1st Italy Trip, 20yrs old
 

Ok, calling all experts!!
I am planning a trip to Italy with a friend, Neither of us have ever been to Europe, and we are planning to book in the next few days. Feel the pressure?? We are 2 college students from Boston (guy & girl) and are just dying to make the right choices. We have found a tour company that targets people of our age range, although I can't help but feel as though it is a sin to try and "cram" in all of the sites, so there are 2 options for us (and in comes your role)...
1. Say forget the tour, focus on one destination and spend more money taking day trips.
2. 10 Day guided tour begining in Milan to Venice (2days), Florence(2), Asisi(1), Sorrento(1), Rome(2) for under 2,000usd.
Our objective is to see as much as we can, relax some, and ideally make some friends dispite the language issue (we don't speak it) :-)
Honestly we'd love to stay, live there for the summer, work and soak up the culture and I'm just not sure that running around behind a tour bus is the best way to form relationships. Really MUST see Rome, and so much want to live the "Under the Tuscan Sun" dream! Positano, Tuscany...oh can't stop!
PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. Any input is much appreciated!

Hi Matt, how exciting for the both of you!

My personal feeling is that this tour will have you running ragged. Regarding the tour. Does 2 days in Venice mean 1 night. You will lose time getting to your hotel in Venice, and you will have to leave the next day then. So not a lot of time to enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Same with the other stops the tour provides.

Have you time to figure out what part of Italy you two are especially interest in?

I would think for ten days that maybe two areas would be good. And then take days trip from there.

If you wanted to stay in Venice stay there if possible at least 3 nights. Then you could go to Florence, again if that interested you. That is a train trip of about 3 hours. However you might think about 1 night in Bologna. Quite a "student" city and very beautiful.

Or you could go to Rome for the rest of your trip. Then you could take day trips from there.

It is a bit hard to recommend very much as not sure if you travel on your own how many nights you would have. And what the max for your budget is. And again what interest you may have.

You sound like Rome is especially interesting to you. Good choice IMHO.
And you mention Tuscany of course.

Are you famaliar with an "open jaw" ticket. For example you could fly into Venice and fly home from Rome". That would eliminate backtracking.

Don't feel bad about wanting to do "everything". That is true of everyone that goes to Italy.

But this certainly will not be your last visit to beautiful Italy. So if you can figure out what appeals to you two and post more here I am sure you will get a wealth of information.

Hi Matt,
I agree with LoveItaly--the tour really sounds frantic and besides, as students, you will be able to get some great deals with student cards and through youth hostels. Goggle "international student travel" and you'll get lots of tips.

My 21 year old daughter is there in school for 6 mo. now and she stayed in youth hostels and said they were fine, plus it's a way to network with other young travellers.

Also, you might check out lonelyplanet.com and slowtrav.com--I think these websites are geared more towards your agegroup. And check out the library and bookstores for guidebooks--Lets Go and Rick Steves are more "budget minded".

Know that Italy has been around for quite awhile and will be there for you to visit again, so think more of "experiencing" it rather than just rushing through.

(Make sure you check out student airfares...they're much cheaper!)

Matt, artlover has given you some fantastic advice. Much better then I did. Do take the time to pursue artlover's thoughts. And have fun planning your trip!

Don't forget to file a trip report after you two return. I am sure it will be interesting. Best wishes.

Hi Matt,

For 10 days, I suggest flying into Venice - 4 nights, train to Florence - 5 nights.

From Florence, visit Siena by bus and Bologna by train.

Fly home from FLR or PSA.

OR

Fly into Venice - 3 nights. Train to Rome - 6 nights. Fly home from Rome.

You can do either for much less than $2000 pp.

((I))

Have a blast Matt and forget the tour, you'll have a lot more fun and feel a great sense of accomplishment by doing it yourself. When we went to Europe the first time we just rented a car and drove with no plans whatsoever. I was scared to death but we had a great time. Europe is very familiar and comfortable, but different and exciting at the same time. If it were me I would probably stay a five days in a small town in Tuscany with a day trip to Florence and five days in Rome. You can do this more cheaply than 2000 E and you will do what YOU want to do. Youth hostels are a great way to go inexpensively and make friends. Lucky you to start travelling now, my first trip to Europe was at 37! Have a great time and report back

My 19 and 21 y/o kids went to Italy last month and stayed in hostels which were good and bad look at the sta travel site for listings. However the one thing they learned was that a tour guide for the Vatican for ex or the Coliseum enriched the experience immensely. They "did" Florence and Venice blindly and really felt that they missed out.Good luck-I am sure you'll have a great time!!

