Hi everyone!!!

I’m finally getting around to writing about this 20-day trip to southern Italy: we didn’t travel this summer, and luckily, we found beautiful light and dreamy weather there at the end of September.

First, here’s the context of the trip: we’re both "confirmed seniors" but still curious and alert enough to enjoy the itinerary we’d imagined! We wanted a mix of discoveries—culture, cities, and nature—with guaranteed sunshine and the occasional short hike... We’re flying to Naples, round-trip, because the flight times work better for us. We rented a car online, picked it up at the airport (details to come... and it won’t be the highlight of the trip!), and booked our hotels in advance.

A quick overview of the itinerary: leaving Naples on September 15th, early in the morning, we’ll drive straight across the boot of Italy to Bari. After 11 days in Puglia, we’ll head back toward our starting point, taking our time: Matera in Basilicata, Maratea by the sea, and finally Paestum with its incredible temples.

Day 1: Brussels-Naples flight (Brussels Airlines) went smoothly; it landed an hour early, and we were thrilled, thinking we could use that time for a quick visit or two... Everything went well until we left the airport. We took the shuttle to the car rental offices, and at first glance, we realized this wouldn’t be smooth sailing!!! In front of every office (they’re side by side), there were already lines and kids sitting on suitcases—everyone looked exhausted... We resigned ourselves to waiting: nothing moved until tempers flared at the counters, and two people nearly came to blows. Things sped up a little, and after 2 (two...) hours of waiting, we finally got our chariot: a black Fiat Tipo, dirty, with a few dents and scratches that we made sure to note in the contract... but it ran!

Off to Bari, then: no time for sightseeing along the way! From there, we headed straight to our hotel in the countryside near Polignano a Mare.



A recurring detail: this happened constantly during our travels. We’d installed our own GPS, fully updated... In recent years, many dirt roads have become drivable, and lots of hotels and hostels have opened in the outskirts of towns. It was extremely rare for our ‘guide’ to recognize the street—let alone the number—we entered. Often, we got by calling the hotel reception: it might seem like a small thing, but it happened so often it became frustrating. In hindsight, it seems like without Google Maps, we’d have been lost!

Anyway, we were beautifully settled, with a terrace overlooking olive groves and the sea in the distance: all was well.



To be continued...

Hi everyone, I’m not sure if you can help us out. We’ll be in Venice from June 8th to 17th. We arrive at the airport on the 8th and planned to take the Alilaguna waterbus to St. Mark’s Square to get to our Airbnb. We’ve estimated arriving at St. Mark’s Square between 11 AM and 12 PM. We didn’t realize we’d be arriving on the day of the race.

Because of the Vogalonga race taking place on June 8th, is the Grand Canal still navigable? If not, from what time will it be accessible again?

Thanks, Jacques

Hello everyone, So happy to be back on this Forum! We’re heading off on another cruise—our 7th—after a 5-year break... We’ll be leaving from Venice on April 26th with stops in Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini, and Ancona. Could you help me plan the stops by sharing tips, tricks, and advice? For those who already know me, you know we prefer not to take the cruise line’s excursions but instead organize everything ourselves. Thanks in advance to everyone, and looking forward to chatting with you all!

Hi there, We’re planning a trip for October to visit Naples (6 nights) and the Amalfi Coast (5 nights). We’ve already got the historic center and the Lapis Museum in Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Procida, Sorrento, and Ravello on our list. Any suggestions, addresses, or tips? Thanks for your help.

Hi there, I’m planning a one-week trip to Italy, with Milan and Rome as my destinations. I’ll be taking a bus to Milan with FlixBus (which I’m not thrilled about since it’s not a great company), and I’ll stay for two days. After that, I’ll take the train to Rome. I’d like to know if the bus station is far from downtown Milan. For the trip to Rome, I’m thinking of booking the train via Trainline—is that a good idea? Also, which station does the train leave from? I think there are two stations in Milan. Please share any info you can to help me prepare for the trip. Thanks a million!

Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !

hi everyone, we're going on a cruise soon—could you tell me what the best way to get from the port to Olbia and Livorno city is, please? Thanks.

Hi I’m looking for a quick taxi transport option from Venice’s Marco Polo Airport to the Fusina Cruise Port—I can’t find the right name to book it. Thanks in advance for your help!

I’d love to know if there are any shuttles or other easy and cheaper ways to get to Civitavecchia from Rome Airport, which should be about 70 km away. Thanks in advance for your great tips!

Hi there, I’d like to go hiking in the Gargano massif but I don’t drive. What would be the ideal spot, accessible by public transport, to stay and hit the trails? Thanks

Hi everyone,

With summer just around the corner, I’m looking for ideas for organized bike trips in France or Italy. I’m pretty used to traveling independently, but this time I’d like to try something more structured—either in a small group or with minimal logistics (accommodations booked, luggage transport, etc.).

