We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving through
the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice, after
which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway city
because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many
times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.

What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
time of year?

I thought you could fly open jaws on FF miles.

On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL" wrote:

    >We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving through
    >the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice, after
    >which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway city
    >because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many
    >times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
    >trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    >perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    >What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
    >time of year?

"gerald" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I thought you could fly open jaws on FF miles.

You can, but my carrier doesn't fly to Venice.



    > On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL" wrote:
    > >We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving
through
    > >the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice,
after
    > >which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway
city
    > >because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome
many
    > >times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
    > >trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    > >perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    > >
    > >What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
    > >time of year?
    > >

In [email protected], PTRAVEL wrote:

    > "gerald" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> I thought you could fly open jaws on FF miles.
    > You can, but my carrier doesn't fly to Venice.


Does it fly to Milano? That would be much more convenient to
Venice than returning to Rome.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup



    >> On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL"
wrote:
    >>> We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome,
    >>> driving through the Tuscany region, then either driving or
taking
    >>> the train to Venice, after which we'll return to Rome by
train (we
    >>> need to use Rome as our gateway city because we're travelling
on
    >>> frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many times and
will only
    >>> spend a couple of nights there on either end of the trip.
Venice
    >>> is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
perhaps
    >>> another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    >>> What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under
water
    >>> that time of year?

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In [email protected], PTRAVEL wrote:
    > > "gerald" wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > >> I thought you could fly open jaws on FF miles.
    > >
    > > You can, but my carrier doesn't fly to Venice.
    > Does it fly to Milano? That would be much more convenient to
    > Venice than returning to Rome.

It does, but we've been to Milan a number of times and would rather spend
the time in Rome, plus the ride out to Malpensa is too long and too
expensive.


    > --
    > Ken Blake
    > Please reply to the newsgroup
    > >> On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL"
    > wrote:
    > >>
    > >>> We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome,
    > >>> driving through the Tuscany region, then either driving or
    > taking
    > >>> the train to Venice, after which we'll return to Rome by
    > train (we
    > >>> need to use Rome as our gateway city because we're travelling
    > on
    > >>> frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many times and
    > will only
    > >>> spend a couple of nights there on either end of the trip.
    > Venice
    > >>> is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    > perhaps
    > >>> another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    > >>>
    > >>> What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under
    > water
    > >>> that time of year?

In [email protected], PTRAVEL wrote:

    > "Ken Blake" wrote in
message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> In [email protected], PTRAVEL wrote:
    >>> "gerald" wrote in message
    >>> news:[email protected]...
    >>>> I thought you could fly open jaws on FF miles.
    >>> You can, but my carrier doesn't fly to Venice.
    >> Does it fly to Milano? That would be much more convenient to
    >> Venice than returning to Rome.
    > It does, but we've been to Milan a number of times and would
rather
    > spend the time in Rome, plus the ride out to Malpensa is too
long and
    > too expensive.


I don't want to try to talk you into something you don't want to
do, but I wanted to point out two things:

1. Whatever time you want to spend in Rome can be done on one end
of the trip. You don't have to start *and* end there.

2. You may find the ride from Milan to Malpensa to be long and
expensive, but both the length and cost are considerably less
that the corresponding increments by taking the train from Venice
to Rome instead of Venice to Milan. Flying to Rome, and back from
Milan will still let you spend time in Rome rather than Milan,
and save you both time and money.

But it's your choice.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup


    >>>> On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL"

    >>>> wrote:
    >>>>> We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to
Rome,
    >>>>> driving through the Tuscany region, then either driving or
    >> taking
    >>>>> the train to Venice, after which we'll return to Rome by
    >> train (we
    >>>>> need to use Rome as our gateway city because we're
travelling
    >> on
    >>>>> frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many times and
    >> will only
    >>>>> spend a couple of nights there on either end of the trip.
    >> Venice
    >>>>> is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    >> perhaps
    >>>>> another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    >>>>> What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be
under
    >>>>> water that time of year?

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In [email protected], PTRAVEL wrote:
    > > "Ken Blake" wrote in
    > message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > >> In [email protected], PTRAVEL wrote:
    > >>
    > >>> "gerald" wrote in message
    > >>> news:[email protected]...
    > >>>> I thought you could fly open jaws on FF miles.
    > >>>
    > >>> You can, but my carrier doesn't fly to Venice.
    > >>
    > >>
    > >> Does it fly to Milano? That would be much more convenient to
    > >> Venice than returning to Rome.
    > >
    > > It does, but we've been to Milan a number of times and would
    > rather
    > > spend the time in Rome, plus the ride out to Malpensa is too
    > long and
    > > too expensive.
    > I don't want to try to talk you into something you don't want to
    > do, but I wanted to point out two things:

I appreciate your interest, but I'm really quite set on our itinerary. My
wife and I are experienced travellers who have been fortunate enough to have
visited Europe many, many times (and many of those trips have been to
Italy). We _like_ Rome -- it's one of the cities in the world where we feel
very comfortable. We have our favorite restaurants where we are known to
the wait staff. We have our favorite stores where we . . . well, at least
where my wife . . . is known to sales staff. We have our favorite museums,
and within those museums our favorite paintings. We've been to Milan a
number of times and, while it's a nice city, we've exhausted the things we'd
like to see and do (well, there's one particular restaurant that has a
wonderful antipasto buffet that I wouldn't mind going to again, but that's
about it). And, speaking of exhausted, the taxi ride from Milan to Malpensa
is very long and very, very expensive.

    > 1. Whatever time you want to spend in Rome can be done on one end
    > of the trip. You don't have to start *and* end there.

