Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Tourist Offices
The privately owned Enjoy Rome and the official APT and PIT are the best places to turn when you have questions about Rome.
Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT), 630 5th Ave., #1565, New York, NY 10111 (212-245-5618; www.italiantourism.com). Write or call 212-245-4822 for a free copy of Italia: General Information for Travelers to Italy. Branch offices: 12400 Wilshire Blvd., #550, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310-820-1898; fax: 820-6357; enitla@earthlink.net); 175 E. Bloor St., #907 South Tower, Toronto, ON M4W 3R8 (416-925-4882; enit.canada@on.aibn.com); 1 Princess St., London W1R 2AY (020-7355 1557 or 7355 1439; www.italiantouristboard.co.uk). Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia, Level 26, 44 Market St., Sydney NSW 2000 Australia (02 9262 1666; enitour@ihug.com.au).
Italian Cultural Institute, 2025 M Street NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20036, USA (202 223 98 00; http://www.italcultusa.org/). Often more prompt than ENIT. Has useful links about Italian culture and sites.
Enjoy Rome, V. Marghera, 8a (06 445 18 43; www.enjoyrome.com). From the middle concourse of Termini (between the trains and the ticket booths), exit right, with the trains behind you. Cross V. Marsala. The office is 3 blocks down V. Marghera. Owners Fulvia and Pierluigi answer questions and offer indispensable tidbits about the city free of charge and in perfect English. Enjoy Rome arranges hotel accommodations (as well as short-term apartments), walking and bicycle tours (see p. 328), and bus service to Pompeii (see p. 279). Additionally, Enjoy Rome offers a full-service travel agency, booking transportation worldwide and lodgings throughout Italy. Open Apr.-Oct. M-F 8:30am-7pm, Sa 8:30am-2pm, Nov.-Mar. M-F 9:30am-6:30pm, Sa 9am-2pm.
PIT (Tourist Information Point) (06 489 063 00), at track #4 in Termini. Run by the city, this English-speaking office provides limited information on events, hotels, restaurants, and transportation, as well as countless brochures and a serviceable map of Rome with sights listed on the back. Open daily 8am-9pm. PIT kiosks offer the same services at various spots around Rome. Kiosks are located at Castel Sant’Angelo (P. Pia; 06 688 097 07), Fori Imperiali (V.d. Tempio della Pace; 06 699 243 07), P.d. Spagna (Largo Goldoni; 06 681 360 61), P. Navona (P. delle Cinque Lune; 06 688 092 40), Trastevere (P. Sonnino; 06 583 334 57), San Giovanni (P.S. Giovanni in Laterano; 06 772 035 35), Santa Maria Maggiore (V.d. Olmata; 06 478 802 94), V.d. Corso (V. Minghetti; 06 678 29 88), V. Nazionale (Palazzo delle Espozioni; 06 478 245 25), and Termini (P. del Cinquecento; 06 478 251 94). You can get the same info from the Call Center Comune di Roma (06 360 043 99), which operates daily 9am-7pm.
APT (Azienda di Promozione Turistica), V. Parigi, 5 (06 360 04 399). Similar to PIT. Walk from the station diagonally to the left across P. del Cinquecento (filled with buses) and go straight across P. della Repubblica. Turn right onto V. Parigi, which starts on the other side of the church, at the Grand Hotel. English spoken, but not very well. Alberghi di Roma lists all hotels and pensioni around Rome registered with the APT. Open daily 9am-7pm.
Centro Turistico Studentesco (CTS), V. Genova, 16 (06 462 04 31; general info 06 441 111; fax 06 467 92 07; www.cts.it). Open M-F 9:30am-1pm and 2:30-6:30pm. Branch offices: V.d. Ausoni, 5 (06 445 01 41); V. Appia Nuova, 434 (06 785 79 06); C. Vittorio Emanuele II, 297 (06 687 26 72); Terminal Ostiense (06 574 79 50); P. Irnerio 43 (06 662 85 97).
The privately owned Enjoy Rome and the official APT and PIT are the best places to turn when you have questions about Rome.
Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT), 630 5th Ave., #1565, New York, NY 10111 (212-245-5618; www.italiantourism.com). Write or call 212-245-4822 for a free copy of Italia: General Information for Travelers to Italy. Branch offices: 12400 Wilshire Blvd., #550, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310-820-1898; fax: 820-6357; enitla@earthlink.net); 175 E. Bloor St., #907 South Tower, Toronto, ON M4W 3R8 (416-925-4882; enit.canada@on.aibn.com); 1 Princess St., London W1R 2AY (020-7355 1557 or 7355 1439; www.italiantouristboard.co.uk). Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia, Level 26, 44 Market St., Sydney NSW 2000 Australia (02 9262 1666; enitour@ihug.com.au).
