NOTE: We have changed the Post Order to Normal Chronological Order instead of the reverse order, where the newest post is always on top, which is typical for blog postings that are still active. We always make this change after the trip is over, it makes more sense once the trip is completed. The Epilogues always stay at the top since they have information and thoughts about the trip that we add once the trip is completed.
It has been three days since we got home, and we are still adjusting to the time difference. It was hard to sleep later than about 4:00 AM, which seemed like 10:00 AM to our bodies. This was especially true since we were getting up early for several of the last few days we were in Italy.
The laundry is done, the grass, aka “Hayfield” is mowed, and we are settling back into normal life.
There were several things we wanted to capture about the trip, some things that went better than expected, and some that did not quite go as planned. Here are some of our overall thoughts on various aspects of the trip, not specific to any location we visited, that may be another post.
Overall Thoughts
- Italian SIM Card – The switch over to Italian SIM cards was great, it worked much better than we expected. We certainly got a plan that was much larger than we needed, so next time we will understand the data and phone usage better. We barely used any of our 35 Gb of data. This was in part due to the availability of wi-fi in the accommodations we stayed in, and at restaurants, but the largest savings was in the structure of the plan we purchased. We found out that Messaging Apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, are free to use and don’t count against data usage, even if using cell coverage. The other big data savings was that Google Maps was also free to use, it did not incur data usage on cell service either. Even after Stephanie broke her cell phone, and all we had was mine, we still barely used any data. Of course, we got almost zero benefit from Stephanie’s plan since her phone was broken. Even with the roughly $100 cost for the two SIM cards, it was less expensive than using our Verizon International Plan at $10.00 per day per phone.
- Various Phone Apps for the Trip – We utilized several Phone Apps for this trip, here is a listing:
- Google Maps – This was by far the most useful app we used during the entire trip. We had intended to use it mostly offline, so we had downloaded the appropriate offline maps for the regains we visited in Italy before we left. However, with the Italian SIM, the data used for Google Maps was also free, so we used this app a lot. For the time we were driving around Tuscany, we had taken our GPS for navigation, but it was relegated to backup duty once we were comfortable with using the Google Maps online via cell service. We also used it a lot for walking directions, the only downside being that this was how Stephanie missed a step, fell, and broke her cell phone. After that fall, we implemented a rule, stop and look at directions, no looking while walking. So, we found out there is a definite distraction risk for using it for walking directions, especially on uneven terrain. We will probably not take a GPS to Europe again if we have free Google Map access via cell phone service.
- WhatsApp – This app was the second most useful, maybe tied for first place. This is the most popular app in Europe for communication, especially by text. Almost all of our hotel contacts and the contact for the shuttle service to Positano and back communicated with us through this app. One of the nicest features we found out by accident is that we did not need to convert the app to use with our new Italian Phone Numbers, we just continued to use our USA number when we needed anyone to contact us, and we still got those messages on our phones even after changing the SIM Card out to our Italian SIM. It does not really use the phone number for registration, it uses the phone account somehow, so it is independent of the cell phone number…….magic!
- Trenitalia App – This is the National Italian Train App, and it allowed us to purchase tickets through the phone, check the status of train arrivals, and have our electronic tickets on the phone for showing to the ticket agents on the trains. The best feature was online ticket purchases, which was simple, and allowed us to purchase tickets without the worry of ticket machines at crowded stations, and for any issues for purchases with credit cards at a ticket machine.
- Google Translate App – This app was also useful, although we did not use it to its fullest potential. One of the best features is its ability to use the camera to look at foreign language text and to convert it as you are viewing, without having to type the words into the translator. We will be more aware of this for our next trip to Europe, especially for using at credit card readers where we need to enter a PIN, and the instructions are usually in the language of the country we are in. We have been mystified a few time when our credit card was not accepted, and we could not determine the stated reason due to language barriers.
- Delta Airlines App – Since were flying on Delta, we used their app to check in, for electronic boarding passes, checking flight status for connecting flights, checking gate information, and most importantly, to check the location of our luggage. The luggage locator certainly gives you a feeling of comfort knowing your luggage was loaded on the flight, especially on the way to Italy. Of course, if it tells you the baggage is not on the plane, you have many hours to worry about it!
- ATM Milano – This is the official app of the Milan Transportation Company. Although we were only in Milan for one night, we did use this app to purchase our 24 hour Metro Passes for travelling around Milan. It also gives information on the Metro Lines and has a Journey Finder to help you get places.
- Booking.com App – All of our reservations were made through Booking.com, so the app was helpful for looking at our reservations for check-in times and property contact information.
- Apartments Versus Hotel Rooms – This was the first land trip where we had some apartments instead of all smaller hotel rooms, and we found that we liked the apartments better. This happened more by default, we started planning for this trip too late, and apartments, being a little more expensive, were more available that close to the travel dates. Three of our Apartments had washing machines, which was a real bonus, one that we did not adequately plan for with the amount of clothing we packed. Realizing the full potential of our access to washing machines, fairly well distributed throughout the trip timeframe, should have incentivized us to take much less clothing than we did. We did not fully realized the benefit before we left.
