Extra questions on Italy

[pupkus7]

Hey everyone, I have a few questions regarding my trip but really didn’t know where to post this, so I just put it in this section – hopefully I get some replies. But first I wanted to thank everyone on this forum for being so helpful and generous in answering questions and encouraging all to visit Europe. Our trip is finally ready to go, all rooms are reserved, plane tickets bought, backpacks bought, and everything seems to be in order. We leave May 2nd! There are only a few more questions that keep popping up every now and then that I would like some advice on.

1) I keep reading that hostels ask for your passport as soon as you arrive and that they’ll give it back later. Is there any reason for this? If there is, should I give it to them?
2) For places like Rome, Venice, and Florence; I know that it’s advised to make reservations at some of the museums, galleries, etc. What places do you guys think we should reserve for in order to make our lives easier when we get there? Is there a specific site where i can make those reservations?
3) I hear the Scavi tour is a must. What do you all think and how do I reserve for it?
4) Is it a good idea to take walking tours of the richer cities such as Rome and Florence just to get oriented as well as learn some history?
5) Reserving tables for dinner? I hear you need to reserve a table at some places or else you won’t find a place to eat.
6) Is $55 USD enough money per day per person? This is how much money we have left after all accommodation and plane tickets are paid for.

That’s it for now, sorry if I’m asking too many questions. It’s just that now I’m thinking of how our days will be spent once we’re there and these questions just seem to pop-up. They’re like pesky internet ads. Anyways, every bit of advice is worth worlds to us and thanks again for all your help.

Best Regards,
Kristian & Juli

oh i forgot, for those who don't know our plans.... we'll be visiting venice, cinque terre, pisa, florence, siena, civita, rome, sorrento, pompeii, capri, positano, and naples.

[me]

Hi, K & J!

to answer, as best i can:

1. Passport - yes, the hostel/hotel needs to register guests with authorities, i think, and besides, a hotel safe is better than your pocket. pickpockets are all over the place!

2. i made the reservations in person, or on the telephone. i don't know if it can be done on line.

3. ? never done this tour.

4. i walked around in Rome & Florence quite a bit while checking my tourist info. it is good for getting a pedestrian perspective. also there are buses that can do the same thing, except in pedestrian only zones.

5. i had no problems getting dinner at places without reservations, but was there in April.

6. US$55 / person should cover food & tours, if you aren't talking 4 & 5 star restaurants. for nourishing, satisfying food - it should be plenty. some tours might be too expensive on that budget, but they're not an everyday thing.

pupkus7 said:

1) I keep reading that hostels ask for your passport as soon as you arrive and that they’ll give it back later. Is there any reason for this? If there is, should I give it to them?
2) For places like Rome, Venice, and Florence; I know that it’s advised to make reservations at some of the museums, galleries, etc. What places do you guys think we should reserve for in order to make our lives easier when we get there? Is there a specific site where i can make those reservations?
3) I hear the Scavi tour is a must. What do you all think and how do I reserve for it?
4) Is it a good idea to take walking tours of the richer cities such as Rome and Florence just to get oriented as well as learn some history?
5) Reserving tables for dinner? I hear you need to reserve a table at some places or else you won’t find a place to eat.
6) Is $55 USD enough money per day per person? This is how much money we have left after all accommodation and plane tickets are paid for.

[dougj]

) I keep reading that hostels ask for your passport as soon as you arrive and that they’ll give it back later. Is there any reason for this? If there is, should I give it to them?

I don't give my passport to anyone other than authority figures (police, train conductor, border guard). My passport stays on me 24/7 unless I'm on a night train. I've turned down hostels because of this. sometimes you can pay a deposit instead of giving up your passport....I'll do that before I give anyone my passport.

2) For places like Rome, Venice, and Florence; I know that it’s advised to make reservations at some of the museums, galleries, etc. What places do you guys think we should reserve for in order to make our lives easier when we get there? Is there a specific site where i can make those reservations?

never heard of making reservations to get into a museum.


4) Is it a good idea to take walking tours of the richer cities such as Rome and Florence just to get oriented as well as learn some history?

some people like tours...I don't. I just take a small map, mark off where I want to go and hit the streets.

5) Reserving tables for dinner? I hear you need to reserve a table at some places or else you won’t find a place to eat.

never had to do it.

6) Is $55 USD enough money per day per person? This is how much money we have left after all accommodation and plane tickets are paid for.

you should be ok just watch your budget...and take a backup credit card if you can, you never know what could happen.

[stanncie]

Hello fellow miamian!
I will try to help you as best I can with your questions

1) I have been asked for my passport at a few hostels and have gotten back without problems. In some hostels they will accept a credit card instead and you can do that if you feel uncomfortable about leaving your passport. In all other instances always carry your passport with you and never leave it in a locker or a bag at the hotel/hostel.

2)I would make a reservation for the uffizi in florence since the lines are soo long you can do that here www.florenceart.it/cgi-bin/book.pl?act=open&museum=uffizi. For all others I think you would be fine.

3) I've never done the scavi tour but have heard is pretty good, maybe someone else will have a website for it. I'm pretty sure you can find it from the vatican website.

4) A walking tour for Rome might be a good idea and I know there are good ones. For florence I wouldn't bother, the city is fairly small and you can just get to know it by walking around with a good guidebook.