Italian Cultural Institute, 2025 M Street NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20036, USA (202 223 98 00; http://www.italcultusa.org/). Often more prompt than ENIT. Has useful links about Italian culture and sites.
Enjoy Rome, V. Marghera, 8a (06 445 18 43; www.enjoyrome.com). From the middle concourse of Termini (between the trains and the ticket booths), exit right, with the trains behind you. Cross V. Marsala. The office is 3 blocks down V. Marghera. Owners Fulvia and Pierluigi answer questions and offer indispensable tidbits about the city free of charge and in perfect English. Enjoy Rome arranges hotel accommodations (as well as short-term apartments), walking and bicycle tours (see p. 328), and bus service to Pompeii (see p. 279). Additionally, Enjoy Rome offers a full-service travel agency, booking transportation worldwide and lodgings throughout Italy. Open Apr.-Oct. M-F 8:30am-7pm, Sa 8:30am-2pm, Nov.-Mar. M-F 9:30am-6:30pm, Sa 9am-2pm.
PIT (Tourist Information Point) (06 489 063 00), at track #4 in Termini. Run by the city, this English-speaking office provides limited information on events, hotels, restaurants, and transportation, as well as countless brochures and a serviceable map of Rome with sights listed on the back. Open daily 8am-9pm. PIT kiosks offer the same services at various spots around Rome. Kiosks are located at Castel Sant’Angelo (P. Pia; 06 688 097 07), Fori Imperiali (V.d. Tempio della Pace; 06 699 243 07), P.d. Spagna (Largo Goldoni; 06 681 360 61), P. Navona (P. delle Cinque Lune; 06 688 092 40), Trastevere (P. Sonnino; 06 583 334 57), San Giovanni (P.S. Giovanni in Laterano; 06 772 035 35), Santa Maria Maggiore (V.d. Olmata; 06 478 802 94), V.d. Corso (V. Minghetti; 06 678 29 88), V. Nazionale (Palazzo delle Espozioni; 06 478 245 25), and Termini (P. del Cinquecento; 06 478 251 94). You can get the same info from the Call Center Comune di Roma (06 360 043 99), which operates daily 9am-7pm.
APT (Azienda di Promozione Turistica), V. Parigi, 5 (06 360 04 399). Similar to PIT. Walk from the station diagonally to the left across P. del Cinquecento (filled with buses) and go straight across P. della Repubblica. Turn right onto V. Parigi, which starts on the other side of the church, at the Grand Hotel. English spoken, but not very well. Alberghi di Roma lists all hotels and pensioni around Rome registered with the APT. Open daily 9am-7pm.
Centro Turistico Studentesco (CTS), V. Genova, 16 (06 462 04 31; general info 06 441 111; fax 06 467 92 07; www.cts.it). Open M-F 9:30am-1pm and 2:30-6:30pm. Branch offices: V.d. Ausoni, 5 (06 445 01 41); V. Appia Nuova, 434 (06 785 79 06); C. Vittorio Emanuele II, 297 (06 687 26 72); Terminal Ostiense (06 574 79 50); P. Irnerio 43 (06 662 85 97).
Rome in a Day Tour
We should consider this tour, to avoid the lines and limit stress.
http://www.tours-italy.com/rome-city_tours-rome_day_tour.htm
http://www.tours-italy.com/rome-city_tours-rome_day_tour.htm
Amalfi Coast Tour
I found an inexpensive tour to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
http://www.tours-italy.com/rome-day_tours-pompeii_amalfi_coast_tour.htm#full_price_list
http://www.tours-italy.com/rome-day_tours-pompeii_amalfi_coast_tour.htm#full_price_list
pompeii amalfi day tour
For a great Amalfi Coast tour, contact Francesco Marrapese. You can go on his website at www.francescomarrapese.com. He will take you in a very nice van all over the area; wherever you want to go. He's delightful, speaks excellent English and is very punctual. The great thing about a driver is that he'll take you to places that others don't know about. The cost is about 200 Euro for all day for up to 4 people. We did this with him last year and are taking another tour with him this April. He's also very flexible: you can stay in different places as long or as little as you like, and if you see somewhere you want to stop, he's happy to pull over and take you there.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Preliminary Cost Analysis
Flights (per person)
Boston to Istanbul $656
Athens to Rome $150
Rome to Boston $939
Hotels
Istanbul €45/night (1 night)
Rome $125/night (4 nights)
Boston to Istanbul $656
Athens to Rome $150
Rome to Boston $939
Hotels
Istanbul €45/night (1 night)
Rome $125/night (4 nights)
Greek Islands/Turkey/Egypt/Italy/Vatican
April, 2008
Day 1 (April 10, 2008)
Flight to Istanbul, Turkey
Grand Bazaar
Check-in at Istanbul Hotel
Day 2 (April 11, 2008)
Check-in to Norwegian Jade cruise ship – port Istanbul
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Hagia Sophia
Byzantine Cistern
Grand Bazaar
Norwegian Jade – Istanbul
Day 3 (April 12, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Istanbul
Bosphorus Cruise
St. Sophia Museum
Spice Market
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Istanbul
Day 4 (April 13, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Ephesis, Turkey
