Want to go to Italy

Old Sep 14th, 2005, 07:27 PM
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Want to go to Italy

I am italian and would love to go to Italy for 2 weeks. Can anyone who has been there give me a place to start and end my journey. I will most likely be traveling alone. Need tips on places to stay that are reasonable since I have no one to share the expense.
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Old Sep 14th, 2005, 07:35 PM
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I really think it would help if you read about Italy in a guidebook to get ideas of where you would like to visit (begin and end).

As for 'reasonable' please do state the specific rate per night you wish to pay for accomodation. The reason being is that one person's 'reasonable' rate may not be the same for another person.
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 06:20 AM
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<<a place to start and end my journey>>

This usually depends on how you will arrive in Italy. If you are from the US, you can take a direct flight to an international airport (Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples) or connect through another European or Italian international airport to any smaller Italian airport (Pisa, Florence, Bari, Bologna, Turin, . . . the list is endless).

Please do think about what you want to do in Italy. What are your interests? Do you want to visit your ancestral home? Do you like art? Food? Sports? History? City? Country? We can help you better if you share your thoughts.

Also, take a look at the Italy guides here on Fodors to get some ideas.
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 06:29 AM
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If you want advice re where to start and end your journey, you need to tell us what you plan to do in between. For example, for a trip to Sicily, you might start in Catania, end in Palermo, or vice versa, depending on your plans. For a trip strictly in the northeast, you might fly in and out of Venice, or maybe Trieste. But obviously it would be silly to fly to Venice if you are going only to Sicily, or to fly to Palermo if you want to spend your entire visit in Venice.

When you say you are "Italian," do you mean that is your home or birthplace? If so, do you want to fly either to or from the airport closest to your home or former home, which is...?
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 06:32 AM
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A fairly simple-to-plan first time trip would be to fly into Rome stay 5 days, train to Florence stay 4 days, train to Venice stay 5 days, fly home from Venice. Staying in hostels or convents is the cheapest.

But you might want to see the countryside instead of cities? Or prefer to stay at B&B's or small hotels? More details will help people give you better suggestions.
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 06:56 AM
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If you've never been, and don't want to feel "all alone".

Travelling with a tour group from a licensed operator is also a fine option. It's how myself and my lady are going next month.

We'll be visiting 5 cities in 7 days, all the usual "touristy" places to visit are covered with admissions taken care of already. Hotels are taken care of, ground transportation in Italy is taken care of. I booked our air separately and saved a big chunk of money.

Tour groups may have certain stigma attached to them but, in my humble opinion, if you're going someplace you've never been, want to see the things the tour group covers anyway, and since you're travelling on your own, I think its something you might want to give fair consideration to.

If you'd like to look into it, start your research at www.globusjourneys.com.

Globus came highly recommended to me, and there is a thread in this very forum that also vouches for their outstanding performance in Italy.

Give their italian tours a look and see what you think. We're doing the "Italy's Great Cities" tour and can't wait!
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 04:55 PM
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Thanks so much for all of your replies. The globusjourneys.com is more than likely the way I may go, as I have frequently flyer points to use for my flight

Dawn
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 05:06 PM
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If you are on a budget, consider also Cosmos Tours the budget "sister" tour company of Globus. Prices are lower, hotels are of a lower category and somewhat outside the city centres, but a group tour might help you giving you an idea of Italy, as it's the first time you visit the coutry and you are alone. When in a group, you can get to know new people.
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 05:08 PM
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If I remember well you can ask the tour operator if, rather than having a single and pay the single supplement, you can get a shared room with someone else traveling alone who's also willing to share. Sometimes operators do that, I am not positive about Globus/Cosmos.

Try also Trafalgar Tours, for budget- minding traveler.
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Old Sep 19th, 2005, 05:10 PM
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After living / working fro one year in Italy, I would recommend visiting: Roma (2-3nights), Venezia(2-3nights), Milano (1night), Cinque Terre (1night)Firenze(2-3nights), Siena (1night), Pisa (day trip), Napoli (day trip to Pompeii and ferry to Capri), Sorrento (1night), Capri (1night).
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