I’m open to different difficulty levels, as long as the setting is pleasant (countryside, seaside, well-known routes, or even a bit more off-the-beaten-path). If you’ve already tried this kind of trip or have good recommendations for agencies or providers, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance for your tips! 🚴‍♂️☀️

Hi, I saw that you can take the navebus to Pegli. Could you tell me where to catch it, and are there other ways to get there? Also, which is better to visit: Pegli, Bocadasse, Nervi, or Camogli... if you're spending 6 full days in Genoa and have a bit of time to dedicate to one or more nearby spots? Thanks in advance for your answers.

Hello, We’re heading to Italy for five weeks next spring. It’ll be our first trip there. We’d love to see some must-see spots and beautiful countryside regions. Our main transport will be trains, and sometimes buses to reach smaller villages. We’re less interested in the mountains and lakes in the north. We’ll try to stay 4–5 days in some places and explore the surrounding area by train or bus. Any suggestions for planning our trip? Itineraries and must-sees! Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a trip around Italy using only trains or public transport in October (hoping the weather stays nice!).

I’d obviously like to see some tourist destinations, but I also want to get off the beaten path a bit, and I’m hoping to find some help here? I don’t plan to linger too long in the cities.

Starting in the north, I’d like to visit Lake Como or Lake Orta, pass through the Cinque Terre for some hiking, spend a few days in Naples and Rome, then head down to Sicily.

What do you think?

Thanks for your help! 🙂

Hi there,

We’re boarding a Costa cruise on the Deliziosa next weekend at 11:30 AM. Our flight lands at 10 AM at Trieste Airport. Unfortunately, there’s no train before 11 AM, so we’ll arrive around noon, later than the time indicated on the boarding pass. Could you confirm that we can easily arrive 30 minutes later? I imagine there must be quite a wait to board.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone, My husband and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We’d love to return to Italy. We’re torn between Venice and Lake Como in Bellagio. Could you share your thoughts? We visited Venice exactly 10 years ago—we loved it, but I’m not sure if Lake Como is worth it even more. Is it a truly romantic and heart-stopping destination for this special occasion? Thanks for your advice! Sarah

This year, I’ve decided—I’m heading to Venice with my 12-year-old daughter between October 23rd and 28th. Despite my research, I still can’t figure out how the Museum Pass works. I bought it thinking it would give us easier access to some must-see spots. Now, I’m reading that we need to make a specific time reservation for each museum. When I try to do that, all I can do is pay for our entry tickets *again*. This is the case for the Doge’s Palace, the Campanile, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

An email to the tourist office didn’t get a helpful response. So now, I’m too nervous to even book a transport pass in advance!!!

If anyone could shed some light on this, it would be amazing.

Hi, I’d like to visit Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius in one day—of course, if that’s possible—and I’d love to know the price. Best regards.

Hi everyone,

We’re planning this *very* last-minute—I know! But we’d love to spend 4 days soon (within the next 10–12 days) on a city getaway with our young adult kids. Ideally by train, and for this short trip, we’d prefer not to spend more than 4–6 hours in transit, leaving from Lausanne (Switzerland). We’ve been considering Milan, Strasbourg, or Freiburg im Breisgau, but I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit lost...

Venice was our original plan, but the connection changes in Domodossola or Milan are making the travel time longer this year.

It’s peak summer, so there’ll be tourists and it’ll likely be hot, but oh well...

Any suggestions? We love wandering around, taking photos, exploring cities on foot, trying out restaurants, and keeping things low-key.

Thanks to anyone who wants to chime in! :o)

Hello! I’m going on my very first cruise in September 2025.

Departure from Civitavecchia—

Mykonos - Santorini - Kusadasi...

A few questions: Apart from Ephesus, Naples, and Pompeii, I’m pretty much heading into the unknown for Santorini and Mykonos. I’ve been following some of your posts about Santorini—thank you for those! What do you recommend for Mykonos? I’ll be spending 3 days in Rome before the cruise. At the end of the cruise, I don’t plan to return to Rome. Could you tell me what transport to take from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino Airport? Thanks so much! 🙂 Françoise

Hi there, I live in Quebec and I’m planning a trip to Italy. We’re thinking of visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, and Tuscany. Here are a few questions I haven’t been able to find clear answers to online. If anyone can help, I’d really appreciate it—thanks in advance!

- There are different City Passes for Rome. I’ve found the differences between them, but whenever I try to simulate a purchase, I’m always redirected to another site like Tiquet. Is there an official Tourism Office website for these?

- Is it easy to get around Tuscany by public transport, especially in the Chianti region?

- For guided tours (or not), which company do you prefer? Get Your Guide? Viator?

