shmoopie

Help! Planning a trip for my husband and I this summer to Italy. It is our first time to Europe and all of the advise is somewhat confusing. I am leaning towards beginning in Florence and branching out from there. We do not do well with touresty things like buses, etc. Our main goal is to enjoy, and experience Italy's finest assests. Direction and recommendations would be much appreciated.

Heather

I just topped a good thread on how people here plan their trips, which might help you sort through your confusion.<BR><BR>Some basic questions to start with:<BR><BR>1. how much time do you have?<BR>2. what type of budget?<BR>3. what are your interests (art, food, countryside, ruins, etc.)?<BR>4. what draws you to Italy in the first place ("All roads lead to Rome?", you love "A Room with a View", the romance of Venice, all of the above)?<BR>5. when are you planning to visit?<BR><BR>The options do become somewhat overwhelming, especially on a first trip. But, if you give a bit more information, you should receive more helpful advice.<BR><BR>Also, I'm not quite clear on what you meant by not doing well with "touristy things like busses" ... do you just not care for public transportation? That definitely limits the options for your vacation, as Italy's train system is so convenient.

Wayne

I'm not quite sure how to help you, since you will have to cope with some types of touristy things such as trains, buses, rental cars, and hotels. It would be best for you to do a little homework to learn as much as you can about the places you think you want to go. At the very least, if you want to see more than one city, you will have to use trains or possibly buses. My other recommendation, besides the one about doing some homework, is to use your hotel to help you when you want to go somewhere. Almost all of the hotels will provide some help on using the local transportation. So why not get a couple of guidebooks, study them, pick some interesting places you'd like to have some inputs about, and structure a tentative itinerary---then come back to this message board for more specific advice. As a first trip to Italy, you couldn't go wrong with any or all of the big 3 places--Rome, Florence, Venice; but you haven't said how long you plan to visit, so it's hard to recommend something specific. What you hear from all of the people who try to give advice is their own personal preferences and opinions. Like most advice, it's worth what you pay for it. Even the guidebooks aren't perfect, but they are the best start. Good luck.

shmoopie

Heather thanks for the direction. We are planning to go this summer probably late June early July. We are especially intrigued by the foods, wines and art of Italy. What I meant by the "touresty things" is we are on vacation and do not want to punch a time clock every minute of the day. We want to be able to go and see what we want to seen when we want to see it. The train option seems especially constraining. Is it? We are very casual and like to be spontaneous. Planning is not one of our strong suits.

shmoopie

Oh I almost forgot! We will be gone 10-14 days and have average budget to work with.

Rex

The thread that Heather topped will almost surely get separated from this one soon - - I like citing the URL for a relevant thread (assuming I can find it). This one is:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=56165<BR><BR>titled "How do you plan your European trip?"<BR><BR>And I urge you to be more specific than saying "average budget". I acknowledge that some people are uncomfortable saying how much they choose (or can afford) to spend. But what other yardstick is there to use, besides actual dollars (or euros or whatever)?<BR><BR>I used to try to tell people to think in terms of units of your family's monthly income. On that scale, I have never spent even one unit on my most extravagant trip to Europe. Some people (very good savers) might spend two or more - - and Bill Gates would probably never spend 0.001 unit. It's a meaningless concept.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

ron

Florence is a good spot to start. Don't be nervous about the trains. Their part of the expierience and their easy to follow. Having just been there in Nov. for the first I to was a bit shy and nervous but found it very easy to deal with. For one thing it's not a minute by minute issue more like a day. You need to decide how long in florence . My recommendation since u don't want to move around a lot try 5 nites in florence and use two days to take simple train and bus to Luca and Siena for day trips. Venice is awesome and can be reached bu rail in 3.5 hrs. I would stay 4 nites in Venice. Rome is a must and is roughly 2 hrs from florence. Stay here for 4 nites and use your last nite in florence before u depart. This will give u an excellant llok at art and museums and food from different areas. As far as wine u can do a tourist thing out of florence for a day but if it's just wine then u will get your full in all the great restuaRANTS. iF U WOULD LIKE FOOD recomendations or hotel email direct.Enjoy it's heaven

lovestravel

Rick Steves books are great! Believe me it pays off to do some planning and you can still be spontneous some of the time! My husband lets me plan everything,( he doesn't like that touristy stuff either), which I love and he says our trips are always fantastic. We always plan in some "do nothing" time.

Ronda

If you are going to stay ANY PLACE Rick Steves recommends, you are almost too late because his recommendations are very popular and go fast. Don't expect to go without a reservation. <BR><BR>Our first stay in Italy was in Varenna on Lake Como. We stayed in a Rick Steves recommendation Albergo Olivedo and loved it, however, it was right by the ferry dock and there was some noise. Very quaint. Exactly what my daughters thought small town Italy would be. I have noticed that this is the first town Rick Steves tour groups stay when they arrive in Italy to get acclimated. Just follow his train directions to get there. <BR><BR>In addition, we were treated to a fireworks display put on by the local towns over the lake. It wasn't for the 4th of July but was the first weekend in July. It went on for at least 45 minutes and was unbelievable (July 2000).Bellagio is just a ferry ride away. <BR><BR>Florence to me was like visiting Mexico. Very different flavor. I did not feel comfortable letting my daughters out of my sight and Dad nearby to protect them. Lots of street markets resembling flea markets, crowds.<BR><BR>My girls wanted to wear shorts and crop tops as it was very hot and I wouldn't let them - just asking for trouble. The men were very forward.

scout

I would fly into Milano, then move over to Venice then move south to Florence. Florence is a good base camp for shorter trips as the train station is easily accessed from the heart of Florence..highly recommend Montecatini and Lucca.<BR>Try to get to the Cinque Terre if you possible, it's amazing. From there head toward Rome and fly home from there. Don't forget Amalfi. I have found that the further south you go in Italy, the nicer and more helpful the people.

Karen

About 3+ years ago my husband and I made our first trip to Italy (Jun/Jul 97) and it turned out just about perfect. We flew into Rome and spent 3 days there (2 for Rome one for Vatican/St Peters). The next day we took the train to Florence stayed 2 days. We rented a car to leave Florence and spent 3 days driving through Tuscany (stayed near San Gimignano and Montepulciano). We turned our car in back in Florence and took the train to Venice where we spent 2 days. The weather was great and we never felt rushed. Got to see and do all the things I had hoped for in a first trip (tough to leave out Amalfi, but we really didn't want to feel rushed). We ended up training back to Rome to fly out, but you should be able to work a return flight out of Venice instead and save some travel time. Get a few books and read their "must see" stuff like St Marks' at dusk, etc so you and your husband can have an idea of what options each location holds. Its a wonderful country and you'll have a glorious time!<BR>Karen

jan

I hear you, shmoopie, about not wanting to plan too much. But I advise you to set an itinerary of some sort that gives you leeway, but direction too. <BR><BR>Another option for flying into or out of Italy is Pisa, often forgotten. We are going in a few weeks, flying into Rome, then working our way up through Tuscany and flying out of Pisa at the suggestion of an Italian friend of ours who lives here in the states. He is back and forth on business all the time, and knows all the ins and outs. Pisa has a very small an easily manueverable airport. <BR><BR>Whatever you do, enjoy yourselves! It will be a trip you will never forget. Italy is magic.