3 Days in Italy - Which City?

Old Mar 26th, 2010, 06:06 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3 Days in Italy - Which City?

Realize this will come across as naïve but it is what it is...
For a variety of reasons I now have the opportunity to spend three nights in Italy at the end of Apr. My question to the group is which city would you recommend we visit? Here are the circumstances:
• This will be an add-on vacation after a business trip
• Will be arriving via Paris
• My wife will be with me
• We are seasoned travelers
• We have never been to Italy before
• Our intent is to select one city and not hop from one to the next
• We would arrive on a Friday and depart Monday or Tuesday
I now travel to Europe 4 – 6 times per year so there is high probability I/we could get back to Italy again in future.
Normally I would do extensive research to help me determine where to visit. However I really want to book flights ASAP so thought I’d tap into group knowledge to expedite city selection.
Appreciate your suggestions and reasoning.
Thanks!
Ajolder is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 06:23 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What are your interests? Do you like history (Rome), art(Florence), food (Bologna), intersting atmosphere (Venice)

If you give us an idea of what you like to do and see on vacation we can help you out more.
jamikins is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 06:35 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With only 3 days I suggest Venice. Save Rome for when you have more time. Here is a preview:

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4440
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 06:53 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With only 3 days to see a place I suggest Florence.
aussieparker is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 07:04 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The cities Jamikins mentioned plus perhaps Milan+Lakes are obvious choices.

But is your trip only a month away? Do you really have that many choices? Are there flights and hotels that meet your needs available at the prices you want?
greg is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 07:05 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If it was my first time to Italy, I would overwhelmingly choose Rome. (But, of course, it depends where your personal interests lie.)
krgystn is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 07:29 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you all for quick response. After posting original message I started spot checking flights and realized this may not be as striaghtforward as anticipated. I am getting ridiculous one way fares between Paris and Venice or Rome. Anyway will keep investigating. Presuming we decided upon Rome does anyone have suggestions for decent low cost airlines? Also is there a preferred or to be avoided airport in Rome?
Ajolder is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 07:50 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is like setting a kid in a toy store and asking them to pick just one ---
That said, I think I would pick Venice. Venice is actually quite small, and even though it is enchanting, the amount of major "sights" can be seen in about 3 days. Because it is so unique, it almost deserves to stand on its own as a "mini-trip" unto itself. The only caveat is if you are flying back from Venice, there are very few direct flights. I know that Delta flies directly into New York once a day, but other than that, you will have to either do a connection, or fly directly from Milan (about 2 hours away by train). The end of April should be a great time to go; the city will noe be overrun with tourists and the Venetians will not be away for summer holiday.
DebbieB23 is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 07:59 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I recently discovered http://www.whichbudget.com/. You can search all of the destinations reachable with low cost carriers (or other carriers) from Paris.
yorkshire is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 08:26 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with the Venice folks, I think in only 3 days you can get a better feel for Venice than Rome or Florence (though many people, including me can easily keep busy in Venice for a week or more).
kellyee21 is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 10:37 AM
  #11  
dcd
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10,039
Received 58 Likes on 4 Posts
Another vote for Venice.
dcd is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 11:03 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,748
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Venice.

easyjet.com flies Paris CDG to Venice.

easyjet.com and airberlin?/NIKI are listed as flying from Orly to Venice

I don't think it will be expensive.
tuscanlifeedit is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 11:05 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FLORENCE, FLORENCE AND THEN FLORENCE. WONDERFUL FOR THREE DAYS - STAY AT HOTEL CASCI AND WANDER, EAT AND ENJOY.
AMYWISS is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 04:22 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rome is the classic - but to really see anything you need a minimum of 3 days (4 nights) and 4 days is better. If you can;t do at least 3 full days I would do Venice or Florence (based on convenince of travel) in both of which you can ee alot in 2.5 days.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2010, 04:57 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Venice in a heartbeat. It's a city you can experience without "seeing" anything--even getting lost is part of the fun. You could just go to St. Mark's Square every night and dance and that would be enough. I am a big art aficionado, and I think Florence is my dream art city, but to appreciate it fully, ones needs a bit of pre-trip prep and time. I agree that for Rome, one needs at least four days. I love all three, but for a "quickie", Venice wins.
AlessandraZoe is online now  
Old Mar 27th, 2010, 01:59 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have only 3 days I suggest you to go to Florence, because in one day you can visit the city, another day you can discover other little countries near Florence (and less expansive than FLorence!!!) and at the end of your trip you can go for a walk in the countryside.
It sounds beautiful, don't you think?
bye and have a good trip!
jExIcA is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2010, 02:07 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Venezia, definitely.
gelatolover is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Laurel61
Europe
9
Feb 21st, 2012 02:04 PM
jamdesign
Europe
12
Feb 10th, 2005 10:53 AM
aparna
Europe
14
Jan 29th, 2005 08:56 AM
6470First
Europe
9
Sep 21st, 2004 01:26 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -