Beating the Euro in Italy
Feb 28th, 2008, 01:05 PM
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Hello fellow Fodorites -- I'm the editor of the Fodor's Florence, Tuscany & Umbria guide. Thanks for the tips here and elsewhere on the boards -- I've learned a lot from you all.
The thing that's killing me as I plan my next trip to Italy is the cost of getting there. In years past if I searched around I could find an affordable airfare, but that seems impossible now -- or at least I'm not looking in the right places. (I want to go to the Dolomites in July. The way my schedule has panned out this year, traveling off season isn't a possibility.)
So, as a subcategory for this thread, do you have any suggestions for finding the best deals on flights to Italy?
The thing that's killing me as I plan my next trip to Italy is the cost of getting there. In years past if I searched around I could find an affordable airfare, but that seems impossible now -- or at least I'm not looking in the right places. (I want to go to the Dolomites in July. The way my schedule has panned out this year, traveling off season isn't a possibility.)
So, as a subcategory for this thread, do you have any suggestions for finding the best deals on flights to Italy?
Feb 28th, 2008, 01:23 PM
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I'm flying from New York, so Eurofly would seem to be a good option. But when I try to find flights into Venice, they're calendar for July comes up blank. Same holds true for Linate and Turin. I can get a fare on the site for Bologna, but it's over $1,000.
I haven't yet tried flights to Munich, which might be viable approach (though not on Eurofly).
I haven't yet tried flights to Munich, which might be viable approach (though not on Eurofly).
Feb 28th, 2008, 01:35 PM
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Matt, if you find a cheap flight in July, you'll really be doing well. I started looking last November, checked www.kayak.com and others at least once a day. The prices were $1150 and up. They haven't moved at all, except to go up and then back down to that same range. I finally booked one a couple of days ago at $1150 because I really liked the times and connections and it's a direct flight on the way home. With the fuel prices the way they are, I don't think you're going to see the prices of a year ago, when I went, also in July, for $650!
Feb 28th, 2008, 01:52 PM
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I think you're right, Susan. (I may end up doing my hiking in the Adirondacks this summer.) But -- I didn't mean to get this thread sidetracked. We're still looking for money-saving tips for italophiles.
Feb 28th, 2008, 02:30 PM
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One way to save on the expense of guided tours is to register online at Sound Guides (http://www.sound-guides.com/) and download the various free self-guided tours to your Ipod or MP3 player. I did this for my recent trip to Rome and I enjoyed going at my own pace while listening to the history of the various sights: Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, etc. The web site even has audio tours for London, Venice, and Paris!
Another tip: Have your main meal of the day at lunchtime, as prices are usually less expensive than at dinnertime. Most restaurants have a menu of the day, which may include an appetizer, entrée and dessert or two food items and a drink or some sort of combination.
Monica
Another tip: Have your main meal of the day at lunchtime, as prices are usually less expensive than at dinnertime. Most restaurants have a menu of the day, which may include an appetizer, entrée and dessert or two food items and a drink or some sort of combination.
Monica
Feb 28th, 2008, 02:42 PM
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Hi Matt,
Have you checked the usual suspects, www.1800flyeurope.com, www.kayak.com and www.mobissimo.com?
How does one become an editor?
Can I do it from home, or do I have to move to the big city?
Have you checked the usual suspects, www.1800flyeurope.com, www.kayak.com and www.mobissimo.com?
How does one become an editor?
Can I do it from home, or do I have to move to the big city?
Feb 28th, 2008, 02:43 PM
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One way I like to browse for (but not buy) flights:
www.itasoftware.com
* Click on "search airfares using QPX."
* Click on the radio button for "month-long search"
* Enter the beginning date for the month you would like to search and the length of your trip (in nights).
* You'll get back a nice grid of the cheapest dates to depart, and as you select more criteria, you'll see the exact airlines and flight numbers.
* Take the info to your nearest booking site.
Happy browsing!
www.itasoftware.com
* Click on "search airfares using QPX."
* Click on the radio button for "month-long search"
* Enter the beginning date for the month you would like to search and the length of your trip (in nights).
* You'll get back a nice grid of the cheapest dates to depart, and as you select more criteria, you'll see the exact airlines and flight numbers.
* Take the info to your nearest booking site.
Happy browsing!
Feb 28th, 2008, 03:15 PM
#29
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I've been to kayak, 800flyeurope, and ita software (an old favorite). I'll check out mobissimo.
It's true, Ira, you have to move to the big city to edit Fodor's guides -- we're all huddled together in an office building on Broadway. But based on your informed and articulate posts, I imagine you'd flourish at the job.
