Travel Answers

Are there any overnight trains or buses that run from Nice to Florence or Nice to Venice?

We are arriving in Florence by train (SMN station) and need to pick up a car to drive to our rented villa in Tuscany. I remember getting a car in Florence before (but can't remember the pick up location) that was not too far from the Autostrada toward Siena.

We need to reserve our car with Europcar, but don't know the best location to avoid the ZTL.

Also EuropCar has a mid-size car Alfa Giulietta (or similar) they say will seat 5 people. We have 4 adults traveling together: In past travels to Italy it was just my husband and me and we had plenty of room. Does anyone have experience with a mid-size car with Europcar?

Thank you in advance for your response.

I am planning a dinner at a restaurant in City Center Firenze with a group of friends on June 24. Some people have written back saying that June 24 is Saint Giovanni Day in Firenze. Is there anything I should know about that day in Firenze? Would it be a problem to go into City Center that evening?

Thank you in advance.

I will be travelling by train from Rome to Florence, arriving well before I check in to my accommodation. Are there places I can store my luggage so I can start exploring immediately?

How long does it take to travel by train to Florence from Nice? Is it better to fly or take the train? I thought there was a hi-speed train going to Florence from France.

Will be in Florence for four days in September. Need information on renting an apartment for that period. Possibly from Sept. 26-30. There will be 4 of us.
Thanks

Is there any district which is both reasonably close to the city centre but off the tourist track where the locals eat? I'm interested in restaurants serving "food as eaten by normal people" rather than menus listing pretentious food preparations to be eaten by aspiring gourmets.

Even if it only fits the second part of the specification viz it is far from the centre but it is where the locals eat out, i would be pleased to know.

Would appreciate recommendations for a hotel or B&B for two nights in Florence in July 2013 for family of three adults. Is there any area of Florence we should stay away from for lodging? We are looking for something moderately priced. Thank you!

hi! i have booked tickets for milan on 8 may. can i have tickets from the centrale station to go to firenze? there(at the station) will be more expensive or be closed from the trenitalia site?

I know that the temperatures in May will be in the mid-teens however in Calgary often we were short or capris when the temperature is 17C. Is the humidity different there so that it feels colder or should i pack the same as i would wear here. I realize already appropriate clothing for churches

Has anyone info on shore trips to Pisa/Florence from cruise port

Hi guys,

I will be visiting in late October this year and was wondering how is the weather like? Also, are the queues to attractions much shorter if I head there early in the morning?

Thanks for your advice!

Hello everybody! In a bit more than 3 weeks, we're going to Florence and we want to know if someone who speaks polish (or eventually french) in this city for tell something about the city or say some tips about?
Thanks for your answers!

Hi! we (me and and 2 children) will be in Tuscany in June. We will be flying out from Milan to go back home. Questions:
1. What high speed train do you recommend for Firenze to Milan
2. How do we get from Milan Termini to Malpensa International Airport
3. Will we have a hard time transporting our luggage from train to train? (Firenze to Milan Airport?)
Appreciate your suggestions thanks!
Catherine

IstheSanLorenzoMarketnearthePonteDeViechio

Can we ride bike in the Boboli Garden?

Fellow VTers, John, a newcomer to VT, posted this comment in the comment section for Taxi Tips in Rome. I am copying it here so that more of you all can see it and comment...Bill

• • *

Hello,

I am trying to find out how to file a complaint against a taxi company in Florence. The company name was Roma35.

I am in Florence with my wife on our honeymoon. We stayed for a few days at an agriturismo in Fiesole. We just took a taxi from the train station at Santa Maria Novella, and everything was great. We were charged a fare of €31, which seems very fair.

After that we took a taxi back to the city center to stay for a few days. The owner of the agriturismo called the taxi for us - it was the Roma35 company. He arrived and immediately had the tariff #2 on. I had previously read that #2 was reserved exclusively for highway travel (which we were not doing) so I asked the driver about it. He said it was for special charges since he had to come out to Fiesole (even through I believe they were based in Fiesole). He also had €8.31 set in supplemental charges - which seemed high since we only had 2 bags. When we entered the city center, I asked him if it should not be switched from tariff #2 to tariff #1 - and he looked at me but did not respond.

I was also tracking our trip on my GPS device win our route to the hotel all planned out. He did not realize it, however, because he diverted from the route four separate times to take numerous backstreets that basically drove us around in circles. When there was clearly a Main Street that led directly to the place we were going, he would turn off to avoid it.

