midlifecruiser

Thanks again all, I bow to your superior knowledge and hope I haven't offended anyone :o (cathycruises??) Buggins - I did think of Lucca, but as we will hopefully return for at least a week if not more in Tuscany would probably cover that off then. I have done some more research and realise that Portofino is just slightly further up the coast from the Cinque Terre and that's one place I've always wanted to see (although I said that about Amalfi and was disappointed) - or is it horribly touristy?:confused: Any thoughts on the town and viability of a short trip welcome

Hello All

I've been doing a bit of further research on possible shore excursions from La Spezia and have just realised that Portofino is much closer than I thought - so wondered if this were feasible and if so the best way to get there? If anyone has done this and has details either independently or with a tour company it would be great to hear from you :)

Herculaneum Help Needed!

Can anyone please recommend (or point me in the direction of the correct thread) a tour guide (ideally an archaeologist) for Herculaneum. Having previously visited both Pompeii and the Forum in Rome independently I feel we would get much more from the experience with a guide......

Also anyone who's visited Herculaneum using the Circumvesuviana train - is it still plagued with gypsies/beggars as found that quite oppressive on our last trip to Pompeii?

Thanks CathyCruises and CruiserBruce... Believe me, I have done plenty of research :) However, I think Europeans and Americans have a very different experience of destinations within the Med as it is much easier/cheaper for us to go back at a later date and spend more time there. For example, I know several people who have spent a week hiking the Cinque Terre, and it feels like maybe this would be a better way to experience it and that a few hours from the cruise ship might not be worth it? Then again I doubt a trip into Florence will be much better - (again not a problem as we could justify a long weekend in Florence or a week or so in Tuscany quite easily). I'm just trying to work out the best use of our day! Unfortunately La Spezia itself doesn't appear to be any great shakes (shame we aren't going to Genoa)......

Thanks both

Having already visited Sorrento (inc old town), Amalfi, Capri and Positano we were a bit concerned that Cinque Terre would be more of the same (ie more tumble down houses on steep hillsides down to the shoreline)..... is it really special/different enough to warrant a visit? :rolleyes:

Hello Everyone

We are a British couple arriving into La Spezia on 01 July aboard Allure of the Seas. This will be our first experience of Tuscany so wondered what y'all recommend to see and what not to bother with? And can anyone recommend a young and fun tour company to help us get the best from the area? We have previously used We Hate Tourism tours in Lisbon and looking to use Brightside in Barcelona - we prefer to be out and about exploring/experiencing local life and landscape in a small group than traipsing around museums (and frankly probably don't have time to the Uffizi justice in a couple of hours). We'd also prefer to join a small group and meet new friends rather than a private tour for just the two of us....

Hi Everyone

We are a British couple arriving into Naples on the Allure of the Seas on Fri 26 June. On a previous independent holiday to Sorrento we covered off Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, this time we have our sights set on Herculaneum. However we find that historical sites in Italy (notably the Forum in Rome and Pompeii itself) although well preserved, don't provide a lot of history/information and we feel we'd get much more from our trip with a guide. Can anyone here recommend a good tour company/guide (ideally an archeologist) who'd help us get the most out of our trip. We are looking to spend at least 3 hours in Herculaneum and then maybe see a bit of Naples en route back to the ship.