We don't have to. We just want to.

    > 2. You may find the ride from Milan to Malpensa to be long and
    > expensive, but both the length and cost are considerably less
    > that the corresponding increments by taking the train from Venice
    > to Rome instead of Venice to Milan.

Except that we _like_ European train rides. A few hours on a train gives us
a nice break from all the walking we do when we travel. I like sipping a
coffee, staring out the window as the scenery slips by, and savoring simply
_being_ in Europe. The only exception to this was a particularly crowded
and uncomfortable train between Rome and Naples one time.

We don't like starting a long international flight by having to get up at
the crack of dawn and endure a long and uncomfortable taxi ride to the
airport (and my wife has developed a well-founded fear of the Milano taxi
drivers, who try to make up as much time as they can on the run to the
airport by driving like lunatics).

    > Flying to Rome, and back from
    > Milan will still let you spend time in Rome rather than Milan,
    > and save you both time and money.

We like leisurely travel. That's why we're allowing 2-nights on each end of
our trip in Rome. That gives us a day to arrive, followed by a day to relax
and enjoy the city. Similarly, when we go home, I don't want to arrive in a
city, spend half-a-day, then get up the next morning and run off to the
airport -- I like that extra day in between. We'd much rather spend those
extra two days in Rome, than in Milan. Frankly, if I had the time and
money, we'd fly from Venice to another gateway city -- probably Zurich,
which is also serviced by my carrier. Unfortunately, this year we've had
some economic reverses and have to watch our money, and I can't afford the
additional time off of work Usually, we take 3-4 week vacations, sometimes
even 5 weeks. This year, 14-16 days is about it.

    > But it's your choice.
    > --
    > Ken Blake
    > Please reply to the newsgroup
    > >>>> On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL"
    >
    > >>>> wrote:
    > >>>>
    > >>>>> We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to
    > Rome,
    > >>>>> driving through the Tuscany region, then either driving or
    > >> taking
    > >>>>> the train to Venice, after which we'll return to Rome by
    > >> train (we
    > >>>>> need to use Rome as our gateway city because we're
    > travelling
    > >> on
    > >>>>> frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many times and
    > >> will only
    > >>>>> spend a couple of nights there on either end of the trip.
    > >> Venice
    > >>>>> is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    > >> perhaps
    > >>>>> another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    > >>>>>
    > >>>>> What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be
    > under
    > >>>>> water that time of year?

From experience of one week in Tuscany, 40-60F, with lots of
thunderstorms(particularly at night). Was early Nov, so will be
cooler later. Some parts are quite high, and cooler.

Rains in Venice in Nov, and Nov/Dec are supposed to be the months of
High Water. 40-50F.

On Fri, 2 May 2003 13:51:37 -0700, "PTRAVEL" wrote:

    >We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving through
    >the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice, after
    >which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway city
    >because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many
    >times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
    >trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    >perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    >What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
    >time of year?

PTRAVEL wrote:
    >
    > We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving through
    > the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice, after
    > which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway city
    > because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many
    > times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
    > trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    > perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    >
    > What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
    > time of year?

It's hard to predict the weather in late November, but a good guess
would be foggy with a high chance of rain. I don't know what the changes
of acqua alta are in Venice at that time of the year, but I think that
late November is not the most likely time to encounter it.

Barbara

x-no-archive: yes

We were in the Veneto during last several days of November and the first
week of December 2002. Venice was under a meter of water. Luckily, we'd
visited the previous year during the same time period when it was not.

So, I'd say you just take your chances!


"Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > PTRAVEL wrote:
    > >
    > > We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving
through
    > > the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice,
after
    > > which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway
city
    > > because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome
many
    > > times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
    > > trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    > > perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    > >
    > > What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
    > > time of year?
    > It's hard to predict the weather in late November, but a good guess
    > would be foggy with a high chance of rain. I don't know what the changes
    > of acqua alta are in Venice at that time of the year, but I think that
    > late November is not the most likely time to encounter it.
    > Barbara

As a follow up to the itinerary discussion, we've decided to fly in to
Zurich, take an overnight train to Venice, then go on to Tuscany, and
finally depart out of Rome. The overnight train is what decided us, as
we're big fans of this kind of travel -- it's cheaper than flying, saves us
the cost of a hotel, and don't lose a day to travel. We'll be 2 nights in
Zurich, 4 or 5 in Venice, 5 or 6 in Tuscany, then 2 in Rome.

The old umich weather site, now www.wunderground.com, has data from the
last couple years - enter your location and date of interest and you
will get both 24 hour plots and tabular data.
--
wf.

Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    >
    > PTRAVEL wrote:
    > >
    > > We're thinking about a Thanksgiving trip, flying in to Rome, driving through
    > > the Tuscany region, then either driving or taking the train to Venice, after
    > > which we'll return to Rome by train (we need to use Rome as our gateway city
    > > because we're travelling on frequent flyer miles). We've been to Rome many
    > > times and will only spend a couple of nights there on either end of the
    > > trip. Venice is also a re-visit, but we're planning on 5 nights, with
    > > perhaps another 5 or 6 for the Tuscany region.
    > >
    > > What kind of weather can we expect? And will Venice be under water that
    > > time of year?
    >
    > It's hard to predict the weather in late November, but a good guess
    > would be foggy with a high chance of rain. I don't know what the changes
    > of acqua alta are in Venice at that time of the year, but I think that
    > late November is not the most likely time to encounter it.
    >
    > Barbara

--
wf.
Wayne Flowers
Randee Greenwald
[email protected]