When he finally dropped us off, the meter read €55.61. I gave him €70 (a €50 bill and a €20). I knew we had been ripped off so I asked for a receipt. He handed me a €10 back. I told him that the meter said €55, and why was he charging me €60. He said "because it coats more to come back" and drove off. So we ended up paying literally double the cost to get back as we did to get there.

I have photos of the taxi's license plate and tag number. Please help me figure out who to send this to.

John

safe areas of florence

I will be in the Florence area for about a week in July and am trying to find a place to stay where we can relax but also close enough to the main city that we can walk or get a ride in easily enough. As opposed to a hotel a villa or apartment would be what I am looking for most. Any suggestions?

I'm coming to Florence for 3 days in March. Could you tell me your favorite "cozy" and perhaps hidden places in the city? Cafes, restaurants (not expensive), shops, markets, street corners etc. Thank you!

I need to buy tickets Firenze - Milan. It's an ES train. It goes every hour. Am I right that I can buy a ticket for let's say 18.00 and go by 19.00 train? Or I must do it strictly? Thank you in advance.

I, along with a room mate will be traveling to Italy during the last week of August, 2013. She's paid for her portion of the trip (rates based on double occupancy) but now wants to back out because she's now done research online and everything that she's read say that August is the worse time to go. I would love to have an insider's point of view. She' concerned that it will be too hot. We are from Los Angeles, so we are used to heat. How is the weather in August? Breeze; air quality; humidity; night temps? She's also concerned that everything will be closed down. What activities can we do in Florence to avoid tourist crowds? Any Festivals, churches, architecture, history, dining, off the beaten path place to visit, famous local businesses that are still open during this time of month, or should we just go to the beach and hang out with locals? If so, where to? Thank you so much in advance that you're able to provide from a local's view point.

Over the last two years i,ve been o/seas and returned a few days before my daughters birthday. 2011 i got a beuatifull silver necklace at La Paz Witch,s Market then last year a lovely necklace with inset Chezc crystal She saw silver there last year on Ponte Vecchio Is it touristy and over price and are there better areas

My daughter just moved to Florence to study, and needs to get to Ikea. The bus system info seems to be outdated and they don't come. Can you help with the best/easiest way for her to get there to get some much needed stuff for her apartment? Is there a bus or shuttle or are you only at the mercy of a taxi?

Hi, I am visiting Florence in March 7-10. I will travel from Pisa city centre to Florence. There are several questions I have: 1. I've checked Trenitalia, there are trains from Pisa to Florence at 7.8 euro. The price seems good. Do I need to book tickets online earlier or I can purchase at the train station at the same price? 2. I wonder could anyone please help me to find information about traveling by bus? As I couldn't find bus information from Pisa to Florence. 3. I would love to visit at least one opera in Florence. I check the website, it appears that there are two locations have opera shows, the St Mark's English Church and the Chiesa di Santa Monaca. Do I need to book tickets earlier to these places? Or I can just purchase on the spot? Or any other places better for an opera show? I will very much appreciate your information. Thanks all. Best, Isabel

we're going to Florence this May and will have one full day plus a morning. Anyone has any suggestion what sights should be on the list if you're not too much into museums?

My husband and I are planning to go to Florence for the month of June. We have our accomodations reserved, and I've been looking into flights from Orlando to Florence. Ouch!1500+ is what I'm finding on Kayak and fly.com! The website "I Dream of Italy" is saying book now - prices to Italy are just going to climb from now on (for travel this summer)? What do you all think? Any suggestions to help us save some money will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hello, I've been two Florence three times, each time during the off-season, and I've stayed in an elegant three-star hotel in the Oltrarno area, which I like a lot, for relatively cheap (~50 euros a night). May of course is a different question, but I'd like a similar experience and to keep prices down as much as possible. Does anyone have any hotel recommendations for the Oltrarno area? Has anyone explored other options, like with AirBnB? I would stay up to a month if I can swing it, but maybe just a week. Thanks in advance if you can help. Tom

my partner and i are going to Florence for new year 2012. we're staying in the centre of Florence, can anyone recommend a good place to bring in the new year? a nice restaurant for a meal, maybe dancing just a fun atmosphere. we don't arrive until 5pm on new years eve so haven't time to find somewhere to book at such short notice. (ages 52yrs no nightclubs though as we're too old!!) thanks

Can someone please tell me where the new Opera House is located. Many thanks.