You will have to decide which type of trip you want for your first trip to Italy. IMO you will see more of the major sites of Italy if you take the tour. You may also get more insight and learn more from the local guides that will be invloved. You will probably enjoy some of the other people on your tour BUT at times you will feel like a sheep being herded around. My first two visits to Italy were on a tour - I got to see ALOT in a short amount of time and figure out where I wanted to spend more time on later trips. So to tour or not to tour - that is your decision. If you don't take the tour I'd suggest an open jaw flight and staying two or maybe three places. Venice and Rome would be my personal choices or Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Whatever you choose it will be wonderful - its Italy! and God willing you will go again (and again and again....)

DO NOT DO NOT do a tour. For the young and adventurous this is a complete waste of time and money. Only you know what you want to see and how much time to spend where.

Taveling in Italy is supremely easy - you can do it even without a word of Italian. (By the way - if you start now and spend a few minutes a day you could easily have a working knowledge of basic italian by summer.) And if you have ever studied Spanish - or even French a lot of Italian will be recognizable (my brother managed one trip in a lot of out of the way places with two years of high school Spanish.)

And planning the trip is half the fun - you'll want some cafe sitting, relaxing and (I assume) romatic time - vs the whirlwind of the tour.

If you are limited to 10 days I would probably do Rome and Venice - very different from each other and both unique. If you want you could do a day trip from one or the other. Get an open jaws ticket - into rome and out of Venice, train in between and you're all set.

(My boyfriend and I did this when I was 19 - and I still have great memories almost 30 years later.)

I went at age 22 with a friend and had a blast visiting several countries over our month-long visit.
DO NOT do a tour!!!
You can do it less expensively on your own.

In Venice, I loved the Ostello Santa Fosca hostel.

just another quick note...you can book local guides in any of the areas you are interested in, so you can still get some guidance in certain areas where you may want and need it without the structure imposed by a tour group. We are taking a two hour tour with a local guide in Venice our first day there for 100E. Group tours are available in many locations for even less.

Adding to the tour guide comment I made earlier and in reference to ke marshall, my kids used a guide out of the Rick Steves book and he was incredible accdg to them and I think he was 50euro, plus it was just the guide and the two of them so he really tailored the tour to their interests (not pubs-really!)

Thank you all SO much for all of the great words of wisdom, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! It seems the concensis is that we should try and do this "on our own", Intimidating, yet exciting! I think after discussing it, the two places we MUST see are Rome (a week?) and more Northern areas of the Amalfi Coast (a week?) or Tuscany. I am just concerned that we will end up somewhere "stuck" with fairly minimal activities, I am happy to just sit and soak up the culture, but Night life would be a GREAT bonus. Also does anyone have any idea of Car Rental Procedures? we are 20 and in the US you must be 25 to rent. Again I can't thank you all enough!!!!!

Hi Matt, you will need to check with auto rental companies regarding their minimum age limit. If you do find a company that will rent to you I am sure the rental price will be very high due to your age. And auto rentals in Italy are high to begin with. As is gasoline, toll fees on autostradas, parking etc.

Unless you have an unlimited budget I think that you will find public transportation would work the best for you. Public transportation in Europe is so much better and more convenient then in most of the US.

If you do end of renting an auto in Italy do be sure to go to your AAA office to get the International Driving Permit. You will need a passport size photo. Cost is $10.00. You do not need to be a member of AAA to acquire the IDP. It will translate your US Drivers License into several languages. This is required in Italy if you get stopped by the Police or heaven forbid are in an accident. Be sure to take your US drivers license with you also.

Have fun planning this venture. You will have fun!

If you are not a member of AAA, the cost is $18. My husband paid this amount 2 months ago when we were headed to Germany/Austria.

I agree with LoveItaly's VERY sound advice though - use the public transportation!!

My friend and I used trains and buses on every segment of our backpacking trip after college (2002). You can print out schedules from www.trenitalia.com (English button at the top of the screen), and you can even buy tickets online.

