Would Appreciate Help Planning Italy Summer 2011

[dwmantz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dwmantz]

We are DRI Club members and looking to travel to Italy for two weeks over the Summer of 2011. Traveling would be wife & I, kids 12, 11, 10.

We'd like to change locations as little as possible, have no set agenda, love to eat and enjoy sun and beaches. Our only must visit is probably Rome.

It doesn't appear DRI has much presence in Italy. We'd still like to use DRI points if that is possible or trade if necessary.

We'd appreciate any advice, suggestions, or experiences anyone would be willing to share with us on this forum, by email, or PM.

Thanks in advance!!!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Not sure about Dri but Positano is a must from there you can boat over to both Sorrento and Capri and IMO I would do Assisi. Rome is a 90 min train ride from Assisi.

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

mmm Difficult what would I suggest???

Italy is not too well served with Timeshare accommodations and you are looking for a holiday with beaches and some culture visit to Rome?

My suggestion would be to take a split holiday so all the family would be happy, to see all the sights of Rome it took myself and my wife 4 days but that was taking in every monument and the main museums and the Vatican and vatican museums. We were well worn out I can tell you. So I would recommend at least a 4/5 day stay - we did Rome on a real budget and only stayed in a modest 2 star hotel but it was family run, friendly and clean and I believe they have nice family rooms available, it was also very central being near Termini Station, the hotel was Art mary - Don't expect 4 or 5 star accommodation here but rest assured it is well maintained and clean and around 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of other main chain hotels.

Art Mary (Rome, Italy) - B&B Reviews - TripAdvisor

Hotel Art Mary Bed and Breakfast Rome Family hotel near Termini station,Colosseum,Trevi fountain,centro storico,Rome city center

Hotel Art Mary B&B Rome

Best way to go around Rome is in quarters for example

Ancient - Palentine Hill, Colusseum and surrounding area.

Vatican and St Peters (tip go up the Dome near sun set for some terriffic views) possible time for a stroll along the river towards castle (about 20 mins stroll) the castle exterior and surrounding bridges are beutiful but save money the castle interior is nothing special.

Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain - The Trevi fountain is terrific and a great place for people watching - Tip see the fountain day and night - the piazza and area really come to life on a night. The surrounding area has some lovely old monuments too.

Don't miss out on the many piazzas and fountains.

Eating tip - avoid the piazzas and eat just around corners in side streets you will generally find the service, food and prices much more reasonable.

Well I am certain you can research a lot for yourself in Rome.

So what about the beach - well you said you did not mind relocation and you wanted to use Diamond points or exchange - well I would suggest a flight from Rome to Spain either Costa Brava (where DRI have a resort in Mas Nous) or on the Costa Dorada (somewhere near Cambrills) - here you will find a terrific beach and it is close enough to venture into the wonderful City of Barcelona. Also close to Cambrills and Salou you will find one of Europes premier Theme Parks Portadventura this will keep the kids entertained for perhaps a couple of days

PortAventura - PortAventura Park theme park

Barcelona is perhaps worth exploring over 2 or 3 days it has magnificent architechture, the wonderful Gothic area just off the magnificen Ramblas - Again I am sure you can research a lot on Barca.

Here is a link for flights barca to Rome

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Obviously both Cities have international airports - so links to the USA should be no problem, hope this is helpful

[Bulldog Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bulldog]

We are DRI Club members and looking to travel to Italy for two weeks over the Summer of 2011. Traveling would be wife & I, kids 12, 11, 10.

We'd like to change locations as little as possible, have no set agenda, love to eat and enjoy sun and beaches. Our only must visit is probably Rome.

It doesn't appear DRI has much presence in Italy. We'd still like to use DRI points if that is possible or trade if necessary.

We'd appreciate any advice, suggestions, or experiences anyone would be willing to share with us on this forum, by email, or PM.

Thanks in advance!!!

Hercules has offered some great advice, which I agree with. I would suggest you go on the "open-top bus tour of Rome" on the first day you are there so you get some idea of the size of the city so you can judge how far you may want to walk.
Rome Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus Tour, Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tours | Viator.com

It is a hop-on hop-off service which we found extremely useful.

