vecchio...the oldest bridge in florence.

there is so much to do in rome you can easily fill a week just there. buy or borrow from the library books on rome to take with you. we took rick steve's which was great. and like someone mentioned, a metro pass is worth it to get around rome.

Comet · 02-09-2010, 01:43 AM

I went there part of my road trip.

we're experienced travelers however... we booked our flights on the go using expedia or our travel agent whichever was cheaper and hotels on the go.
+ we had a lot of local friends helping us in all the cities.

tours where we didnt have locals were booked at the hotel lobby 1hr after arriving to the hotel. that is usually you're best bet

02-08-2010, 08:34 AM	#1
335e92tx ahat 1036 Rep 2,592 Posts Drives: Was '07-335e92 - Now '13-335IS Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (6)	Trip to italy? - did you use a travel agent Starting to think about the next trip. Anybody gone to italy lately? Did you use expedia or one of the web travel resources or a travel agent? Anybody tried affordabletrips.com? Probably shooting for something in late Sept/early Oct. __________________ '13 335IS N54 (1 of 373 LeMans Blue out of 3597 total production e92)- Grey interior (1 of 24 in LMB with any trans- 1 of 14 with DCT)-MODS -MFactory LSD/MHD-BQ custom Tune/ATM-IC/AFE Momentum GT Intake/Konis/Mfront&HeimJoint Rear rods&arms/Brembos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lo6aHZRo7XqtPkhL8
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02-08-2010, 08:57 AM	#2
Ender514 General 228 Rep 20,998 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	i just went to italy in sept. we used a AAA agent. they were helpful in recommending hotels and booking stupid little things like transportation to and from the airport (we did not rent a car). but you can probably do everything on your own. __________________ 09' E92 335i \| 6MT \| Montego Blue \| Black Dakota Leather \| Dark Burl Walnut \| Premium \| Sport \| Cold Weather \| Nav \| Sirius \| Comfort Access \| iPod and USB adapter
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02-08-2010, 09:05 AM	#3
Derek Zoolander Banned 90 Rep 1,873 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashua, NH iTrader: (0)	I went on a free trip for 10 days through a corporate reward program so it was all taken care of. It was epic. Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Venice. You'll need transportation to/from airport like he said (hour ride from Rome). No rental car needed. Take trains between cities. I went in October, and the weather was great.
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02-08-2010, 09:41 AM	#5
Maestro Major 1013 Rep 1,268 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Sedan, 2021 X3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	I would ask what kind of traveler are you, do you like everything planed for you and you have more money than time. Or are you adventurous, finding your own way and do not have much money. IF your the first then find a tour group, you give them the money and they plan it all, you just need to show up. There are various groups that tailor themselves to the different types of people. If you're young and like to party they will show you the sights by day and take you to the night spots by night. If you like to see the history, then you can get hours and hours of a history lesson. If you like an adventure, then stay away form expedia and such, use them to get ideas for hotels and an such, but book your own deals. I got lower price flights by watching the deals and booking direct with the airlines. Same happen with hotels, some of the hotels have better deals if you went direct to them. The another idea is to rent a villa, you can get some good deal on them and some times you can hire a local to come in and cook for you far less then it will cost you to dine out. Remember the $ is really week so everything cost lots at the tourist spots. Last edited by Maestro; 02-09-2010 at 08:28 AM..
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02-08-2010, 09:45 AM	#7
335e92tx ahat 1036 Rep 2,592 Posts Drives: Was '07-335e92 - Now '13-335IS Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (6)	Did the organized tour when I went to EU myself around 2002. The wife and I will probably trek on our own this time. Probably about 8 days - landing in rome and maybe a trip to florence. Probably 3/4 days in rome, day trip to florence and maybe tuscany. __________________ '13 335IS N54 (1 of 373 LeMans Blue out of 3597 total production e92)- Grey interior (1 of 24 in LMB with any trans- 1 of 14 with DCT)-MODS -MFactory LSD/MHD-BQ custom Tune/ATM-IC/AFE Momentum GT Intake/Konis/Mfront&HeimJoint Rear rods&arms/Brembos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lo6aHZRo7XqtPkhL8
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02-08-2010, 12:38 PM	#9
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	My parents were there for a few weeks. They bought a Frommers (sp?) book and said they saved a ton over a travel agent. Also, they got the metro pass. I believe theres a discounted one for tourists.
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02-09-2010, 01:43 AM	#11
Comet Troll Harder 395 Rep 596 Posts Drives: 997 GT3, 997 4 GTS, X6M Join Date: May 2007 Location: Montreal, Beirut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Porsche GT3 [8.00] 2012 Porsche 4 GTS [5.34]	I went there part of my road trip. we're experienced travelers however... we booked our flights on the go using expedia or our travel agent whichever was cheaper and hotels on the go. + we had a lot of local friends helping us in all the cities. tours where we didnt have locals were booked at the hotel lobby 1hr after arriving to the hotel. that is usually you're best bet __________________
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