Magnificent Ephesis Tour
Amphitheater
Library of Celsius
Temple of Hadrian
Scholastic Baths
Lower Agora
State Agora
Odeon
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Ephesis
Day 5 (April 14, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Mykonos
Magnificent Delos Tour
Avenue of Lions
Mt. Kynthos
Mykonnos Cafés and Nightlife
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Mykonos
Day 6 (April 15, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Santorini
Fira Museum and Oia Tour
Fira
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
Oia
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Santorini
Day 7 (April 16, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Iraklion, Crete
Knossos and Village Life Tour
Knossos
Arolithus Traditional Village
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Iraklion
Day 8 (April 17, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – At Sea
Day 9 (April 18, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Alexandria, Egypt
Best of Cairo Tour Day 1
Citadel of Saladin
City of the Dead
Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali
Liberty Square
National Archaeological Museum
Nile Cruise
Papyrus Institute
Giza Plateau
Son et Lumiere Show
Cairo Hotel
Day 10 (April 19, 2008)
Cairo Hotel
Best of Cairo Tour Day 2
Memphis
Temple of Ptah
King Ramses the 2nd Statue
Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenophis the 2nd
Sakkara
Step Pyramid of King Zoser
Mastabas
Giza Plateau
Great Pyramids
Sphinx
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Alexandria
Day 11 (April 20, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – At Sea
Day 12 (April 21, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Corfu
Timeless Villages Tour
Paleokrastritsa
Monastery of the Virgin
Lakones
Kassiopi
Nissaki
Barbati, Ipsos, Dassia, Gouria, Kontokali
Old Town of Corfu
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Corfu
Day 13 (April 22, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Katakolon
Birthplace of the Olympics Tour
Olympia
Archaeological Site
Village of Olympia
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Katakolon
Day 14 (April 23, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Athens
Ancient Treasures Tour
Acropolis
Scenic Drive of Athens
National Archaeological Museum
Flight to Rome
Roman Hotel
Day 15 (April 24, 2008)
Roman Hotel
The Colosseum
Pantheon
Roman Forum
Circus Maximus
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Roman Hotel
Day 16 (April 25, 2008)
Roman Hotel
Pompeii and Amalfi Coast by private car
Pompeii
Positano
Amalfi Coast Cruise
Amalfi
Ravello
Villa Cimbrone
Roman Hotel
Day 17 (April 26, 2008)
Roman Hotel
Vatican City (Skip the Line Private Vatican Walking Tour {Viatour})
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Michelangelo’s La Pieta
Saint Peter’s Square
Afternoon Free
Roman Hotel
Day 18 (April 27, 2008)
Roman Hotel
Last minute exploration and shopping Rome, Italy
Flight Home
April, 2008
Day 1 (April 10, 2008)
Flight to Istanbul, Turkey
Grand Bazaar
Check-in at Istanbul Hotel
Day 2 (April 11, 2008)
Check-in to Norwegian Jade cruise ship – port Istanbul
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Hagia Sophia
Byzantine Cistern
Grand Bazaar
Norwegian Jade – Istanbul
Day 3 (April 12, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Istanbul
Bosphorus Cruise
St. Sophia Museum
Spice Market
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Istanbul
Day 4 (April 13, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Ephesis, Turkey
Magnificent Ephesis Tour
Amphitheater
Library of Celsius
Temple of Hadrian
Scholastic Baths
Lower Agora
State Agora
Odeon
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Ephesis
Day 5 (April 14, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Mykonos
Magnificent Delos Tour
Avenue of Lions
Mt. Kynthos
Mykonnos Cafés and Nightlife
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Mykonos
Day 6 (April 15, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Santorini
Fira Museum and Oia Tour
Fira
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
Oia
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Santorini
Day 7 (April 16, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Iraklion, Crete
Knossos and Village Life Tour
Knossos
Arolithus Traditional Village
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Iraklion
Day 8 (April 17, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – At Sea
Day 9 (April 18, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Alexandria, Egypt
Best of Cairo Tour Day 1
Citadel of Saladin
City of the Dead
Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali
Liberty Square
National Archaeological Museum
Nile Cruise
Papyrus Institute
Giza Plateau
Son et Lumiere Show
Cairo Hotel
Day 10 (April 19, 2008)
Cairo Hotel
Best of Cairo Tour Day 2
