Italy - good and reasonably priced hotels

[slmkhoo]

I'm the opposite of you now. When I was an overseas student, I would spend longer hours scrutinizing and admiring those artefacts because there was no internet for me to read up more afterwards. Everything had to be researched in the library or via Let's Go Europe, Lonely Planet travel guidebooks.

So I really treasured the minutes spent in every heritage site, palace, castle or museum. Moreover, Kodak films were very expensive and development of photos in Europe cost a lot too for students. Hence, I would spend more time trying to etch those precious images on my memory!

But now, I have become the touch&go tourist, i.e. 打卡族. I now hop from place to place very fast and will get my serotonins, dopamines, endorphins, and oxytocins within minutes after glancing quickly through the exhibits and snapping A LOT of hp photos and videos (if permitted) of the detailed explanation printed on signage boards for my post-trip reference. They are hi-res so I can zoom into the details to look at the artwork.

I took some hi-res photos (albeit secretly cos everyone was snapping away and no curator was scolding us) inside Sistine Chapel which has a lot of frescoes on the high ceiling painted by Michelangelo. I can zero in on the intricate paint details of the Hand of God in the comfort of my living room.

As my photos are all geo-tagged and time-stamped, I am not worried that I'd mix up those site names now. They are stored chronologically inside my cam or hp, so I can always Google when I return to Singapore.

Many museums now have websites and digital photos of some exhibits, so if I need to know more, I will read up before going to the museum to save time lingering in there. My recent trip to Europe saw me moving from site to site like a speed demon, so I covered a lot of places. I told me DC don't worry you can always come back with your friends when you're old enough to make your own money as these ancient artefacts won't run away because I saw them 30 years ago when I was your age, and they are still the same!

I spent more time drinking coffee in cafes, dining, queueing to enter boutiques and on the road.

I don't take many photos - just a few to remember the vacation. No skill, no interest. Experience is what I aim for now, which can be as simple as spending time with family and friends, but in a different environment. Sightseeing just makes spending time more interesting!

[slmkhoo]

Well, if anyone is interested, we have planned a 2-night stay in Naples. Airbnb at €70 per night including fees and taxes (3-bedroom apartment which is cheaper than some 2-bedroom apartments!), and a day trip from Naples to Pompeii and Vesuvius at €100 per pax. Train fares to Naples from Rome vary depending on the train service and when you book the tickets - currently anywhere from about €13 to €30 for economy/standard each way. Kids and <30yo get lower fares!

Any must-sees in Naples? We'll pick a few places to look around - we will probably have an overdose of old churches and museums by then.

[doodbug]

Well, if anyone is interested, we have planned a 2-night stay in Naples. Airbnb at €70 per night including fees and taxes (3-bedroom apartment which is cheaper than some 2-bedroom apartments!), and a day trip from Naples to Pompeii and Vesuvius at €100 per pax. Train fares to Naples from Rome vary depending on the train service and when you book the tickets - currently anywhere from about €13 to €30 for economy/standard each way. Kids and <30yo get lower fares!

Any must-sees in Naples? We'll pick a few places to look around - we will probably have an overdose of old churches and museums by then.

If you have accom at Naples, you may prefer to DIY Pompeii by train. Cheap and fairly easy. Herculaneum is supposedly a must go as well - some say they will pick it over Pompeii. Browse the youtube videos - lots of accounts of DIY travel to these two places me thinks.

Download uber (though I have only used it in France, not Italy). When you have 3 or 4 pax, sometimes uber is a fast and efefctive option in Europe. I took Uber from Paris city centre to Versaille and back as the RER was on strike.

[floppy]

Speaking of strikes…
Given that you have already booked your tickets and accomm, please get your insurance ready and not wait till closer to the date.
Winter is coming. I foresee Europe is going to have a tough time this year.

[slmkhoo]

If you have accom at Naples, you may prefer to DIY Pompeii by train. Cheap and fairly easy. Herculaneum is supposedly a must go as well - some say they will pick it over Pompeii. Browse the youtube videos - lots of accounts of DIY travel to these two places me thinks.

Download uber (though I have only used it in France, not Italy). When you have 3 or 4 pax, sometimes uber is a fast and efefctive option in Europe. I took Uber from Paris city centre to Versaille and back as the RER was on strike.

Decided against navigating the trains to Pompeii - it's not totally straightforward, and I'm too lazy to want to figure it out! And we decided we would like a guide, and someone to drive us as high up Vesuvius as possible.

I read that Uber is more expensive in Italy compared to elsewhere in Europe as they aren't allowed to offer the cheaper fare options. Anyway, we'll ask when we're there. We'll be staying with relatives in Rome, so they will have all the latest info. Hope there won't be strikes (or an eruption) while we're there!

[slmkhoo]

Speaking of strikes…
Given that you have already booked your tickets and accomm, please get your insurance ready and not wait till closer to the date.
Winter is coming. I foresee Europe is going to have a tough time this year.

Already purchased. In fact, I don't know why this isn't generally known (maybe it's a new feature?), Singlife Travel insurance has a "cancel for any reason" clause if you purchase the policy within 7 days of booking your trip (i.e. air tickets or other transport, I guess). And there's a discount if you have, or are a family member of a person who has, the SAF life insurance.

