Come with us as we spend 2 weeks traveling Italy from North to South by train. Along the way we visit Venice, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Rome, and Sorrento.
Thank you for allowing us to come along on your family vacation. My daughter is getting married in Italy this summer and then my wife and I are going on a two week tour of Italy. Your video is inspiring and informative. Thank you!
Hi Michelle, it really was easy with the Italian train system. The cities are well-connected and the trains are very punctual. Good luck and enjoy planning your trip - the anticipation is half of the fun!
great video , with honesty and great visional impression. im from canada but original from south america and been to italy many times because japan and italy are my favourite countries in the world and ive been to most of them because of my job. italy is a living musuem and 2 weeks is just not long enough . yes going to different places and not having someone experience of the story behind the place or structure can be tiresome but believe me its worth it. most of your video consists of main travel area but you missed some breathtaking areas like, the dolomites, the city of matera by the way the last james bond was filmed, im a historical and art fanatic and italy is my emotional heart felt place and once italy disapears and it will because of so many volcanoes and earthquakes then i can die and be satisfy with my life.
Hi! My name is Kate. I live in Seattle. I found your channel YEARS ago. I hope its not weird to say that i love ALL your videos and i think you family is great! You dont post much but when i see a new one im like OH YES. because you do a great job editing! Thanks for sharing your travels!
Thank you. I'm Italian and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is thoughtful, concise, respectful. Sure, it's touristy, but honest and informative. Hint : if you have the opportunity, try Sorbillo in Napoli for pizza, a good substitute for Michele.
Thank you! I appreciate getting positive feedback from a local - it helps to dispel any worry that I might have gotten something wrong. And thanks for the restaurant recommendation. Should we find ourselves back and looking for pizza someday, I will take you up on it!
Absolutely love watching your family vacay in Italy, especially as im a mom of two redheads. Great recommendations for places to visit and transportation, thx!
Hi Carrie! Happened to stumble upon this very detailed vlog of yours as I am planning my Italy trip for early next year. It is a well-detailed and thoughtful journal, and it is far simplistic and family oriented as compared to other flashy clickbait vlogs. Surprisingly, when it came to the point of Colosseum, and your daughter said “Rogers Centre”, I jumped out of joy to know that you are a fellow Canadian and Torontonian! Thank you for this wonderfully curated vlog.
Hello, "neighbour" and thanks for your comment! We're a few hours outside of Toronto, but close enough that we get there often and have been to Rogers Centre many times. Hope you have a great trip to Italy; it's hard to go wrong there.
We are planning our first trip to Italy next May and I'm so glad I found your video! It will be just myself and my wife and I appreciate you sharing so much of your trip including sites that were not as favorable as you might have thought beforehand. It's always good to get honest opinions. Our biggest problem right now is deciding which places to visit!
Thank you, and have so much fun! You won't be able to fit everything in, but no matter where you go - I really don't think you can go wrong. I understand now why people go back to Italy over and over again. 😄
Thank you for sharing your vlog. It’s amazing how your kids still come with you. We are planning our first Europe trip to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Is this your first Europe trip too? Did you feel comfortable or overwhelmed with the language, culture, the train schedules? Is travelling Italy by train doable for first timers?
We had been to Europe a couple of times before (with and without kids) but this was our first time in Italy. We were very comfortable. If you stick to touristy areas in Italy, you will find plenty of locals who speak English in restaurants, hotels, signage in train stations, etc. And yes, I think traveling by train is very doable for first-timers. The train stations are all laid out very similarly with a large board telling you which platform each train is on, and they run very punctually.
Hello Carrie Loved your vlog! I’m so glad I found it because I’m planning to visit Italy this year. I’m planning to visit the north similar to how you did it with the inclusion of portofino. I know you didn’t include that in your trip but I wanted your opinion. Is it hard to get to? Is it worth going? Thank you for your time
So, take this comment with a grain of salt because as you know - we didn't go to Portofino. I think it looks like a lovely little town, and I think visiting some part of the Italian Riviera is worthwhile. But I would choose to see either Cinque Terre or Portofino, but probably not both, unless you have unlimited time. For me, the draw for both places is the same: brightly painted buildings climbing up hillsides from a natural harbour. For a short trip, I would tick that box with one area or the other, then move on to something that adds more variety. I also think Portofino is a bit harder to get to than Cinque Terre as I don't believe it's connected by train - I think you'd be able to take a train pretty close but would then need a bus (or a long walk) to get the rest of the way there. Maybe someone else who's been there can chime in in the comments?
Sure, here was out outline: Arrival in Venice - August 13 Departed Venice on August 15 - train to Varenna, connecting through Milan August 17 - train from Varenna to Vernazza, again connecting in Milan (layover of 30 minutes) August 20 - train Vernazza to Pisa, switching trains in La Spezia along the way (layover of 37 minutes). We had 3:06 hours in Pisa before taking the train from Pisa onward to Rome. August 23 - train from Rome to Sorrento with a layover in Naples of 3:25. August 27 - train from Sorrento to Rome, changing trains in Naples (layover was 38 minutes). We also took the local train, or Circumvesuviana, from Sorrento to Pompeii for a day trip on August 25th - these trains run every 20 minutes or so. I hope that helps.
