Italy & Greece in October

[jess24]

We are planning a trip to Italy and Greece in October. I am wondering about our daily itinerary and this is what we have so far:

Arrive Rome in morning on 29th September – Stay 4 nights
Arrive Florence on 4th October – Stay 3 nights
Arrive Venice on 7th October – Stay 2 nights
Leave on 9th October for 24 hour ferry on Minoan Lines Ferry to Corfu
Arrive Corfu on 10th October – Stay 2 nights
Fly by Aegean Air to Santorini on 12th October
Arrive Santorini on 12th October – Stay 3 nights
Fly Aegean Air to Athens on 15th October
Arrive Athens on 15th October – Stay 3 nights
Leave on 18th October back home

Does this seem like an appropriate schedule? Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

So to my questions:

1.Does anyone know much about this Minoan Ferry from Venice to Corfu. The prices seem a bit steep for us. We would be looking for a 1 way and it apparently would be low season. 193 Euros is too much for us so we are thinking of doing the airplane seats – any pros cons to this? Also what if we went with the shared 4 person room – what would be the chances that the ferry will be under capacity in October and we would get the room to ourselves? What is the ferry ride like?

ACCOMMODATION TYPE Low Season
One Way Return
LUX* DELUXE € 263 €184
A2* 2-bed outside SHOWER/WC € 193 € 135
AB2* 2-bed inside SHOWER/WC € 162 € 113
A3 3-berth outside SHOWER/WC € 165 € 115
AB3 3-berth inside SHOWER/WC € 140 € 98
A4 4-berth outside SHOWER/WC € 134 € 94
AB4 4-berth inside SHOWER/WC € 113 € 79
ATS Airplane type Seats € 73 € 51
D Deck € 51 € 36

2.Where is the ferry port pick up in Venice. Should we book the ferry and inter-Greece flights before we go or when we are there?
3.How do we get to the hotels from the port drop off in Corfu?
4.Any recommendations for hotels in Corfu and Santorini and what beach/area to stay at? We would like to spend less than 100 Euros a night and considering it is off-season we hope to get a good deal at a fancier place then we could have in the peak summer period. For Santorini a great cliff view and pool is key. Are good deals to be had?
5.What is the best way to get to the airport in Corfu and Santorini? Are they pretty central?
6.For museums in Florence I have heard to save time one should book ahead – is that advisable. Do we have to commit to a certain day or time?
7.Should we book the train tickets for Rome to Florence and Florence to Italy before we go or at the train station when we are there? Will there be a difference in price?
8.Also here is a sample train schedule from Florence to Venice.
-I am wondering what the difference is where it says arrival as either being “VE S.L. MESTRE” vs. simply “MESTRE”. What is the difference?

Departure station: Firenze Arrival station: Venezia ( Tutte Le Stazioni ) Date: 7/10/2009

Departure Arrival Length of Journey Train no. Train Category 1st class** 2nd class** Select
16:37*
FI.SMN 19:17
VE S.L.
MESTRE 02:40 9478
53,20 € 35,20 €

17:36*
FI.RIFR 20:45
MESTRE 03:09 706 Miramare
28,50 € 21,50 €

17:37*
FI.SMN 20:15
MESTRE 02:38 9392
53,20 € 35,20 €

18:37*
FI.SMN 21:17
VE S.L.
MESTRE 02:40 9642 Frecciarossa
53,20 € 35,20 €

19:37*
FI.SMN 22:06
MESTRE 02:29 9398
53,20 € 35,20 €



-Also aside from cost is there much of a difference between 1st and 2nd class? Can you reserve a seat in 2nd Class? Is it safe and advisable to travel 2nd class to save some money?
- Also the train tickets from Rome to Florence seem a bit expensive – more expensive than the Florence to Venice train which is a longer journey. On the Trenitalia site it seems that a 2nd class ticket for a 1.5 hour train from Rome to Florence goes for 39 Euros – are there other places/alternatives to getting cheaper tickets? Should I book online before going or wait till I get to the train station. What are the chances that the train will be sold out?
-Also with regard to train options – below is the Rome to Florence schedule for the morning of the 4th of Oct. What is the difference between RO TIB and ROMA TE and the difference between FI C.M. and FI.SMN?

Departure station: Roma ( Tutte Le Stazioni ) Arrival station: Firenze Date: 4/10/2009

Departure Arrival Length of Journey Train no. Train Category 1st class** 2nd class** Select
04:28*
RO TIB 06:30
FI C.M 02:02 752 Tommaso Campanella
32,00 € 22,00 €

05:57*
ROMA TE
RO TIB 09:47
FI.SMN
FI C.M 03:50 2304
NA NA

06:13*
RO TIB 09:08
FI C.M 02:55 834 Freccia del Sud
18,90 € 16,90 €

06:30*
ROMA TE 08:09
FI.SMN 01:39 9426 Frecciarossa
56,10 € 39,90 €

06:35*
ROMA TE 09:38
FI.SMN 03:03 578 Tevere
35,00 € 26,50 €



9.Any other money saving tips or advice on sightseeing and good local inexpensive restaurants would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

[Pete_Coach]

Schedule, well, this is up to you. You want to go to those places and stay for the amount of time you indicated, so be it.
Trains. Venice train station is Santa Lucia. Mestre is a last town on the mainland before heading over the causeway to Venice (about a 6 minute trip). Some trains terminate in Mestre, others stop there and go on to Santa Lucia. Trains seem to run between the two every 20 minutes or so. If you want to save a lot of hotel money, you can stay in Mestre and take a bus or train to Venice every day.
The main downtown station in Florence is Santa Maria Novella (SNM). The others are stops before the downtown stop.
Rome has 2 stations, Termoni and Tiburtina.
The station you depart from will depend on what trains you want to take and to where and how (many or few stops).
Have a look at this site. It has all sorts of European train travel info. It is primarily a Brit site but very good info. http://www.seat61.com/

Tips on saving money, well, eat away form the touristy spots (this of course makes sense but it also will be more difficult to find places that speak english and there is no non touristy spots in Venice, the whole place is a tourist trap but, I love it there).
Take coach or second class for short trips (a few hours in coach ain't gonna kill you unless your traveling partner has objections).
Do not expect North American style hotels. Hotels are expensive and small. Always stay in one that eat least includes breakfast, many do and the hotel rate will often be the same as one without breakfast, that will save a ton.
Have a good trip. I will be in Rome then too, will be coming home when you leave for Florence.