We also liked the additional space in the apartments we had, making them more comfortable, and we especially liked the availability of stoves each apartment had, as well as the one oven we had in Positano. With the availability of those appliances, we had several meals in, it helped on tiring days, and also gave us a little break from the restaurant scene. We had one hotel room in Riomaggiore that was sort of a hybrid, it was larger than a normal hotel room, and had a table with plates and silverware, but had no kitchen. Also, our room in Florence had a small two burner induction stove and a small kitchen sink, but we were not there long enough to utilize them. All of the rooms had a refrigerator, which is always nice.
- Transportation – Our modes of transportation for the entire trip were about as good as we could have hoped for.
- Train Travel – We utilized the trains to the fullest extent possible, and except for the one hiccup with the train strike in Varenna, all of the train transportation was straightforward. The only downside was the overall lack of punctuality of the Italian Train System, it is just not as precise as we had come to expect after traveling in France, Germany and Switzerland. I guess the Italians are not famous for clocks and watches either, maybe that has something to do with it. It was just a little harder than it should have been at times, but it was certainly the way to get around.
- Ferry Boats – We utilized the ferry boats in several locations, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, and Positano. They are much more expensive as compared to buses or trains, but are much quicker, and seem to adhere to schedules better. However, they are more limited in some places as far as their schedules, times between ferries are usually hourly, and sometime longer, so it requires more planning and knowledge of the timetables. They were certainly more scenic, and for the Amalfi Coast, worth every penny of the extra cost as compared to the slow buses that are never on time, and caught in traffic jams.
- Rental Car – Having the rental car was certainly the way to travel in the Tuscany Area, it is the only way to get around. However, the driving we did each day was tiring, the roads are narrow and curvy when you are not on a highway. The rental car experience at checkout and return with Avis was not the best. Next time, we would try to arrive at the rental agency as soon as it opens. We were there only thirty minutes after the Avis opened, but as it goes in Italy, nothing is rapid or efficient. It was very frustrating waiting almost an hour to rent a car, and only having about six people ahead of us. Obtaining our rental car at the Avis location was too time consuming, it took almost 15 minutes or more to process each person’s rental. They had to start from scratch, no information from the reservation seemed to be used. The agency was packed with people when we left, I would have not wanted to be getting there then. I was also discouraged about having to upgrade our car, although we really enjoyed the Peugeot we drove. I suppose we could have taken the Jeep Renegade, but we were just not that familiar with what it was, and were thinking more like it was a Jeep CJ7. There seemed like there were a lot of keys in little packages at the agency, and to only have a Jeep for our class of car seemed like maybe they were trying to make us upgrade, or force us to take less desirable cars.
They were also a little sneaky on some of the extra charges, I should have read the Auto-Europe information closer, it warned of potential additional charges that could have been denied if I was more firm, but we just wanted to get on the road. The return ended up being a fiasco after we actually dropped off the car, which will be another post altogether, they basically drove the car the additional day to two we had on the rental because of the weekly vs daily pricing savings, and even turned it in late, with about 295 more km on it than what was on our handwritten receipt. Now we have a dispute in with the credit card company for additional charges. More to come on that later, it is a good lesson.
- Shuttle Service – Naples to Positano Round Trip – We were so glad we had done the shuttle to and from Positano, especially after we had gotten to Positano and lived through the terrible car traffic and pitifully slow public bus system. We only had the slight communication issue with the driver on the pick-up, he was not waiting where we though our instructions said he would be, but overall, it was a great way to get from Naples to Positano and back. Certainly, the instructions for meeting the drivers that they gave us before we left were not always the best, but the drivers seemed to know how to find us despite the communication gaps. We now know to be a little early, and to take a more active role in finding the drivers, they may not be in what we anticipated to be shuttle buses, just vans, without any specific company signage. The drivers all seem to be independent, or work for several different shuttle companies. In the end, after our extremely crowded and delayed experience riding the bus from Positano to Amalfi for a day trip, which was the same type of bus we would have taken from Sorrento if we were not using the shuttle service, plus a slow train from Naples to Sorrento, we had made a great decision.
- Walking – We have estimated that we could have easily walked over 100 miles during this trip, that is only about four miles per day, on average, which is probably low, and we know we took thousands of steps. Between the hiking trails in Cinque Terre, and in Positano, and all of the walking in larger cities, we were very leg weary when we got home, and are still sore a few days afterward. We tried to utilize transportation where we could, but it sometimes is just easier and quicker to walk, especially in larger cities like Rome. We just visited a lot of hilly places, everything in Varenna, Cinque Terre, all of the Tuscany Towns, and Positano was extremely hilly, and steps were everywhere. It was a good trip to take now, I am not sure we would be able to go again in the future, it was physically challenging. Even Rome is hilly. We realized that we needed to walk more before a trip like this, one month for every week of the trip, but we just don’t have a lot of areas here where there are enough steps to condition our legs for that amount of hills and stair climbing.