It's true, Ira, you have to move to the big city to edit Fodor's guides -- we're all huddled together in an office building on Broadway. But based on your informed and articulate posts, I imagine you'd flourish at the job.
Feb 28th, 2008, 03:16 PM
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I do it by reading this list.
Airfare: I check several and use Yapta and Vayama and Farecast to get a feel for the price and when I see one I think is fair enough I buy it and forget it. You can go crazy trying to get “The Best Fare”
Ira suggested Peterson B&B a couple years ago and I have stayed there twice and my daughter is staying there this year. Ira’s advice has been great!
I learned enough Italian to shop in the markets and mom-pop shops and buy fixings for lunch and\or light dinners.
In Italy:
I rent an apartment if I am at a place more than a couple of days; eat breakfast and dinner in for the most part. I splurge and get one with a terrace in Rome. I Venice I go for the cheapest I can get. You can get double rooms for 70euro a day if you shop around. Makes eating at home much nicer. You can if you look find a nice one in Rome the 100e day range.
I eat at working folks places such as the "Goose" near the Vatican dinner 3 course runs 20e with wine if you leave hungry its your own fault, or the Chinese places along the via delle mura again near the Vatican I have had a 8 course meal for 13e. Also there are several markets in every area you will visit, just check them out. I buy one bottle of water then fill it up from the street fountains in Rome saves 2-3 euro every time. The Rome pass can be a good buy. If you go to the Borghuese and Vatican museums it pays for itself with just those two and with the week of bus fares bus fares and ½ price at other sites it can work for you. Ditto the Venice and Naples cards but you have to check out what these cards offer vrs what you want to do.
Venice is very expensive, I hit the markets, and again working class eating places. I buy snack and try to eat near the college area where the food is a lot cheaper. There is also a buffet near the train station
I take regional trains instead of the ES. As an example
Florence to Rome on ES is 32.50 euro, regional train is 15.80 euro ½ price so it takes 15 minutes longer big deal. Rome to Naples is even a better deal. ES is 32.00e regional is 10.50euro in this case ½ hour longer. You can also take the Sita bus from Florence to Seina and then transfer to another bus to Rome but the trip is about 4.5 hours but I have never done it.
Bus tours from Florence to Pisa are about 75e. You can take the train for appx 11euro round trip.
Do the free things:
Venice: stroll along the Zattere in the evening or Riva d Schiavioni visit San Marco and listen to the music just don’t take a seat and order coffee at Florians. Visit some of the church’s such as San Stefano. Go to the market, and just walk around you will be amazed at how much you will see.
Rome: has tons of free things The Spanish Steps, the fountains, the Forum, Pantheon etc. Do your homework and find them, some places and museums are free on Sundays.
Florence: P Michangelo is a great free view of the city and lovely in the evening with the setting sun in the background. Walk around take a side street or two, go to the central market, the ponte vecchico open your eyes to the free things.
Naples: don’t hire a tour take the train 3e to Pompeii, or stay on it to Sorrento and take the bus down the coast. They have a new thing this year a 5e 24 hour bus ticket for the coast routes. Get off at which ever towns you want to and walk around. You can still get the l trip ticket for 1euro
It boils down to doing some digging and rethinking what you really want\need. There is no right way to do a trip. If you like 5 star hotels then plan for that, if you like to eat at “name” restaurants then plan for that, if you want a combo then plan for that. If on the other hand your like me and simply want a clean bed, simple decent food then plan for that then enjoy your trip.
Airfare: I check several and use Yapta and Vayama and Farecast to get a feel for the price and when I see one I think is fair enough I buy it and forget it. You can go crazy trying to get “The Best Fare”
Ira suggested Peterson B&B a couple years ago and I have stayed there twice and my daughter is staying there this year. Ira’s advice has been great!
I learned enough Italian to shop in the markets and mom-pop shops and buy fixings for lunch and\or light dinners.
In Italy:
I rent an apartment if I am at a place more than a couple of days; eat breakfast and dinner in for the most part. I splurge and get one with a terrace in Rome. I Venice I go for the cheapest I can get. You can get double rooms for 70euro a day if you shop around. Makes eating at home much nicer. You can if you look find a nice one in Rome the 100e day range.
I eat at working folks places such as the "Goose" near the Vatican dinner 3 course runs 20e with wine if you leave hungry its your own fault, or the Chinese places along the via delle mura again near the Vatican I have had a 8 course meal for 13e. Also there are several markets in every area you will visit, just check them out. I buy one bottle of water then fill it up from the street fountains in Rome saves 2-3 euro every time. The Rome pass can be a good buy. If you go to the Borghuese and Vatican museums it pays for itself with just those two and with the week of bus fares bus fares and ½ price at other sites it can work for you. Ditto the Venice and Naples cards but you have to check out what these cards offer vrs what you want to do.
Venice is very expensive, I hit the markets, and again working class eating places. I buy snack and try to eat near the college area where the food is a lot cheaper. There is also a buffet near the train station
I take regional trains instead of the ES. As an example
Florence to Rome on ES is 32.50 euro, regional train is 15.80 euro ½ price so it takes 15 minutes longer big deal. Rome to Naples is even a better deal. ES is 32.00e regional is 10.50euro in this case ½ hour longer. You can also take the Sita bus from Florence to Seina and then transfer to another bus to Rome but the trip is about 4.5 hours but I have never done it.
Bus tours from Florence to Pisa are about 75e. You can take the train for appx 11euro round trip.
Do the free things:
Venice: stroll along the Zattere in the evening or Riva d Schiavioni visit San Marco and listen to the music just don’t take a seat and order coffee at Florians. Visit some of the church’s such as San Stefano. Go to the market, and just walk around you will be amazed at how much you will see.
Rome: has tons of free things The Spanish Steps, the fountains, the Forum, Pantheon etc. Do your homework and find them, some places and museums are free on Sundays.
Florence: P Michangelo is a great free view of the city and lovely in the evening with the setting sun in the background. Walk around take a side street or two, go to the central market, the ponte vecchico open your eyes to the free things.
Naples: don’t hire a tour take the train 3e to Pompeii, or stay on it to Sorrento and take the bus down the coast. They have a new thing this year a 5e 24 hour bus ticket for the coast routes. Get off at which ever towns you want to and walk around. You can still get the l trip ticket for 1euro
It boils down to doing some digging and rethinking what you really want\need. There is no right way to do a trip. If you like 5 star hotels then plan for that, if you like to eat at “name” restaurants then plan for that, if you want a combo then plan for that. If on the other hand your like me and simply want a clean bed, simple decent food then plan for that then enjoy your trip.
Feb 28th, 2008, 03:34 PM
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Great list, Joanne. Do you have a favorite resource for finding apartment listings?
And Susanna -- is the keg wine good stuff, or is it mainly just a bargain (and an interesting cultural phenomenon)?
And Susanna -- is the keg wine good stuff, or is it mainly just a bargain (and an interesting cultural phenomenon)?
Feb 28th, 2008, 03:35 PM
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Last summer's car rental with Thrifty Rent A Car was about a 1/3 price of the next one, if pick-up and drop-off were at an airport. An automatic 4-door compact with AC for 7 days was Eu239 total.
Feb 28th, 2008, 03:55 PM
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Matt; it's actually quite decent. I wouldn't say it's wonderful but if you are ordering the house wine at restaurants it is the same thing. It is also fun to bring any bottle that you happen to have empty to have filled .It's a wine I like to have around the apartment. The Italians know where to go and they tend to buy this wine in quantity for their homes and I think that since they know the wineries they probably get better wine.
Feb 28th, 2008, 04:29 PM
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I have to confess we don't have anything in our guide about bring-your-own-jug wine shops, and I've never been to one (though one of the old writers on the book used to speak fondly of them). You've found they're pretty welcoming to non-Italians, yes? Any advice for newbies about how to seek one out, and any protocol you need to follow when making your purchase?
Feb 28th, 2008, 04:48 PM
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Nothing beats an evening stroll by the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain. There always seems to be someone with a guitar and a beautiful voice. Watching the youth from all over the world connect through music is something that always touches me.
Feb 28th, 2008, 05:27 PM
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There are countless ways to save 5E but I would focus on ways to save 100s of Euros. Costs have increased about 18% in the past 2 years and that is well over 1000E. Think about that as you strategize. You have to impact air fares, accommodations, and food. The only way I know to do that is to go offseason and stay in apartments.
Feb 28th, 2008, 05:40 PM
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Our old strategy is to look for the law courts in any big city. Nearby you will always find small restaurants that are geared to serve lawyers and their clients who are in a hurry. Quick food at good prices. Usually a daily special priced well. If you find such a restaurant that looks good, come back off hours, either early or late. Then the places are relaxed and not crowded.
Feb 28th, 2008, 06:42 PM
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When we rented a house in Umbria three years ago, we were just up the hill from a wine coop. You could buy a jug (or two!) and then get it filled with wine for really very little. It was basically the same cost as bottled water. The wine was very drinkable, especially when you were sitting in a grove of olive trees admiring the sun setting behind the hills. We did the same when we rented an apartment in Rome many years ago - we got wine refills from the local rosticceria (where we also sometimes bought roasted chicken and potatoes for dinner). Ah. La dolce vita!