TA--the cost of the IDP itself is $10 for everybody, member of AAA or not.

If you don't bring your own passport-size photos, then there is an extra charge (apparently $8 in hubbie's case) for AAA to furnish the photos.

Thanks for the clarification Rufus as I was confused because just a couple of weeks ago a friend paid $10.00 for the IDP (nonmember of AAA). No doubt had his own photos.

Here's a good thread for inexpensive stays:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34567409

There was another thread started today by Jane Something (no, not Jane Doe) that reviewed 3 convents in Venice, Florence and Rome. I can't find that thread now, if you do it is a nice resource. Not sure if you're interested in convent accomodation but they are very budget friendly.

Thanks Rufus - all I ever saw was the canceled check for $18 to AAA.
In any case, it's very minimal and you have to have it in Italy so if you decide to drive, make sure to get one!

Hi Matt,
I also agree with Loveitaly,I booked a tour In Januarary with Globus for this October. After reading MANY insights at this sight and others, I canceled the tour last Friday, and am now going to Italy on my own.

I am flying into Venice for 2 nights, then taking the train to Florence for 5 nights. I am planning on spending 2 whole days just exploring Florence the first two days, then am taking day trips/tours out to Pisa, Sienna, San G and Chianti.

After that, I will take the train to Rome for five nights. I will spend at least three days exploring Rome. Then a day (maybe two) trip toPompeii,Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. Then head back to Seattle.

Everybody that I have talked to has said that I will get more out of the trip vs going on a tour. One thing to think about is, you will have to get up about 6AM every morning on the tour AND spend ALOT of time on a bus.

Hope this helps.

Tom

PS To everybody out there. I have benn told not to get hotels near the main train stations. Your opinions?

found it!!
here's the other thread, its by Jane Post
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34605575

Hi TRSW, I have stated this before and some people have not agreed - but for what it is worth here goes. My SIL, born and raised in Rome does not like the southern end of the Train Station in Rome. Many travellers say they do but I think someone who lived a good portion of his life in Rome no doubt knows more about the problems then the average traveller, including me.

There is lodging near the Florence train station that has been suggested by Ira (I think it is Ira) many times on Fodors. Hopefully he will see this post and advise you.

Maybe you should start your own thread, and address this question in the title. Imagine you will get lots of responses. BTW, your trip sounds fantastic!

<<Hi Matt, you will need to check with auto rental companies regarding their minimum age limit. If you do find a company that will rent to you I am sure the rental price will be very high due to your age.>>

Not my experience. Found available car rentals from www.its-cars-hotels.com with minimum age 19... added surcharge is only $13 (USD) per day (was less a few years back, when I was traveling with a 21 year old who rented a car).

Rstrictions on models that can be rented... yes. But excessive surcharge? I don't think so, personally.

Best wishes,

Rex

How do we know which train to take? We want to take it from Venice to Florence, stay 3 days then Florence to Rome? Someone please answer????

anitabelle,
http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html

You can ask in person at the train station in Italy what are the times and trains available for the route you want. Or you can consult a train schedule online. Or you can find a travel office in Italy to assist you.

Wonderful, I can't believe the wealth of information and experience on this site! Ok, so I think we are going to try and fly into Milan...train to Tuscany 4 nights...to Rome 6 nights...to Naples/Positano 4nights and fly home from Naples. Let me know what you think...and certainly feel free to suggest any lodging at a reasonable rate. We'd like to be in villas, apartments, or hotels ideally. Not real big into the idea of convent/hostile. Thank you all so much again!

Hi matt,

Looks good.

>... fly into Milan...train to Tuscany 4 nights..<

Where in Tuscany?

((I))

Matt, Just a suggestion, if you tell us what you consider reasonable for a hotel rate, you will get a lot more help.

If you haven't already found them, a couple of websites you can use to search for accommodations are venere.com and eurocheapo.com (somehow connected to venere). Tripadvisor.com is also good for reviews of hotels and some b&bs. Many people will suggest that you contact properties direct, but venere and eurocheapo (along with the search function here) may help you narrow your search.

Eurocheapo has a link for Youth Hostels - don't be turned off by this title. Listed there are many inexpensive non-hostel options.

Your trip looks like it will be a great adventure ~ enjoy.

Hi Mattl458:
In 2002 I stayed at L'Agnolo in the heart of Montelpulciano, a 5 room frescoed ceiling B&B. I had the place to myself in late Sept. It was lovely and near many highlights of southern Tuscany. It's listed on www.karenbrown.com under B&B's for $83E double. The owner, Cinzia Caroti speaks very little English, so I had karenbrown.com make the reservation for me.

Hi Matt, you probably already know this but just in case - I assume you will be flying into the Milpensa airport (Milan). And you stated you will be taking the train to Tuscany.

The Milpensa airport has a shuttle bus that will take you to the Centrale train station in Milan where you can then get the train to go to where you want. Think it runs about every 20 to 30 minutes.

Have fun!!!!

My first trip to Italy was when I was a junior in college, so same age as you. I studied in Rome for a semester. I had a fantastic time and have been back to Italy three times since (I'm 30 now). So don't worry that this is your one and only chance to go!

It sounds as if you have already decided to go on your own v. the tour. Unless going on your own will be very stressful for you and ruin your fun, I would absolutely go on your own. I think you can find inexpensive enough hotels through www.venere.it or other sites that you probably don't need to stay in a hostel.

As for nightlife in Rome, there are a lot of clubs in the Testaccio area. In August and the first week or two in September, they all close as Romans leave the city and the nightlife heads to the beach towns outside Rome. The area near the university has a lot of pizzerias and other inexpensive restaurants where you'll find students. Campo di Fiori, a square in the old - well I guess it's all pretty damn old - area near the Pantheon, is hopping at night with lots of young people in the bars and restaurants nearby. There is a fun wine bar on the corner near the great Forno bakery.

All around the Pantheon area are wine bars, pubs and other places to hang out. These are a little more upscale but don't have to be expensive as you can just order a drink and hang out. One place that looked fun is called (strangely enough) Friends. I think Testaccio has more dance clubs and the Pantheon area more cafes and bars.

If you want to feel like you fit in a bit more and want to meet Italians, I agree with NY traveler that you might want to try to learn a little Italian before you go. it fun to speak and pretty easy to pick up. if you buy a cd (living languages or berlitz are pretty good) and listen to it in the car or while you are walking around you'll be surprised at how much you can learn.
Italians are so friendly and if they see you trying to speak Italian they will appreciate it and probably start a conversation with you (in english). Your (female) friend won't have any problem getting a conversation started! Young Italian guys tend to be very friendly! I'd also leave my college sweatshirts, shorts and Sox hats at home if you want to blend in. Although having said that when I was in Rome a few months ago, a few people congratulated me on the Red Sox when I told them I was from Boston.

If you are there for a couple of weeks, I'd skip the car and use Rome as a base for a week (I am biased because I love ROme) and take the train to Florence, Siena, Todi, or to other towns in Tuscany and Umbria. You could then go south and take the train to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. The other suggestions of staying in Venice or Florence or Bologna are good too. The trains are good in Italy and can get you probably every where that you would want to go on your first visit to Italy.

Have a great time.

Matt,
If you take a tour you'd shoot yourself probably shortly after arrival. For a 20yr old, you're more exlorative, inquisitive, etc and to be confined by a tour group would drive you nuts within 24 hours or less. I strongly suggest you do some good research on where you want to go and what you want to see and fill in the blanks....you'll have one rippin time. Hey by the way when are you going? I'm taking about 10 20 yr olds over there in early/mid June....seriously if you wanted to join they'd enjoy that. We're doing Switzerland and Italy. Happy travels.

You are all so great, I can't believe how much I've learned with such little effort! As I said we're pretty sure we'll be doing Florence (and day trips into the country, Arezzo, Cortona etc.), Rome (for 6 nights) and ideally Positano for the last stretch, We plan to go on July 9 and come back the 23rd (and for me, I have a gut feeling that I may not come back...If I fall in love with the place like everyone has said I will I'll be posting messages here to help me find work!! :-) ). The girl that I am going with is understandably a bit apprehensive about going without a group. She really likes the idea of the Security and guidance of a tour, I keep telling her to have faith in me and let me do the leg work.

I agree with you Sally, I think I will fall for Rome, we aren't Bible pushers, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a dream for both of us to attend a Sunday Mass in the heart of the Catholic Faith. At the same time the draw to Night Life is HUGE, our ideal would be to have SOMEONE we knew, or atleast could go to for advice and feel like we weren't totally on our own. But I have faith that we will meet SOMEONE that 'knows the ropes' there.

GOD this is exciting, I am so ready to just head to the airport and GO!!

Thank you all so much YET AGAIN!

Matt-

It seems like just yesterday that I embarked on my first trip to Europe. I went at age 17, 19, and 24. I did it without the help of a tour and more importantly, without the help of the internet. You are starting to see what a great help it can be.

Now my 20-year old daughter is planning her first trip to Europe. I have absolutely no qualms about "letting" her go. She and her friend are going for 5 weeks and want to go everywhere.

Aahhh, to be young again. You will love it!

Hi Matt1458:
I see I am a little late joining the fray here and you may have already decided against the tour, but I will throw in my two cents based upon my experiences as a 20-something in Europe thus far.

My first trip to Europe was the summer after college graduation, and as I was going solo, and spoke no Italian, I did the Contiki tour "simply italy" and I LOVED IT. I met so many people on the tour - always someone to go out with at night! - and it was such a great introduction to the country! Based upon that experience, I highly recommend that tour company to any younger traveler on their first trip to Europe....and the friends of mine who have taken the recommendation have similarly had unforgettable experiences. Yes, they are cliche tours where you see way too much in way too little time, but quite simply a blast, and a great intro.

That said, since that trip, I have been back to Europe (including Italy once more) 3 times on my own (not with a tour) for personal travel, and am planning the next trip this summer to Greece.

Based upon your specific situation - the fact that you are travelling with a friend, and that you are going in peak tourist season - I think you will be fine to go on your own, if that's what you've decided.

A few other points I will add based upon where you're planning to go:
- Nightlife - going in July, as you are, will lend itself to finding good nightlife. My last trip was to the Amalfi Coast - including Sorrento & Capri - we went out nearly every night and had a great time, even though it was 'shoulder season' and the clubs weren't crowded.
- the Catholic experience - like you, I couldn't wait to see St. Peters for the first time, and it was amazing...but Assisi was actually more memorable for me from a Catholic perspective. Perhaps because the Vatican is stop on every tourists' list, vs. a pilgrimage site for Catholics, I don't know...whatever the reason, I felt equally if not more moved visiting Assisi. So if you can include Assisi on your trip, it may be worth it for the experience.

So, my two cents....hopefully haven't made your decision more complicated, but do hope the info helps!

Thank you all so much for your very helpful advice, you've definitly shed an awful lot of light on our plans. Another thing I was hoping that someone might have some experience with is...does anyone know of a site that in essence connects you with people over there, a shot at making a connection with someone there, to chat with until we go and maybe to meet once we're there. I'm sure there are groups out of the US that plan to meet up over there, but if we could "hook up" with a local over there it would be amazing. The one thing we were hoping to learn, was where (on a map maybe) we should steer clear of, I know that if someone was coming to Boston or New York for the First time, I would steer them away from several select areas, for their own sake, you all know what I mean...the places that you prey that your car doesn't break down in. Being so inexperienced in this area it just seems like a good idea to have some perspective when we arrive?
I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking this. Feel free to tell me to "lighten up"!
Thanks Again!

Yes: it is called travellerspoint.com.

It lists, by country, people who are willing to offer advice to people like you.

Some are living in the country, some are merely seasoned travellers offering their experience.

It is youth-oriented.

It offers some other services and info/ links as well.

Ok, having some more trouble here... We are trying to come up with airfares, all of the "big name" sites (travelocity, expedia, bestfares, cheaptickets) are bringing us in at nearly 1200usd. Is this to be expected? I had read so many posts about Open Jaw Tickets and it seemed the concensis was that I could get in around 700-900. This is where we would like to be if possible. We would Ideally like to start in the north and head south throughout the week. We were thinking flying into Milan or Florence on 7/9/05 (leaving Boston on the 8th) and coming home Naples (or Rome if it's MUCH cheaper, but will mean some back tracking) on the 23rd. I am thinking I should call a travel agent unless anyone here has a suggestion. Any thoughts?? Thanks Again!