Heres some great info i revieced from someone who just did this trip.

Enjoy

The Torre Rossa is like in the suburbs of Rome (west of the Vatican). So you can take a cab but will be very expensive - maybe 40 euros? The bus was only a buck or two. Your third option is the subway which is cheaper too but I can't remember the amount sorry! I opted for the bus! But, not to scare you, apparently the #64 bus which goes by the Vatican is famous for pick-pocketers. Unfortunately my naive self was a victim but thankfully he didn't get anything. This guy was standing kinda close to me and I knew something wasn't right! So when someone got up from there seat I sat down and my backpack was open and he bolted to the door to get off! Trust your instincts! I wish somebody would have told me that! (I met a girl from Rome in Mykonos - I told her about my experience and she told me they frequent that bus!) Where your back pack on your front instead of your back.

As for other transportation once you're there- Contiki will take care of you. Usually you all drive downtown together and they will have something planned in the morning and the afternoon will be free time. Your Tour Manager will tell you where to go if you want to take the bus or subway to someplace else. They will also give you maps!

Anyhue! So hotels! The Torre Rossa was one of the nicer hotels. Breakfast buffet was good - Torre had a hot breakfast. In Sorrento we had to change hotels to the Panorama Palace hotel. It was anything but a palace! The rooms were much smaller and the breakfast was salami & cheese with a bun and cereal. Not impressed but awesome location. The beach is very cool there. The ferry rooms were better than I expected. Most are small but I stayed alone so I had 2 beds. The other guys were not impressed. They are a little cramped when you have to share. Some had bunk beds! Depends what room you get but for the most part its just like staying at a hotel. They have a cafeteria style restaurant, food was ok. And a disco! It wasn't the greatest but I decided to drink a lot so I would sleep. It was a little bumpy at first but you get used to it. The Athens hotel was very nice - Hotel Arion, but it was a hole in the wall. Around it looked kinda ghetto, but apparently a lot of the hotels are like that downotwn Athens. Don't be alarmed by the outside! They are very nice inside.

The optional dinners - I did the one in Rome with the dinner theatre - it was fun. Food was great - 4 course meal. Sorrento I skipped - you can go with them on the bus to the city square and then go off on your own. Then just meet them back at whatever time to go back to the hotel or take a cab on your own. Lots of good shopping in Sorrento!!!!!!! I bought most of stuff there. Really awesome jewelry stores (lots of coral necklaces), lots of leather stores, and souvenir shops. I really didn't have time to shop in Rome. The dinner in Athens I did as well. You kinda have to since its the farewell dinner! Food is good...but I'll eat anything so me saying the food is good probably doesn't mean anything! haha! They will also have Greek dancers. Just drink lots of wine...you'll have a great time! Athens is cheaper than Italy for shopping, but your time might be limited in Athens.

Capri is similar to Sorrento but much prettier! You can opt in for a little boat to take you around the island (about half the island) - Contiki organizes this. They show you the caves and you can see coral in the water. When we went it was too wavey and we couldn't see the Blue Grotto. Apparently its a sight to see! But we got to see some open air caves which was nice. Then you have the rest of the day to shop (ok the food was really good here!) and sight see around the island. You can take a areo car thingy up the cliffs and get a great view. I really liked it. It was definitely the hidden gem in the tour.

Hi Melanie,

Thanks for the info - quite useful and interesting to know how things work on this tour.

Would your friend know if there are alot dressy events? I'm just trying to plan out what I need to pack - especially with clothes? And if jeans were ok for the nightlife there...

Thanks,
Martin

I don't know I was wondering the same I will email her and let you know.

more recent info from karen


Day 1 : (she considers Sunday day 1)

-Colosseo of course

- Temple of Venus

- Arch of Constantine

- Forum

-Vittorio Emanuelle II Monument (It's this big build with these chariots on top, you'll see them from the forum, but I have no idea what the building is exactly!) Up to here was the "tour guide" that we paid for. The next our TM walked us to...

- Trevi Fountain

- Spanish Steps

- Walk down Via Condotti (Where Gucci, Prada and Hermes stores are!!)

- Pantheon

- Chiesa Luigidi Francesi - church on the way

- Piazza Navona (where all the good gelato is! And they have paintings and art work for sale in the centre)

- Optional Dinner at the theatre

Day 2 -

Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peters...our TM didn't even stick around! You could do want you want. You can't do it all, there are 10 (i think) museums, I'm sure your TM will give you some recommendations.

Day 3 -

Drive to Sorrento, free time at the beach or wherever, shop!

Day 4 -

Optional - ferry to Capri and boat ride around the island. Come back to Sorrento when you want.

Day 5 -

Pompei (Be sure to go to the Galleria Pompei - it's across the street from the ruins, next to a cafe. They have amazing coral and cameo jewelry, plus neat statues and figurines. I spent a fortune at that store!!!)

Then the ferry to Athens! Drink lots! haha!

Day 6 -

- Arrive in Athens

- Included dinner at a greek restaurant

- Some shopping that night plus you can tour around the Partheon at night...very nice (Eat some crepes while your there!)

Day 7 -

- Tour around the Acropolis (not in it! Boo!!) They took us around the Agora - there was a Byzantine church and the temple of something...started with an H! I'm terrible.

- Then free time - we checked out the National Archaeological Museum. I must see while you're in Athens I think anyway!

- Farewell Dinner.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MJ,

Thanks for the info Mel..keep me posted on the clothes issue...=)