5) I've never reserved a table for dinner, not in my budget sorry!

6)That amount of money is fair and should get you through the day. Like someone else said you won't be eating nowhere fancy but in trattorias and the like.

[Jules80]

1) they must take your passport information... they are required by law to give it to Interpol. no one ever kept mine and frequently it was me filling out the form

2) uffizi and dell'academia by phone i think. i met people who had done this and they said it was well worth it. it costs 2-3 euros for the reservation

3) never heard of it

4) did one in bordeaux - didn't feel the need to repeat the experience

5) never did but i was never in restaurants where the meal coast more thatn about 14 euros

6) probably.

[WillTravel]

Don't use the expensive booking services for the Uffizi and Accademia. Follow these instructions and phone them directly. The reservations don't cost anything if you don't use them, so if you arrive and by great fortune find no line, you can just walk in and just pay the regular ticket price.

To quote from another forum (this is for phoning from the US or Canada):
Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH.

I used the reservation and saved myself a lineup that was already hundreds of people long - in January.

[WillTravel]

To reserve the Scavi tour:

Email [e-mail] . Provide them with details of how many are in your party, what days and times you are available (the more the better), what language you want the tour. They will eventually get back to you. Space is very limited, so the sooner you reserve the better.

[WillTravel]

I think it's a good idea to take the walking tours. But they do cost at least 20 Euros each, so that will bite into your budget.

I don't think $55 USD/day (about 45 Euros) is enough if you have any hopes of restaurant meals or walking tours. The hostel will be 20-25 Euros.

[Kim]

1) I keep reading that hostels ask for your passport as soon as you arrive and that they’ll give it back later. Is there any reason for this? If there is, should I give it to them?

Why don't you take a bunch of photocopies with you and you can give them a photocopy if they need it, rather than the real thing?

4) Is it a good idea to take walking tours of the richer cities such as Rome and Florence just to get oriented as well as learn some history?

I love walking tours - you'll find there are all types, from pub crawl type ones to ones really into history. Look at what is available so you get the type you want. Walking tours are WAY better than bus tours.

5) Reserving tables for dinner? I hear you need to reserve a table at some places or else you won’t find a place to eat.

We never did. We never ate in anywhere really fancy though, just little family run places and that sort of thing. You are going at a good time where it's not peak season so I don't think you'll have any problems with things like that.

6) Is $55 USD enough money per day per person? This is how much money we have left after all accommodation and plane tickets are paid for.

If that doesn't include accommodation, that isn't terrible. Just keep an eye on your money. If you do something expensive one day, try doing your own walking tour the next day. If you cook your dinners at the hostel for the most part and do cereal or something like that for breakfast, you'll save alot. We always packed a lunch (bread, cheese, fruit, water etc.) as when you are out sightseeing, you get gouged for food that isn't even that great. Restaurants around sites are very pricey, walk a few blocks away and you'll find things are way cheaper.

Kim

[pupkus7]

ok.... i got the jist of pretty much everything.... here's what i'll do...

If they need my passport in order to "report" me, i'll just give them a photocopy and show them my passport so that they know it's the same. I'm going to try to get in the scavi tour (i read up on it and it seems reeeally interesing).
The only tour we'll probably do will be for rome (maaayyyyyyybee 2 of them).
As far as money, we'll try to save up another $200 each between now and may. This will bump up our budget to $65 USD per day per person. NO, our budget does not include accomodation. Money is already set aside for that. $65 a day will be for eating, tours, etc. This seems enough money to us since we won't be spending hardly anything when we're in Cinque terre or Civita.

so yea.....

thanks again everyone, veeeeeeeery helpful.

Best Regards,
Kristian & Juli

[me]

on question 2: Galleria Borghese took phone reservations, i'm sure. and were needed. a phenomenal museum!

[WillTravel]

You can book Galleria Borghese here:
www.ticketeria.it/

[LHR02]

As of right now, you must have a passport or identity card from EU anywhere in Italy. They might keep it for a bit, normally they have made a copy, and given it right back to me. As others have said, it is required by law that they do so, nothing to worry about.

Another thing to be aware of...with new security restrictions in place here, you have to have a 'document' in order to use the internet in any cafe or hostel\hotel....passport or drivers license. Since I hate flashing my passport around, I just use my license.

[GoJoel]

It looks like most of your questions have been answered pretty well, but there are a couple other tips that might help.

I was in Italy during the middle of the summer--the peak tourist time--and didn't have much trouble at all with museums in Rome. Florence, however is much worse. If you plan to go to the Uffizi, try to guess a day and call NOW. I called a couple months in advance for the Uffizi and got the last spot on the day I wanted. If you want to go to the Accademia (where "David" is) call a couple days in advance and you get to smile at all the people in line as you walk by.

My travel interests are pretty simple so I ended up getting by on less than 50 euros most days. Once I realized I was under my budget, I started to splurge a bit on meals and souvenirs, but I didn't find it that hard to manage.

If you are on a budget though, I wouldn't take the walking tours. There are tour groups everywhere, in front of every major monument and in the museums, so just sort of follow them and listen in. It's a great way to pick up a lot for free, and you can go your own way whenever you want!