dwmbit2014

we are planning a trip to Italy in April and may of 2014, we plan to spend Easter in lake Como , any thoughts????we also wanted to travel between positano and rome on Italian labor day may 1st is this possible ?? or will everything be shut down for the holiday????
thanks any and all input,
doug

neckervd

The strike calendar for 2014 is not yet published

bobthenavigator

We spent Easter one year on Lago Como and it snowed--but that was 25 years ago. I wish you better luck !

stevewith

If you are planning on entering museums and monumnets in Rome on May 1, you need to check the specific places to see if they wlll be open. A great many stores will be closed. Because it falls on a Thursday in 2014, it will defacto become a "long weekend" for many business, and a lot of Italians will use the time to travel on trains or on the roads.

I don't know when Easter is 2014, but it should be a good time to enjoy a scenic destination, because almost everything in Italy shuts except for the restaurants and hotels in the scenic areas. (The churches are also open for services). You will need to reserve restaurants and hotels in advance.

It is extremely rare that transportation strikes are scheduled for holidays anywhere in Europe. In Rome, you may see Labor Day marches and events celebrating worker's rights, and transportation workers keep transport running so that people can go to the events.

ellenem

In 2014, Easter is April 20. this may be just late enough to catch the bulb flowers in bloom, though the azaleas and rhododendrons may not yet be blooming. Check for possible closures on Easter Monday.

Another important national holiday in Italy to note is April 25 (Liberation Day) which falls on a Friday in 2014. Therefore many Italians will tae that weekend as a long weekend, so both Thursday afternoon and Friday will be big travel days.

dwmbit2014

Thanks so much for the info, this is the only window we have about april 17th to may 3rd,we planned to spend easter april 20th in lake como at leisure ,hoped to rent a car on that Monday for 5 nights in Tuscany, we didn't know that there was a Easter Monday holiday????/,we will have to check this out, thanks for the input,
dw

ellenem

Just want to reiterate that many, many Italians will be taking advantage of the long weekend that includes April 25.

Annarita_Carotenuto

It is possible to travel between Rome and Positano on the 1st May, you could find some difficulties if you want to visit some museums but the transportation is ok.

Ackislander

In my experience both roads and trains will be absolutely packed at the beginning and end of three day weekends, though I don't know about midweek single day holidays.

Easter Monday is a holiday in many countries.

kybourbon

>>>In my experience both roads and trains will be absolutely packed at the beginning and end of three day weekends,<<<

We were stuck in a terrible traffic jam between Florence and Rome on Easter Monday (late in the afternoon).

>>>dwmbit2014 on May 5, 13 at 2:13pm
Thanks so much for the info, this is the only window we have about april 17th to may 3rd,we planned to spend easter april 20th in lake como at leisure ,hoped to rent a car on that Monday for 5 nights in Tuscany, we didn't know that there was a Easter Monday holiday????/,we will have to check this out, thanks for the input,<<<

I would reverse your itinerary. Start in the south (fly into Naples) where it should already be warm and work you way north. End in the lakes and fly home from Milan.

dwmbit2014

looks like Easter Monday may cause some problems

thanks for the feedback, we are trying to change the trip to may 2nd to the 19th, some higher prices for hotels we can handle.
we have been told to avoid Easter in rome so we were going north to south with the lakes first and end in rome
thanks to all this is a big help