Looking forward to your recommendations—thanks again!

Hi there, I’d like to climb to the top of Vesuvius by taking the bus from Herculaneum. I’ve figured out how to get there, but what I can’t quite work out is whether I *have* to book on their website or if I can just show up without a reservation. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I’m boarding on May 3rd in Venice and didn’t book flights with COSTA, so no transfer is included. Could you let me know the best way to get to the boarding point (bus, taxi, etc.) and the prices? Thanks so much!

Planning a trip to Italy in October. I’d love to hear about your experiences. Thanks!

Does anyone have any tips for visiting Rome from the Civitavecchia port of call with a guide taxi? Thanks for your reply! M.B

Hi there, We had planned a trip to Sicily in August, and due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna, my flight was canceled. The airline is refunding the outbound flight, but none of the non-refundable expenses: accommodation booked through Booking, rental car, and the return flight aren’t covered. My SUPER Gold card doesn’t work in this specific case! :( If anyone has been in this situation, could you let me know if you were able to get any recourse and, if so, how? Thanks in advance

Hello everyone, This is my first time traveling to Italy For a short cultural trip From October 8th to 17th Solo as a senior woman I booked my one-way ticket with FlixBus From Lille Europe On October 8th at 11:55 PM I arrive at Porte de Maillot (Paris Pershing) At 3:05 AM And I’d like to get to Palermo, Italy Starting October 9th I’ve checked tickets—prices are sky-high everywhere, and there are even scams Can you advise me on how to get to this city Affordably By train, plane, or bus I need to arrive by October 9th For my hostel room Which is located at Address provided 5.4K followers • 426 following Travel, meet, be surprised, and fall in love with Palermo Book at: www.acasadiamici.com Via Dante 57, Palermo | +39 091 7654650 Palermo acasadiamicihostel +39 328 317 2205 A Casa di Amici, a place to live!

And from Palermo, how do I get to the hostel where I’ve booked? I’m counting on your support and understanding To make things easier before I arrive And to recommend the best ways to get there Safely Can I count on you? Thanks for your trust. Looking forward to your advice, best regards.

Hi everyone,

I’d love to get your thoughts on the following itinerary (late May). I like to take my time in ruins and museums, and beaches don’t interest me. I’ll be staying in hostels and using public transport. Do you see any major omissions or things that aren’t worth it? Thanks!

Day 1: Arrival in CATANIA Day 2: Catania – visit (fish market, cathedral, Biscarri Palace, etc.) Day 3: Mount Etna (day trip)

Day 4: Morning trip to TAORMINA, visit the town Day 5: Alcantara Gorge (day trip) + more time in Taormina

Day 6: Trip to SYRACUSE, visit Ortigia Day 7: Ortigia Day 8: NOTO (day trip) (or another Baroque town?) Day 9: Syracuse Archaeological Park + more time in Ortigia (or leave for Enna?)

Day 10: Transport via Enna? TO BE RESOLVED (long, 2 or 3 changes, limited accommodation in Enna...)

Day 11: AGRIGENTO: town and Scala dei Turchi (optional) Day 12: Valley of the Temples + archaeological museum

Day 13: Departure for TRAPANI (4h), afternoon: town (+ salt flats?) Day 14: Segesta (day trip) + town/Erice Day 15: Monte Cofano Nature Reserve (hike + summit) (day trip) Day 16: Zingaro Nature Park (coastal route out, ridge route back) (day trip)

Day 17: Departure for the AEGADIAN ISLANDS: Levanzo and Favignana (bike), overnight if possible Day 18: Egadi Islands

Day 19: Departure for PALERMO + first visits Day 20: The city Day 21: The city (Monreale?) Day 22: Options: - Capo Gallo hike (3.5h round trip) (via Mondello) - Cefalù (45 min by train) Day 23: Return flight

Hello,

We're planning to visit Lake Garda from August 10th to 24th with our 4-year-old daughter. We’d stay for 15 days. We’ll be arriving at Verona Airport. We don’t know the area at all. We were thinking of staying near Malcesine. Do you think we should plan for two accommodations to explore the lake? We’d prefer to avoid crowded spots, even though I suspect it might be tricky in August. If you have any great tips or recommendations within a budget of up to 150 € per night, that would be amazing! Do you think a car is essential, or can the lake be easily explored by ferry and bus? For a 15-day stay, would you recommend staying around Lake Garda or visiting one or more other lakes as well? We’re looking for activities suitable for our 4-year-old daughter.

Thanks so much for your help. I

Hi there, This is my first time traveling to Italy, and I’m planning to go by car. From what I’ve read, parking is tough in cities like Florence. I’m looking for a small town not too far from Florence where I can stay and park my car, then take the train to visit Florence. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance