italy
Jul 19th, 2011, 12:28 PM
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italy
I am planning a trip to Italy and am in the initial stages. the trip if for myself single 52 and my daughter 17. we are planning on going for 3 weeks in june or july of 2012. any ideas or help would be appreciated. I would like to go to rome , venice and 1 other place maybe lake como area not really sure yet.
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Jul 19th, 2011, 12:49 PM
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Welcome to Fodor's.
In order for us to offer the best help, you need to help us first.
What in particular drew you to choosing Italy as a destination? (if you already have some ideas, we'd like to know them and can advise how to include them)
What are your interests? (hate/love art, shopping, hiking, beaches, walking, museums, history, architecture, photography, . . . you get the idea. My interests may not be yours.)
What is your budget? (in euros per night for a hotel room for two)
Three weeks is a generous amount of time—lots of possibilities— so wth this information many here will be able to offer a lot of suggestions.
In order for us to offer the best help, you need to help us first.
What in particular drew you to choosing Italy as a destination? (if you already have some ideas, we'd like to know them and can advise how to include them)
What are your interests? (hate/love art, shopping, hiking, beaches, walking, museums, history, architecture, photography, . . . you get the idea. My interests may not be yours.)
What is your budget? (in euros per night for a hotel room for two)
Three weeks is a generous amount of time—lots of possibilities— so wth this information many here will be able to offer a lot of suggestions.
Jul 19th, 2011, 01:02 PM
#4
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I have Italy roots so want to visit my heritage. INterested is sightseeing, relaxing, shopping, beaches and just getting to know another country. as far as a budget i have about $10,000 for food and hotel and shopping ect
Jul 19th, 2011, 01:30 PM
#5
I have Italy roots so want to visit my heritage>>
the whole country, or is there a town or village with particular significance?
do you want to drive, or use public transport? [mainly we're talking about trains in Italy, though there are some useful buses too].
does your DD have any ideas about where she wants to go?
the whole country, or is there a town or village with particular significance?
do you want to drive, or use public transport? [mainly we're talking about trains in Italy, though there are some useful buses too].
does your DD have any ideas about where she wants to go?
Jul 19th, 2011, 01:46 PM
#6
Your budget is approximately 315 euros a day (at the current exchange rate) or about US$475. Assuming you're not including your air fare, this budget isn't impossible by any means, but you need to consider beyond food/hotel/shopping. There will be transportation costs, museum entry fees, some tipping, maybe a guided tour in Rome, etc. All of these incidentals can add up fast.
To stretch your budget, consider staying in apartments. Venice will end up being a little more expensive overall, but you could compensate by staying at this place in Bellagio on Lake Como:
www.residencelalimonera.com
FWIW, because I live in a beach town, I wouldn't choose to spend any time on an Italian beach (I don't recommend swimming in Lake Como), but I could be very easily persuaded to spend a few days in Umbria or Tuscany at a place with a pool. It would be difficult to explore much without a car, but if you pick the right place you could get around a bit by bus.
To stretch your budget, consider staying in apartments. Venice will end up being a little more expensive overall, but you could compensate by staying at this place in Bellagio on Lake Como:
www.residencelalimonera.com
FWIW, because I live in a beach town, I wouldn't choose to spend any time on an Italian beach (I don't recommend swimming in Lake Como), but I could be very easily persuaded to spend a few days in Umbria or Tuscany at a place with a pool. It would be difficult to explore much without a car, but if you pick the right place you could get around a bit by bus.
Jul 19th, 2011, 01:48 PM
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Do you have any interest in visiting the particular area of your heritage? I'm asking because italy is very regional, so if your family was from a small town near Bari, the picture of italian life you will find in Venice and Rome will be quite different. With three weeks you have a generous amount of time to see the "big" sights, but also go in search of your heritage in more out-of-the-way locations.
In my opinion (and shared by many here), the best way to begin to understand a place is to not move around so much. No one-night stays anywhere, since you've barely arrived and it's already time to check out of the hotel and be on your way to the next spot. Even two-night stays mean you're only in a place for one full day. Plus each time you relocate, you will use at least half a day checking in and out of hotels, getting to trains stations, traveling and such.