Thank you! We did buy just about all of our tickets online in advance. I think the only tickets we bought locally were tickets to Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana.
It looks like such a memorable trip! My fiancé and I are planning to visit Italy next year for our honeymoon. Would you mind sharing where you stayed in Como?
We have seen Venice, Verona and Lake Como, Milan just before Covid Novel started. This summer it is going to be Naples, Amalfi Coast, and islands nearby, Florence, Lean Tower of Pisa, Cinque Terre, Rimini, San Marino, Boglogna. Two weeks train, private driver and boat...🫠
@@CarrieCook I have been years ago in Tuscany vineyards... with friends. I really enjoyed!!! Some dreams never be repeated twice... or maybe I want to remember how it happened...
Great vlog! We’re traveling to Italy in June so this was really helpful. How early did you book train tickets between destinations? Do you just buy them at the station the same day?
We booked them pretty much as soon as they went on sale (can't remember if that was 60 days or 90 days in advance?) We wanted specific trains because of things like dinner reservations and didn't want to risk the one we wanted selling out.
Hi Carrie - Great Video! Looks like an amazing time. We are going in May/23. We are also there for 2.5 weeks. Rome / Naples / Pescara / Florence / Venice. Would you advise me on if you used a Eurail Pass or did you buy individual tickets on the day? Watching tons of videos on the subject, just wanted to get your point of view. Thank you!
Thanks so much! We didn't buy a Eurail pass. We priced out the individual tickets we needed and compared them to the cost of Eurail, and the individual tickets were cheaper. That's partly because we booked them well in advance: the price of point-to-point tickets increases as the travel date approaches. Eurail tends to be a better deal in some countries (like Switzerland) and not as good of a deal in others (like Italy), where individual tickets aren't as expensive. Also, we knew which dates we would be traveling because we had our accommodations pre-booked. Eurail passes start to make more sense when you know that you want to travel for a certain number of days, but want to maintain flexibility as to which days those are. When it comes down to it though, I do suggest pricing out your trip and doing the math to ensure you're getting the best deal.
@@CarrieCook Hey Carrie - Thank you for the quick and helpful reply. Based on your advice and that we already have our dates set up, we will probably follow through with Advance Individual Ticket Purchases! Thank you again!
@@CarrieCook We have the train App on our phone. Once we build our itinerary and have our rooms booked, are you saying that if I go on my App and price out the train we want, the price will actually be cheaper the longer in advance we book them?? Did you usually take the fast trains when they we available, say from Rome to Venice? Thanks
Hi, I loved this video! I have a question about the train you took from cinque terre -pisa- then to Rome. Did you buy two separate train tickets for your stop to Pisa? And from the train station of Pisa to the Pisa tower, did you simply just walk there? Thank you!!! Much love from Canada:)
Hi there, yes, we bought two separate train tickets to make the Pisa layover happen. We could have taken a train directly from Cinque Terre to Rome, but chose to break it up so we could see the tower. I can't recall the cost but I do think it cost a bit more to do the two separate tickets as opposed to a direct route. And yes, we just walked from the train station, to a luggage storage facility, and then onward to the tower. Total walking time in one direction was about 20 minutes. You can find a map of the route here: www.yourintrepidfamily.com/europe/how-to-see-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa/. Hope that helps!
Thank you for this video. Going to Italy for the first time in July. Do you recommend just spending one day in Lake Como? How many days would be ideal Cinque Terre?
I would try for a few days in each location - partly because it takes time to travel, settle into a new hotel, etc. If you are hiking in Cinque Terre, you'll want extra time for that, especially because they close the hiking trail during inclement weather. If you're just looking to jump on and off the train and have a quick look around, a day or two is probably enough.
Your video will help us plan our trip to Italy. Of the areas you visited, which parts would you have wished you spent more time, and which parts would you by pass, if you did it again? Thanks
For me, Amalfi and Positano were the parts I enjoyed the least. I could have spent more time in Rome, or visited some other parts of Italy we didn't have time for (the Dolomites/Florence would probably be my first pick).
I confirm the argument about excessive exposure. In the beginning of the video I hade the impulse to write a comment after hearing something like "the next day we got a train to" - Eeeh?? - I thought - You just arrived, how can you leave the day after... without seeing nothing. - I think that this kind of trip should be avoided. You miss so much from every single place you visit. And not some minor details, you missed the real deal!!! As an Italian, I'm used to everything you see in this voyage, but still I can stay in Rome for a month and just scratch the surface of its wonders, and half of my family is from Rome. Let alone Amalfi, Capri and so on. You must live there a bit to get accustomed to the place rythm and habits. A beach in Italy should be lived not seen from the boat. You should go with the locals in the place they only know. To hurry from a place to another is not just plain wrong... is a completely anti-italian philosophy 🤣. You should not try to see everything because you lose just everything. Please don't do that. Never. It's worthless.
Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed hearing your perspective, although I do disagree with it. It would have been wonderful to have a month to spend in Rome alone, but unfortunately, as a family with work and school obligations, that's not practical for us - nor do I think it is for most folks who aren't either retired or independently wealthy. With the two weeks we had in Italy, we thought we got a great overview of the country. Now that we've had a taste of it, we know where we might want to focus our time if we're lucky enough to come back. We hope to travel more slowly someday, but until then, we'll continue to hit the highlights - because the future is never guaranteed.
I'm going on an italy trip in the spring and I've been debating whether I want to visit lake como or the Amalfi coast... I think this video is pushing me towards Como
Hi there, the hotel we stayed at was called Il Faro and we really liked it - quaint building, beautiful views from the rooms, excellent breakfast and a nice rooftop pool area. You should be aware that the hotel is located at the bottom of the cliff in Sorrento, and most shops/restaurants are at the top. There are staircases up and down between the coast and the clifftop, and there is also a lift. We loved the location and it was handy for us since we chartered a boat, took the ferries and went paddleboarding, all of which leave from the marina that was adjacent to our hotel. But we did need to climb the steps into town when we went out to dinner, went shopping, etc. This might be more of a concern if you have limited mobility. Just something to be aware of!
Very wonderful video... I love Italy, art and elegant beauty... I will meet my love and we will get married in Italy this summer... I wish myself and my lover a happy life 💕🕊💍
Hi Carrie! My family I just stumbled upon your video. We're planning a 2 week Italy trip next summer. I just wanted to say that your video was one of the few I've seen that was extremely informative and well-put together. We have kids around your kids' ages so this was so helpful. I was just wondering...do you happen to have your specific itinerary somewhere with the tours/activities and hotels listed? Would you be willing to share it with me? We're in the beginning planning stages and would love all your recommendations. Thank you! 😊
I love your video thank you for sharing. We will be in Italy next month and would like to try Trastevere best restaurant. How did you make reservation to Tonarellos? How was it traveling with teenagers? We are bringing our 20 yr old son with us, This is our second European vacation. Thank you again.
Glad you enjoyed it! I just looked at Tonnarello's website and it looks like they no longer take reservations - now it's just first come, first served. (They used to have a reservation calendar.) My best tip for getting in is that they have two locations, not far apart from one another. One is at Via della Paglia, 1/2/3. The other is Piazza della Scala, 19. When we made a reservation it was relatively easy to book at the Piazza della Scala location, but impossible to get one at the other location. If you're trying to walk up, I would get there as early as possible, and target the Piazza della Scala location, which doesn't seem as busy. We had a great time with our kids, who were 15 and 17 at the time - they have traveled all over with us and thankfully it's something we all enjoy. Italy was a great destination because so much of it is recognizable for kids/teens/young adults from TV, film and history class at school. Have a wonderful time with your son!
I hear Sorrento is nice, but if we have included the Cinque Terre area and therefore don't plan to visit the Amalfi Coast, do you think we would better enjoy time a few days in Naples at the end of out trip and fly home from Naples or Rome?
Not sure I understand the question. If you're not planning to visit the Amalfi area (or Pompeii) then I personally would probably not go to Naples - but it depends on what other options you have on your list.
Oh gosh. That really feels impossible - every place is so different. For me, Italy was absolutely gorgeous and full of things to see and do, but I think I prefer the chaos of less developed locations around the world. Every place we've been in Africa has been wonderful. My favourite trip of all time might have been when we went to China; it was just the right mix of history, culture, scenic beauty, culture shock, etc. So hard to narrow it down to a single favourite place!
@@kshipon1798 yes, lots of room for luggage. Some trains have compartments at the front/back of each car, some have room between the seats, and others have room in bins above the seats - it seems to vary a lot. We took at least one 2nd class train and had no trouble fitting our luggage on board.
I love your video. I am planning a 2 weeks trip to Italy. But I don’t where to start. Did u fly to Venice from the USA ?? And did you book all the trains ahead of time ? Thank u
Hi there, we flew to Venice from Toronto, and then flew home from Rome. The open-jaw ticket meant we didn’t have to backtrack through the country and let us see a bit more. We did reserve all of the trains ahead of time. We travelled during a busy time of year and didn’t want to risk not being able to travel on the dates we wanted to.
One more question please 😊 when u arrived at polo Marco airport , did u take bus # 5 then u got on the water taxi as shown in the video? Or u can directly take the water tax to the hotel ??? Like no need for the bus ! And do I need can for the gondolas and water taxi ? Thank u 😘😘
@@tarafirst1 The water taxis depart directly from the airport - no bus needed. Just pick up your luggage and look for the ticket booths in the arrivals hall - they are labeled "Speed boat to Venice". Buy a voucher there and then take the moving sidewalk to the launch site where you hand your voucher over to the boat driver. I'm not sure that I understand the second part of your question.
Hello! In Venice we stayed at a place called Palazzo Odoni, and in Rome we were at Little Queen Suite. Both places had a lovely breakfast included and were within walking distance to the major sights. Hope that helps.
We just did a 2 hour rental, but you can rent for any length of time. If you want to anchor at Nesso and swim for a while, and still see the other sights, you might want to consider a 3 hour rental.
We had 2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Varenna (Lake Como), 3 nights in Vernazza (Cinque Terre), 3 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Sorrento, then 1 more night in Rome before flying home.
@@CarrieCook With an itinerary like yours, had you considered going to any of the Tuscany wine areas and hill towns south of Florence where a rental car would best serve you? It is just my wife and I, so maybe renting a car out of Florence for 2 days would work.
Well, guilty as charged. 😄We'd heard horror stories about Italy being crowded during the summer and I didn't think it was bad at all, but the Amalfi Coast was the worst of it - and especially the beach. So many beautiful beach clubs were empty, and then the tiny strip of public beach was just overrun with people. And I get it. We didn't pay to enter a club, either, because we were only in each spot for a few hours and it didn't make sense to pay the daily rates. So yes, we were contributing to the problem. But similar setups existed in Cinque Terre, and it was not nearly as crowded there. Overall it's just different than what we're accustomed to in Canada, where beach clubs are not as prevalent.
Honestly, this is the best video I've watched in helping plan a 3 week trip to Italy. So much good advice!
Wow, thanks!
I’m looking at going to Italy for two weeks in the fall. What a great video you put together. You gave me a lot of great ideas. Thanks a lot
Glad it was helpful!
That's a great trip! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for allowing us to come along on your family vacation. My daughter is getting married in Italy this summer and then my wife and I are going on a two week tour of Italy. Your video is inspiring and informative. Thank you!
That sounds wonderful - I'm sure a great time will be had by all and congratulations to the happy couple!
This video is super helpful! Thank you for sharing!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this. We're currently planning a trip and it was great to see how easy it was for you to go everywhere by train.
Hi Michelle, it really was easy with the Italian train system. The cities are well-connected and the trains are very punctual. Good luck and enjoy planning your trip - the anticipation is half of the fun!
Lovely, in-depth vlog - thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic vlog and one of the best I’ve seen. Great job !
Thank you kindly!
great video , with honesty and great visional impression. im from canada but original from south america and been to italy many times because japan and italy are my favourite countries in the world and ive been to most of them because of my job. italy is a living musuem and 2 weeks is just not long enough . yes going to different places and not having someone experience of the story behind the place or structure can be tiresome but believe me its worth it. most of your video consists of main travel area but you missed some breathtaking areas like, the dolomites, the city of matera by the way the last james bond was filmed, im a historical and art fanatic and italy is my emotional heart felt place and once italy disapears and it will because of so many volcanoes and earthquakes then i can die and be satisfy with my life.
You're right, 2 weeks in Italy is not enough. I can understand why people go back over and over again.
Hi! My name is Kate. I live in Seattle. I found your channel YEARS ago. I hope its not weird to say that i love ALL your videos and i think you family is great! You dont post much but when i see a new one im like OH YES. because you do a great job editing! Thanks for sharing your travels!
Thanks so much for your kind comment - it's nice to know you've stuck with us for a while!
Great video! We are planning our first trip to Italy right now. I appreciate your insights 🇮🇹
Glad it was helpful!
I was just there this past summer 💖 Loved it all.
Glad your video popped up in my feed we are about to leave for our honeymoon
Nice to travel in Italia ❤ amazing ❤
Yes it was!
Thank you.
I'm Italian and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is thoughtful, concise, respectful.
Sure, it's touristy, but honest and informative.
Hint : if you have the opportunity, try Sorbillo in Napoli for pizza, a good substitute for Michele.
Thank you! I appreciate getting positive feedback from a local - it helps to dispel any worry that I might have gotten something wrong. And thanks for the restaurant recommendation. Should we find ourselves back and looking for pizza someday, I will take you up on it!
I really like this style of vlog. Well done.
Thank you for watching!
Absolutely love watching your family vacay in Italy, especially as im a mom of two redheads. Great recommendations for places to visit and transportation, thx!
Thanks so much!
Your comment near the end is so true - all the shops in the Amalfi area have the same stuff! If you've seen them once - you've seen them all!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so!
Hi Carrie! Happened to stumble upon this very detailed vlog of yours as I am planning my Italy trip for early next year. It is a well-detailed and thoughtful journal, and it is far simplistic and family oriented as compared to other flashy clickbait vlogs. Surprisingly, when it came to the point of Colosseum, and your daughter said “Rogers Centre”, I jumped out of joy to know that you are a fellow Canadian and Torontonian! Thank you for this wonderfully curated vlog.
Hello, "neighbour" and thanks for your comment! We're a few hours outside of Toronto, but close enough that we get there often and have been to Rogers Centre many times. Hope you have a great trip to Italy; it's hard to go wrong there.
Hi Carrie We live in Barrie and are planning a trip to Barrie. Where do you live?
@@CarrieCook
I love the relaxation of this, that not a single original thought went into your trip.
I'm italian, from Verona (city of Giulietta) but i love Rome, my second home...beautyfull video and beautyfull family!!!
Thank you so much!
@@CarrieCook prego... Vi aspettiamo a Verona!! ♥️
I really enjoyed watching this, but it made me tired just watching! 😂
Ha ha, thanks - we certainly did pack a lot in!
Excellent narration
Thank you kindly!
We are planning our first trip to Italy next May and I'm so glad I found your video! It will be just myself and my wife and I appreciate you sharing so much of your trip including sites that were not as favorable as you might have thought beforehand. It's always good to get honest opinions. Our biggest problem right now is deciding which places to visit!
Thank you, and have so much fun! You won't be able to fit everything in, but no matter where you go - I really don't think you can go wrong. I understand now why people go back to Italy over and over again. 😄
great editing! :)
Glad you think so!
Thank you for sharing your vlog. It’s amazing how your kids still come with you. We are planning our first Europe trip to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Is this your first Europe trip too? Did you feel comfortable or overwhelmed with the language, culture, the train schedules? Is travelling Italy by train doable for first timers?
We had been to Europe a couple of times before (with and without kids) but this was our first time in Italy. We were very comfortable. If you stick to touristy areas in Italy, you will find plenty of locals who speak English in restaurants, hotels, signage in train stations, etc. And yes, I think traveling by train is very doable for first-timers. The train stations are all laid out very similarly with a large board telling you which platform each train is on, and they run very punctually.
Beautiful video👍. But remember that agust is the worst month for visiting Italy!
We were braced for high heat, lots of crowds and closures, but were pleasantly surprised - and we had a really great time.
Such a great video, wonderfully captured! Can you tell me what gear you used to capture these videos?
Thank you! I use a Sony RX100 vii to record most of the footage. There are a few iPhone and GoPro shots in there, too.
@@CarrieCook WOW, same camera. I just bought it about 4 months ago.
Squid in a bag just about the best snack ever made
😆Squid in a bag became a thing for us on a trip to China a few years ago, and I don't think we'll ever let that joke die!
Hello Carrie
Loved your vlog! I’m so glad I found it because I’m planning to visit Italy this year. I’m planning to visit the north similar to how you did it with the inclusion of portofino. I know you didn’t include that in your trip but I wanted your opinion. Is it hard to get to? Is it worth going?
Thank you for your time
So, take this comment with a grain of salt because as you know - we didn't go to Portofino. I think it looks like a lovely little town, and I think visiting some part of the Italian Riviera is worthwhile. But I would choose to see either Cinque Terre or Portofino, but probably not both, unless you have unlimited time. For me, the draw for both places is the same: brightly painted buildings climbing up hillsides from a natural harbour. For a short trip, I would tick that box with one area or the other, then move on to something that adds more variety. I also think Portofino is a bit harder to get to than Cinque Terre as I don't believe it's connected by train - I think you'd be able to take a train pretty close but would then need a bus (or a long walk) to get the rest of the way there. Maybe someone else who's been there can chime in in the comments?
Thank you so much for writing back. I will definitely consider that.
Hi Carrie, thank you for sharing your Vlog, very helpful. Could you share your itinerary for train ticket and station.
Thanks again
Sure, here was out outline:
Arrival in Venice - August 13
Departed Venice on August 15 - train to Varenna, connecting through Milan
August 17 - train from Varenna to Vernazza, again connecting in Milan (layover of 30 minutes)
August 20 - train Vernazza to Pisa, switching trains in La Spezia along the way (layover of 37 minutes). We had 3:06 hours in Pisa before taking the train from Pisa onward to Rome.
August 23 - train from Rome to Sorrento with a layover in Naples of 3:25.
August 27 - train from Sorrento to Rome, changing trains in Naples (layover was 38 minutes).
We also took the local train, or Circumvesuviana, from Sorrento to Pompeii for a day trip on August 25th - these trains run every 20 minutes or so.
I hope that helps.
So helpful as we are currently planning a similar trip
Great family vacation and nice video. By the way, May I ask if you did purchase your train tickets online or at the train station.
Thank you! We did buy just about all of our tickets online in advance. I think the only tickets we bought locally were tickets to Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana.
@@CarrieCook Thank you for the info. Happy traveling.
It looks like such a memorable trip! My fiancé and I are planning to visit Italy next year for our honeymoon. Would you mind sharing where you stayed in Como?