Memphis
Temple of Ptah
King Ramses the 2nd Statue
Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenophis the 2nd
Sakkara
Step Pyramid of King Zoser
Mastabas
Giza Plateau
Great Pyramids
Sphinx
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Alexandria
Day 11 (April 20, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – At Sea
Day 12 (April 21, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Corfu
Timeless Villages Tour
Paleokrastritsa
Monastery of the Virgin
Lakones
Kassiopi
Nissaki
Barbati, Ipsos, Dassia, Gouria, Kontokali
Old Town of Corfu
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Corfu
Day 13 (April 22, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Katakolon
Birthplace of the Olympics Tour
Olympia
Archaeological Site
Village of Olympia
Norwegian Jade – Sailing from Katakolon
Day 14 (April 23, 2008)
Norwegian Jade – Arriving Athens
Ancient Treasures Tour
Acropolis
Scenic Drive of Athens
National Archaeological Museum
Flight to Rome
Roman Hotel
Day 15 (April 24, 2008)
Roman Hotel
The Colosseum
Pantheon
Roman Forum
Circus Maximus
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Roman Hotel
Day 16 (April 25, 2008)
Roman Hotel
Pompeii and Amalfi Coast by private car
Pompeii
Positano
Amalfi Coast Cruise
Amalfi
Ravello
Villa Cimbrone
Roman Hotel
Day 17 (April 26, 2008)
Roman Hotel
Vatican City (Skip the Line Private Vatican Walking Tour {Viatour})
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Michelangelo’s La Pieta
Saint Peter’s Square
Afternoon Free
Roman Hotel
Day 18 (April 27, 2008)
Roman Hotel
Last minute exploration and shopping Rome, Italy
Flight Home
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Day 10 changes
On day 10, The temple of Ptah, statue of Ramses and alabaster sphinx should be indented under Memphis. Zoser and the mastabas should be indented under Sakkara.
Day 1 & 2 changes
Add the Topkapi palace to day two, eliminate two cities tour and move grand bazaar to day 1 and 2.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Istanbul Day 1
I like the idea of doing Turkey day one on our own. The attractions seem to be close and the Hagia Sophia is on the Bosphorus tour so we do not have to have any duplication. We can spend extra time sampling the strange food at the bizaare.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Alternative to Amalfi Tour
http://www.tours-italy.com/rome-day_tours-pompeii_amalfi_coast_tour.htm http://www.gianpierofiorentino.com/index.htm http://www.tours-italy.com/rome-private_tours-pompeii_amalfi_day_tour.htm http://affiliate.isango.com/ViewProductDetails.aspx?ServiceID=3879 http://www.vaticantoursinc.com/tours/tour.php?id=17
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Changes - Aug 5 2007
1) We should add arrival and departure times for each port.
2) Change day 2 tour to Capital of Two Cities Tour: Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, St. Sophia Museum, Hagia Sophia, Byzantine Cistern, Grand Bazaar
3) Day 7 - change Iraklion tour to "Knossos & Village Life" tour: Knossos - Royal Palace, Small Palace, House of the High Priest, Caravanserai. Village of Arolithos: Greek snacks
4) Could we add links to the archaeological site as well as the village and also a link to the ancient olympic games
5) Day 15 Rome - The Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps
6) Day 16 Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Day Tour - Pompeii, Positano, Amalfi Coast Cruise, Amalfi, Ravello, Villa Cimbrone (lemoncello)
7) Day 17 Vatican City "Skip the Line Private Vatican Walking Tour" - Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter's Basilica, Michelangelo's La Pieta, St. Peter's Square - Afternoon free
2) Change day 2 tour to Capital of Two Cities Tour: Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, St. Sophia Museum, Hagia Sophia, Byzantine Cistern, Grand Bazaar
3) Day 7 - change Iraklion tour to "Knossos & Village Life" tour: Knossos - Royal Palace, Small Palace, House of the High Priest, Caravanserai. Village of Arolithos: Greek snacks
4) Could we add links to the archaeological site as well as the village and also a link to the ancient olympic games
5) Day 15 Rome - The Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps
6) Day 16 Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Day Tour - Pompeii, Positano, Amalfi Coast Cruise, Amalfi, Ravello, Villa Cimbrone (lemoncello)
7) Day 17 Vatican City "Skip the Line Private Vatican Walking Tour" - Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter's Basilica, Michelangelo's La Pieta, St. Peter's Square - Afternoon free
New Crete Tour
There are two possibilities: "Knossos and Village Life" or "Knossos and the Minotaur". I prefer the first one it is the same as the second but has an extra hour added along with a visit to a traditional village.
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