to 2015 travel information

SINGING IN SIENA,15
PICK UP, DROP OFF & MEETING PLACE
Pick Up Point
Where: Siena - Piazza Antonio Gramsci
Time: 5 pm on Saturday the 12th September
Please see location marked on the map below. We meet outside Hotel NH Excelsior at the bus station.
From here we have an approximate drive of 20 minute to our villas.
Drop Off Point
Where: Siena - Piazza Antonio Gramsci
Time: 11.00 am on Saturday the 19th September.
Drop off here to make your way onto your next destination.
If you are running late or have missed a connection or some other problem please call Montestigliano and speak
with Francesco on Tel:+39 0577 342 189.
our meeting place
Most buses will arrive into
Siena at Piazza Gramsci our
meeting place.
GETTING TO SIENA FROM PISA & FLORENCE
How to get to Siena from Pisa
BY CAR : From the airport take the main road towards Florence. When you get near Florence
(Firenze) you should follow signs for Rome / the A1 motorway towards south (try to avoid the
centre of Florence!). This takes you around Florence until you get to the exit Firenze Certosa. Leave
the motorway here and take the dual carriageway to Siena.
BY TRAIN : There are no buses from Pisa to Siena and you always have to change trains at
Empoli. There are buses and taxis from the airport to the central train station. From Pisa to Siena
the train costs 6 Euro one way. You must stamp your ticket in the machine on the platform for it to
be valid! Some trains leave from Pisa Airport, while others leave from Pisa central station. (For more
information about timetable and price of trains please see www.trenitalia.it )
How to get to Siena from Florence
Bus
Siena is not on a major train line. So coming from Florence we recommend taking the bus.
Tra-in or Sita buses leave for Siena half hourly (approx. 6 euro, 1.15 hours). Departing from bus
station across the road from Santa Maria Novella Station (the main train station in Florence).
Note! You must buy bus tickets before you board your bus and validate them once aboard. Otherwise
you risk receiving a fine.
Sita or Tra-in buses will arrive into Siena at Piazzo Gramsci.
Go to http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/trasport/bus.htm for timetable and further
information
GETTING TO SIENA VIA ROME
Train
Please note that Siena is not on a major train line. So coming from Rome you will need to
change at Chiusi. Buy a ticket to Siena, You may choose to purchase an e-ticket online through
www.trenitalia.com. Otherwise trains are leaving on an hourly basis and you may purchase your
ticket at the Stazione Termini (the main train station in Rome). It is generally cheaper to buy all local
train tickets in Italy. The train station has an information desk where English is spoken and they will
be helpful.Trains take approx 3.15 hours.
You will have to catch a bus from the station to Piazza Gramsci.
Note! All train tickets must be validated before you board your train. Otherwise you risk receiving
a fine. You simply punch them in the yellow machines installed at the entrance to all train platforms.
Bus
Buses are a good alternative. The main bus station in Rome is on Piazzale Tiburtina, in front
of Stazione Tiburtina. You can get to Tiburtina via the underground train. Take Metro Linea B from
Stazione Termini (the main train station in Rome). Otherwise take the bus No’s 649 or 492 to
Piazzale Tiburtina. Buses depart from the piazza in front of the Stazione Termini.
Sena (www.sena.it) or Tra-in (Tel. 0577204246) buses leave for Siena. There are about 10
buses daily (approx 16 euro, 3 hours). The Sena & Tra-in ticket offices or agents are next
to the bus terminus.
Go to http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/trasport/bus.htm for timetable
and further information
Note! You must buy bus tickets before you board your bus and validate them once aboard. Otherwise
you risk receiving a fine.
Shuttle from Rome airport to Siena
There is also a shuttle from Fiumincino Airport to Siena although it only runs 1 or 2 times a day.
http://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/nuovo-collegamento-siena-aeroporto-di-fiumicino-roma/
Most buses will arrive into Siena at Piazzo Gramsci near our meeting place.
ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS- ROME & SIENA
Accommodation websites
I have found these sites all have good options and they cover all Italian cities.
www.booking.com, www.expedia.com, www.wotif.com, www.precisionreservations.com, www.travellerspoint.
com, www.lastminute.com
Our suggestions for
Rome
HOSTEL ORSA MAGGIORE - A womens Guest House / Hostel/ Old Nunnery
Very close to the most beautiful locations in Rome in less than 15 minutes walk: S.Peters, P.zza Navona, Campo
dé Fiori, the Pantheon. Trastevere, one of Rome’s most famous nightlife areas, with great restaurants.
via della Lungara, 19 - 00165 Roma
Tel. +39.6.68401724 F. +39.6.68401725
[email protected]
http://www.casainternazionaledelledonne.org/foresteria.htm#english
Suggestions for Siena from us.