Not at all! We stayed in Varenna and the hotel was called Hotel Olivedo. It was a great place - highly recommend it!
@@CarrieCook thank you!
We have seen Venice, Verona and Lake Como, Milan just before Covid Novel started. This summer it is going to be Naples, Amalfi Coast, and islands nearby, Florence, Lean Tower of Pisa, Cinque Terre, Rimini, San Marino, Boglogna. Two weeks train, private driver and boat...🫠
That sounds amazing!
@@CarrieCook I know..., that's why I am trying to design in details!!!
@@CarrieCook I have been years ago in Tuscany vineyards... with friends. I really enjoyed!!! Some dreams never be repeated twice... or maybe I want to remember how it happened...
Great vlog! We’re traveling to Italy in June so this was really helpful. How early did you book train tickets between destinations? Do you just buy them at the station the same day?
We booked them pretty much as soon as they went on sale (can't remember if that was 60 days or 90 days in advance?) We wanted specific trains because of things like dinner reservations and didn't want to risk the one we wanted selling out.
Hi Carrie - Great Video! Looks like an amazing time. We are going in May/23. We are also there for 2.5 weeks. Rome / Naples / Pescara / Florence / Venice. Would you advise me on if you used a Eurail Pass or did you buy individual tickets on the day? Watching tons of videos on the subject, just wanted to get your point of view. Thank you!
Thanks so much! We didn't buy a Eurail pass. We priced out the individual tickets we needed and compared them to the cost of Eurail, and the individual tickets were cheaper. That's partly because we booked them well in advance: the price of point-to-point tickets increases as the travel date approaches. Eurail tends to be a better deal in some countries (like Switzerland) and not as good of a deal in others (like Italy), where individual tickets aren't as expensive. Also, we knew which dates we would be traveling because we had our accommodations pre-booked. Eurail passes start to make more sense when you know that you want to travel for a certain number of days, but want to maintain flexibility as to which days those are. When it comes down to it though, I do suggest pricing out your trip and doing the math to ensure you're getting the best deal.
@@CarrieCook Hey Carrie - Thank you for the quick and helpful reply. Based on your advice and that we already have our dates set up, we will probably follow through with Advance Individual Ticket Purchases! Thank you again!
@@CarrieCook We have the train App on our phone. Once we build our itinerary and have our rooms booked, are you saying that if I go on my App and price out the train we want, the price will actually be cheaper the longer in advance we book them?? Did you usually take the fast trains when they we available, say from Rome to Venice? Thanks
Hi, I loved this video! I have a question about the train you took from cinque terre -pisa- then to Rome.
Did you buy two separate train tickets for your stop to Pisa? And from the train station of Pisa to the Pisa tower, did you simply just walk there? Thank you!!!
Much love from Canada:)
Hi there, yes, we bought two separate train tickets to make the Pisa layover happen. We could have taken a train directly from Cinque Terre to Rome, but chose to break it up so we could see the tower. I can't recall the cost but I do think it cost a bit more to do the two separate tickets as opposed to a direct route. And yes, we just walked from the train station, to a luggage storage facility, and then onward to the tower. Total walking time in one direction was about 20 minutes. You can find a map of the route here: www.yourintrepidfamily.com/europe/how-to-see-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa/. Hope that helps!
@@CarrieCook amazing! Thank you so much for the reply
Thank you for this video. Going to Italy for the first time in July. Do you recommend just spending one day in Lake Como? How many days would be ideal Cinque Terre?
I would try for a few days in each location - partly because it takes time to travel, settle into a new hotel, etc. If you are hiking in Cinque Terre, you'll want extra time for that, especially because they close the hiking trail during inclement weather. If you're just looking to jump on and off the train and have a quick look around, a day or two is probably enough.
Your video will help us plan our trip to Italy. Of the areas you visited, which parts would you have wished you spent more time, and which parts would you by pass, if you did it again? Thanks
For me, Amalfi and Positano were the parts I enjoyed the least. I could have spent more time in Rome, or visited some other parts of Italy we didn't have time for (the Dolomites/Florence would probably be my first pick).
I confirm the argument about excessive exposure. In the beginning of the video I hade the impulse to write a comment after hearing something like "the next day we got a train to"
- Eeeh?? - I thought - You just arrived, how can you leave the day after... without seeing nothing. -
I think that this kind of trip should be avoided. You miss so much from every single place you visit. And not some minor details, you missed the real deal!!!
As an Italian, I'm used to everything you see in this voyage, but still I can stay in Rome for a month and just scratch the surface of its wonders, and half of my family is from Rome.
Let alone Amalfi, Capri and so on. You must live there a bit to get accustomed to the place rythm and habits. A beach in Italy should be lived not seen from the boat.
You should go with the locals in the place they only know.
To hurry from a place to another is not just plain wrong... is a completely anti-italian philosophy 🤣.
You should not try to see everything because you lose just everything.
Please don't do that. Never. It's worthless.
Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed hearing your perspective, although I do disagree with it. It would have been wonderful to have a month to spend in Rome alone, but unfortunately, as a family with work and school obligations, that's not practical for us - nor do I think it is for most folks who aren't either retired or independently wealthy. With the two weeks we had in Italy, we thought we got a great overview of the country. Now that we've had a taste of it, we know where we might want to focus our time if we're lucky enough to come back. We hope to travel more slowly someday, but until then, we'll continue to hit the highlights - because the future is never guaranteed.
I'm going on an italy trip in the spring and I've been debating whether I want to visit lake como or the Amalfi coast... I think this video is pushing me towards Como
They were both lovely, but I did enjoy Lake Como more!
I'm currently planning a similar trip. Just curious what hotel did you stay in Sorrento and do you recommend it??
Hi there, the hotel we stayed at was called Il Faro and we really liked it - quaint building, beautiful views from the rooms, excellent breakfast and a nice rooftop pool area. You should be aware that the hotel is located at the bottom of the cliff in Sorrento, and most shops/restaurants are at the top. There are staircases up and down between the coast and the clifftop, and there is also a lift. We loved the location and it was handy for us since we chartered a boat, took the ferries and went paddleboarding, all of which leave from the marina that was adjacent to our hotel. But we did need to climb the steps into town when we went out to dinner, went shopping, etc. This might be more of a concern if you have limited mobility. Just something to be aware of!
Very wonderful video...
I love Italy, art and elegant beauty...
I will meet my love and we will get married in Italy this summer...
I wish myself and my lover a happy life 💕🕊💍
Congratulations!
@@CarrieCook thank you 🌷🙏
Hi Carrie!
My family I just stumbled upon your video. We're planning a 2 week Italy trip next summer. I just wanted to say that your video was one of the few I've seen that was extremely informative and well-put together. We have kids around your kids' ages so this was so helpful. I was just wondering...do you happen to have your specific itinerary somewhere with the tours/activities and hotels listed? Would you be willing to share it with me? We're in the beginning planning stages and would love all your recommendations.
Thank you! 😊
We just found the itinerary you posted!
Thanks!
Glad you found it - let me know if you need any additional details - I'm happy to send them along.
Thanks Carrie!
One quick question...where did you stay in Sorrento? Or do you have any recommendations for a family of 4 (2 older teens).
@@TaniaOrchanian we stayed at Hotel Il Faro. They have really spacious rooms that sleep 4 - give them a try.
I love your video thank you for sharing. We will be in Italy next month and would like to try Trastevere best restaurant. How did you make reservation to Tonarellos? How was it traveling with teenagers? We are bringing our 20 yr old son with us, This is our second European vacation. Thank you again.
Glad you enjoyed it! I just looked at Tonnarello's website and it looks like they no longer take reservations - now it's just first come, first served. (They used to have a reservation calendar.) My best tip for getting in is that they have two locations, not far apart from one another. One is at Via della Paglia, 1/2/3. The other is Piazza della Scala, 19. When we made a reservation it was relatively easy to book at the Piazza della Scala location, but impossible to get one at the other location. If you're trying to walk up, I would get there as early as possible, and target the Piazza della Scala location, which doesn't seem as busy. We had a great time with our kids, who were 15 and 17 at the time - they have traveled all over with us and thankfully it's something we all enjoy. Italy was a great destination because so much of it is recognizable for kids/teens/young adults from TV, film and history class at school. Have a wonderful time with your son!
@@CarrieCook thank you so much for this info.
I hear Sorrento is nice, but if we have included the Cinque Terre area and therefore don't plan to visit the Amalfi Coast, do you think we would better enjoy time a few days in Naples at the end of out trip and fly home from Naples or Rome?
Not sure I understand the question. If you're not planning to visit the Amalfi area (or Pompeii) then I personally would probably not go to Naples - but it depends on what other options you have on your list.
You've been to various countries, could you list them in order of your favorites?
Oh gosh. That really feels impossible - every place is so different. For me, Italy was absolutely gorgeous and full of things to see and do, but I think I prefer the chaos of less developed locations around the world. Every place we've been in Africa has been wonderful. My favourite trip of all time might have been when we went to China; it was just the right mix of history, culture, scenic beauty, culture shock, etc. So hard to narrow it down to a single favourite place!
Grazie for sharing. What is the next place you went to after Venice? Can't catch the name. Thanks
After Venice, we went to Varenna, one of the small towns in the mid-lake region of Lake Como.
@@CarrieCook Thank you. We are heading there soon Cinque Terra is just amazing!
I loved it nice editing
You went to roof top of what building?
Thank you! It's the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi department store. It's free to access the rooftop, but you need to book a time slot in advance.
Thanks for reply
Does trains have space for luggage and is it free of charge even if you have 2nd class ticket?