If you stay in one place for a number of days, you can begin to establish habits. On your second or third visit, the barrista at the corner coffee bar will recognize you and know your regular order. On your second or third visit, the waiter at the local restaurant will give you a warm welcome and offer you complimentary beverages or food. You'll begin to recognize the local shopkeepers.
With three weeks, you have time to take time, which is a wonderful thing.
Your list so far: Rome, Venice, perhaps Lake Como, beach.
Does your 21 days include air travel to/from home? Are you from the U.S.? If you answer "yes" to both of these, you arrive on Day 2 and depart on Day 21, so really have 19 nights/18 full days.
You might fly into Rome and stay there 5 nights, then 4 nights at a beach location (Adriatic Coast?); then 5 nights Venice; then 4 nights Lake Como; fly home from Milan. Obviously, you could see more places by staying fewer days in some of these places, but this should get you thinking. Also consider which of the places you stay might make a good jumping-off point for daytrips to nearby places of interest.
In my opinion (and shared by many here), the best way to begin to understand a place is to not move around so much. No one-night stays anywhere, since you've barely arrived and it's already time to check out of the hotel and be on your way to the next spot. Even two-night stays mean you're only in a place for one full day. Plus each time you relocate, you will use at least half a day checking in and out of hotels, getting to trains stations, traveling and such.
If you stay in one place for a number of days, you can begin to establish habits. On your second or third visit, the barrista at the corner coffee bar will recognize you and know your regular order. On your second or third visit, the waiter at the local restaurant will give you a warm welcome and offer you complimentary beverages or food. You'll begin to recognize the local shopkeepers.
With three weeks, you have time to take time, which is a wonderful thing.
Your list so far: Rome, Venice, perhaps Lake Como, beach.
Does your 21 days include air travel to/from home? Are you from the U.S.? If you answer "yes" to both of these, you arrive on Day 2 and depart on Day 21, so really have 19 nights/18 full days.
You might fly into Rome and stay there 5 nights, then 4 nights at a beach location (Adriatic Coast?); then 5 nights Venice; then 4 nights Lake Como; fly home from Milan. Obviously, you could see more places by staying fewer days in some of these places, but this should get you thinking. Also consider which of the places you stay might make a good jumping-off point for daytrips to nearby places of interest.
Jul 19th, 2011, 06:09 PM
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Good for you taking time to get to know various places in Italy. I would like to suggest you consider staying in apartments in each place (3 or more days will let you do this in many of them). There are many, many apts to be had. Look at VRBO.com, and sleepinitaly.com to start. This will allow you to become familiar with daily life, too, as you shop for groceries.
Try to go earlier in the summer. By mid-July it's starting to get very, very hot and very, very crowded. Frankly, walking around city streets in the heat is bad enough without having to struggle around hordes of other tourists. In August, especially, many Europeans will be swarming the beaches in additional to everyone else. And unless you want to go far south, you will find that the beaches are not that great.
Try to go earlier in the summer. By mid-July it's starting to get very, very hot and very, very crowded. Frankly, walking around city streets in the heat is bad enough without having to struggle around hordes of other tourists. In August, especially, many Europeans will be swarming the beaches in additional to everyone else. And unless you want to go far south, you will find that the beaches are not that great.
Jul 19th, 2011, 07:25 PM
#9
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My family has roots in Varese and some family in Treviso. My money is not for plane rides from
usa to Italy. $10,000 just for the hotel and food ect. I am thinking of flying into Rome and maybe flying out of somewhere else in italy. I dont need to do it all but would like a great experience.
usa to Italy. $10,000 just for the hotel and food ect. I am thinking of flying into Rome and maybe flying out of somewhere else in italy. I dont need to do it all but would like a great experience.
Jul 19th, 2011, 08:00 PM
#11
You can reach both Treviso and Varese by train. Treviso is served by Trenitalia, and Varese is served by Trenord (the regional train system for Lombardia). You can research timetables (and some fares) for both at:
http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html
http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html
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