Travel Answers

Florence

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 The bus system info seems to be outdated and they don't come.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.

Looking for the best malls to take wife,,any ideas......also are there any good movie theaters...we're here for a month...how much duomo can u do....

Well hello there fine people of virtualtourist.com! I am moving to Florence in 5 months and could really use some advice. I need to find an apartment without coming to Florence and without knowing anyone there! I just have a few questions... How far in advanced do you think I can reserve an apartment? Do you think I should just go through an online agency that has lists of apartments? If you have done this before what are things I should look for... areas I should avoid, best places to live, etc etc? I am going to be attending a school just a little ways away from Santa Croce and would love to be able to walk to school. Thank you all so much for any help you can give me!! Kadin

Hello! I'll be in Firenze from 23 till 27 of December. It is Christmas holidays. In official guide books is information that museums close only during the 25 of December. Is it true? :-) No limited working hours during other days? What timetible of shops, restaurants, galleries during this period of time? Maybe loclas will give some speciall advices? Thanks!

I was told that some resturants won't give service if you wear sneakers......we're going mid oct to mid nov. also Rome and Venice ...what is the dress code in those cities ....

I want to visit the American Cemetery while in Florence and have been told to take the SITA bus - I know which line to take and where to get off. Does anyone know of a web site where I can find the schedules?

I know there's a tram that goes from Scandicci to the train station in Florence. But we're staying at Villa Guarnaschelli (Via Di Poggio Secco 5, Scandicci) which appears to be east of Scandicci. What is the best way to get to Pitti Palace? I'm not sure if taking the tram to the train station and then walking back over the Arno River to Pitti Palace makes sense. Are there buses that go that direction to Pitti Palace? Any help is appreciated.

Hello, What's the best way to get to the Santa Croce neighborhood from the airport for a group of 6 people? How much would 1 taxi cost? Also, what's the best way to get Euros, ATM or traveler's checks? I remember 10 years ago there was an American Express office, but curious if anything has changed as far as obtaining currency. Speaking of, has anything changed for the better/worse in Florence? Lived there for a year, super excited to have a reunion with my favorite Italian town!

Florence for one day (Oct 4th 2012)Posted Hello, We are arriving in Livorno on the NCL Epic on 4th October, 2012 and we want to spend our day in Florence. I think its best that we take the cruiseships motorcoach to Florence on their 'Florence on your own tour'. I believe we have about 5hrs+ to spend in Florence. We basically want to walk the city on our own not with a local guide and see the major sites and also enjoy a reasonably priced lunch of local food plus the odd glass of Limoncello or two! Would love to see 'David' and I presume we can buy tickets on-line prior to our travel to cut out waiting in line with other tourists? Any useful information greatly received. Thanks and regards Alison Read more: World Travel Forum

I the best man organasing a bucks party the week before a mates wedding in Tuscany in September. None of us are locals so I am trying to work out some activites to do during the day. One of the ideas I thought that can usually be found in most places is Clay Pigeon shooting. Does anyone know any ranges near Florence for the general public? Or any other suggestions on bucks day activites around Florence? I am thinking of going to the Tree CLimbing park Alberovivo. Looks like something quite different! Many Thanks Elpooto

Hi! I'll be staying in Florence for a couple of days end of August and I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can buy Gallo socks (the funky, brightly colored knee socks) in the area? Thanks in advance

Hi, My bf and I will be visiting Italy in September from 15th to 19th and we will be staying in ROME throughout our visit. I wanted to maximize the fun in Europe since I will be flying down all the way from Malaysia. Can anyone suggest how I can travel to Florence from Rome and will it be possible to cover places like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Space outlet and Gucci Outlet (either Space or Gucci will do), considering that I have to get back to ROME on the last train of the day? Thanks in advance :D

My 17 year old daughter is studing voice in Florence this month and just found out that she needs a gown for a performance next week. I thought she just needed a long dress and sent her with one, but it's not appropriate for the performance. She is staying with a host family near the center of town. The other girls in the program are wearing what look like full length prom gowns. Can anyone suggest a place to shop for this sort of dress, preferrably within walking distance, that will not cost an absolute fortune. We're already way over her original budget. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated since she absolutely must buy something.

What is the dress code going out it florence? I.e. Can I wear my converse?

we are going to be in florence for only one night and want to eat dinner where locals not tourists go suggestions please ordinary good home cooked food thanks so much

Hello to everyone, My wife and I are planning our 3 days visit to Florence with our 2 teenage children. There is a lot to see, but some places like Ufizzi may be difficult for kids to digest and learn anything. My wife and I already been there many years ago. But we just found out about The Vasarian Corridor and checked the info at uffizi.com/vasarian-corridor... My questions is: should we take The Vasarian Corridor to Ufizzi instead of standing in long line at the Ufizzi? It sound like an attaraction for kids to remember (along with Ufizzi :-). Thanks for your answers.

Hi, I'll be travelling with a family of 5 and we wanted to go to Pisa, the mall and space. I was thinking of doing that as a day trip by renting a car from the city centre head out and then back. But I read about the ZTL fines etc and was abit confused. I understand there is a 2hr permit pass I can apply for, which will help me with the fine for the way out. How about they way back in? I mainly want to see the leaning tower of Pisa and am happy to skip the rest of Pisa, then head on to the mall and space. Is it feasible to get a car from the city centre? Or will I have problems with returning the car/jams? If not, does anyone have any idea how much is it to hire a driver? I know transportation can be cheap, but considering there is 5 of us, and multiple trips have to be made florence-pisa-florence-Montevarchi-taxi to the space-taxi to the mall-bus back to florence, I think this would probably work out to quite abit and may be more economical with a car for 5 people?

I am trying to book Uffizi tickets online as described in an earlier post. I got the official website thanks to Leics. However, for some reason the website will not trans;ate to English, and I am trying to navigate. As mentioned in previous post. No online tickets are on sale for early morning hours, but I can get them for the afternoon. Is that crazy? Also, can someone please confirm what this says before I use my credit card? Why does it list a 15 minute slot? (I don't think this was answered in previous post.) Galleria Uffizi venerdì 6 luglio 2012, dalle ore 12:00 alle ore 12:15

I understand that advanced booking may be advised for Florence museums in August...If this is indeed the case where would be the best online sites for this..is this true for all of the museums there?

Hi everyone... How to go to Firenze SMN from Firenze rifredi station? Is it far? What is the cheapest way possible?? Cheers

Hello all, My Family and I will be traveling to Italy and I am looking for a good base for Cinque terre,piza and the sights in Florence ...what would be a good central location? Or should we stay at a different place every other night? If we stay in various places is it true that you can find places to stay when you are there? We are coming late June for two weeks and I don't have an itinerary ,we fly into Milan out of Rome we will have 15 full days we want to se Venice and Rome and hopefully a day trip to Naples.All I have so far is a car reserved. Itinerary suggestions would be very appreciated Thank You

We will be leaving La Spezia on August 9 or 11 (after spending 5 or 7 days in Rommigiore) and would like to visit the holiday park at Figline Valdorno (we run a park in Australia) for a couple of days. We will then have 3 - 5 days to spend in the area before we go back to Rome on the 16th Aug. Is there public transport to Figline? Would you recommend spending the additional days in Florence or perhaps Certaldo or San Gimmiano? I appreciate this is broad but any help will be very welcome.Thank-you