@@kshipon1798 yes, lots of room for luggage. Some trains have compartments at the front/back of each car, some have room between the seats, and others have room in bins above the seats - it seems to vary a lot. We took at least one 2nd class train and had no trouble fitting our luggage on board.
@@CarrieCook how do I book slot, is it Available on line
@@kshipon1798 Yes, it's available online - here's the link. dfs.bookingbug.com/home/37002-T-Fondaco-Dei-Tedeschi-by-DFS
I love your video. I am planning a 2 weeks trip to Italy. But I don’t where to start. Did u fly to Venice from the USA ?? And did you book all the trains ahead of time ? Thank u
Hi there, we flew to Venice from Toronto, and then flew home from Rome. The open-jaw ticket meant we didn’t have to backtrack through the country and let us see a bit more. We did reserve all of the trains ahead of time. We travelled during a busy time of year and didn’t want to risk not being able to travel on the dates we wanted to.
@@CarrieCook thank you so much !!! It was a beautiful trip indeed 😍
One more question please 😊 when u arrived at polo Marco airport , did u take bus # 5 then u got on the water taxi as shown in the video? Or u can directly take the water tax to the hotel ??? Like no need for the bus ! And do I need can for the gondolas and water taxi ? Thank u 😘😘
@@tarafirst1 The water taxis depart directly from the airport - no bus needed. Just pick up your luggage and look for the ticket booths in the arrivals hall - they are labeled "Speed boat to Venice". Buy a voucher there and then take the moving sidewalk to the launch site where you hand your voucher over to the boat driver. I'm not sure that I understand the second part of your question.
@@CarrieCook I really appreciate your help ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️sorry it’s a typo, my second question was do I need cash to pay the gondola rides.
Do you have your itinerary? How many nights did you do in each place?
We broke down our itinerary at this link - hope this helps: www.yourintrepidfamily.com/europe/italy-europe/the-best-two-week-italy-travel-itinerary/.
What hotels did you stay at in Venice in Rome?
Hello! In Venice we stayed at a place called Palazzo Odoni, and in Rome we were at Little Queen Suite. Both places had a lovely breakfast included and were within walking distance to the major sights. Hope that helps.
Can you please share the itinary? Places you stay, local transportation, etc. thank you 🙏🏻
You can read more about our itinerary here: www.yourintrepidfamily.com/europe/italy-europe/the-best-two-week-italy-travel-itinerary/.
Thank you so much! ❤
Super video 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanks so much!
Great train touring...❤thks! Going May to nieces Tuscany wedding 💍
Good to see teenagers accompanying parents...
Are they twins?
They still tolerate us. And no, not twins - there are 2 years between them!
Hi, when did you travel?
Hello - this was filmed in August 2022.
how much hours did your rent the boat for in Lake como? We want to be able to take it to Nesso as well.
We just did a 2 hour rental, but you can rent for any length of time. If you want to anchor at Nesso and swim for a while, and still see the other sights, you might want to consider a 3 hour rental.
Perfect mahalo.
Who put this itinerary together for you? Was it an agent?
Hi there, no agent involved - we planned and booked all of our own travel.
Can you please share how many days roughly you spent at each of the cities?
We had 2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Varenna (Lake Como), 3 nights in Vernazza (Cinque Terre), 3 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Sorrento, then 1 more night in Rome before flying home.
@@CarrieCook With an itinerary like yours, had you considered going to any of the Tuscany wine areas and hill towns south of Florence where a rental car would best serve you? It is just my wife and I, so maybe renting a car out of Florence for 2 days would work.
Hello what month is this?
Hi there, we travelled in August.
Hii!! can you tell me the hotel in Lago Di Como?? Thanks!!!
Sure thing - it was Hotel Olivedo in Varenna - www.olivedo.it/en/.
@@CarrieCook thanks!!!! kisses from Argentina!!!
va bene hai ragione quando dici che ci sono troppi turisti, ma.......... anche voi siete turisti ?
Well, guilty as charged. 😄We'd heard horror stories about Italy being crowded during the summer and I didn't think it was bad at all, but the Amalfi Coast was the worst of it - and especially the beach. So many beautiful beach clubs were empty, and then the tiny strip of public beach was just overrun with people. And I get it. We didn't pay to enter a club, either, because we were only in each spot for a few hours and it didn't make sense to pay the daily rates. So yes, we were contributing to the problem. But similar setups existed in Cinque Terre, and it was not nearly as crowded there. Overall it's just different than what we're accustomed to in Canada, where beach clubs are not as prevalent.
Il colosseo poteva contenere dai 50.000 ai 75.000 spettatori ........
I think the Rogers Centre is just under 50,000 people, so you've confirmed it!
،would you speak little slowly with clear pronunciation......not all followers are English speaking
Ahh, thanks for the feedback!
Dolce vita è uno stupido cliché così come il mandolino colonna sonora è una offesa agli italiani.
Viaggio super superficiale. Meglio stare a casa E non dare indicazioni inutiliperi futuri viaggiatori