The only word of warning I would give you is beware of travelling on the metro as gangs of Romanian Gipsys prey on tourists, I was pickpocketed and never felt a thing ! The true scale of the problem only became apparent when I joined the queue of victims waiting to make their report to the Police !
But don't let this put you off as I encountered no other problems anywhere in the city, it is a beautiful place to walk as there is something to see around every corner. Don't just limit yourself to the famous sites try walking into a small church, you will be amazed what you find.

Hercules' advice about hotels around the railway station area is true, most are small and friendly but not 4 or 5 star!

Whatever you do , don't miss out on a visit to the Vatican and make sure you buy your tickets in advance to avoid the massive queues. You can book via the bus tour website.
Have a great time!
Any questions or advice please email or pm.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Not sure about Dri but Positano is a must from there you can boat over to both Sorrento and Capri and IMO I would do Assisi. Rome is a 90 min train ride from Assisi.

Yup, I agree!

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Not sure about Dri but Positano is a must from there you can boat over to both Sorrento and Capri and IMO I would do Assisi. Rome is a 90 min train ride from Assisi.

I spent one summer in Naples when I was 'in charge' of a nice boat in Positano which we took out every Wednesday. It was a great summer, but you really don't want to know what floats (by) the boat in Positano.

If I can get Rome for you through RHC, we might be able to do a 'trade.'

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

If you take the train to Sorrento, Pompii is a stop on the way. Before visiting Pompii, do some reading/research in the U.S. so you have more of a concept what you are seeing.

I feel the same way about the Sistine Chapel. A little time spent with pictures and a brief overview of history will serve you well. No matter how good your eyes, the ceiling is a long way up, and you won't see much. If you take binoculars, you'll see more, but have the inconvenience of using them and being able to see smaller "patches" of the work. If you've done just a bit of research, you'll get more from the "eye ball looking" and from the binocular looking.

[chs225 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chs225]

Highly recommend this website
Italy - Forum Slow Travel Community

Although I have managed to use TS in Italy, it is not an easy process. I would not even try in Rome. I would get an apartment in the old city with three kids although I have in the past just gotten two hotel rooms (I have 3 as well)

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Agree with what Hercules said and also with Frank.
If you can get to Capri it is a great place for day trip. If you do go there take the small bus to Anacapri, it is quite a ride along the cliffs but the little town is beautiful, take the small chair lift to top of mountain for great views of the island and it's harbor and also go to St. Georges church where there is hand painted tile floor, very old and very beautiful.
Also agree that Rome is a must. There is just so much to see and do there no matter how you choose to get around. Think about spending at least one day just walking, much can be seen this way and you run in to some great sights that you might not otherwise find.
Vatican and Coloseum are also must do's there.
Sorrento is also another choice small town where you can catch the ferry's to Capri and is a pretty good place to find good eats (but good eats come easy all over Italy!!)

[PeelBoy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeelBoy]

DRI has only one resort in Tuscany, Italy. The biggest unit is the one I stayed for two weeks - a one bedroom with a queen bed and a sofa bed, so the maximum occupany is 4. This resort is usually not available during summer months.

It is a mission impossible to find a TS to accommodate a family of 5 during the summer months by the beach. You will have a chance via RCI if you have 4 or are willing to travel during shoulder seasons, when there is not much sun.

I checked II but there is nothing. I also checked RCI: there are units for 4 only.

I don't know how Spence can put you in RHC Rome. Both Mayfair and Domus Romana can accommodate up to 4. Carpediem Rome Golf Club has two double beds, but availability is not as good as the first two.

Probably you don't want your kids to skip school to travel off season. Would you consider the DRI properties in France? While France is not Italy, the one near Normandy is about 90 minutes from the beach, and it has two bedrooms. I stayed there, and it is quite nice, and you can go to Paris.

By the way, Positano is really beautiful. I drove through the coast - not as difficult as the guide books say. You can taste all kinds of lemon products, from sweets to alcohol.