Monastery Stays are a great and affordable options for both men and women.
Go to http://www.monasterystays.com/
Suggestions from The Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/search?q=siena+accommodation
Hotel Le Tre Donzelle (originally built as a tavern in the 13th Century)
Via delle Donzelle
Tel: +39 0577 223 933
Piccolo Hotel Etruria
Via delle Donzelle
Tel: +39 0577 288 088
Soggiorno Lo Stellino, Villa Piccola Siena, Siena Hospitality, A Casa Mia
All the above are within a reasonable budget range and can be found online through the Lonely Planet.
Hotel NH Excelsior is a great location for our pick up and city access although a little expensive.
Great for older clients; Discounts to people over 65 years.
http://excelsior-hotel-siena.h-rez.com/index.htm
ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS - FLORENCE
Here are some suggestions for
Florence from the Lonely Planet, Italy book.
Accommodation associations... www.promhotels.it - www.familyhotels.com
www.expedia.com, www.wotif.com, www.precisionreservations.com, www.travellerspoint.com, www.lastminute.
com
Budget Hostel
Monastery Stays are a great and affordable options for both men and women.
Go to http://www.monasterystays.com/
A good Hostel in a very central location. I have stayed here a few times and it has become my preferred
option because of it’s location and cost. I usually take a single room or a twin share if I have a friend with me.
http://www.hostelarchirossi.com
Budget Hotels - Hotel Orchidea (close to station) email> [email protected]
Pensione Bellavista - I have stayed here and found it very pleasant, especially if you get the room looking over
the duomo..wow! and it is in an excellent location obviously. A very short walk from train station.
email> [email protected]
tel. + +39 055 28 45 28
Mid Range Hotels
www.hotelbellettini.com
www.hotelcasci.com
Phrases for travellers
Below are several phrases may come in handy during your stay in Italy.
Mi scusi. (Excuse me. [Formal])
Non parlo bene l’italiano. (I don’t speak Italian well.)
Parla inglese? (Do you speak English? [Formal])
Parlo inglese. (I speak English.)
Mi sono perso. [M]; Mi sono persa. [F] (I’m lost.)
Sto cercando il mio albergo. (I’m looking for my hotel.)
Sì, lo so. (Yes, I know.)
Non lo so. (I don’t know.)
Non so dove sia. (I don’t know where it is.)
Non capisco. (I don’t understand.)
Capisco, grazie. (I understand, thanks.)
Può ripetere, per cortesia? (Can you repeat, please? [Formal])
È bello. (It’s beautiful.)
Meeting people - Conoscere gente
Ciao, come ti chiami? Hi, what’s your name?
Mi chiamo Marco.My name is Marco.
Piacere! Pleased to meet you!
Come va? How’re you doing?
Come stai? How are you?
Bene grazie e tu? Well thanks and you?
Di dove sei? Where are you from?
Sono spagnolo. I’m Spanish.
Dove abiti? Where do you live?
Abito vicino a piazza Garibaldi? I live near Garibaldi square.
Scusa, non ho capito I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.
Che lavoro fai? What do you do?
Faccio l’insegnante. I’m a teacher.
Quanti anni hai? How old are you?
Ho trentadue anni. I’m 32.
Hai il ragazzo / la ragazza? Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
Hai amici italiani? Do you have Italian friends?
Parli inglese / spagnolo / francese / tedesco? Do you speak English / Spanish / French / German?
Un po’. A little bit.
Ti piace la birra? Do you like beer?
Si, mi piace moltissimo. Yes, I like it very much.
Ciao. Goodbye.
Here are some useful phrases for eating out in Italy.
Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per cinque persone. I would like to reserve a table for five
people.
Un tavolo per tre, per cortesia. A table for three please.
Scusi, ci può portare il menù? Excuse me, can we have the menu?
Per me spaghetti al pomodoro. I’ll have spaghetti with tomato sauce.
E da bere? And what would you like to drink?
Un bicchiere di vino rosso. A glass of red wine.
Che cosa avete come dessert? What kind of desserts do you have?
Ci può portare il conto per favore? Can we have the bill please?
Offro io! It’s on me!
Tenga pure il resto.You can keep the change.
Grazie, arrivederci! Thank you, goodbye!
SINGABOUT | The Create Escape | PO Box 532, Potts Point NSW, Australia 1335
Telephone Mobile AUST: +61 (0) 411 467 915
Email [email protected] | Website www.singabout.com.au
CHECK OFF LIST
q Passport
q Air ticket
q Travel insurance
q Earplugs for flights
q Toiletries
q First Aid Kit
q Slip on Shoes
q Flashlight
q Batteries
q Musical Instrument
q Medications
q Recorder
q Paper and Pen
q Camera
q Video
q Swimmers