They are going to have a tough winter, I fear. We'll be back in Singapore by mid-Nov, so it won't have got wintry in Italy yet.

[doodbug]

Decided against navigating the trains to Pompeii - it's not totally straightforward, and I'm too lazy to want to figure it out! And we decided we would like a guide, and someone to drive us as high up Vesuvius as possible.

I read that Uber is more expensive in Italy compared to elsewhere in Europe as they aren't allowed to offer the cheaper fare options. Anyway, we'll ask when we're there. We'll be staying with relatives in Rome, so they will have all the latest info. Hope there won't be strikes (or an eruption) while we're there!

Hopefully, Mount Vevesius is not as "active" as Mount Etna. I visited Mount Etna the day after a not-so-minor night of activity, and could not get up. The roads were blocked and we had to wait for all the volcanic ash to be shovelled off the roads to get up. My parents wanted to bring the ash home for gardening! If you are taking any trains in Italy, really have to be careful of belongings - no joke, a lot of pickpockets and tricksters who work in teams to distract and pilfer.

Having a guide (or not) is down to personal preference. I'm at this stage where I prefer to roam around at own pace and target (albeit sometimes aimlessly lol) - given how unfit I am now, I'd probably have problems keeping up with a guide ataa sights which require a lot of climbing! As for driving up mountains too - easier to stop without feeling paiseh if someone needs to puke or stop for a drink.

[doodbug]

I'm the opposite of you now. When I was an overseas student, I would spend longer hours scrutinizing and admiring those artefacts because there was no internet for me to read up more afterwards. Everything had to be researched in the library or via Let's Go Europe, Lonely Planet travel guidebooks.

So I really treasured the minutes spent in every heritage site, palace, castle or museum. Moreover, Kodak films were very expensive and development of photos in Europe cost a lot too for students. Hence, I would spend more time trying to etch those precious images on my memory!

But now, I have become the touch&go tourist, i.e. 打卡族. I now hop from place to place very fast and will get my serotonins, dopamines, endorphins, and oxytocins within minutes after glancing quickly through the exhibits and snapping A LOT of hp photos and videos (if permitted) of the detailed explanation printed on signage boards for my post-trip reference. They are hi-res so I can zoom into the details to look at the artwork.

I took some hi-res photos (albeit secretly cos everyone was snapping away and no curator was scolding us) inside Sistine Chapel which has a lot of frescoes on the high ceiling painted by Michelangelo. I can zero in on the intricate paint details of the Hand of God in the comfort of my living room.

As my photos are all geo-tagged and time-stamped, I am not worried that I'd mix up those site names now. They are stored chronologically inside my cam or hp, so I can always Google when I return to Singapore.

Many museums now have websites and digital photos of some exhibits, so if I need to know more, I will read up before going to the museum to save time lingering in there. My recent trip to Europe saw me moving from site to site like a speed demon, so I covered a lot of places. I told me DC don't worry you can always come back with your friends when you're old enough to make your own money as these ancient artefacts won't run away because I saw them 30 years ago when I was your age, and they are still the same!

I spent more time drinking coffee in cafes, dining, queueing to enter boutiques and on the road.

Hilarious - your mention of Lonely Planet and Let's Go brought a lot of memories of backpacking days. I guess kids (and adults) these days won't understand how the relevant pages of the Lonely Planet guides are being ripped out, and brought from place to place - you often meet people referring to the same books at the recommended cafes, hostels/B&Bs etc. Lol Those were the days.

Up till today, I still enjoy visiting sights, more than lazing on a beach lol I haven't reached the selfie-tourist stage of life yet lol. Much as I enjoy shopping, I don't shop during trips as I dread lugging goods home.

[slmkhoo]

Hopefully, Mount Vevesius is not as "active" as Mount Etna. I visited Mount Etna the day after a not-so-minor night of activity, and could not get up. The roads were blocked and we had to wait for all the volcanic ash to be shovelled off the roads to get up. My parents wanted to bring the ash home for gardening! If you are taking any trains in Italy, really have to be careful of belongings - no joke, a lot of pickpockets and tricksters who work in teams to distract and pilfer.

Well, we lived for years in China, and have also travelled extensively in Europe, so we're used to being careful! And I hope someone is monitoring the seismic activity while we're there!

[slmkhoo]

Hilarious - your mention of Lonely Planet and Let's Go brought a lot of memories of backpacking days. I guess kids (and adults) these days won't understand how the relevant pages of the Lonely Planet guides are being ripped out, and brought from place to place - you often meet people referring to the same books at the recommended cafes, hostels/B&Bs etc. Lol Those were the days.

Up till today, I still enjoy visiting sights, more than lazing on a beach lol I haven't reached the selfie-tourist stage of life yet lol. Much as I enjoy shopping, I don't shop during trips as I dread lugging goods home.

I still read Lonely Planet as well other guides - all online these days. Yes, our kids have no conception of how it was in the "paper" days, when there was no email (in my day), let alone mobile phones.

I generally don't shop while travelling, other than 1 souvenir magnet or something to hang on mh Christmas tree. But I've read that there's a street in Naples with craftsmen who make and sell nativity scenes - I definitely want to go and see, and if they aren't too big or expensive, I may allow myself to be tempted.