Hi , due to limited stock, we're unable to deliver your order on release day. We're sorry for the delay and will let you know as soon as stock arrives.

What was the point of pre-ordering surely Telstra could give something for inconvenience?

A bit annoying to say the least

Hi everyone!

I’ll be in Italy from September 12–22, 2026. I’ve locked in flying out of Rome at the end of the trip and already have my last 5 days planned there got a fantastic deal on flights.

I’m looking for advice on how to spend the first 5 days of the trip. I prefer historical sites, architecture, gardens, and local walking tours, and I am not particularly focused on art galleries or spending lots of time visiting villas. I will be relying entirely on public transport / trains.

Here is my locked-in Rome portion followed by the options I'm debating for the first 5 days.

Locked-in Rome Portion (Days 6–10)

• Day 6: Ostia Antica & Sunset Rome Walking Tour
• Day 7: Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon & Evening Pizza Making Class
• Day 8: Vatican Museums & Gardens guided tour (plus Castel Sant'Angelo if energy permits)
• Day 9: Tivoli & Hadrian's Villa day trip
• Day 10: "Taste and Traditions of Rome" walking tour, evening flight home

Options for the First 5 Days

Option 1: Base in Padua (Venice and Verona)

• Base: Padua (as a quieter, more affordable rail base than central Venice).
• Plan:
  • Day 1: Explore Padua (Botanic Gardens historic centre).
  • Days 2–3: Day trips to Venice (Doge's Palace, Armoury, island wandering).
  • Day 4-5: Verona/Lake Garda Day trip, then high-speed train to Rome in the evening.
• Note: Couldn't fly into Trieste was thinking about Trieste and Venice

Option 2: Naples Region (Base in Vomero or Salerno)

• Base: Vomero (Naples) or Salerno for a quieter base away from central Naples chaos.
• Plan:
  • Day 1: Pompeii & pizza class.
  • Day 2: Naples Botanic Garden & Castel Sant'Elmo (if Vomero base) OR Garden of Minerva & coastal walks (if Salerno base).
  • Day 3: Paestum (Greek temples & archaeological park) and Cheese Tour.
  • Day 4: Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) & National Archaeological Museum or street food tour.
  • Day 5: Royal Palace of Caserta day trip, then high-speed train to Rome.
• Note: I get motion sickness on water so leaning towards Vomero. Not stress about dirtiness and grime of Naples more the high intensity so looking at a quieter base

Option 3: Extended Rome + Day Trips (or Hamburg stopover)

• Plan: 3 days in Hamburg beforehand, then 2 extra days around Rome (Via Appia Antica, Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, or a day trip to Orvieto).

Options Ruled Out:

• Florence / Tuscany: Not keen on art-focused itineraries (Failed high school art).
• Lake Como / Maggiore: Too villa-heavy and not as much variety

Looking for any advice and feedback on these options

Thanks in advance

Good morning,

Whilst trying to stay budget friendly I booked a hotel (The Lion & Key Hotel) out in Leyton about a 10 min walk to the station and in from there.

Once I finished work out my accommodation and costs for the whole holiday I realised I had about $2400 AUD left to spend 1250 pounds.

I was thinking am I better off moving into the city spend the extra $200-300 AUD get a nice hotel in the city or is Leyton okay?

I am now considering Earl Court a better location

Thank you

Hey everyone,

I just booked flights from Australia for my second trip to Europe! I arrive on August 11 (half-day) and fly out late on September 22.

About Me & My Travel Style:

• Interests/Things I liked on my last trip: WW1/WW2 & Ancient History, easy and accessible nature (loved Plitvice Lakes on my last trip), beautiful, manicured gardens, great food (looking for cooking classes or artisanal cheese spots!), and grand architecture (like the Budapest Parliament).
• Transport: I strictly rely on public transport, scenic rail, and organised day tours. I will not be renting a car unless absolutely necessary costs too much for a solo traveller.
• Things I don't like: Nightlife, wine tasting, big hikes

The "Locked In" Rough Itinerary:

• Manchester (3 Days): Imperial War Museum North or Western Approaches Museum (planning this as a day trip to Liverpool), Old Trafford Tour, and a day trip to the Lake District.
• York (4 Days): Jorvik, The Shambles, City Walls, York's Chocolate Story. Plus, a scenic train ride nearby and a day trip to the Yorkshire Dales to hit up a cheese shop.
• London (5 Days): Kew Gardens, Imperial War Museum, Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, and the Harry Potter walking and studio tours. (Maybe a day trip if time permits).
• Belgium Base (4 Days): Ypres (WW1 history), Ghent, Bruges, and Brussels for the comic book route and Museum.
• Paris (5 Days): Versailles, Musée de l'Armée, Seine River Cruise, Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur, Jardin du Luxembourg.
• Naples (4 Days): Naples Underground, Castel dell'Ovo, Ischia, Pompeii or Herculaneum, Royal Palace of Caserta, and Mt. Vesuvius.
• Rome (5 Days): Colosseum & Roman Forum, Vatican City, Castel Sant'Angelo, Appian Way, and Tivoli.

The Dilemma: Where to spend the remaining ~11 days? I have a handful of options I've been considering to round out the trip:

1. Netherlands + Extra UK (Currently Leaning Here): Adding time for windmills, WW2 museums, canals, and eating plenty of Dutch cheese, plus extending the UK leg with Bath or Oxford. This requires fewer flights and keeps everything incredibly well-connected by train.
2. Madeira & Lisbon/Sintra: Amazing accessible nature, palaces, and grandeur. The downside is it would require two extra flights.
3. Malta & Mallorca: History-drenched. I'd love to take the train in Mallorca, see the Moorish architecture, and explore Malta's fortress towns and WW2 history.
4. Sicily: Incredible ancient history and food, but I know it's fairly reliant on cars to see properly, and public transport is just okay. It also might be Italy overload with Naples and Rome already on the list. Note: I also considered Crete but removed it as it felt a bit too hard to get to for this specific route.

Questions for the experts:

1. Does the Netherlands + Extra UK make the most sense given my strict public transport preference?
2. Any specific recommendations to add to the itinerary?
3. Are there any glaring logistical issues with the "locked-in" portions of my itinerary?

Thanks in advance for the help!

33-year-old guy living in Gippsland. I’m an Accounts Officer in local government. I’ve got a degree in accounting, but I am not as boring as those sounds

When I’m not at my desk, I’ve spent the last 21 years as a community AFL field umpire! I’m a huge fan of Star Wars, Harry Potter, trivia nights, escapes rooms and board games. I share my home with two beautiful rescue greyhounds who are professional couch potatoes.

Physical Attributes: 178, Chubby but loosing weight (116kg) brown hair and blue eyes

What I’m Looking For: I’m looking for a woman who is down-to-earth and enjoys a mix of quiet nights in and exploring the world. Whether it’s starting as an online chat to see if we click, grabbing coffee, or heading into the city for something else, I’m open to where things go. Ideally, I’m looking for "the one," but I value a good connection in any form.

What I Offer:

• Two Greyhounds: You’ll get unlimited access to two of the laziest dogs on earth who love cuddles.
• Culinary Skills: I actually love to cook my parents are ex chefs